United Nations Population Fund

The Position:

UNFPA, in collaboration with UN Women and UNICEF, is implementing a joint EU-funded “Women’s Economic Empowerment in Uzbekistan” project aimed at fostering an inclusive economic environment in Uzbekistan by removing gender stereotypes and harmful norms, enabling women to access decent work, education, entrepreneurship opportunities, and quality family planning services—thus enhancing their economic independence and well-being, and contributing to sustainable national development. UNFPA leads the coordination and implementation of the joint programme.

Under guidance and supervision of the National Programme Officer on Gender and Social Norms Change, the Project Coordinator will be responsible for coordinating, managing, and monitoring all aspects of UNFPA’s work under the project, including facilitating effective coordination with participating UN organizations (PUNOs), national stakeholders, and the EU donor. The incumbent will play a central role in ensuring timely implementation, budget management, reporting, and joint communication efforts, while ensuring a coherent inter-agency approach.

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 Project Coordinator will lead the coordination, management, and implementation of UNFPA’s interventions under the EU-funded Joint project on women’s economic

empowerment, for which UNFPA serves as the lead agency. The incumbent will ensure strategic and operational alignment across all project components, with a focus on enhancing gender equality, promoting decent work for women, addressing harmful social norms, and expanding access to family planning and social protection services. Working closely with participating UN organizations (PUNOs), national partners, and the EU Delegation, the Coordinator will facilitate joint planning, implementation, and monitoring to ensure coherence and synergy across agencies in compliance with UNFPA and EU rules and regulations. The Project Coordinator will lead and manage a dedicated UNFPA project team consisting of a Communication Analyst (NOA) and an Admin/Finance Associate (GS6) and will work in close collaboration with other UNFPA staff. Together, the team will ensure the timely, effective, and high-quality delivery of the project’s outputs and activities. The Coordinator will also oversee financial and programmatic delivery, results-based reporting, and joint visibility and communication initiatives. The role requires a proactive, solutions-oriented professional with strong coordination and stakeholder engagement skills to ensure timely and impactful delivery of project results and a harmonized inter-agency approach aligned with UN values and the national development priorities of Uzbekistan.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

A. Programme Coordination and Implementation

• Coordinate overall planning, implementation, and monitoring of the EU-funded project under UNFPA’s leadership role.
• Serve as the main focal point for coordinating activities among PUNOs (UN Women and UNICEF), ensuring alignment with the joint results framework and workplan.
• Ensure timely delivery of UNFPA-led activities under all three outcomes and outputs, in coordination with UNFPA technical staff and implementing partners.
• Organize and lead joint workp lanning, steering committee meetings, and technical consultations among the agencies and with national partners.
• Monitor progress and results against indicators in the results framework and make necessary course corrections.
• Ensure alignment of implementation with UNFPA corporate and donor priorities, standards, financial rules, and policies.
• Contribute to policy dialogue and advocacy related to women’s economic empowerment, social protection, and gender equality.

B. Stakeholder and Partnership Engagement

• Serve as the focal point for liaising with national partners, including the Committee for Family and Women Affairs, the EU Delegation, and other stakeholders to ensure inclusive participation and national ownership of the project.
• Promote synergies between UNFPA and the Government of Uzbekistan’s initiatives related to gender equality and women empowerment.
• Engage with the donor (EU Delegation) and ensure visibility and communication efforts are aligned with donor requirements.
• Represent UNFPA in joint coordination meetings, technical working groups, and field visits related to the project.

C. Reporting, Monitoring and Evaluation

• Monitor the progress of implementation, track results against indicators, and coordinate joint monitoring with PUNOs.
• Lead the preparation of joint donor reports (narrative and financial), in coordination with PUNOs and UNFPA Brussels office as well as UNFPA Uzbekistan finance and M&E staff.
• Ensure timely submission of periodic reports and other documentation required by the donor.
• Contribute to the development and use of monitoring tools and databases to track results, outputs, and outcomes.
• With support of the Admin/Finance Associate ensure proper financial planning, forecasting, and timely utilization of funds in line with European Delegation’ and UNFPA’s rules and regulations.
• Monitor expenditure against budget allocations and coordinate timely preparation of financial reports to the donor.
• Support evaluation and knowledge management efforts, including documentation of good practices, lessons learned, and case studies.

D. Communications, Visibility and Knowledge Sharing

• Support the design and implementation of joint visibility and outreach strategies, aligned with the 2022 “Communicating and Raising EU Visibility: Guidance for External Actions” and UNFPA branding guidelines, in coordination with communication focal points of all PUNOs and national partners to ensure coherent messaging.
• Ensure joint visibility efforts, including branding, media engagement, success stories, and field visits.
• Draft joint updates, speeches, concept notes, and briefing materials as needed.
• Promote knowledge exchange and documentation of promising practices, contributing to evidence generation and advocacy.

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

Qualifications and Experience

Education:

Master`s Degree in Social Sciences, International Relations, International Development, Gender Studies, Project Management, Law, Business Administration or related areas.

Knowledge and Experience:

• Minimum 3 years of progressively responsible experience in project management, in coordinating multi-stakeholder projects, preferably in gender equality, GBV prevention, social protection, women’s empowerment or related area preferably with an international organization or multilateral technical assistance project;
• Experience working with or in international organizations, and with EU-funded projects is an asset.
• Demonstrated experience in managing budgets, workplans, and reporting.
• Knowledge of Results-Based Management (RBM), M&E frameworks, and UN programme implementation modalities.
• Excellent organization skills, attention to detail, precision and accuracy;
• Proven ability to lead and manage teams to achieve demonstrable results;
• Excellent communication skills and experience of establishing and managing effective partnerships with stakeholders from the governmental and non-governmental institutions;
• Strong interest in development work, especially the mission of the United Nations Population Fund and dedication to the principles of the United Nations;
• Knowledge of the UN system would be an advantage;

Languages:

Fluency in English, Uzbek and Russian

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 resource 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

Compensation and Benefits

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

Disclaimer

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.

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