The Position
The Grant and Knowledge Management specialist is in the External Relations Unit of the Humanitarian Response Division (HRD) in Geneva. The post reports to the Head of the External Relations Unit and works in close relationship with other work streams of HRD, regional and field offices on reporting and knowledge management.
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 will defend them courageously and with full conviction.
UNFPA is seeking candidates who transform, inspire, and deliver high-impact sustained results, ensuring effective external relations, communications, 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 overall purpose of the Humanitarian Response Division (HRD) is to facilitate the delivery of the UNFPA mandate by leading emergency response and supporting humanitarian preparedness actions in increasingly complex humanitarian situations, within globally agreed frameworks (2030 Agenda, Grand Bargain Commitments, Sendai Framework, etc.). The HRD leads in leveraging and increasing effectiveness, efficiency, and capacity of UNFPA staff and partners to scale up UNFPA's role as a key global humanitarian leader. Through the Inter-Agency Standing Committee for Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance (IASC) and other associated entities, the HRD acts as a point of convergence on humanitarian activities, including policy, coordination, programming, advocacy, field capacity development, resource mobilization, innovation, partnerships, technical guidance and, crucially, thematic integration, ensuring complementarity between humanitarian and development action within the organization.
HRD advocates among humanitarian agencies to include sexual and reproductive health and rights needs and sexual and gender-based violence prevention and response needs and humanitarian concerns and specific needs of women, adolescents and young people into the overall humanitarian preparedness and response frameworks. The HRD facilitates the development of UNFPA capacities to prepare and respond to the emergencies and to ensure the Agency is well equipped to deal with the context of fragility and disaster risk reduction.
Under the supervision and guidance of the Head of the External Relations Unit, the Grant and Knowledge management specialist supports the HRD in strengthening effective resource mobilisation and reporting on UNFPA’s emergency responses to donors and ensures harmonized and coherent approach to reporting HRD results. S/he supports HRD units in ensuring business continuity of operations as required. S/he will work closely with other units in HRD, the regional office and COs.
Grant Management
- Contribute to overall coordination of HRD proposal development to donors for new and ongoing multi-country grants for the HRD
- Compile and produce quarterly, bi-annual, and annual donor reports for all HRD-led grants and other corporate global requirements such as CERF and CBPFs in collaboration with all HRD units and relevant stakeholders, ensuring a harmonized and streamlined approach.
Monitor compliance of grant and reporting requirements and needs of all relevant HRD Units and HRD-led grants
- Finalize all reports for timely submission to donors
- Coordinate multi-unit grants to ensure effective implementation.
- Support donor engagement and communications
Evidence and knowledge management, and dissemination
- Supports the development of UNFPA’s HRD knowledge management priorities in line with the HRD results framework and related policies.
- Ensure that documentation and compilation of good practices are consistently captured in a harmonized and structured manner, following UNFPA standards
- Support linkages between different HRD units and the ROs and relevant HQ units to promote the dissemination and use of information and knowledge products and strengthen synergies across units, geographic and thematic areas.
- Support the maintenance and utilization of a HRD’s Knowledge management repository and support effective dissemination and utilization of knowledge products
- Support partnerships with think tanks, academia, policy institutes and KM networks.
Any other duties
- Performs any other duties as may be directed by the Head of the External Relations Unit, the Director and/or Deputy Director, including emergency deployment.
Education
Advanced University degree in public health, medicine, sociology, demography, gender, economics, international relations, international development, public administration, marketing, management, or another related field.
Knowledge and Experience
- 5 years of increasingly responsible professional experience in grant management relevant to sexual and reproductive health, gender and population and development of which three at the international level.
- Substantive knowledge Management and research experience; knowledge and practical experience in knowledge management and strategic information management.
- Experience in programme and/or technical assistance with the UN System and other international development organizations will be desirable.
- Excellent verbal and written communications skills and the ability to explain complex ideas and findings in a way that can be easily understood.
Languages
Fluency in English is required. Working knowledge of other UN languages an asset.
Values
- Exemplifying integrity
- Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system
Embracing diversity in all its forms
- 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
- Communicating for Impact
Functional Competencies
- Job knowledge and technical expertise
- Leveraging the resources of partners/ building strategic alliances and partnerships
- Results-based programme development and management
- Implementing management systems
- Delivering results-based programme
- Organizational awareness
Compensation and Benefits
UNFPA Work Environment
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.