UN Interview Guide PDF
UN Interview Guide PDF
Dear colleagues,
No woman should die giving life. No girl should be violated or forced into marriage. Information about, and
access to, contraception should be universal. And all human rights of all people need to be respected and protected. Passion,
courage and professionalism are needed to bring about the changes in the lives of women, adolescents, and youth that are
required for the world to prosper.
It is only when we have staff with the right mix of competencies and skills sets that will be able to achieve the mission that had
been entrusted to us.
The updated Competency Framework has been developed as a key piece of the Human Resources transformation initiative to
support UNFPA staff in responding to the innovations and challenges that the revised Strategic Plan, the ICPD Beyond 2014 and
the post-2015 development agenda demand of the organization.
The Competency Framework provides valuable tools to help UNFPA staff improve their own performance, to identify behaviors and
skills sets when scouting for talent; to help the managers assess the performance of their staff and provide coaching in support of
their development, and finally, to recognize positive behaviors and performance that must be recognized and rewarded.
This is the only way we can deliver a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe, and every young person’s
potential is fulfilled.
Babatunde Osotimehin
UNFPA Executive Director
• Overview of Values
UNFPA’s first competency framework was introduced in 1992. Since then, it has served as an
integrating mechanism for all human resources (HR) systems, forming the basis for recruitment
and rotation, career and performance management, staff development and learning, and HR
planning.
In the last years UNFPA has evolved and changed in many ways. The demands and challenges
of implementing the outcomes of the International Conference on Population and Development
(ICPD) have become more complex, along with the realities that UNFPA staff face at the country level.
Expectations from donors, stakeholders and civil society for UNFPA to deliver results are higher
than ever. In response to these challenges, UNFPA developed a new Strategic Plan accompanied
by a new Human Resources Strategy for 2014-2017.
The new Strategic Plan is focused on addressing the unfinished agenda for Cairo with a particular
concentration on sexual and reproductive health. While the world strives to achieve the
Millennium Development Goals by 2015 and define an equally inspiring developing agenda for
post 2015 and ICPD beyond 2020, UNFPA continues to play a key role in building a safer, more
just, sustainable and equitable world for all of us, focusing on:
1. Increasing availability and use of integrated sexual and reproductive health services (including
family planning, maternal health and HIV), that are gender-responsible and meet human rights
standards for quality of care and equity in access.
3. Advanced gender equality, women’s and girl’s empowerment, and reproductive rights,
including for the most vulnerable and marginalized women, adolescents and youth.
Only staff with the right combination of values, competencies and skill sets will be able to
respond to these challenges with the agility, performance and shared responsibility required.
The Strategic Plan for 2014 -2017 and its associated Business Model, as well as the modes
of engagement, set out the impact that UNFPA wants to achieve and the way that UNFPA will
deliver these results. In support of the Strategic Plan and the Human Resources Strategy, the revised
competency framework defines the behaviors and skill sets that will be required from the staff to
achieve these results.
The framework reflects the inputs of staff members across the organization.
Focus groups took place at the country, regional and HQ levels. In addition, an
all-staff survey was held, and a number of group and telephone and one-on-one
consultations were conducted.
The revised competency framework is aligned to the new Strategic Plan for 2015-
2017, to the process of HR Transformation as well as the new Human Resources
Strategy.
The competency framework captures the values and guiding principles, managerial
and leadership priorities, and functional requirements of the organization. It is a guide
for managers and staff to help them understand expected behaviours and skills.
As principles, priorities and requirements are becoming more focused in UNFPA, the
competency framework needs to be adjusted accordingly.
Competencies are defined as skills, knowledge and behaviours that lead to effective
performance on the job, and are therefore important for the success of the organization
as well as that of the individual staff member. They describe the ‘how’, i.e., what
behaviours, skills and knowledge are necessary to successfully meet the requirements
of a given post. Competencies are identified by a label followed
by a brief description of the progression of mastery, and a series of ‘indicators’
reflecting what each competency looks like in action.
• Values
• Core Competencies
• Managerial Competencies
• Functional Skill sets
One additional important consideration is that skill sets are transferable. So, if a staff
member possess some skillsets, this can be used by UNFPA in different types of
positions across the organization.
10 UNFPA’S COMPETENCY FRAMEWORK
WHAT ARE COMPETENCY INDICATORS?
Each of the competencies introduced in this framework are associated with a number
of specific ways it can be exhibited in the workplace.
The lists of positive indicators have been kept deliberately inclusive, in order to fully
capture the many ways in which competencies can be demonstrated. It is not expect-
ed that all of these indicators can or should be expressed on a daily basis—some will
only be demonstrated when given situations call for them.
In addition to a list of positive indicators for every competency, there is also a list
of indicators that shows when the particular competency is not demonstrated. This
second set of indicators can be very helpful in identifying and providing feedback to
staff members who may not be demonstrating a given competency in line with the
expected positive indicators.
We strongly encourage managers and staff members to make use of this tool for the
preparation of the PAD as well as for identifying opportunities for staff development.
The competency framework is a powerful tool for change. It has been specifically
designed to support the achievement of UNFPA’s transformational goals, its strategic
direction and the change sought in organizational culture.
The revised competency framework highlights the holistic nature of the functions and
positions in UNFPA, where staff members need to have a combination of skill sets in
different areas, and when a level of specialization must be accompanied by a good
proficiency in a combination of technical, programmatic and operational areas.
UNFPA’s first competency framework played a very important role in support of HR management,
and served as an integrating mechanism for all HR systems, forming the basis for recruitment and
rotation, career and performance management, staff development and learning, and HR planning.
This updated version comes in a time of very important changes in UNFPA. The new Strategic Plan
for 2014-2017 is setting the priorities and expected outcomes for UNFPA in the following years, and
the competency framework aligned with the new Human Resources Strategy, define what is expected
from the staff.
The new competency framework uses the symbol of an arrow, which reflects the need for UNFPA
to become more effective, more focused and more results oriented. It also reflect the need for plan
- institutional efforts to be directed at achieving the specific objectives established in the business -
commonly referred as “the bulls eye”.
All the efforts have been aligned to a number of changes over the past decade in UNFPA, most
particularly in the strategic priorities of the organization, its organizational structure, and, finally, in the
nature of work itself, and how it is being performed. The revised competency framework has been
designed for a UNFPA that has a clearer focus, and that is more strategic and results oriented.
This approach provides more flexibility in the way that functional skill sets are used. It will allow more
flexibility in job design depending on the country context and the modes of engagement.
The skill sets are “the ingredients”; the Job Description is “the recipe”. Depending on the position and
the mode of engagement to which this position correspond, the most adequate combination of skill
sets will be selected to prepare the Job Description.
PROFESSIONAL
COMPETENCIES
FUNCTIONAL
VALUES
SKILL SETS
MANAGERIAL
COMPETENCIES
All competencies and skill sets, regardless of what type they are, define the abilities,
attributes and behaviours that are expected of effective staff members. They define
not just ‘what’ we do, but ‘how’ we do it.
VALUES
Exemplifying integrity Demonstrating commitment Embracing diversity Embracing change
to UNFPA and the UN system
CORE COMPETENCIES
Achieving Being Developing Thinking Working Communicating
results accountable and applying analytically and in teams / for impact
professional strategically managing our-
expertise selves and rela-
tionships
MANAGERIAL COMPETENCIES
Providing Engaging Leading, Making
strategic vision internal / developing decisions and
and focus external and empowering exercising
partners and people / creating judgment
stakeholders a culture of
performance
Functional skillsets reflect groups of skills required to successfully perform a particular function in the organization.
The combination of skills and competencies is a critical factor to be able to perform successfully
in a particular position at UNFPA.
1) Organizational Leadership and Management: This cluster includes the skillsets necessary to perform
the managerial function in the organization. Typically, these skillsets are applied by managers such as
Representatives, Subregional and Regional Directors, Headquarters Directors, and Heads of Divisions and
Liaison Offices.
2) Programme and Technical Delivery: This cluster includes a combination of skillsets mostly applied by
programme managers, such as Deputy Representatives, Assistant Representatives, and Programme and
Technical Advisers.
3) Operational Excellence: This cluster mostly applies to Operations Managers and the teams in the areas of
operations and management at HQ and in field offices.
4) Organizational Oversight: This cluster is mostly relevant for staff members involved in oversight functions
(evaluation, audit, investigation), those providing related advisory services (legal), and those
dealing with integrity and ethics (ethics).
Competencies are essentially used as standards for job design and to assess candidates throughout
the screening and selection process.
They provide the foundation for the development of position profiles and vacancy notices, assist in
the screening of candidates, and guide the development of interviews for short listed candidates. The
revised competency framework includes a set of positive and negative indicators that provide guidance
in the assessment of competencies during the interviews.
Following the interview, the indicators make possible to provide specific feedback to a candidate, en-
abling his/her ongoing learning and development.
Competencies also enable the organization to train HR managers and staff on the techniques of
competency based interviewing, clearly established as a valid and viable process. The revised Compe-
tency framework will be launched with a set of tools for application, including an e-learning programme
for interview panel members to improve the way interviews are conducted.
Step 1: Define the title of the position (based on function, division, location and level)
Step 2: Include Values (all values apply to all UNFPA positions)
Step 3: Include Core Competencies (all Core competencies apply to all UNFPA positions)
Step 4: If the position has managerial responsibilities /supervise staff, then include managerial competencies.
Step 5: Depending on the function select the skill sets and clusters that apply to this specific position.
Example:
Representatives
Values (Exemplify integrity, Commitment, Clusters 1,2,and 3
Embrace Diversity and change) • Organizational Leadership and direction
• Ensuring Operational Effectiveness and
Core Competencies: accountability for results
• Achieving results • External and internal communication and advocacy for
• Being accountable results mobilization
• Developing and applying professional expertise • Strategically positioning UNFPA programmes in the
• Thinking analytically and strategically country
• Working in teams/managing ourselves and our relationships • Providing conceptual innovation to support
• Communicating for impact programme effectiveness
• Strengthening the programme and technical capacity
Managerial Competencies (Providing strategic focus,
of country offices
Engaging staff and partners, Leading, developing and
• Facilitating quality programmatic results
empowering people/creating a culture of performance, Making
• Aligning Human Resources with the organization’s
decisions and exercise judgment)
strategic direction
21 UNFPA’S COMPETENCY FRAMEWORK
JOB DESIGN & RECRUITMENT(continued)
Deputy Representatives
Values (Exemplify integrity, Commitment, Embrace Diversity Clusters 2,and 3
and change) • Organizational Leadership and direction
• Strategically positioning UNFPA programmes in the
Core Competencies: country
• Achieving results • Providing conceptual innovation to support
• Being accountable programme effectiveness
• Developing and applying professional expertise • Strengthening the programme and technical capacity
• Thinking analytically and strategically of country offices
• Working in teams/managing ourselves and our relationships • Facilitating quality programmatic results
• Communicating for impact
Integrating competencies into the performance management process supports the provision
of feedback to staff members not only on ‘what’ they have accomplished but also on ‘how’ the work
was accomplished.
From the perspective of staff members, integrating competencies into the performance management
process assists them in understanding performance expectations in their current and potential future
positions.
Other benefits of using competencies in performance management include that they provide:
Positive and negative indicators are a powerful tool for coaching . It helps staff members and managers
to identify if competencies are being exhibited and how improve in these areas.
Among the different consequences for the Staff Member the revised competency framework
will contribute to:
• Align the PADs to the behaviors and values critical for moving forward our mandate and
organization,
• Provide more accurate criteria to rate and assess the competencies and values,
• Simplify the PADs, reduce the amount of time required to fill in the PAD form and increase
our focus on the critical elements of performance. The following chart shows what the new
competency framework will look like in the PAD:
Competency frameworks directly support career progression and development in three key ways:
1) they identify the competencies required to move into positions of managerial responsibility
2) they provide a full range of functional skillsets expected within each of the three Skill Set Clusters
3) they outline the competencies to be developed if a staff member would like to move laterally into a
position in one of the other clusters.
Other benefits of using competencies in career progression and development include that they:
• Enable people to focus on the skills, knowledge, and characteristics that have the most impact
on effectiveness
• Ensure that training and development opportunities are aligned with organizational values and
strategies
• Make the most effective use of training and development time and dollars
Value-based competencies provide the basis for a shared understanding and workplace
demonstration of UNFPA’s values. Most are also part of the Standards of Conduct for international
Civil Servants.
Exemplifying integrity
Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA
VALUES and the UN system
Embracing cultural diversity
Embracing change
• Are transparent in their actions and follow • Are ambiguous when setting expectations and
through their commitments direction, allowing others to act in an unethical or
compromising manner to achieve desired results
• Are trustworthy and, keep their promises and
do not compromise their ethics • Are not trustworthy; do not keep promises, or
compromise on ethics
• Use their power to achieve results for UNFPA
and not for personal gain • Use the power of their position or personal
influence to make others act in an unethical manner
• Act in a respectful manner with colleagues and
external parties • Undermine others to benefit their own personal
standing or position
• Role model the Standards of Conduct for the • Behave in contravention of the Standards of
International Civil Service Conduct for the International Civil Service
• Follow through on commitments and take • Do not follow up on commitments, or do not take
responsibility when unable to fulfil them responsibility when unable to fulfil them
• Exemplify integrity and do not abuse their
managerial position in the exercise of power or • Do not exhibit integrity, abuse their managerial
authority position in the exercise of power or authority
• Recognize ethical dilemmas and conflicts of • Do not acknowledge ethical dilemmas or conflicts
interest, and seek advice or support to resolve of interest, and do not resolve situations in which
them these conflicts arise
• Resist undue political or personal pressure in • Fail to resist political or personal pressure in human
practices and all other activities resource practices and all other activities
BOOKS
• The Accountable Organization: Reclaiming Integrity, Restoring Trust: (2004) by John Marchica;
Consulting Psychologists Press – This book shows how to identify an organization’s values and
purpose, integrate them into a strategic plan, and develop a focused road map for execution that
provides clarity, defines performance standards and much more.
• High Performance with High Integrity; (2008) by Ben W.Heineman Jr; Harvard Business School
Publishing – Concise and insightful, this book provides a corporate blueprint for creating a culture
of integrity through exemplary leadership, transparency, incentives and processes, not just rules and
penalties.
• Integrity works: Strategies for Becoming a Trusted, Respected :and Admired Leader; (2005) by Dana
Telford and Adrian Gostick; Gibbs Smith – A leader who wants to be trusted, followed and admired
must act with integrity. Harvard researcher and lecturer Dana Telford and bestselling author Adrian
Gostick explain ten principles of integrity that are proven to enhance loyalty and the bottom line.
• Demonstrate adherence to the rules and policies • Set an example that does not adhere to the rules
of UNFPA and policies of UNFPA
• Demonstrate a genuine passion for their work and • Lack genuine passion for their work and for the
for the work of the organization mission, vision, and values of the UN and of UNFPA
• Place the interests of the organization above their • Place their own interest above the interest of the
own organization
• Draw others into active, enthusiastic commitment • Are skeptical and do not convey enthusiasm for
to UNFPA’s mandate UNFPA mandate
35 UNFPA’S COMPETENCY FRAMEWORK
DEMONSTRATING COMMITMENT TO UNFPA AND THE UN SYSTEM
(CONTINUED)
• Exemplify adherence to the rules and policies of • Do not lead by example by practicing behaviours
UNFPA that do not adhere to the rules and policies of
UNFPA
• Inspire their teams to demonstrate passion for
their work and the work of the organization • Speak negatively about past and present members
of the team, or disclose private information
• Place the interests of the organization above about them or allow this behaviour in their teams;
theirs, encourage their teams to act in the same do not encourage respectful behaviour in their
way and take corrective actions when this does not teams
happen
BOOKS
• The Accountable Organization: Reclaiming Integrity, Restoring Trust: (2004) by John Marchica;
Consulting Psychologists Press – This book shows how to identify an organization’s values and
purpose, integrate them into a strategic plan, and develop a focused road map for execution that
provides clarity, defines performance standards and much more.
• Intrinsic Motivation at Work: What Really Drives Employee Engagement: (2009) by Kenneth W.
Thomas, Berrett- Koehler Publishers
• Skillsoft: The Committed Enterprise: How to Make Vision and Values Work
• Skillsoft: Influence: Gaining Commitment; Getting Results: For The Practicing Manager
• Actively promote diversity and gender equality; - Failing to listen fully to colleagues, interrupting
encourage and ensure that their team members conversations frequently, being dismissive of
regularly review mandatory courses with guidance undermining differing views, beliefs or mannerisms
on handling cultural diversity (see Resources) certain colleagues’ views
44 UNFPA’S COMPETENCY FRAMEWORK
EMBRACING CULTURAL DIVERSITY
RESOURCES TO STRENGTHEN THIS VALUE
CAREER FITNESS PORTAL
• Avoid Discrimination: https://portal.myunfpa.org/web/dhr/avoiding-discrimination
• Working Abroad: https://portal.myunfpa.org/web/dhr/working-abroad
BOOKS
• Making Diversity Work: seven Steps for Defeating Bias in the Workplace; (2003) by Sondra Thiederman;
Kaplan Publishing –The author provides strategies for becoming aware of our biases, learning how to
overcome them, and avoiding relapses.
• Building on the Promise of Diversity: How We can Move to the Next Level in Our Workplaces, Our
Communities, and Our Society;(2006) by R. Roosevelt Thomas, Jr., 2006, AMACOM.
• Developing Competency to Manage Diversity: Readings, Cases & Activities; (1997) by Taylor H. Cox, Jr.
and Ruby L. Beale, Berrett-Koehler Publishers.
• Skillsoft: Beyond Race and Gender: Unleashing the Power of Your Total Work Force by Managing Diversity.
• Skillsoft: Capitalizing On Workplace Diversity: A Practical Guide to Organizational Success Through Diversity
• Diversity on the Job: The Importance of Diversity and the Changing Workplace
• Diversity on the Job: The Importance of Diversity and the Changing Workplace
• Demonstrate flexibility through openness, critical • Are static in behaviours and thoughts about how the
thinking and the ability to accept feedback organization should function; rely heavily on what
‘has been’ and not on what ‘could be’ by not
• Examine their own resistance towards change, accepting feedback and being open to change
and take steps to become more open and involved
• Prefer to remain resistant and not get involved in a
• Take initiative to be innovative through change process
experimentation with resources, research
development and testing of new technologies
• Attend training opportunities to learn more skills • Do not attend training opportunities to move to
and take on different positions in the workplace different career positions
• Identify individual, team and organizational • Remain static in their thoughts and their way of
resistance to change, and provide employees with doing things; do not recognize the need for
support and assistance to overcome resistance change and decline feedback that encourages
and make the change process more enjoyable change
• Coordinate change initiatives that actively involve • Decrease employee satisfaction by ordering
all organizational members and increase employees to make changes without including them
employee commitment in the change process
• Provide training to employees so that they obtain • Fail to foster change by not providing employees
the skills necessary to reach their goals and with training or encouragement to bring forward
change objectives new ideas
BOOKS
• Survival is Not Enough: Why Smart Companies Abandon Worry and Embrace Change, by Seth
Godin, 2002.
Achieving results
Being accountable
CORE Developing and applying professional
COMPETENCIES
expertise/business acumen
Thinking analytically and strategically
Working in teams/managing ourselves and
our relationships
Communicating for impact
• Set challenging and realistic performance goals • Are more concerned with being busy than obtaining
measurable results
• Plan their work carefully
• Set vague or unrealistic goals that are better
• Effectively manage their time and deliver high characterized as “dreams” or “wishes”
quality work
• Get off track and are easily thwarted by obstacles
• Adapt to changing situations, re-evaluating their and distractions
work as required
• Are unwilling to confront change and adapt
• Strive to improve their performance and achieve sufficiently to it
high personal and professional standards of
excellence
BOOKS
• The Accountable Organization: Reclaiming Integrity, Restoring Trust: (2004) by John Marchica; Consulting
Psychologists Press – This book shows how to identify an organization’s values and purpose, integrate them
into a strategic plan, and develop a focused road map for execution that provides clarity, defines performance
standards and much more.
• Skillsoft: The Influence Edge: How to Persuade Others to Help You Achieve Your Goals
• Skillsoft: The Book of Agreement: 10 Essential Elements for Getting the Results You Want
• Performance Continuously
• Performance Reviews
• Are productive and carry their fair share of the • Have difficulty being productive and contributing
team’s workload to the team’s effort by carrying their fair share of
the workload
• Take responsibility for their contribution to
outcomes and to team performance • Make excuses for mistakes
• Use assigned resources in the most cost effective • Have difficulty accurately estimating required
way and find ways to increase efficiency wherever resources; fail to modify plans in order to improve
possible upon inefficiencies
BOOKS
• The Accountable Organization: Reclaiming Integrity, Restoring Trust: (2004) by John Marchica; Consulting
Psychologists Press – This book shows how to identify an organization’s values and purpose, integrate them
into a strategic plan, and develop a focused road map for execution that provides clarity, defines performance
standards and much more.
• Results Without Authority: Controlling a Project When the Team Doesn’t Report to You, by Tom Kendrik, 2012.
• Stay informed of policies and best practices in • Appear oblivious of new or cutting-edge practices;
their subject area and integrate them into current do not value continuous or on-going education and
projects and processes development
• Share their personal knowledge and experience • Do not encourage others to share personal
and encourage others to do the same knowledge and only focus on their own knowledge
and experience
• Promote standardized models of working (for
example, guidelines) that have some level of • Have difficulty finding inspiration for work and
flexibility translating ideas into outputs
BOOKS
• Shift to Professional Paradise: 5 Steps to Less Stress, More Energy & Remarkable Results at Work;(2008) by Vicky
Hess; Corner Stone Leadership Institute- Real wold examples, exercises and interactive tools to help your team
developing skills to connect more positively with customers and co-workers.
• Becoming the Best (1998) by T. Peters and R. Waterman, 1998, Harper Collins.
• Conveying a Quality Image via E-Mail. Learn how to convey a quality image via e-mail.
(Skillsoft available in ELMS).
BOOKS
• Leading change: Why Transformations Fail by J.Kotter, 1995, Harvard Business Review.
• Skillsoft: Identity And Strategy: How Individual Visions Enable the Design of a Market Strategy that Works
• Thinking Strategically
• Are reliable and supportive of other team • Provide confidential and/or privileged information
members, welcome requests for assistance and to others; engage in gossip or other
help others succeed counterproductive behaviors that erode team
cohesiveness
• Keep team members informed of issues that
impact them and consistently seek and give
feedback
• Are able to ‘read ‘ situations, and choose • View job performance in an isolated manner versus
appropriate and effective behaviours in response considering how actions impact others and
contribute to broader objectives
• Avoid emotional displays that may exacerbate
difficult situations or interfere with effective • Findit acceptable to withhold information or be
working relationships untruthful
• Tolerate conditions of stress, uncertainty or • Become overly emotional and do not understand
ambiguity, and continue to maintain a positive how their emotions impact others
outlook and work productively
• Areunaware of or have an inaccurate
understanding of their own strengths and
weaknesses
• Create a climate of enthusiasm and flexibility, • Become overly emotional and do not understand
where people feel encouraged to give their best how their emotions impact others
• Typically focus on opportunities rather than • Havethe inability to tolerate conditions of stress,
threats in the organizational environment, driving uncertainty or ambiguity
towards results and positive change
• Set
unrealistic goals and limits, and do not rely on
support mechanisms
• Improving
Your Communication Skills: https://portal.myunfpa.org/web/dhr/improving-your-
communication-skills.
• Career Fitness Portal: How Good Are Your Communication Skills? A quiz:
http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newCS_99.htm.
• Career Fitness Portal: Good Manners at the Office: https://portal.myunfpa.org/web/dhr/goodmanners-in-
the-office.
73 UNFPA’S COMPETENCY FRAMEWORK
WORKING IN TEAMS / MANAGING OURSELVES AND OUR
RELATIONSHIPS(CONTINUED)
RESOURCES TO STRENGTHEN THIS COMPETENCY
BOOKS
• Interpersonal
Communication: Relating to Others, 7th edition, by Steven A. Beebe, Susan J.
Beebe and Mark V. Redmond, 2013.
• Skill
Builder Workbook for Interpersonal Communication: Relating to Others, by Steven A.
Beebe, Susan J. Beebe and Mark V. Redmond, 2010.
E-LEARNING
• Managing Your Career: Creating a Plan
E-LEARNING
• Managing Your Career: Professional Networking Essentials
• Empower staff to communicate UNFPA’s vision • Donot exemplify ‘speaking with one voice’ by
and programming activities both internally and pro-actively sharing communication best practices
externally and case studies that illustrate UNFPA’s vision
and
• Stay informed of corporate priorities and mission internally across the organization
initiatives by regularly visiting and participating in
internal communication channels and events • Donot empower staff to communicate UNFPA’s
vision and programming activities both internally
• Participatein available communication-focused and externally
trainings, including speaking with the media,
understanding digital media, communication • Donot stay informed of corporate priorities; do
basics, etc., to enhance knowledge and skills not see the connection between their job and
organizational priorities
BOOKS
• PeopleSkills: How to Assert Yourself, Listen to Others , and Resolve Conflicts; (1979) by Robert
Bolton, NY. Simon and Schuster.
• Communicationin Organizations, by Corinne Leech and Kate Williams, 2005, Elsevier Science
and Technology Books, INC.
• Talk
Less, Say More: Three Habits to influence Others and Make Things Happen. By Connie
Dieken.
• Understand UNFPA’s overall vision and mission, • Develop a vague vision that is not aligned with
and how it relates to external stakeholders, overall organizational strategies or the UNFPA
including media, partners, donors, NGOs and mandate
other priority audiences
• Operate in a ‘thought vacuum’; analyzing only
• Developa vision and strategy for the work unit, what is most directly relevant to the immediate
based on the broader organizational vision situation, not based on the broader UNFPA vision
• Translate
the vision into a clear strategic • Direct action and resources towards activities and
framework, making concepts concrete projects that may be worthwhile, but do not
contribute to achieving strategic priorities or
• Provide clear direction on priorities goal-directed outcomes
• Mentoring: https://portal.myunfpa.org/web/dhr/mentoring
BOOKS
• First Thing First, by Stephen Covey, 2003, Free Press.
• TheCenter for Creative Leadership Handbook of Leadership Development, by Ellen Van Velsor,
Cynthia D. McCauley and Marian N. Ruderman, 2010.
• How to Grow Leaders: The Seven Key Principles of Effective Development (The John Adair Leade),
by John Adair, 2009.
• Performance Reviews
• Mentoring Effectively
• Mentoring as a Manager
• Demonstrate an awareness of the concerns and • Donot make an effort to gain an understanding
strategies of stakeholders at all levels (internal of what motivates partners and stakeholders, or
and externally) make an effort to get to know their personal and
career goals
• Stayinformed of the current priorities of partners
and stakeholders, and respond appropriately to • Do
little to promote or encourage partners to
changes in their positions demonstrate respect and a service orientation
• Takea focused and long-term approach to • Takea vague and short-term approach to
investing in relationships with stakeholders, investing in relationships with stakeholders, and
maintaining constructive expectations of them do not maintain constructive expectations of them
even in the face of adversity
• Expressa negative attitude to participating in
networking activities; participate only when
absolutely necessary
87 UNFPA’S COMPETENCY FRAMEWORK
ENGAGING INTERNAL/EXTERNAL PARTNERS AND STAKEHOLDERS
(CONTINUED)
BOOKS
• The
Power of Coaching...Engaging Excellence in Others!, by P MacDonald Machen and Patti
McKenna, 2007.
• The Influence Matrix: Strategies for Engaging Others to Get Results, by Joan Wood, 2012.
• Engaging the Hearts and Minds of All Your Employees: How to Ignite Passionate Performance for
Better Business, by Lee Colan, 2008.
• Empower staff to communicate UNFPA’s vision • Are disinterested in learning about the values,
and programming activities both internally and interests and needs of others
externally
• Make decisions without considering the ideas of
• Provide
helpful guidance and support to team others or the impact those decisions will have on
members for their career development others
• Facilitate
dialogue between team members, • Assign tasks rather than responsibility and
using tact and diplomacy to manage decision-making power
interpersonal conflicts
• Micromanage employees; provide too much
• Allocate
time to work with staff on matters of instruction and/or follow-up; do not realize that
substance there may be many paths to achieving desired
outcomes
• Empower staff through appropriate delegation—
do not micromanage • Do not provide sufficient resources to help
employees experience success
• Donot hesitate to assess staff member • Communicate negative information to the extent
performance at below satisfactory levels when staff that it damages morale
members have not improved their performance
despite regular and consistently constructive
feedback
• TheLeadership Challenge, Fourth Edition, by Hames M.Kouzes and Barry Z Posner, 2008,
John Wiley and Sons (US)
• The Three Leadership Roles. Skillsoft.
• The Three Myths Regarding Leadership. Skillsoft.
• Progressive Leadership. Skillsoft.
This competency deals with making appropriate and timely decisions that are
in the best interests of the organization.
BOOKS
• Smart Choices: A Practical Guide to Making Better Decisions, by John S. Hammond, Ralph
L. Keeney and Howard Raiffa, 2002.
• The
Decision Book: 50 Models for Strategic Thinking, by Mikael Krogerus, Roman
Tschäppeler, Philip Earnhart and Jenny Piening, 2012.
• Making Smart Decisions, 2011, Harvard Business Review Paperback Series.
• Wharton
on Making Decisions, by Stephen J. Hoch, Howard C. Kunreuther and Robert E.
Gunther, 2004.
Organizational Leadership
SKILL Programme and Technical Delivery
SETS Operational Excellence
Organizational Oversight
One of the goals in developing the new framework has been to intentionally link UNFPA competencies to
those of the Resident Coordinator (RC) system in order to increase staff awareness of requirements for
this potential career path and encourage staff development. This is demonstrated below.
As noted above, the functional skillsets are divided in four clusters:
2) Programme and Technical Delivery: This cluster includes a combination of skillsets mostly applied by
programme managers, such as Deputy Representatives, Assistant Representatives, and Programme and Technical
Advisers.
3) Operational Excellence: This cluster mostly applies to Operations Managers and the teams in the
areas of Operations and Management at HQ and in field offices.
4) Organizational Oversight: This cluster is mostly relevant for staff members involved in oversight
functions (evaluation, audit, investigation), those providing related advisory services (legal), and those
dealing with integrity and ethics (ethics).
Global Focus
Global leadership and advocacy for ICPD √
Strategically positioning UNFPA programmes √
Providing conceptual innovation to support pro-
gramme effectiveness
√
Mobilizing resources √
105 UNFPA’S COMPETENCY FRAMEWORK
FUNCTION SKILL SETS CLUSTER 1 CLUSTER 2 CLUSTER 3 CLUSTER 4
MANAGEMENT
SERVICES
Managing the organizations financial resources √
Developing ICT standards and applications √
Providing procurement services √
Ensuring facilities and assets management √
HUMAN
RESOURCES
Aligning human resources management with the
organization’s strategic direction
√
ORGANIZATIONAL
OVERSIGHT
Assessing fraud prevention and detection √
mechanisms set in place by management
Conducting investigations into allegations of √
wrongdoing
SAFETY AND
SECURITY
A skill set is a particular category of skills necessary to perform a job.Functional skills are acquired through a
combination of academic qualification, work experience and exposure. The functional skill sets might be required
in more than one function at UNFPA; this is why the skill sets are transferable.
The level of skill set mastery changes depending on specific positions. Some positions are highly
technical and require a strong concentration of a specific technical skills. Others will be more holistic and
call for a mixture of different skills. Specific requirements in terms of skill sets, values and competencies
are included in job profiles and descriptions.
The following list of skill sets is not exhaustive and does not replace job profiles or descriptions.
The objective of including the list is to help staff members understand what types of skills might
be necessary to perform different functions.
Staff members interested in specific combinations of skill sets and competencies for particular
functions need to consult the list of job profiles and descriptions available on the Division of
Human Resources webpage, in the PAD system and in job vacancies.
This competency is about building the effectiveness with which UNFPA exercises
global leadership and advocacy for ICPD goals.
The Executive Director, Deputy Executive Directors OED Staff Who Demonstrate This
And Other Members Of The Executive Committee: Competency:
• Exercise leadership and build consensus for the • Assist and support the ED, DEDs and other
achievement of ICPD goals within the UN system members of the Executive Committee in their role
and among partners, governments and civil of exercising global leadership and advocacy for
society ICPD goals
• Provide conceptual leadership for global • Identify opportunities for global advocacy
leadership and advocacy for ICPD goals and
promote global strategies for achieving them • Identify and analyze emerging trends or issues
requiring the attention of the ED, DEDs or other
• Dialogue with national counterparts to strengthen members of the Executive Committee
advocacy for ICPD goals, incorporating global
perspectives; serve as global advocates for the
goals of the ICPD
• ICPD Beyond 2014 Review & Post 2015 Development Agenda Platform:
https://portal.myunfpa.org/web/icpd-beyond-2014-review-toolkit/home
BOOKS
• Programme of Action Adopted at the International Conference on Population and
Development, 5-13 September 1994, Cairo.
E-LEARNING
• Making Decisions Ethically Distance Learning in Population Issues (DLPI)
https://portal.myunfpa.org/web/dhr/learning_career
The Executive Director, Deputy Executive Directors OED Staff Who Demonstrate This
And Other Members Of The Executive Committee: Competency:
• Promote better understanding of UNFPA’s
strategic agenda with global partners and build
consensus on major initiatives
BOOKS
• The Accountable Organization: Reclaiming Integrity, Restoring Trust, by John
Marchica, 2004, Consulting Psychologists Press. This book shows how to identify
an organization’s values and purpose, integrate them into a strategic plan, and
develop a focused road map for execution that provides clarity, defines
performance standards and much more.
• The Heart of Change Field Guide, by Dan Cohen, 2005, Harvard Business School Press
E-LEARNING
• Business Coaching: Getting Ready to Coach
• Business Coaching: Coaching Sessions
The Executive Director, Deputy Executive Directors OED Staff Who Demonstrate This
And Other Members Of The Executive Committee: Competency:
• Ensure that organizational resources are employed • Assistand support the ED, DEDs and other
effectively and redeployed when necessary members of the Executive Committee in their
role of ensuring operational effectiveness and
• Provide conceptual leadership for efficiency of accountability for results
operations at HQ and in the field
• Identify opportunities for enhancing effectiveness
• Guide and promote the establishment of and efficiency
accountability systems that review activities and
goals against strategies
The Executive Director, Deputy Executive Directors OED Staff Who Demonstrate This
And Other Members Of The Executive Committee: Competency:
• Directthe organization’s activities in line with its
vision, strategic direction and plans
BOOKS
• The Nonprofit Outcomes Toolbox: A Complete Guide to Program Effectiveness,
Performance Measurement, and Results, by Robert M. Penna, 2011.
• Closingthe Execution Gap: How Great Leaders and Their Companies Get Results, by
Richard Lepsinger, 2010.
E-LEARNING
• The Communication of a Shared Vision
• Leadership Essentials: Communicating Vision
• Leadership Essentials: Building Your Influence as a Leader
• Thinking Strategically
• Sustaining Competitive Advantage
• Planning and Implementing a Business Strategy
Deputy Representatives
Assistant Representatives
Programme and Technical Division Director and Deputies in HQ
Programme and Technical Division Team In HQ
Programme and Technical Specialists/Advisers in Regional/Subregional Offices
National Programme Officers
Junior Professional Officers
Programme Analysts
Programme Associate
Staff Who Demonstrate This Competency: Managers who demonstrate this competency:
• Develop and maintain a functioning network of • Advocate for the inclusion of population and
contacts in the media and civil society to promote development, and reproductive health concerns in
a better understanding of UNFPA’s mandate and the public policy agenda
to support advocacy efforts
• Bringvisibility and sensitize decision makers to
• Prioritize strategic communication by creating and relevant emerging issues
seizing external and internal opportunities to
convey UNFPA’s unified messaging to priority • Build
consensus concerning UNFPA’s strategic
audiences, towards increased awareness of agenda with partners on joint initiatives
issues
and the visibility of the organization • Leverage UNFPA’s international multidisciplinary
expertise to influence the shape of policies and
• Create and/or convey evidence-based advocacy programmes
messages
122 UNFPA’S COMPETENCY FRAMEWORK
ADVOCACY/ADVANCING A POLICY-ORIENTED AGENDA
(CONTINUED)
• Create
and/or contribute to the elaboration of an • Dialogue with national counterparts and regional
advocacy strategy by identifying and prioritizing intergovernmental bodies to strengthen advocacy
audiences and messages efforts, incorporating country, regional and global
perspectives
• Performanalysis of political situations and
scenarios • Demonstrate cultural sensitivity, political savvy and
intellectual capacity in handling disagreements
with UNFPA’s policy agenda in order to promote
and position UNFPA in an adverse and hostile
environment
BOOKS
• Managing Sustainable Development Programmes: A Learning Approach to Change,
by Brulin Goran and Lennart Svensson, 2012.
• Participatory
Development: From Advocacy to Action, by Hartmut Schneider and
Marie-Helene Libercier, 1995, Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and
Development (OECD).
E-LEARNING
• The Communication of a Shared Vision
• Leadership Essentials: Communicating Vision
• Leadership Essentials: Building Your Influence as a Leader
• Thinking Strategically
• Sustaining Competitive Advantage
• Planning and Implementing a Business Strategy
Staff Who Demonstrate This Competency: Managers who demonstrate this competency:
• Effectively network with partners, seizing • Buildalliances with non-traditional sectors, including
opportunities to build strategic alliances with the private sector, by translating UNFPA’s agenda
institutions and individuals relevant to UNFPA’s into messages that reflect the pertinence of their
mandate and strategic agenda values and interests
BOOKS
• Influencer: The Power to Change Anything, by Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny,
David Maxfield, Ron McMillan and Al Switzler, 2007.
• Crucial
Conversations Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High, second edition,
by Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan and Al Switzler, 2011.
E-LEARNING
• The Communication of a Shared Vision
• Leadership Essentials: Communicating Vision
• Leadership Essentials: Building Your Influence as a Leader
• Thinking Strategically
• Sustaining Competitive Advantage
• Planning and Implementing a Business Strategy
Staff Who Demonstrate This Competency: Managers who demonstrate this competency:
• Understand UNFPA’s overall vision and mission • Provide leadership in fundraising strategies and
and how it relates to external stakeholders, activities to ensure a stable resource base for
including donors, the private sector and other the organization
priority audiences.
• Develop partnerships with potential donors and
• Create and seize opportunities to use UNFPA’s government counterparts in all sectors at
unified messaging to speak to priority audiences country level
to increase awareness of issues and support for
the organization • Consult with the multilateral and bilateral donor
community for co-financing and contributions
• Analyze information on potential bilateral donors to emergency services
and national counterparts to recommend a
strategic approach
• Identify
country needs and develop proposals to • Develop partnerships with the private sector and
be presented to donors and governments foundations in developing the resource
mobilization strategy
• Developa resource mobilization strategy at
country level
E-LEARNING
• The Communication of a Shared Vision
• Sustaining Competitive Advantage
• Planning and Implementing a Business Strategy
Staff Who Demonstrate This Competency: Managers who demonstrate this competency:
• ApplyRBM standard practices (e.g., targets, • Ensure that UNFPA’s global and regional institutional
baselines, indicators) priorities and policy and programming guidelines
are taken into account in country-level programming
• Monitor specific stages of programme processes
implementation and progress towards predefined
milestones • Use findings from RBM practices for decision-making
• Analyze the country situation to identify • Identify country needs and strategies for the
opportunities for project development programme, using an evidence-based approach
• Participate
in the formulation of programme • Ensure the full implementation of country
proposals and ensure substantive rigor in the programme and financial resources to obtain
design and application of proven successful results
approaches
• Conceptualize innovative, results-oriented
• Implementwork adjustments based on lessons programmes, and hold themselves
from monitoring progress accountable for outcomes
BOOKS
• Results-BasedLeadership, by Dave Ulrich, Jack Zenger and Norman
Smallwood, 1999.
E-LEARNING
• Results-Based Management ELMS: https://portal.myunfpa.org/web/dhr/learning_career
Staff Who Demonstrate This Competency: Managers who demonstrate this competency:
• Develop and disseminate environmental scanning • Seek regional, global and technical perspectives on
tools and procedures for analyzing environments; strategic positioning issues
perform environmental scanning at global and
regional levels • Identify and communicate global and regional
programme priorities, milestones, timelines,
• Contribute to the development and monitoring of performance measures and accountabilities
the Strategic Plan
• Coordinate global and regional priorities, planning
• Ensure linkages between global and regional and performance
programmes, and the Strategic Plan, as well as
to Country Programmes • Follow through on all stages of UNFPA’s business
plan from planning to implementing, monitoring,
evaluating and reporting
• Contribute to the development of global and • Revise goals and plans to reflect changing
regional institutional priorities priorities or conditions
BOOKS
• Strategic
Thinking: A Nine Step Approach to Strategy and Leadership for
Managers and Marketers, by Simon Wootton and Terry Horne, 2010.
E-LEARNING
• GreatCourses (Teaching Company) Strategic Thinking Skills DVD (Course 5913), by Prof.
Stanley Ridgley, 2012.
Staff Who Demonstrate This Competency: Managers who demonstrate this competency:
• Identify opportunities for conceptual innovation • Promote conceptual innovation in the provision of
technical expertise
• Analyze ongoing trends, evolving needs and
emerging issues to identify appropriate responses • Lobby for the resources required for conceptual
for capacity-building innovation
• Develop innovative and creative approaches to • Engage development partners in conceptual and
meet programme and capacity development methodological innovation that is pertinent to global,
objectives regional and national contexts
Staff Who Demonstrate This Competency: Managers who demonstrate this competency:
• Master the use of the organization’s knowledge • Lead in defining and prioritizing the organization’s
and information system knowledge needs
This competency is about providing technical leadership and strategic direction to ensure
that the ICPD programme of Action is firmly placed within the global development and
humanitarian response agenda, including the MDGs trends and initiatives.
The technical support influences the population and reproductive health research agenda,
establishes the substantive priorities of UNFPA, identify substantive partnerships,
contributes directly to the state of the art technical knowledge of the UNFPA’s mandate and
ensure the evidence-based programming to ensure that operational activities are carried out
in line with corporate standards of quality.
The technical skillsets involve substantive knowledge of UNFPA’s areas of work (including
Reproductive Health, Population and Development and Gender) and of the approaches
and methods to effect change at population level by strengthening national capacity and
supporting programme scale-up (epidemiology, demography, public health, management,
approaches to national capacity strengthening).
Staff Who Demonstrate This Competency: Managers who demonstrate this competency:
• Position strategically UNFPA programmes by • Act as UNFPA-wide champions of RBM practices
providing conceptual innovation.
• Demonstrate that decision-making is based on
• Build a solid edge knowledge and consistently evidence and good RBM practices
link knowledge with an strategic vision
• Create an environment that rewards good RBM
• Provide technical guidance and tools to improve practices, such as seeking out staff members
the quality of UNFPA programmatic engagement. who display RBM-based behaviour and appropriately
recognizing them
• Develop operating standard procedures and
guidance, aimed at the integration of • Advise senior management on findings of analysis of
programmes and services provided as per UNFPA programme performance
mandate.
• Report on results/impact of programmes at global level
• Build Capacities of staff and partners at all level Ensure the state of the art technical/programming capacity
to analyze, assess and design interventions with to ensure that UNFPA becomes the leader (go to) agency in
impact. areas of our mandate.
• Lend programming practice to a range of policy • Provide technical leadership for the promotion and
making interventions. implementation of the ICPD in the context of a Global
Agenda and the MDGs within and outside UNFPA,
• Assess overall technical performance to identify including the identification of strategic priorities and
success factors and compile and share a list positioning on substantive areas.
of good practices within UNFPA and externally with
partners • Provide technical leadership to advance and strengthen
capacity in programme areas related to population and
• Document and disseminate lessons learned reproductive health issues within a global technical network.
• Identify ‘best practices’ and apply them to programme • Identify UNFPAs substantive role and specific contribution
development in the broad and changing development agenda.
• Monitor overall alignment of programmes with the • Contribute to substantive institutional and inter regional
strategic plan and organizational priorities capacity development
• Facilitator Guide For The Workshop on Reproductive Health Commodity Security (RHCS)
• Human Rights Based Approach to Programming which has Practical Information and Training
materials (although lengthy, can be used a key reference source regarding HRBA and its application
to UNFPA issues): http://www.unfpa.org/public/publications/pid/4919
• The inter-agency e-learning course on gender which was designed by UNDP, UNFPA,
UNICEF and UN Women entitled Gender Equality, UN Coherence and You:
http://www.unicef.org/gender/training/content/scoIndex.html
Staff Who Demonstrate This Competency: Managers who demonstrate this competency:
• Provide high-quality, integrated technical and • Provide high-level policy-related support for advocacy
programme support to Country Offices and and policy dialogue
partners
• Ensure the allocation of human and financial resources
• Provide support and guidance on programming
policies, tools and systems
Women and Girls & HIV Agenda for Accelerated Country Action for Women, Girls, Gender Equality, and HIV
http://www.unaids.org/en/media/unaids/contentassets/documents unaidspublication/
2010/20100226_jc1794_agenda_for_accelerated_country_action_en.pdf
Prevention And Treatment Of HIV And Other Sexually Transmitted Infections For Sex
Workers In Low- And Middle- Income Countries:
http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/77745/1/9789241504744_eng.pdf
HIV & Young People Global Guidance Briefs – HIV Interventions for Young People
http://www.unfpa.org/webdav/site/global/groups/youth/public/EN-GlobalGuidancekit.pdf
Comprehensive Condom HIV Prevention Gains Momentum: Success in Female Condom Programming
Programming http://www.unfpa.org/public/op/edit/home/publications/pid/7668
WEBSITES:
www.allaboutcondoms.org
www.TheCondomizeCampaign.org
PREVENTION: https://portal.myunfpa.org/web/myunfpa/issue-briefs/-/wiki/Main/
Intensifying+HIV+Prevention
CONDOM: https://portal.myunfpa.org/web/myunfpa/issue-briefs/-/wiki/Main/
Comprehensive+Condom+Programming
Staff Who Demonstrate This Competency: Managers who demonstrate this competency:
• Analyze key programming issues • Act as UNFPA-wide champions for RBM practices
• Manage conduct of independent evaluations and • Demonstrate that decision-making is based on evidence
disseminate findings throughout UNFPA and good RBM practices
using internal channels of communication and
knowledge-sharing • Create an environment that rewards good RBM practices,
such as seeking out staff members who display RBM-
• Assess overall programme performance to identify based behaviour and appropriately recognizing them
success factors and compile a list of good
practices • Advise senior management on findings of analysis of
programme performance
• Utilize/disseminate RBM standard practices (e.g.,
targets, baselines, indicators) • Report on results/impact of programmes at global level
• Human Rights Based Approach to Programming which has Practical Information and
Training materials (although lengthy, can be used a key reference source regarding HRBA
and its application to UNFPA issues): http://www.unfpa.org/public/publications/pid/4919
• Highlights of the MDG Achievement Fund’s report Review of Key Findings and Achievements:
Culture and Development: http://www.mdgfund.org/sites/all/themes/custom/undp_2/docs/
thematic_studies/English/CultureThematic_Study_5-pager_Final_Link.pdf
1. Participant Guide For The Workshop on Reproductive Health Commodity Security (RHCS)
2. Facilitator Guide For The Workshop on Reproductive Health Commodity Security (RHCS)
7. Ten Good Practices in Essential Supplies for FP and Maternal Health: http://www.unfpa.org/
public/home/publications/pid/11457
• Mobilizing resources
Staff Who Demonstrate This Competency: Managers who demonstrate this competency:
• Prepare evidence-based communication for • Advocate for increased resources at international
global advocacy and national levels
• Perform analysis of political situations and • Provide conceptual leadership for global leadership
scenarios, and contribute to the formulation of and advocacy for ICPD goals, and promote global
institutional responses strategies for achieving them
• Advocate for increased priority given to • Dialogue with international and national actors to
population and reproductive health issues strengthen advocacy for ICPD goals, incorporating
internationally and in national planning global perspectives
frameworks
• Prioritize strategic communication by creating and • Exercise leadership and build consensus for the
seizing external and internal opportunities to convey achievement of ICPD goals within the UN system and
UNFPA’s unified messaging to priority audiences, among partners, governments and civil society
towards increased awareness of issues and the
visibility
of the organization
BOOKS
• Organizational Change: Creating Change through Strategic Communication,
by Laurie K. Lewis, 2011.
• Strategic
Communications for Nonprofit Organizations: Seven Steps to Creating a
Successful Plan, by Sally J. Patterson and Janel M. Radtke, 2009.
• Strategic
Communications for Nonprofits: A Step-by-Step Guide to Working with the
Media, by Kathy Bonk, Emily Tynes, Henry Griggs and Phil Sparks, 2008.
This competency is about ensuring that UNFPA has the visibility and corporate image it requires as
the key agency in population and development, reproductive health and gender issues.
Staff Who Demonstrate This Competency: Managers who demonstrate this competency:
• Identify and develop communication products • Formulate a strategy for the implementation of
and activities to enhance the visibility of UNFPA promotional activities and materials
• Understand UNFPA’s overall vision and mission • Develop strategies for improved and expanded
and how they relate to external stakeholders, coverage in the media and on the Web
including media, partners, donors, NGOs and
other priority audiences • Provide authoritative guidance on the objectives,
content and direction of corporate image activities
• Prioritize strategic communication by creating and
seizing external and internal opportunities • Build consensus with colleagues on the corporate
to convey UNFPA’s unified messaging to priority image to be projected and set priorities on key
audiences, towards increased awareness of audiences to be targeted
issues and the visibility of the organization
• Connect field work to UNFPA’s vision and mission, • Secure necessary resources to carry out corporate
communicating UNFPA’s local impact externally to image-building
stakeholders
BOOKS
• Brandraising: How Nonprofits Raise Visibility and Money Through Smart
Communications, by Sarah Durham, 2009.
E-LEARNING
• Organizational Communication E-learning Programme
This competency is about supporting Country and Regional Offices in fundraising strategies and
activities.
Staff Who Demonstrate This Competency: Managers who demonstrate this competency:
• Analyze information from financial documents in • Develop and oversee the implementation of a global
order to create financial records and statistics resource mobilization strategy
• Develop technical knowledge and an • Encourage innovative approaches and strategies for
understanding of donors, their priorities and fundraising activities to ensure a stable resource
areas of interest, and adapt content and approach base for the organization
of resource mobilization activities to
their requirements; build and maintain • Formulate strategies to develop a stable and
relationships with donors, providing advice and diversified donor base, including governments,
information on UNFPA activities and private sector organizations and foundations
demonstrating sensitivity to donor concerns
• Connect field work to UNFPA’s vision and mission, • Conduct donor negotiations for regular and other
communicating UNFPA’s local impact externally to contributions, demonstrating UNFPA’s comparative
stakeholders advantages and reflecting the priorities of donor
countries
• Develop, review and monitor agreements and trust
funds that reflect the outcomes of negotiations with • Provide leadership and guidance in fundraising
donors
strategies and activities
BOOKS
• Resource Mobilization for NGOs in the Developing World: Current and Emerging
Practices, by Mavuto Kapyepye, 2013.
• The Seven Faces of Philanthropy: A New Approach to Cultivating Major Donors, by Russ
Alan Prince and Karen Maru File, 2001, Jossey-Bass Nonprofit & Public Management.
• Global Fundraising: How the World is Changing the Rules of Philanthropy, by Penelope
Cagney and Bernard Ross, 2013, The AFP/Wiley Fund Development Series.
• Brandraising: How Nonprofits Raise Visibility and Money Through Smart Communications,
by Sarah Durham, 2009.
E-LEARNING
• The Communication of a Shared Vision
• Sustaining Competitive Advantage
• Planning and Implementing a Business Strategy
Staff Who Demonstrate This Competency: Managers who demonstrate this competency:
• Develop policies, standards, procedures, • Provide support to senior management at
guidelines, controls, systems and tools for headquarters and in Country Offices
financial management
• Participate in UN reform initiatives for operational
• Develop directives and tools for financial improvement
monitoring and reporting
• Provide authoritative advice and guidance in the
• Establish and maintain the organization’s management of financial resources
framework for financial delegated authority
• Lead and direct the development of tools and
• Manage the integrated budget process systems
BOOKS
• The Accountable Organization: Reclaiming Integrity, Restoring Trust, by John Marchica,
2004, Consulting Psychologists Press. This book shows how to identify an organization’s
values and purpose, integrate them into a strategic plan, and develop a focused road
map for execution that provides clarity, defines performance standards and much more.
E-LEARNING
• Ethics, Integrity and Anti-fraud
• Internal Control Framework Training
This competency is about ensuring that UNFPA has ICT standards and applications
based on industry best practices, and harmonized with those of other UN organizations.
Staff Who Demonstrate This Competency: Managers who demonstrate this competency:
• Develop a global ICT strategy • Provide authoritative advice and guidance in the
development and use of ICT standards and
• Harmonize UNFPA’s corporate systems with those applications
of other UN agencies
• Lead and direct the development ICT standards and
• Ensure that the network is monitored to prevent applications
intrusion
Staff Who Demonstrate This Competency: Managers who demonstrate this competency:
• Coordinate UNFPA’s procurement services • Ensure the application of ethical standards and
behaviours in procurement
• Develop UNFPA procurement policies and
procedures • Participate in various related inter-agency committees
• Assist Country Offices in forecasting their • Provide authoritative guidance and support
procurement requirements
• Manage and lead the work of procurement teams
• Provide logistic support and advice
BOOKS
• Procurement, Principles & Management, 10th edition, by Peter Baily, David Farmer, Barry
Crocker and David Jessop, 2010.
• The Procurement and Supply Manager’s Desk Reference, by Fred Sollish and John Semanik,
2012; see also the website.
• Common Sense Purchasing: Hard Knock Lessons Learned From a Purchasing Pro, by Dr. Tom
DePaoli, 2004.
• Strategic Supply Management: Principles, theories and practice, by Paul Cousins, Richard
Lamming, Benn Lawson and Brian Squire, 2007.
• Purchasing, Principles and Management, ninth edition, by Peter Baily, David Farmer, David
Jessop and David Jones, 2005.
• Purchasing and Supply Chain Management: Analysis, Strategy, Planning and Practice, by Arjan
van Weele, 2009.
E-LEARNING
• Procurement Training Level One
Staff Who Demonstrate This Competency: Managers who demonstrate this competency:
• Monitor and review premises needs of field • Represent,
protect and advance UNFPA’s interests in
offices and HQ divisions the UNDO Working Group
• Provide solutions for premises needs as required • Evaluate and encourage strategic opportunities for
use of administrative common services
• Develop facilities management policies and
procedures • Maintainactive involvement in improvement of
services and guidelines on UN houses/common
• Monitor and ensure compliance with policies and premises for the field
procedures
• Approveexpenditure for establishment of UN
• Provide space management assets houses/common premises
BOOKS
• The Facility Management Handbook, by David G. Cotts, PE CFM, Kathy O. Roper, CFM LEED
AP and Richard P. Payant, CFM CPE, 2009.
• Facility Management, by Edmond P. Rondeau, Robert Kevin Brown and Paul D. Lapides, 2006.
• The Green Book: The Everyday Guide to Saving the Planet One Simple Step at a Time, by
Elizabeth Rogers and Thomas M. Kostingen.
E-LEARNING
• Ethics, Integrity and Anti-fraud
DIVISIONS (HQ)
Director COUNTRY OFFICES
Branch Chiefs Operations Managers
Managers And Project Managers Specialists
Specialists Associates
Associates
Assistants
Staff Who Demonstrate This Competency: Managers who demonstrate this competency:
• Gather and analyze HR-related information on • Develop HR strategies to support the organization’s
jobs and the workforce to meet current and strategic and business plans (for example, transfer of
future organizational priorities technology, talent management and shared services)
• Adapt best HR practices to the requirements of • Encourageand support managers at all levels to
the organization and/or organizational units to assume responsibility for the management
facilitate the achievement of strategic objectives of human resources
• Develop an HR infrastructure that supports the • Establish internal and external global relationships
organization’s business plan, and is valued as and alliances with stakeholders
a source of subject matter expertise and credible
business partnership
BOOKS
• The Accountable Organization: Reclaiming Integrity, Restoring Trust, by John Marchica, 2004,
Consulting Psychologists Press. This book shows how to identify an organization’s values and
purpose, integrate them into a strategic plan, and develop a focused road map for execution
that provides clarity, defines performance standards and much more.
• HR Transformation: Building Human Resources from the Outside In, by Dave Ulrich, Justin Allen,
Wayne Brockbank, Jon Younger and Mark Nyman, 2009, McGraw.
E-LEARNING
• Ethics, Integrity
• Harassment, Sexual Harassment and Abuse of Authority in the Workplace
• UN Cares, HIV in the workplace: http://www.uncares.org/UNAIDS2/
Staff Who Demonstrate This Competency: Managers who demonstrate this competency:
• Identify, utilize and evaluate sources of global • Developa global staffing plan that supports the
talent organization’s needs in collaboration with
Country, Subregional and Regional Offices, and
• Create job descriptions that define job-specific executive management
responsibilities, knowledge, skills and
competencies • Provide authoritative guidance and direction in the
development of policies, tools, processes and
• Develop, implement and evaluate orientation/ programmes designed to attract and develop the
induction processes that are culturally global workforce
relevant and aligned with organizational strategy
• Influencethe Executive Committee and other senior
colleagues to support organization-wide policies and
programmes
• Develop, implement and promote processes, • Ensure the inclusion of global workforce
programmes and tools to support career management policies in the organization’s strategic
development, leadership development, succession planning
planning and retention, and performance
management
• PPM: https://portal.myunfpa.org/web/pd/ppm
BOOKS
• The Talent Management Handbook: Creating a Sustainable Competitive Advantage by
Selecting, Developing, and Promoting the Best People, by Lance Berger and Dorothy Berger,
2010.
• Talent Management Systems: Best Practices in Technology Solutions for Recruitment, Retention
and Workforce Planning, by Allan Schweyer, 2004.
E-LEARNING
• Ethics, Integrity and Anti-fraud
• Human Resources Certificate Programme (through eCornell of Cornell University)
This competency is about ensuring that staff members’ rights and needs are addressed
on a global basis.
Staff Who Demonstrate This Competency: Managers who demonstrate this competency:
• Develop and implement programmes to promote • Consultwith employee representative groups, the
a positive work climate Ombudsman and the Ethics Officer
E-LEARNING
• Ethics, Integrity and Anti-fraud
• Harassment, Sexual Harassment and Abuse of Authority in the Workplace
• UN Cares, HIV in the workplace
Staff Who Demonstrate This Competency: Managers who demonstrate this competency:
• Develop evaluation tools and methods • Provide advisory services on evaluation standards,
tools and methodologies
• Commission, manage and conduct independent
evaluations (global/thematic and selected • Report to the Executive Director on the evaluation
country programmes) function and evaluation findings
• Follow up on management responses and the • Prepare annual/periodic reports on evaluation for
implementation status of independent the Executive Board
evaluations
• Provideauthoritative guidance and direction on
• Provide advice on evaluation matters to other evaluation issues
organizational units
• Participate and provide leadership on UNEG
activities and dealings
• UNEG: www.uneval.org
E-LEARNING
• UNEG e-learning
Staff Who Demonstrate This Competency: Managers who demonstrate this competency:
• Support the audit risk assessment used as a basis • Lead the audit risk assessment process in order to
for preparing the overall audit work plan prepare and support the overall audit work plan
• Plan and conduct risk-based audits with due • Set in place and supervise, as necessary, quality
regard to professional audit standards assurance processes to ensure quality and
relevance of audit work and reports
• Review and provide an opinion on mechanisms
• Lead and direct audit teams
set in place by management to prevent and
detect fraud • Provide authoritative guidance on audit matters to
team members
• Set up and maintain appropriate audit guidelines
and tools • Liaise with the Board of Auditors on matters of
common interest between internal and external audit to
• Monitor management progress in implementing ensure maximum audit coverage and avoid duplication of
audit recommendations efforts, with due respect to internal and external auditors’
mandates
203 UNFPA’S COMPETENCY FRAMEWORK
PROVIDING ASSURANCE AND ADVICE ON GOVERNANCE,
RISK MANAGEMENT AND INTERNAL CONTROL PROCESSES (CONTINUED)
• Demonstrate expert knowledge of internal audit • Strengthen partnerships and harmonized approaches with
standards, approaches, tools and the internal audit services of the UN system (UN-RIAS)
techniques
• Provide advice to management, as necessary, without
• Demonstrate advanced to expert knowledge in infringing on the independence of the function
governance, risk management and internal
control • Prepare annual/periodic reports (or portion thereof) on
audit functions for the Executive Board
• Demonstrate advanced to expert knowledge of
International Public Sector Accounting Standards • Develop audit staff skills
(IPSAS)
• Act as focal points with the Joint Inspection Unit (JIU);
prepare annual/periodic reports for the Executive Board on
JIU recommendations
• Disclosure of internal audit reports: Proposal for achieving full transparency with regard to
disclosure of internal audit reports, DP/FPA/OPS/2012/1.
• JIU: https://www.unjiu.org/en/Pages/default.aspx
BOOKS
• Sawyer’s Guide for Internal Auditors, sixth edition, the IIA Research Foundation.
E-LEARNING
• Institute of Internal Audit (IIA, open only to members): www.theiia.org
• Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE, open only to members): www.acfe.org
Staff Who Demonstrate This Competency: Managers who demonstrate this competency:
• Conduct or supervise investigations into allegations • Lead and direct investigation teams
of wrongdoing and misconduct, with due respect
for professional standards, and UNFPA policies and • Provide authoritative guidance on investigation
procedures matters
• Prepare investigation reports for ultimate • Liaise with internal and external stakeholders, as
presentation to the internal justice system (UN appropriate and with due respect for due process
Dispute Tribunal or UNDT, UN Appeal Tribunal or
UNAT), as decided by the Executive Director or his/ • Issue investigation reports to the Executive
her representative Director for further administrative and disciplinary
action, as necessary
• Support the system for reporting wrongdoing;
follow up on actions taken by management after • Interact with the internal justice system as
issuance of investigation reports (disposition of appropriate
cases)
207 UNFPA’S COMPETENCY FRAMEWORK
CONDUCTING INVESTIGATIONS INTO ALLEGATIONS
OF WRONGDOING (CONTINUED)
• Provide support and advice to management, as • Set in place and maintain investigative processes
necessary, without jeopardizing due process and procedures, in line with UNFPA policies
and independence of the function, on fraud and procedures, as well as UNDT and UNAT
prevention and detection jurisprudence
• Promote actions to increase integrity, liaising with • Provide support and advice to management, as
the ethics function necessary, without jeopardizing due process
and independence of the function
E-LEARNING
• ACFE (open only to members): www.acfe.org
This competency is about enabling the safety and security of UNFPA personnel and
operations.
Staff Who Demonstrate This Competency: Managers who demonstrate this competency:
• Align safety and security management with the • Represent UNFPA as a key player and contributor in the
organization’s strategic direction and UN Inter-Agency Security Management Network (IASMN),
Security Management System (UNSMS) the UN security governance body, to ensure UNFPA
positions are represented in the formulation of UN
• Address safety and security needs of UNFPA security policies and procedures
personnel, their eligible dependents and
property of the organization • Represent UNFPA at the Crisis Operations Group (COG)
in development and implementation of HQ crisis
• Monitor and assist in the mitigation of global, management, safety and security policies and procedures.
regional, country and local security threats
• Provide the Executive Director and senior management
• Provide timely and appropriate responses to crises guidance on the security accountability framework and
affecting UNFPA personnel and operations. security risk management
• Coordinate and facilitate the implementation of • Direct and lead safety and security measures and teams
security risk management measures as identified through
the United Nations Department of Safety and Security • Mainstream safety and security in all organizational
(UNDSS) and UNFPA security risk assessments policies and procedures
• Exchange information and collaborate with UNDSS • Provide authoritative guidance and support on safety
and security issues
• Assess, prioritize and respond to all UNFPA
requests for security assistance
• UNFramework for Accountability (FoA): Approved by the General Assembly, the FoA details
responsibilities and accountability of all actors within UNSMS. It is accessible through the
UNDSS website and UNFPA/Security Portal.
• UNFPA Security Accountability Policy: Approved by the Security Management Group (SMG),
the document details individual and managerial safety and security accountability, in
accordance with specific roles within UNFPA. All UNFPA personnel are expected to familiarize
themselves with the policy, in particular their specific individual and managerial safety and
security responsibilities. The document is accessible through the UNFPA/Security Portal.
UN Security Management System Policy Manual (UNSMSPM): Includes security policies and
procedures approved by the relevant bodies on security and safety issues, accessible through
the UNDSS website.
• Managing data
• Plan, schedule and coordinate travel and logistics for meetings, conferences and special events
• For meetings, check that all equipment is available and working, and have a back-up plan for
additional technical assistance
• Collect and compile data with speed and accuracy, identifying what is relevant and discarding
what is not
• Demonstrate attention to detail, and identify and correct errors on their own initiative
• Interpret data, draw conclusions and/or identify patterns that support the work of others
• Create, edit and present information (queries, reports, documents) in visually pleasing, clear and
presentable formats
• Edit, format and provide inputs to correspondence, reports, documents and presentations using
word processing, spreadsheets and databases
• Show a sound grasp of grammar, spelling and structure in the required language
• Organize and accurately complete multiple tasks by establishing priorities while taking into
consideration special assignments, frequent interruptions, deadlines, available resources and
multiple reporting relationships
• Plan, coordinate and organize their workload while remaining aware of changing priorities and
competing deadlines, as well as global time zone differences
• Establish, build and maintain effective working relationships with staff and clients to facilitate the
provision of support
• Examine income and/or expenditure and other financial reports in accordance with
established rules and procedures
• Show attention to detail in checking and processing financial data relating to vouchers,
payment requests, etc., identifying and following up on errors and gaps
• Calculate budget estimates, initiate adjustments and revisions, and monitor and reconcile
expenditure against budgetary allocations
E-LEARNING
• Advanced Certificate on Communication Skills (coming soon)