Mission and objectives

The United Nations Population Fund (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 focuses on advancing women’s and young people’s ability to exercise their sexual and reproductive health rights. Since 1970, UNFPA in Pakistan has supported: Sexual and reproductive health information and services; Adolescents and youth; Women’s empowerment and gender equality; Population and development. Our programmes expand across the country with tailored interventions for local contexts. We do this through: Gender-responsive and youth-friendly policies, laws and initiatives; Advocacy for increased investments in health and education; Strengthened capacities of government and civil society institutions for youth-led sexual and reproductive health programmes and partnerships; Alliances and strategies to reduce gender inequality; Integrated and multi-sectoral approaches to population dynamics and its linkages to development; Communication strategies that address social norms change; Enhance government partnership with private and civil society sectors. Working with government, civil society partners and other humanitarian agencies, UNFPA Pakistan advocates for the integration of gender and sexual and reproductive health issues by increasing awareness and commitment among policy makers, decision-makers and program managers and strengthening partnerships with national entities to improve coordination for effective preparedness and response. UNFPA is aligned with national priorities (Pakistan 2025 Vision), the United Nations Sustainable Development Framework (UNSDF 2018-2022), UNFPA Strategic Plan (2018-2021), International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD), the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (SDGs) and Family Planning 2020 commitments.

Context

Under the overall guidance of the International Programme Coordinator and direct supervision of the Head of Sub-Office Punjab / designated Programme Coordinator, and in the close coordination with the thematic lead Population & Development (PD), the Programme Officer Population Change & Data (PCD) will support United Nations Population Fund’s (UNFPA) Population Change and Data portfolio in Punjab. The Programme officer Population Change & Data (PCD) will serve as the focal point for day-to-day coordination, technical follow-up, and implementation oversight with the Government of Punjab, primarily the Planning & Development Board, Provincial Bureau of Statistics (BoS), Population Research Centre (PRC), academia, Career Services Officers (CSOs), and relevant line departments. The officer will play a central role in advancing the Data for Development (D4D) initiative in Punjab, including but not limited to data governance, knowledge products, population statistics, Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) strengthening, and the establishment and operationalization of provincial knowledge hubs, establishment of provincial data group, collaborative research, and other data related activities. This role ensures that evidence-based planning, population dynamics, Sustainable Development Goals Support, and data-driven policy reforms remain at the heart of provincial development priorities.

Task Description

The Programme Officer Population Change & Data (PCD) will support the Government of Punjab in strengthening the overall data governance system, and evidence-based planning. The position will provide oversight, coordination, and technical assistance for the effective implementation of the Population Change & Data (PCD) portfolio in Punjab, with a special focus on the D4D initiative. This includes strengthening data availability, improving analytical capacities, supporting SDG monitoring and reporting, promoting a functional provincial knowledge hub, establishing and activation of provincial data coordination group, enhancing CRVS reforms, facilitating policy dialogues, and ensuring effective integration of PCD work within provincial strategies, annual development planning, and long-term development frameworks. Key Responsibilities: 1. Strengthen Provincial Data Systems and PCD Implementation • Provide technical assistance to the Planning & Development Board Punjab for integrating population dynamics into provincial planning, budgeting, and policy formulation. • Support the Provincial BoS in modernizing statistical systems, improving data quality, and aligning with national standards under United Nations Population Funds (UNFPA’s) Data for Development (D4D) pillars. • Facilitate the establishment and operationalization of a functional Provincial Knowledge Hub linked with the proposed National Knowledge Hub and the Data for Development (D4D) Data Portal. • Coordinate analytical work, demographic dividends, youth analyses, and sectoral assessments. 2. Support Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Implementation • Work closely with Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Unit, Population & Development (P&D) Board, UN agencies, and development partners to strengthen evidence generation for Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) monitoring frameworks. • Support integration of demographic, socioeconomic, climate, gender and Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) data into Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) reporting tools. • Promote coherence between Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) indicators, the Data for Development (D4D) initiative, and provincial sectoral strategies. • Facilitate capacity development for provincial departments on Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) analytics, dashboards, and evidence-based performance reporting. 3. Strengthen Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) and Administrative Data Systems • Provide coordination support for strengthening Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) at the provincial level as part of Country Programme Documents (CPD) outputs. • Assist government partners in improving birth, death, marriage, and migration registration & records in collaboration with National Database & Registration Authority (NADRA), Local Government Departments (LGD), department of Health, and Bureau of Statistics (BoS). • Facilitate functional linkages between Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS), health MIS, education MIS, labour information systems, and the Knowledge Hub. 4. Implement the Data for Development Data for Development (D4D) Initiative in Punjab • Coordinate the roll-out of all seven Data for Development (D4D) pillars at provincial level, including: o Data availability & access o Data governance o Knowledge products o Capacity development o Knowledge hub & collaborative research o Policy dialogue & advocacy o Modernization & digital technology integration • Ensure alignment of provincial interventions with Data for Development (D4D) plans and United Nations Population Funds (UNFPA’s) Country Programme Document. 5. Facilitate High-Level Coordination and Partnerships • Serve as the focal person for liaison with United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) partners, stockholders, media, and development partners. • Support coordination forums, working groups, and technical committees on data, Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS), population, research, and development planning. • Promote multi-sectoral engagement to strengthen use of evidence in governance and provincial policy discussions. 6. Generate and Disseminate Knowledge Products • Support production of analytical reports, policy briefs, Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) assessments, dashboards, investment cases among others. • Facilitate peer learning, Province-Province cooperation, and collaborative research with universities and think-tanks. • Ensure quality assurance, validation, and dissemination of knowledge across government and partners. 7. Reporting and Programme Management • Support workplans, progress reports, and monitoring frameworks for Population Change & Data (PCD) and Data for Development (D4D) activities. • Ensure timely implementation of programme activities in line with United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) standards and donor requirements. • Track progress of Country Programme Documents (CPD) indicators related to Population Change & Data (PCD) and ensure timely reporting.

Competencies and values

Values: ● Exemplifying integrity. ● Demonstrating commitment to United Nations Population Fund and the United Nations system. ● Embracing cultural diversity. ● Embracing change Functional Competencies: ● External and internal communication and advocacy for results mobilization. ● Internal and external communication and resource mobilization. ● Creating visibility for the organization. ● Generating, managing and promoting the use of knowledge and Information. ● Building strategic alliances and partnerships. ● Advocacy/ Advancing a policy-oriented agenda. Core Competencies: ● Achieving results and ensuring programme quality and impact. ● Being accountable. ● Developing and applying professional expertise. ● Thinking analytically and strategically. ● Working in teams / managing ourselves and relationships. ● Communicating for impact.

Living conditions and remarks

As this is a national UNV assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials. UNV Field Unit will help you open a Pak rupee bank account with Standard Chartered Bank or any other local bank at your duty station. Assignment remarks: This is a national UNV assignment, and a Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA) of PKR 183,920 is provided monthly to cover housing, utilities and normal cost of living expenses. Life health and permanent disability insurance are included (health insurance for up to 3 dependents), as well as final repatriation (if applicable) and resettlement allowance for satisfactory service.