Application Guide

How to Apply for National Consultant-Project Coordinator-UNFPA South Sudan

at United Nations Population Fund

🏢 About United Nations Population Fund

UNFPA is the United Nations' lead agency for reproductive health and rights, uniquely focused on three transformative results: ending preventable maternal deaths, ending unmet need for family planning, and ending gender-based violence. Working at UNFPA means contributing directly to the ICPD agenda and Sustainable Development Goals in challenging humanitarian contexts like South Sudan, where principled, ethical staff defend fundamental human rights.

About This Role

This National Consultant-Project Coordinator role involves coordinating UNFPA's projects in South Sudan from Juba, ensuring alignment with the 2022-2025 strategic plan's transformative results. The position requires managing project implementation in a complex humanitarian setting, directly impacting maternal health, family planning, and gender-based violence prevention in one of the world's most fragile states.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day involves coordinating with UNFPA's Juba-based team and partners on project implementation, monitoring progress toward the three transformative results in South Sudan's challenging context, and liaising with government counterparts to advance reproductive health priorities while navigating security and access constraints unique to conflict-affected settings.

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🎯 Who United Nations Population Fund Is Looking For

  • Has 5+ years of project coordination experience in humanitarian or development contexts, preferably in South Sudan or similar fragile states
  • Demonstrates specific expertise in at least one of UNFPA's three transformative results (maternal health, family planning, or GBV prevention)
  • Possesses strong stakeholder management skills with government counterparts, UN agencies, and NGOs in conflict-affected settings
  • Shows proven ability to 'build forward better' while addressing COVID-19 impacts on women's and girls' reproductive health access

📝 Tips for Applying to United Nations Population Fund

1

Explicitly mention your experience with UNFPA's 2022-2025 strategic plan and how you've contributed to the three transformative results

2

Highlight specific South Sudan or similar conflict-zone experience in your CV's first page, as this is a national consultant role based in Juba

3

Reference UNFPA's 'Decade of Action' language and show understanding of ICPD commitments in your application materials

4

Demonstrate how you embody 'principled and ethical staff' who defend international norms in challenging environments

5

Submit before 5pm South Sudan Time on May 10, 2024 - convert this to your local time zone to avoid missing the deadline

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Concrete examples of coordinating projects that advanced maternal health, family planning, or GBV prevention in humanitarian settings', "Specific understanding of South Sudan's context and how you would navigate its unique challenges for UNFPA's mandate", "Demonstration of how you've helped organizations 'recover lost gains' post-COVID-19 in reproductive health programming", "Alignment with UNFPA's need for staff who 'transform, inspire and deliver high impact and sustained results'"]

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → UNFPA's Country Programme for South Sudan and specific projects currently implemented there
  • → South Sudan's current humanitarian context and how it affects reproductive health service delivery
  • → UNFPA's 2022-2025 strategic plan details, particularly the three transformative results framework
  • → The ICPD (International Conference on Population and Development) commitments and how UNFPA operationalizes them
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💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Describe your experience coordinating multi-stakeholder projects in conflict-affected areas like South Sudan
2 How would you ensure UNFPA's three transformative results are advanced in a resource-constrained humanitarian setting?
3 What strategies would you use to 'build forward better' while addressing COVID-19's ongoing impacts in South Sudan?
4 How have you previously defended fundamental human rights in challenging operational environments?
5 Describe a time you had to coordinate with government counterparts on sensitive reproductive health issues
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Generic applications that don't specifically address UNFPA's three transformative results or South Sudan context
  • Failing to demonstrate understanding of the consultant (not staff) nature of this UN grade-equivalent position
  • Overlooking the humanitarian/conflict dimension and applying generic development project experience without adaptation

📅 Application Timeline

⏰ Deadline: May 10, 2029

We recommend applying at least a few days early to avoid last-minute technical issues.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

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Good luck with your application to United Nations Population Fund!

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