The Position:

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is undertaking its second General Population and Housing Census (RGPH), a critical national priority aimed at providing reliable, disaggregated demographic and socio-economic data for policy formulation, resource allocation, and development planning.

As the lead United Nations agency supporting the Government of the DRC in this national project, UNFPA manages a multi-donor technical and financial assistance fund. Success requires seamless coordination across national institutions—primarily the Ministère du Plan, the Institut National de la Statistique (INS), and the Bureau Central du Recensement (BCR)—as well as donor agencies, UN system partners, and non-governmental actors.

Under the overall strategic guidance of the UNFPA Representative and direct supervision of the Deputy Representative, the Census Programme Coordination Specialist will drive the day-to-day management, strategic alignment, donor relations, operations linkage, and multi-stakeholder coordination of the UNFPA Census Support Project.

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 Census Programme Coordination Specialist ensures that UNFPA’s technical, financial, and operational support to the DRC Census is managed efficiently, transparently, and in full alignment with national development priorities and United Nations standards. The incumbent bridges the gap between technical census operations, fiduciary/operational support, and high-level stakeholder/donor coordination.

You would be responsible for:

1. Strategic Programme Management & Operational Oversight
   • Lead the operational management of the UNFPA Census Support Project, ensuring alignment with the National Census Strategy, project documents, and work plans.
   • Develop, monitor, and update the master project implementation plan, tracking critical path milestones, budget execution rates, and donor reporting deadlines.
   • Establish and oversee risk management protocols, continuously assessing operational, financial, political, and security risks across DRC provinces and formulating mitigation strategies.
   • Ensure tight integration between the Census Technical Team and UNFPA Operations (Procurement, Finance, HR, Logistics) to facilitate timely procurement of census equipment, recruitment of national personnel, and field deployment.
2. Stakeholder Coordination & Government Partnership
   • Serve as the primary operational liaison between UNFPA, the Bureau Central du Recensement (BCR), the Institut National de la Statistique (INS), and the Ministry of Planning.
   • Facilitate the functioning of national census governance bodies, including the National Steering Committee (Comité National du Recensement) and Technical Advisory Committees.
   • Foster strategic alignment among key UN agencies to leverage operational synergies, logistics, and field infrastructure across the country.
3. Donor Relations, Resource Mobilization & Financial Management
   • Lead the operational coordination of the multi-donor Fund established to support the census.
   • Coordinate financial and narrative reporting to government, international financial institutions (e.g., World Bank, African Development Bank), bilateral donors, and diplomatic missions.
   • Organize regular donor briefing meetings, prepare high-quality strategic briefs, and drive ongoing resource mobilization efforts to address census budget shortfalls.
   • Monitor budget utilization across project components, ensuring compliance with UNFPA financial rules, donor agreements, and audit standards.
4. Monitoring, Evaluation & Quality Control
   • Establish and maintain a comprehensive Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) framework for the census project.
   • Conduct joint field monitoring missions across provincial capitals and remote zones to verify implementation progress, validate financial/logistical tracking, and report on field challenges.
   • Facilitate mid-term reviews, technical reviews, and independent evaluations of the census project.
5. Technical Team Leadership & Advocacy
   • Supervise and guide international and national project coordination staff, fostering a high-performance, collaborative team culture.
   • Coordinate the development of strategic advocacy and communication plans to build public confidence, citizen participation, and high-level political support for the census.

Qualifications and Experience:

Education:

Advanced University degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in Development Studies, Public Administration, Business Administration, International Relations, Demography, Social Sciences, or a related field.

Knowledge and Experience:

• Minimum of 7 years of progressively responsible professional experience in international program management, project coordination, or operational leadership within the UN system, international organizations, or government frameworks.
• Proven experience coordinating large-scale national development initiatives, population censuses, or large multi-sectoral operations (experience in Sub-Saharan Africa or complex humanitarian/post-conflict settings highly desirable).
• Direct experience in managing multi-donor trust funds, donor reporting (World Bank, EU, bilateral donors), and inter-agency mechanisms.
• Strong working knowledge of UN programming processes, operational procedures, and financial/procurement rules.

Languages:

Fluency in French and working knowledge of English is required.

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
• Communicating for impact

Functional Competencies:

• Programme Management & Coordination
• Resource Mobilization & Donor Relations
• Advocacy & Partner Engagement

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.