Officer, Country Engagement (Anglophone) at the Population Council

The Population Council is an international, nonprofit, nongovernmental institution that seeks to improve the well-being and reproductive health of current and future generations around the world and to help achieve a humane, equitable, and sustainable balance between people and resources. The Council conducts biomedical, social science, and public health research and helps build research capacities in developing countries.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Officer, Country Engagement (Anglophone)

Location: Abuja, Nigeria
Reporting To: Manager Director
Assignment Length: Yearly, renewable by mutual consent

Overview

• Family Planning 2030 (FP2030) is a global partnership of governments, civil society, multilateral organizations, donors, private sector, and researchers committed tsupporting the rights of women and girls whwish tuse contraception tachieve a vision where women and girls everywhere have the freedom and ability tlead healthy lives, make their own informed decisions about using contraception and having children, and participate as equals in society and its development.
• In pursuit of this vision, the global family planning community reached a consensus that the gains attained since 2012 needs tbe consolidated and sustained by extending partnerships and consultations with family planning stakeholders from around the world. Together, the community created a shared vision for 2030 that builds on progress achieved tdate, adapts the partnership in response tthe lessons of the last nine years and positions us tachieve the future women and girls around the world are asking for.
• Towards this end, the FP2030 Support Network was created as a key element of FP 2030’s new structure, which will be put in place in 2022. The FP2030 Support Network, which will be led by an Executive Director includes includes five regional hubs: North, West and Central Africa; East and Southern Africa; Asia and the Pacific; and Latin America and the Caribbean, and North America and Europe each of which will be headed by a Managing Director supported by a small team. The North, West and Central Africa regional hub will be hosted by the Population Council in the Abuja, Nigeria Country Office.
• The Population Council (The Council) is an international, non-profit, non-governmental institution that seeks timprove the reproductive health and well-being of populations around the world and tachieve a humane, equitable and sustainable balance between people and resources.
• Working in in partnership with government and community-based organizations in Nigeria since the 1960s, the Council established a country office in 2006 tfacilitate an expansion of its research portfolitaddress HIV and AIDS among key and vulnerable populations, maternal mortality and morbidity, adolescent sexual and reproductive health, as well as generate evidence for improving access tfamily planning and reproductive health services, and child marriage.

Position Summary

• The Council seeks an experienced professional tfill the position of Officer, Country Engagement (Anglophone) of the FP2030 North, West and Central Africa Hub based in Abuja, Nigeria.
• The Officer, Country Engagement (Anglophone) reports tthe Managing Director of the respective regional hub. This position is responsible for advancing engagement with a designated set of countries in the Hub region, including engaging with Focal Points, regional partners, and wider stakeholders at the country level tadvance the goals of FP2030 and of the North, West & Central Africa Regional Hub. 

Working Relationships

• Reporting tthe Managing Director, the Officer, Country Engagement (Anglophone) will work closely with the rest of the Hub team.
• They will alscollaborate closely with FP2030’s Senior Manager, Regional Hub Coordination, located within the Executive Directorate. 

Responsibilities  

• Engagement with Country Partners and Stakeholders
• Under the leadership of the Managing Director, North, West & Central Africa Regional Hub, and in collaboration 
• with regional country-based focal points and partners, the rest of the Hub team including the Officer, Country Engagement (Francophone), connecting with staff throughout the Support Network as appropriate, provide strategic support for all Anglophone countries in the region, including: 
• Support FP2030 commitment-making countries in developing and advancing their FP2030 commitment-making process based on the commitment toolkit, country-specific analyses, and country requests.
• Support engagement with new countries and other key country partners in the region in order tsecure political commitment tFP2030, as appropriate.
• Design and execute convenings (tinclude virtual and in-person convenings as appropriate) of focal points and country partners.
• Identify, communicate, and oversee focused areas of support in collaboration with broader Secretariat teams and external partners tadvance progress in country commitments across key thematic areas, including data, adolescents and youth, rights, financing, High Impact Practices (HIPs) in FP, Emergency Preparedness and Resilience (EPR), FP integration.
• Contribute tcountry/regional sharing of best practices, lessons learned, and available tools, resources and up tdate information across the designated countries.
• In cooperation with focal points, support evidence-based dialogue and deepened engagement with key national governments, policy makers and country-level partners in the designated countries.
• Coordinate with relevant external partners tproactively identify opportunities for collaboration with new and emerging partners tadvance the commitment goals of designated countries.
• Review and provide feedback on country plans and strategies, as requested by the country focal points, in collaboration with regional and global partners if needed.
• Identify, develop, and amplify countries’ success stories and best practices through annual progress reports, newsletters, social media, and other channels in collaboration with country partners and with the Communications team. 

Program Management:

• Provide support tdeliver on cross-cutting FP2030 priorities in the designated countries, such as: promoting a rights-based approach tFP policy, programs, and service delivery; highlighting evidence, country data, and High Impact Practices (HIPS); ensuring programs reach and meet the needs of adolescents and young people and other marginalized groups such as those living with disability; and working with countries tbuild resilience plans for FP in times of crisis and displacement.
• Contribute tannual and quarterly work plans and budgets tprovide value-added support taccelerate country progress in designated countries. Prepare regular work plan reviews and timely reports on progress/challenges.
• Liaise closely with the Data & Performance Management and Track20 teams tmonitor country progress towards achieving and fulfilling country commitments.
• Coordinate with the Manager, Advocacy, Accountability & Partnerships and with relevant staff supporting youth engagement and partnership, tensure continued engagement of civil society and youth focal point networks in the region.
• Coordinate with the Manager, Advocacy, Accountability & Partnerships and with other relevant staff across the Support Network tensure that country activities are deeply grounded in a rights-based approach and reflect FP2030’s approach tadvocacy and accountability. 
• Contribute tstrategic thinking, planning, and organizational development for the Hub and across the FP2030 Support Network as appropriate. 

External Relations and Communications:

• Contribute thigh level engagement meetings by documenting progress and key challenges, and by drafting clear and concise executive summaries of countries achievements and challenges.
• In consultation with the Managing Director, manage regular meetings with key regional partners (e.g. OPCU, UNFPA WCARO, USAID, FCDO, etc.) and participate in FP2030 external events, meetings and on task teams.
• In collaboration with the Managing Director, identify opportunities and events/conferences thighlight FP2030 
• and the accomplishments of the FP2030 movement, especially in the area of country achievements.
• In collaboration with the Communications team, identify and support development of communications opportunities and messaging that can be featured in regional communications as well as in global FP2030 communications such as the FP2030 newsletter, website/social media, and/or annual progress reports. 
• Contribute tthe analysis of data and the development of the FP2030 annual progress report on activities and performance.
• Collaborate with relevant FP2030 staff tdevelop content for internal and external communications for Anglophone countries in the Hub and for the Hub overall.
• Contribute tthe drafting of relevant regional inputs tmeet reporting requirements for donors and tFP2030’s fiduciary and Senior Leadership teams.
• Contribute ttranslation and localization of FP2030 products for Anglophone audiences including newsletters, briefs, webinars, announcements, and templates, collaborating with the Officer, Communications and the NAE Communications Team, making use of external translation support as appropriate.

Selection Criteria
Education & Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree in Public Health, Public Policy, International Development, Business Administration, Economics, or other directly related field. Master’s Degree preferred. 

Skills and Abilities:

• At least 5 years of professional experience in global health, family planning, reproductive health, international development, or a related field.
• Ability tthink strategically and drive project implementation. Project management expertise with an ability tmove projects forward from inception timplementation tcompletion.
• Prior experience working in one or more of the countries in this regional portfoli(see attached list of countries within this regional portfolio). 
• Experience in working with multi-stakeholder partnerships including governments, donors, multi-lateral agencies, developing countries and civil society organizations. 
• Proven record of coordinating development partners and managing effective mechanisms for monitoring and reporting at global, regional, and country levels.
• Continuous learning skills and the ability tsynthesize information.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills and cultural competencies.
• Excellent writing, editing, communications, and research capabilities, with advanced knowledge of and proficiency in 
• the MS Office Suite (OneNote, Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint)
• Fluency in English essential. Fluency in French or another language a plus. 
• Willingness ttravel (up t25% time) with the ability trepresent the organization with professionalism, diplomacy and aplomb. 

Personal Competence:

• Politically astute with a good understanding of the bigger picture, culturally sensitive and diplomatic.
• Enthusiastic and motivated about FP2030’s vision, mission and values.

Application Closing Date
3rd January, 2023.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Note: When applying through the web portal please attach your CV and Cover Letter in Word or PDF format.