Application Guide
How to Apply for Consultancy: TAHub03 Call, Humanitarian, Development and Peace Nexus
at United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
🏢 About United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
UNFPA is the UN's lead agency for sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), uniquely positioned to drive global change through its '2gether 4 SRHR' joint regional programme in Eastern and Southern Africa. Working here means contributing to a world where every pregnancy is intended, every childbirth is safe, and every young person's potential is fulfilled through innovative multi-agency collaboration.
About This Role
This consultancy role involves providing technical assistance to strengthen the integration of SRHR within Humanitarian, Development, and Peace (HDP) Nexus programming across Eastern and Southern Africa. You'll generate evidence, develop policies, design interventions, and build capacity to ensure SRHR is systematically incorporated into national HDP frameworks, directly impacting vulnerable populations in conflict and crisis settings.
💡 A Day in the Life
A typical day might involve reviewing national HDP policy documents from partner countries to identify SRHR integration gaps, developing tailored training modules for government officials, and participating in virtual coordination meetings with UNAIDS, UNICEF, and WHO colleagues under the '2gether 4 SRHR' programme. You'll likely spend time analyzing research data on SRHR outcomes in humanitarian settings and providing remote technical assistance to country offices implementing HDP Nexus interventions.
🚀 Application Tools
🎯 Who United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Is Looking For
- Has 5+ years of hands-on experience conducting operational research specifically linking SRHR with HDP Nexus approaches in humanitarian or development contexts
- Demonstrates proven success in developing or revising national policy frameworks to integrate SRHR into HDP programming, preferably in African settings
- Possesses practical experience designing and implementing capacity-building programmes for national policymakers on SRHR-HDP integration, including developing training materials
- Shows familiarity with UNFPA's '2gether 4 SRHR' programme and understands the unique challenges of multi-agency collaboration in Eastern and Southern Africa
📝 Tips for Applying to United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
Quantify your SRHR-HDP experience: Instead of 'worked on HDP projects,' specify 'designed 3 SRHR interventions integrated into HDP programming in [Country], reaching X beneficiaries'
Tailor your CV to match all four requirement areas exactly: create separate sections for HDP-SRHR research, policy development, intervention design, and capacity building with concrete examples
Reference UNFPA's specific terminology: Use '2gether 4 SRHR programme,' 'HDP Nexus,' and 'triple nexus' appropriately throughout your application materials
Highlight regional experience: Emphasize any work in Eastern or Southern Africa, as this consultancy specifically supports that region's countries
Submit a technical proposal sample: Since this is a consultancy, include a brief sample (1-2 pages) of how you'd approach one of the four technical areas mentioned in the job description
✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter
["Your specific experience with the HDP Nexus concept and how you've previously integrated SRHR into humanitarian, development, or peacebuilding programming", "Examples of successful capacity-building programmes you've developed for national policymakers, including measurable outcomes", "Understanding of UNFPA's unique role in the '2gether 4 SRHR' joint programme and how you would contribute to its regional objectives", 'Demonstrated ability to work in multi-agency environments and navigate the complexities of UN collaboration structures']
Generate Cover Letter →🔍 Research Before Applying
To stand out, make sure you've researched:
- → Study UNFPA's '2gether 4 SRHR' programme documents, annual reports, and specific initiatives in Eastern and Southern Africa to understand current priorities
- → Research the specific HDP Nexus challenges in countries like South Sudan, Mozambique, or Ethiopia where UNFPA has significant operations
- → Review UNFPA's recent position papers on SRHR in humanitarian settings and the triple nexus approach
- → Familiarize yourself with the specific SRHR indicators used in UNFPA's monitoring frameworks for HDP programming
💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics
Based on this role, you may be asked about:
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Submitting generic applications that don't specifically address all four technical areas mentioned in the job description (research, policy, interventions, capacity building)
- Using development jargon without concrete examples of HDP-SRHR integration - UNFPA needs practitioners who can demonstrate applied experience
- Failing to acknowledge the regional focus - candidates who don't demonstrate understanding of Eastern/Southern African contexts will be less competitive
📅 Application Timeline
This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.
Typical hiring timeline:
Application Review
1-2 weeks
Initial Screening
Phone call or written assessment
Interviews
1-2 rounds, usually virtual
Offer
Congratulations!
Ready to Apply?
Good luck with your application to United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)!