Partnership & Advocacy Specialist, Manila, Philippines, P-3

The Position:

The Partnerships & Advocacy Specialist is located in the UNFPA Philippines Country Office. The specialist reports directly to the UNFPA Representative.  Under the overall guidance of the Representative, the Partnerships and Advocacy Specialist leads the Country Office's efforts to strengthen UNFPA's visibility, strategic positioning, and engagement with government, UN agencies, civil society, other development partners, international financial institutions (IFIs), and private sector partners. The incumbent ensures that partnerships, advocacy, and resource mobilization efforts are strategically aligned with the UNFPA Strategic Plan (2022–2025), the Philippines Country Programme Document (CPD9), and the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF).

The Specialist contributes to positioning UNFPA as a key partner in advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), gender equality, and population and development priorities - mobilizing political, technical, and financial support to achieve transformative results.

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 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 Advocacy Specialist will strengthen and manage partnerships and advocacy strategies that elevate UNFPA's thought leadership, influence policy, and leverage resources to advance the national development agenda. The incumbent will drive efforts to promote UNFPA's mandate with national and local governments, the private sector, parliamentarians, media, civil society, IFIs and development partners through evidence-based advocacy and strategic communications and resource mobilization. Additionally, will contribute to the development of communications and advocacy materials and document best practices and lessons learned. 

The Partnership and Advocacy Specialist duties focus on building and sustaining partnerships, advocacy and communications, event and information management, and resource mobilization.

You would be responsible for:

Building and Sustaining Strategic Partnerships

• Lead the design and implementation of the Country Office partnership and resource mobilization strategy aligned with the CPD9 and UNSDCF.
• Identify, engage, and maintain strategic relationships with key government counterparts, development partners, IFIs, UN agencies, civil society, private sector entities, and philanthropic foundations.
• Position the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) as a partner of choice for business by convening and influencing industry to advance Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights and gender equality; aligning corporate assets (capital, data, distribution, expertise) with national priorities and the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework; catalyzing shared-value and blended-finance approaches alongside public funding; and upholding UN principles through principled engagement and due diligence
• Coordinate the preparation of high-quality concept notes, funding proposals, and donor briefs, articulating UNFPA's value proposition and results.
• Monitor partnership performance and ensure compliance with UNFPA policies, donor requirements, and reporting standards.
• Support co-financing and domestic resource mobilization initiatives with government, local partners, and IFIs.
• Coordinate UNFPA convening efforts with public and private partners in flagship initiatives to accelerate our achievements in the CPD9.

Advocacy, Policy Influence, and Communication

• Design and implement advocacy initiatives and campaigns that promote UNFPA's mandate and position the organization as a thought leader on SRHR, gender equality, GBV prevention and response, and adolescent and youth empowerment, in collaboration with the Programme teams.
• Coordinate the preparation of advocacy and communication materials, including policy briefs, talking points, speeches, and social media content in collaboration with the Programme and Operations teams.
• Support the organization of high-level dialogues, forums, and events to raise visibility and promote policy change.
• Foster media engagement and contribute to consistent messaging on UNFPA's priorities and achievements.

Coordination, Knowledge Management, and Representation

• Represent UNFPA in inter-agency and multi-stakeholder coordination mechanisms on partnerships, advocacy, and financing for development.
• Facilitate policy dialogue and contribute to joint initiatives under the UN Country Team, ensuring UNFPA perspectives are integrated.
• Document and disseminate best practices, lessons learned, and success stories in partnerships and advocacy.
• Build the capacity of staff and implementing partners in partnership management and advocacy approaches, sharing updates, policies and procedures.
• Maintain close liaison with APRO and HQ on partnerships, resource mobilization and advocacy units and ensure participation in learning and knowledge exchanges.

Project Management, Reporting, and Accountability

• Ensure timely and quality preparation of donor reports and partnership updates, in coordination with programme and operations teams.
• Support capacity development initiatives delivered by the regional office or HQ by ensuring the integration of country needs and perspective in the trainings 
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date information on partnership pipelines and results.
• Support programme monitoring and evaluation related to advocacy and partnership indicators.
• Contribute to CO reporting requirements including annual reports, donor visibility reports, and knowledge products.
• Perform any other duties as required.
  
   

Qualifications and Experience: 

Education:  

• Advanced university degree in international relations, public policy, development studies, communication, or related field.
  
   

Knowledge and Experience: 

• At least 5 years of progressively responsible experience in partnership building, resource mobilization, and advocacy, preferably within the UN system, international organizations, or development cooperation, required.
• Demonstrated success in developing and managing public partnerships and donor relations, required. 
• Proven experience in advocacy, public and private engagement and strategic communication on gender equality, SRHR, or population issues, is required.
• Experience in proposal development and results-based donor reporting is required.
• Excellent understanding of the Philippine development and policy landscape is a strong asset.
• Demonstrated success closing and delivering corporate partnerships with measurable resource mobilization and shared-value results required
• Familiarity with ESG, corporate philanthropy, and innovative finance instruments; strong commercial acumen and negotiation skills required.
• Experience with private-sector due diligence and risk management in the UN or International Organization context, is desirable.

Languages: 

• Fluency in English required; knowledge of another UN language is desirable.

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,

Functional Competencies:

• Advocacy/advancing a policy-oriented agenda
• Leveraging the resources of national governments and partners
• Building strategic alliances and partnerships
• Resource mobilization and donor relations
• Internal and external communication and media relations
• Client orientation and organizational awareness

Managerial Competencies:

• 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 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.