How you can make a difference:

UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person”s potential is fulfilled. UNFPA’s strategic plan (2022-2025), reaffirms the relevance of the current strategic direction of UNFPA and focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and end gender-based violence and harmful practices. These results capture our strategic commitments on accelerating progress towards realizing the ICPD and SDGs in the Decade of Action leading up to 2030. Our strategic plan calls upon UN Member States, organizations and individuals to “build forward better”, while addressing the negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on women’s and girls’ access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, recover lost gains and realize our goals.

In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff, who embody these international norms and standards, and who will defend them courageously and with full conviction.

UNFPA is seeking candidates that transform, inspire and deliver high impact and sustained results; we need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them and who commit to deliver excellence in programme results.

1. Background and Context

The UNFPA West and Central Africa Regional Office (WCARO) operates in a complex environment marked by rapid demographic shifts, climate-related challenges, and ongoing humanitarian crises. To tackle these issues, UNFPA WCARO is enhancing its efforts to promote Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), gender equality, and youth empowerment in the Sahel, Lake Chad Basin, Liptako-Gourma, and Gulf of Guinea regions. Central to our mission is the operationalization of the Humanitarian-Development-Peace Continuum(HDP) and the effective implementation of the Youth, Peace and Security (YPS) and Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agendas.

2. Purpose of the Call

UNFPA WCARO seeks to establish a pre-qualified Regional Consultant Roster of highly experienced experts. This roster will serve as a primary resource for the rapid deployment of technical expertise to support initiatives at the Regional Office and Country Offices across West and Central Africa.

Note: Inclusion in the roster provides eligibility for short-term and long-term consultancy contracts but does not guarantee an immediate offer of employment.

3. Expert Profiles & Technical Domains

We are looking for experts at various seniority levels, with a minimum of five years of experience, across the following key pillars:

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Profile Title
Focus Areas & Level

1
Senior Peace & Security Expert
Conflict analysis, mediation support, and YPS/WPS policy integration. (With a minimum of 7+ years of progressively responsible experience.)

2
Humanitarian-Development-Peace Strategy Specialist
Nexus programming, resilience building, and anticipatory action/disaster preparedness coordination. (With a minimum of 7+ years of progressively responsible experience.)

3
Programme Manager (YPS)
Design and leadership of youth-led peacebuilding initiatives and partnerships. (With a minimum of 5+ years of experience.)

4
Lead Evaluation Specialist
OECD-DAC standard evaluations with a focus on conflict-sensitivity. (With a minimum of 7+ years of progressively responsible experience.)

5
Youth in Humanitarian Action
Youth engagement in emergencies, SRH/GBV integration in fragile contexts. (With a minimum of 5+ years of experience.)

6
Governance & Rule of Law
Institutional strengthening, accountability, and inclusive governance systems. (With a minimum of 7+ years of progressively responsible experience.)

7
Strategic Researcher
Evidence generation, foresight analysis, and knowledge product development. (With a minimum of 5+ years of progressively responsible experience.)

8
Social Cohesion & Resilience Specialist
(With a minimum of 7+ years of progressively responsible experience.)

9

• Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL)

(With a minimum of 5+ years of relevant experience.)

4. Functional Responsibilities

Depending on the assignment, consultants may be required to:

• Provide technical and strategic advisory services
• Design and implement programmes and frameworks
• Conduct research, assessments, and evaluations
• Support policy development and advocacy
• Strengthen partnerships with governments, civil society, and youth-led organizations

5. Minimum Qualifications & Experience

• Education: Advanced university degree (Master’s or Ph.D.) in International Relations, Peace and Conflict Studies, Law, Social Sciences, or a related field.
• Professional Experience: A minimum of 5+ years of relevant experience.
• Geographic Expertise: Proven experience working in fragile or conflict-affected settings, specifically within the Sahel or Lake Chad Basin.
• Languages: Fluency in English is required. A working knowledge of French is mandatory for the majority of regional assignments. Arabic or Portuguese is considered a distinct advantage.

6. Competencies & Values

• Core Values: Integrity, Professionalism, and Respect for Diversity.
• Core Competencies: Strategic thinking, results-based management, communication skills and the ability to work in multi-cultural, high-pressure environments.

7. Application Process

Interested candidates must submit the following documents to the UNFPA recruitment portal:

1. Comprehensive CV outlining specific experience in the technical areas listed above.
2. Cover Letter (max 2 pages) specifying the number of years of relevant experience and the area of thematic focus.
3. Recent Technical Work Sample (e.g., a report, strategy paper, or evaluation—links are acceptable).

Deadline: This is an open-ended call; applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.

UNFPA Work Environment:

UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, diversity, integrity and healthy work-life balance. We are committed to ensuring gender parity in the organization and therefore encourage women to apply. Individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community, minority ethnic groups, indigenous populations, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups are highly encouraged to apply. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. UNFPA promotes equal opportunities in terms of appointment, training, compensation and selection for all regardless of personal characteristics and dimensions of diversity. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is at the heart of UNFPA”s workforce – click here to learn more.

Disclaimer:

Selection and appointment may be subject to background and reference checks, medical clearance, visa issuance and other administrative requirements.

UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process and does not concern itself with information on applicants” bank accounts.