JOB TITLE: Senior Officer, Country Engagement (MENA Region)

REPORTING TO: Managing Director, MENA Region

LOCATION: Cairo

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 to supporting the rights of women and girls who wish to use contraception to achieve a vision where women and girls everywhere have the freedom and ability to lead 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 to be 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 to date, adapts the partnership in response to the lessons of the last nine years and positions us to achieve 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 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 to improve the reproductive health and well-being of populations around the world and to achieve 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 to facilitate an expansion of its research portfolio to address 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 to family planning and reproductive health services, and child marriage.

The Council seeks an experienced professional to fill the position of Senior Officer, Country Engagement (MENA Region) of the FP2030 North, West and Central Africa Hub based in Cairo, Egypt.

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Senior Officer, Country Engagement (MENA Region) reports to the 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 to advance the goals of FP2030 and of the North, West & Central Africa Regional Hub and the Asia Pacific Regional Hub, as appropriate. The MENA Senior Officer will oversee partnerships with the following countries:

Assigned to the North, West & Central Africa Regional Hub:

Algeria

Egypt

Libya

Morocco

Tunisia

Assigned to the Asia Pacific Regional Hub:

Bahrain

Iran, Islamic Rep.

Iraq

Jordan

Kuwait

Lebanon

Oman

Qatar

Saudi Arabia

State of Palestine

Syrian Arab Republic

United Arab Emirates

Yemen, Rep.

Working Relationships

Reporting to the Managing Director, the Senior Officer, Country Engagement (MENA) will work closely with the rest of the Hub team. Will also collaborate closely with FP2030’s Executive Directorate and Asia Pacific Regional Hub, as well as the Country Director of Population Council Egypt.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Engagement with Country Partners and Stakeholders

Under the leadership of the Managing Director, North, West & Central Africa Regional Hub, and in collaboration with the

Managing Director, Asia Pacific Regional Hub, regional country-based focal points and partners, the rest of the Hub team including the Officers, Country Engagement (Francophone and Anglophone), connecting with staff throughout the Support Network as appropriate, provide strategic support for all MENA countries, 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 to secure political commitment to FP2030, as appropriate.
• Build partnerships and network with key regional stakeholders (such as UNFPA Arab States Office, USAID Middle East Regional Platform, UK FCDO’s Regional Office, and other key regional players).
• Design and execute convenings (to include virtual and in-person convenings as appropriate) of focal points and country partners, collaborating with the North, West & Central Africa Regional Hub and with the Asia Pacific Regional Hub as needed based on the Regional Hub(s) to which the participating countries are assigned.
• Identify, communicate, and oversee focused areas of support in collaboration with broader Secretariat teams and external partners to advance 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, and private sector engagement.
• Contribute to country/regional sharing of high-impact/evidence-based and innovative practices, lessons learned, and available tools, resources and up to date 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.
• 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 to the analysis of data and the development of the FP2030 annual progress report on activities and performance.
• Collaborate with relevant FP2030 staff to develop content for internal and external communications for MENA countries in the Hub and for the Hub overall.
• Contribute to the drafting of relevant regional inputs to meet reporting requirements for donors and to FP2030’s fiduciary and Senior Leadership teams.
• Contribute to translation and localization of FP2030 products for Arabic audiences including newsletters, briefs, webinars, announcements, and templates, collaborating with the Officer, Communications, and the North America & Europe Hub’s Communications Team, making use of external translation support as appropriate.
• Coordinate with relevant external partners to proactively identify opportunities for collaboration with new and emerging partners to advance 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.
• As needed, support and foster partnerships with non-country partners within the MENA region to advance FP2030’s goals.

2. Program Management

• Provide support to deliver on cross-cutting FP2030 priorities in the designated countries, such as: promoting a rights-based approach to FP 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 to build resilience plans for FP in times of crisis and displacement.
• Contribute to annual and quarterly work plans and budgets to provide value-added support to accelerate 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 to monitor country progress towards achieving and fulfilling country commitments.
• Coordinate with the Manager, Advocacy, Accountability & Partnerships and with relevant staff supporting youth engagement and partnership, to ensure 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 to ensure that country activities are deeply

grounded in a rights-based approach and reflect FP2030’s approach to advocacy and accountability.

• Contribute to strategic thinking, planning, and organizational development for the Hub and across the FP2030 Support Network as appropriate.

3. External Relations and Communications

• Contribute to high 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. UNFPA, USAID, etc.) and participate in FP2030 external events, meetings and on task teams.
• In collaboration with the Managing Director, identify opportunities and events/conferences to highlight FP2030 and the accomplishments of the FP2030 movement, especially in country achievements.

Selection Criteria

EDUCATION & QUALIFICATIONS

Master’s degree in the field of public health, public policy, international development, business administration, economics, or other directly related field.

PROVEN SKILLS & ABILITIES

• At least 10 years of professional experience in global health, family planning, reproductive health, international development, or a related field.
• Ability to think strategically and drive project implementation. Project management expertise with an ability to move projects forward from inception to implementation to completion.
• Prior experience working in one or more of the countries in this regional portfolio (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 to synthesize 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 and Arabic is essential. Fluency in French is a plus.
• Willingness to travel (up to 25% time) with the ability to represent FP 2030 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.

The above is intended to describe the general content of and requirements for performance of the position responsibilities. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of essential functions, responsibilities or requirements nor meant to exclude other duties as assigned.

Applications are particularly encouraged from women, persons living with disability, and candidates openly living with HIV. FP2030 values equity-centered leadership and commits to furthering its racial and social justice values and commitments by integrating them into the organizational culture and weaving them into its global partnership work.

Only applicants who write and speak Arabic (and English) fluently would be considered for this role.

Mode of Application: Qualified candidates should send their resume and cover letter to the attention of:

Ms. Hanan Tammam, Office Manager, Population Council Egypt, htammam@popcouncil.org. Please include the position you are applying for in the subject line.

Application Deadline: May 31, 2023

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. Established in 1952, the Council is governed by an international board of trustees. Its New York headquarters supports a global network of country offices. We are seeking an individual to fill the position described. If you know of a qualified candidate or are interested in this position, please apply at: http://www.popcouncil.org/employment/index.asp.

The Population Council provides equal opportunity; it does not discriminate against any person with regard to age, color, creed, national origin, disability, political belief, veteran status, religion, marital status, gender, gender identity, or sexual orientation. Decisions on employment are based on an individual’s qualifications as related to the position for which they are being considered. The Council especially encourages applications from members of underrepresented groups including but not limited to Black people and people of African descent, Indigenous people, people of color, women, LGBTQ+ individuals, including people who identify as transgender, non-binary, or gender expansive, people with disabilities, first-generation college graduates, and those from communities with the most to gain from expanded access to sexual and reproductive health services and information. The Population Council is international in the composition of its board of trustees and its staff, as well as in the nature and deployment of its activities.