The Position:

The Partnerships and South-South Cooperation Specialist is located in the China Country Office (CO) and reports to the UNFPA Representative. The position supports the Representative in strengthening South–South cooperation, resource mobilization, and strategic partnerships with government, private sector, and foundations to advance the ICPD agenda. It coordinates the development and implementation of the Country Office’s resource mobilization strategy, facilitates partnership and funding proposal development, and contributes to advocacy, visibility, and strategic engagement to mobilize diversified resources for UNFPA programmes.

How you can make a difference:

UNFPA is the lead United Nations agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is intended, every childbirth is safe, and every young person's potential is fulfilled. The UNFPA Strategic Plan for 2026-2029 articulates the organization’s response to a complex global environment, providing a roadmap for resilience and renewal. It is designed to accelerate the implementation of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. This mandate is pursued through a focus on four interconnected outcomes: ending the unmet need for family planning; ending preventable maternal deaths; ending gender-based violence and harmful practices; and adapting to demographic change through evidence and rights-based policies. 

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 who transform, inspire, and deliver high-impact and sustained results and ensure effective external relations, communications, and partnership-building and resource mobilization in a rapidly changing development and funding landscape. We need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them, and who commit to delivering excellence in programme results. 

Job Purpose:

The Partnerships and South-South Cooperation Specialist facilitates the CO’s engagement with the Government of China (GoC) with regard to its South-South and triangular cooperation efforts in other developing countries, and the development of partnerships with the private sector. S/he coordinates with the programme team on matters related to partnerships and resource mobilization and collaborates with the CO’s operations/administrative support staff.

You would be responsible for: 

Strategic Advisory & Political Engagement

• Advise the Representative on opportunities to initiate and strengthen South-South cooperation and resource mobilization partnerships with GoC and the private sector, including through operational environment analysis, foresight, and strategic networking and communication.
• Coordinate the CO’s engagement with GoC on South-South Cooperation to enhance the ICPD agenda and leverage resources for UNFPA programmes in other developing countries, including maintaining strong relations through regular engagement, visibility, and timely guidance and reporting.
• Collaborate with other UNFPA COs and teams to facilitate South-South and Triangular Cooperation initiatives and partnerships.

Resource Mobilization Strategy

• Design and implement the CO resource mobilization strategy aligned with the UNFPA Country Programme, with a focus on domestic resource mobilization and diversifying traditional and non-traditional funding sources.
• Coordinate the preparation of high-quality funding proposals, concept notes, and pitches, ensuring clear articulation of UNFPA’s comparative advantage.

Partnership Development & Management

• Facilitate and support efforts to identify, cultivate, and manage strategic partnerships with government, private sector, and foundations, including the negotiation and oversight of partnership agreements.

Advocacy, Communications & Visibility

• Actively contribute to advocacy and partnership development efforts of CO by ensuring preparation of relevant strategies, documentation, including project summaries, pitch decks, issue papers, speeches, partner profiles, and participation in related meetings and public information events.

Qualifications and Experience 

Education: 

Advanced university degree in Public Relations, International Relations, Communications, Marketing, Business Management, public health, population and/or related fields.

Knowledge and Experience: 

• Five years professional experience in the field of reproductive health and population dynamics, including partnerships and resource mobilization, with specific experience in public and private sector partnerships.
• Experience working with Government, donor agencies or other relevant organisations on reproductive health and population and development activities. 
• Experience working with philanthropy and high networth individuals is an asset.
• Demonstrated capacity in delivering public presentations and in public speaking required.
• Proficiency in the use of online presentation tools and applications required.
• Capacity to undertake landscape analysis taking into account organisational guardrails, political and reputational sensitivities.

Languages: 

Fluency in Chinese is required. Working knowledge of English is required. 

Required Competencies 

Values:

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

Functional Competencies:

• Advocacy/ Advancing a policy-oriented agenda
• Leveraging the resources of national governments and partners/ building strategic alliances and partnerships
• Delivering results-based programme
• Internal and external communication and advocacy for results mobilization

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,
• Communicating for impact 

Managerial Competencies (if applicable):

• Providing strategic focus,
• Engaging in internal/external partners and stakeholders,
• Leading, developing and empowering people, creating a culture of performance
• Making decisions and exercising judgment

Compensation and Benefits 

This position offers an attractive remuneration package including a competitive net salary plus cost-of-living adjustment, housing allowance, home leave, health insurance and other benefits.

Disclaimer 

UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Should you have received a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. You are advised to apply particular care when submitting personal information on the web. Should you feel that you have received a fraudulent notice, letter or offer, you may submit a report through the UNFPA fraud hotline http://www.unfpa.org/help/hotline.cfm

In accordance with the rules of the United Nations, persons applying to posts in the international Professional category, who hold permanent resident status in a country other than their country of nationality, are required to renounce such status upon their appointment.  Exceptions to this rule are very limited and can be made only for: (a) stateless persons; (b) newly appointed staff members who have applied for citizenship by naturalization, when such citizenship will be granted imminently; (c) acting staff members in the General Service and related categories with permanent residency status, on promotion to the Professional category; (d) staff members appointed under a temporary appointment. Please understand that UNFPA is not in a position to provide advice on or assistance in applying for any citizenship. Placement in UNFPA’s Leadership Pool does not guarantee a position. For any questions please contact leadership.pool@unfpa.org