The Position:

The Programme Analyst, Youth Empowerment and Engagement is a member of the UNPFA South Africa Country Office and in particular the programmes team. S/he provides professional support for the effective management, implementation, and monitoring of UNFPA South Africa's initiatives focused on adolescent and youth development (AYD). S/he plays a key role in ensuring that youth voices, needs, evidence and corresponding programmes and interventions, particularly related to Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) such as teenage pregnancy and mental health, gender equality, and GBV prevention and response, and population and development, are integrated into national development frameworks and UNFPA-supported programmes. The Analyst contributes to realizing the potential of South Africa's young people, accelerating progress toward the ICPD Programme of Action and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

S/he will work under the overall guidance of the Representative and will be directly supervised by the Assistant Representative.

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. The UNFPA Strategic Plan for 2026-2029 serves as a final push to achieve the goals of ICPD by 2030. It aims to ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health and rights, placing the rights and choices of women, adolescents, and marginalized populations at the center of sustainable development. The plan focuses on four key, interconnected outcomes: accelerating progress on ending unmet need for family planning, preventing maternal deaths, eliminating gender-based violence and harmful practices, and adapting to demographic change through evidence-based policies.

The transformational journey mapped out in the Strategic Plan leads to 2030 and the achievement of universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights. Emerging trends inform the plan, new and expanded priorities add to longstanding commitments, and “how we work” is changing. To address global challenges and protect past gains, the plan strengthens UNFPA's leadership and operational capacity, particularly in fragile settings. It emphasizes working with partners through country-led strategies, sustainable financing, and evidence-based advocacy. In South Africa, UNFPA’s work has transitioned from fund management to an engagement and solution center. 

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:

The purpose of the position is to provide professional support throughout the youth programme cycle. This entails supporting the development, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of youth-focused projects, ensuring the timely delivery of activities and adherence to financial and operational rules. Furthermore, the Analyst contributes to policy dialogue and advocacy by analyzing socio-economic trends affecting youth and preparing strategic briefs. A critical aspect of the role involves building and maintaining strategic partnerships with government, UN agencies, and civil society, while also supporting resource mobilization and initiatives that strengthen youth leadership and meaningful participation.

This role is central to ensuring that the voices, needs, and priorities of young people are integrated into national development frameworks and UNFPA-supported programmes, particularly in the areas of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), gender equality, and the prevention of gender-based violence. Under the direct supervision of the Assistant Representative, the analyst plays a key role in accelerating progress toward the goals of the ICPD Programme of Action and the Sustainable Development Goals by realizing the potential of South Africa's youth. 
 

Responsibilities:

Programme Analyst, Youth Empowerment and Engagement has the following major Duties and Responsibilities: 

A. Programme Development, Implementation, and Monitoring

• Support Programme Cycle Management: Assist in the formulation, implementation, and evaluation of the Country Programme's component projects related to youth empowerment, leadership, and participation. This includes compiling and analyzing information, drafting project documents, and preparing annual work plans.
• Technical and Logistical Support: Provide technical and logistical support to implementing partners (government, NGOs, and civil society) to ensure the timely and high-quality delivery of youth-focused activities, such as Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE), youth-friendly health services, and youth entrepreneurship programmes.
• Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E): Assist in monitoring programme progress against results, ensuring the appropriate application of UNFPA systems and procedures. Conduct regular field visits, participate in review meetings, and prepare inputs for status and progress reports, identifying constraints and recommending corrective actions.
• Financial Oversight: Monitor project expenditures and disbursements, providing support to partners to ensure financial delivery is in line with approved budgets and UNFPA's financial rules and regulations.

B. Policy, Advocacy, and Knowledge Management

• Context Analysis: Conduct preliminary analysis of relevant political, social, and economic trends affecting adolescents and youth in South Africa, including policy changes, demographic shifts, and emerging youth issues (e.g., unemployment, HIV prevalence, GBV).
• Policy Dialogue Input: Prepare background briefs, talking points, and statistical data for management and technical staff to use in policy dialogue, technical assistance coordination, and discussions with national counterparts and the UN Country Team.
• Youth Participation and Leadership: Support initiatives that strengthen the leadership, capacity, and meaningful participation of young people and youth-led organizations in decision-making processes at national and sub-national levels.
• Knowledge Sharing: Assist in implementing knowledge management strategies by synthesizing and documenting findings, lessons learned, and best practices from youth programmes, preparing materials for dissemination to key partners and stakeholders.

C. Partnership and Resource Mobilization Support

• Partner Liaison: Establish and maintain collaborative working relationships with relevant government counterparts (e.g., Youth Ministries), executing agencies, UN agencies (especially in joint programmes), and civil society organizations working on youth issues.
• Inter-Agency Coordination: Support the co-lead of the UN Youth Thematic Group and the participation in inter-agency thematic groups to ensure UNFPA's interests are represented and to identify opportunities for joint advocacy and programming.
• Resource Mobilization: Provide administrative and substantive assistance to the Country Office’s advocacy and resource mobilization efforts for the youth portfolio, including preparing relevant documentation and assisting with donor meetings and public information events.

D. General Support 

• Stand-in for other Programme team members on selected functions as may be required. 
• Carry out any other duties as may be required by UNFPA leadership. 

Qualifications and Experience: 

Education:  

• Advanced University Degree (Master's Degree or equivalent) in Social Sciences, Youth Development, Public Health, Development Studies, Economics, International Relations, Public Administration, or a related field. 

Knowledge and Experience: 

• 0-2 years demonstrable responsibility/knowledge/experience in the field of programme/project management in youth development, adolescent health, or population activities.
• Demonstrable experience working with youth organizations, networks, or government departments focusing on youth empowerment and participation.
• Practical experience in design, monitoring, and evaluation of development projects, including proven ability to prepare analytical and programmatic reports.
• Knowledge and understanding of the South African national context regarding youth challenges and opportunities is highly desirable.
• Experience using office software packages (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and web-based management systems is required.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a team. 

Languages: 

• Fluency in oral and written English is required. 
• Professional working knowledge of one or more official South African languages is an advantage.
• Working knowledge of another UN Official Language is an asset.

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:

• Programme Management
• Financial Management
• Policy Analysis and Development
• Advocacy and Communication
• Partnership Building and Management
• Stakeholder Engagement and Facilitation
• Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E)
• Knowledge Management
• Proficiency in current office software applications
   

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.