In line with the existing gaps in adolescent girls and young women’s SRHR status, 9^th Country programme prioritizes the health and well-being of adolescent girls, including by improving access to adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights and increasing the agency and empowerment of adolescents to reduce gender-based violence and harmful practices, including child marriage and teenage pregnancy, and strengthen HIV prevention, among others. In order to address strategically to the listed priorities, the Strategic Engagement Advisor takes a leadership to capitalize and boost the already achieved promising results and increase demand and support to scale issues related to achieve the three transformative results.

You would be responsible for:

A. Big thinking and Focus

• Conducts substantive policy dialogue with Government counterparts and UN and other development partners to facilitate the incorporation of UNFPA’s programme priorities and ICPD agenda into national plans and strategies, UN systems initiatives and development and humanitarian frameworks (CCA, UNSDCF, HNA, HRP).
• Leads the translation of global and regional frameworks and strategies into country specific advocacy strategies, creates and delivers effective evidence-based advocacy messages to promote UNFPA’s programme goals taking into account political and social sensitivities.
• Provides support to programme teams in tracking Malawi’s commitments to global, regional and national frameworks related to UNFPA’s agenda.
• Leads the political and environmental scanning, regularly assessing the country situation and relevant research/ surveys to inform sound policy dialogue, well-focused strategic interventions and provides continuous advice to management.
• Facilitates and operationalizes the prioritization of interventions to engage counterparts in government, including parliamentarians, multilateral and bilateral donor agencies, UN agencies, civil society, religious leaders, local authorities, the private sector and media to advocate for the advancement of universal access to comprehensive SRHR, GBV prevention and response, and population dynamics.
• Leads the development of white papers, briefing notes, policy briefs and infographics and other products, by considering the targeted audience.
• Acts as a focal point for engaging with highly profiled UNFPA champions and other very relevant stakeholders.
• Represents UNFPA in strategic forums to position the ICPD agenda and the (3) transformative results under the UNFPA mandate

B. Forward-focused thinking and innovation

• Works closely with Programme and Management Teams on the identification of innovative approaches and innovations to engage with the various stakeholders.
• Jointly, with the UNFPA Advocacy, Partnership, Communication Group members to develop, implement and monitor actions to advance potential opportunities for intervention and innovations.
• Fostering adaptive management in the strategic engagements with targeted non-traditional stakeholders.
• Lead the strategic thinking to mainstream the innovation approach across the country programme thematic areas.
• Fosters innovative approaches under UNFPA’s interventions by engaging stakeholders and beneficiaries

C.  Management advice and support

UNFPA Management and the UNCT/UN Related Matters 

• Promotes knowledge sharing and continuous learning, testing, linking and documenting innovative strategies, approaches, lessons learned and best practices inside and outside UNFPA and replicating these strategies and approaches.
• Develops briefing notes to UNFPA management in line with the UN frameworks and national, regional and global agenda.
• Supports the UNFPA team, including management, to continue advancing the ICPD agenda within the UN dialogue and UN engagements.
• In consultation with the Deputy Representative, actively participate in the implementation and monitoring of UNSDCF.
• Represents UNFPA in the UN/UNCT delegated forums.

D. General Support 

• Carry out any other duties as may be required by UNFPA leadership.

Qualifications and Experience: 

Education:  

• Master’s Degree in political sciences, social policy, public health/ medical sciences, sociology, demography, Economics, social mobilization, business administration, international relations or other related fields
  Knowledge and Experience: 

• At least 7 years of increasingly responsible professional experience in the field of development, programme design and management, advocacy work and capacity development is required;
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, negotiation, and managerial skills required. Self-starter, proactive, passion for the issues;
• Proven ability to develop and implement effective resource mobilization strategies and campaigns;
• Significant work experience in the SRHR, Gender, Youth areas required. Working experience in Humanitarian context is an asset.
• Experience in programme/ project management including experience in large multi-sector programmes;
• Strong knowledge on Results Based Programming and budgeting:
• Excellent written and oral communication skills and experience with management of staff in multi-locations.
• A thorough understanding of the UN system in general, and especially UNFPA mandate, its policies and operations and current development topics and political issues in Malawi.
• Working experience with Government, NGO, parliamentarians, Foundation, or private sector in Malawi.
• Demonstrated ability to work in and lead a team to achieve evidence-based results.

Languages: 

Fluency in oral and written English is required. Working knowledge of another UN Official Language is  an asset

Required Competencies: 

Values:

• Exemplifying integrity,
• Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system,
• Embracing cultural diversity,
• Embracing change

 Core Competencies: 

• Achieving results,
• Being accountable,
• Developing and applying professional expertise/business acumen,
• Thinking analytically and strategically,
• Working in teams/managing ourselves, our relationships, and others
• Communicating for impact

Functional Skill Set:

• Organizational Leadership and direction
• Strategic Planning and Leadership
• Advocacy/Advancing a policy-oriented agenda
• Leveraging the resources of national governments and partners/ building strategic alliances and partnerships
• Internal and external communication and advocacy for results mobilization
• Delivering results-based programmes
• Partnerships and donor relations
• Technical Understanding of the areas of work
• Proficiency in current office software applications

 Managerial Competencies:

• Providing Strategic Direction and Leadership
• Engaging in internal/external partners and stakeholders
• Leading, developing and empowering people, creating a culture of performance
• Making decisions and exercising judgement

Compensation and Benefits:

 This position offers an attractive remuneration package including a competitive net salary plus health insurance and other benefits as applicable.