The Position:

The Programme Specialist in Data and Population Dynamics provides strategic, technical, and programmatic support to UNFPA’s work in Latin America and the Caribbean on strengthening national data systems and advancing demographic intelligence. This includes promoting the analysis and use of population data to inform policies addressing demographic dynamics and emerging megatrends such as ageing, migration, and urbanization.

You will work under the direct supervision of the Regional Adviser on Data and Population Dynamics and in close collaboration with country offices and regional partners, supporting efforts to deliver high-quality technical assistance, foster innovation in data use, and ensure that no one is left behind in population and development planning.

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.

Job Purpose:

UNFPA is seeking a dynamic and technically sound Programme Specialist who will contribute to regional efforts to strengthen national data systems, promote the use of population and census data, and provide analytical support to address demographic dynamics, inequalities, and megatrends.

You will provide technical and programmatic support to country offices in Latin America and the Caribbean, focusing on building national capacities to generate, analyze and use disaggregated population data. You will also contribute to regional research and policy dialogues on ageing, migration, urbanization, and fertility trends.

You would be responsible for:

What would be their main responsibilities?

• Provide technical assistance to country offices in strengthening data systems, including civil registration and vital statistics (CRVS), census, and household surveys.
• Support the integration of disaggregated population data into national information systems for policy and planning.
• Promote innovation and collaboration for the use of geospatial data, administrative records, and new data sources to complement traditional data collection.

• Conduct and support analytical work on demographic trends and transitions, including ageing, low fertility, migration, and urbanization. Integrate an economic perspective into the analysis of population and development issues, and contribute to the positioning of population dynamics, reproductive health and gender equality and equity issues in sectorial development policies and regional frameworks;
• Contribute to national and regional dialogues on population policies informed by evidence and aligned with human rights and gender equality principles.
• Produce and disseminate knowledge products that support advocacy and policy formulation in alignment with the ICPD Programme of Action and the SDGs.

• Design and facilitate capacity-building initiatives for national partners, including workshops, south-south exchanges, and technical guidance.
• Provide on-demand technical support to country offices and partners in the application of demographic methods and tools.
• Contribute to regional initiatives such as the Population Situation Analysis (PSA), Demographic Dividend analyses, and the Demographic Resilience Initiative.

• Document and disseminate good practices and lessons learned in population and development work.
• Foster strategic partnerships with academic, governmental, and civil society actors to advance demographic intelligence in the region.
• Contribute to interagency collaboration, particularly in support of UN data strategies and regional initiatives.

Carry out any other duties as may be required by UNFPA leadership. 

Qualifications and Experience: 

Education:  

Advanced university degree in demography, statistics, sociology, public health, or related discipline with a strong quantitative focus.
 

Knowledge and Experience: 

• Minimum of five years of relevant professional experience in data analysis, population studies, or development programming.
• Minimum five years of professional experiences in programme/project management, specifically dealing with the interrelationships between population and development, including issues of poverty and/or health economics, population dynamics, demographic dividend, etc.;
• Proven expertise in demographic methods (NTA, DemDiv, small area estimations), data visualization, and the use of statistical packages (e.g., R, STATA, SPSS, or Python).
• Demonstrated ability to translate data into actionable policy recommendations and strategic advice.
• Experience working with national statistical offices or ministries in Latin America and the Caribbean is highly desirable.
• Familiarity with the UN system, ICPD principles, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is an asset.

Languages: 

Fluency in Spanish is required. English working knowledge. Other official UN languages, preferably French and Portuguese, are desirable. 

Required Competencies: 

Values:

• Exemplifying integrity, 
• Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system, 
• Embracing cultural diversity, 
• Embracing change

Core Competencies: 

• Achieving results,
• Being accountable,
• Developing and applying professional expertise/business acumen,
• Thinking analytically and strategically,
• Working in teams/managing ourselves and our relationships,

Functional Competencies:

• Advocacy/advancing a policy oriented agenda
• Result based programme development and management
• Leveraging resources of national government and partners/building strategic alliances and partnerships
• Innovation and marketing of new approaches
• Resource mobilization (Programme)
• Job knowledge/technical expertise

Compensation and Benefits:

 This position offers an attractive remuneration package including a competitive net salary plus health insurance and other benefits as applicable.

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. 

Applicants for positions in the international Professional and higher categories, who hold permanent resident status in a country other than their country of nationality, may be required to renounce such status upon their appointment.