National Consultant for Population and Development (PD) (Part-Time, 50%)

The Position:

UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, is the United Nations agency for sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and population issues. In line with its mandate, UNFPA places strong emphasis on the needs and capacities of young people, older persons, and vulnerable populations, while promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment. The organization also works on population dynamics, ageing, intergenerational solidarity, and gender-responsive family policies, recognizing these as key dimensions of demographic resilience, human capital development, and inclusive social development.
UNFPA provides high-quality data and evidence for policy-making, supports responses to demographic change, and works to strengthen youth-oriented policies and programmes. It also contributes to policy development in areas related to ageing societies, social inclusion, and intergenerational exchange, as well as the transformation of norms, attitudes, and behaviours. Guided by the 1994 Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD), UNFPA partners with governments, civil society, and UN agencies to advance its mission.
To change narratives around inevitable demographic transition, in 2020, the UNFPA Regional Office for Eastern Europe and Central Asia established the Demographic Resilience Programme to assist countries in the region with strengthening their capacity to understand and anticipate the population dynamics they are experiencing, and ensure they have the necessary skills, tools, political will, and public support to manage them. It aims to develop comprehensive policy responses that are based on evidence and human rights, and aimed at ensuring prosperity and well-being for all. In this way, countries can mitigate potentially negative effects for individuals, societies, economies, and the environment, and capitalise on the opportunities that come with demographic change. The Demographic Resilience Programme focuses on three priorities:
1. Demographic intelligence, to support countries in building a solid evidence base and analysing complex demographic processes and their impact on relevant policy areas. This is carried out utilising an array of data, tools and studies.
2. Convening stakeholders and knowledge exchange among various stakeholders (academia, governments, the private sector, the United Nations system, civil society, and local communities).
3. Population policy design, to assist countries with the design, implementation, and impact assessment of comprehensive population and social policies to address demographic change and ensure sustainable development.
The UNFPA's Strategic Plan (2026–2029) serves as a roadmap for resilience and renewal, aimed at advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights, accelerating implementation of the ICPD Programme of Action, and ensuring that individual rights and choices remain at the centre of sustainable development. A key priority under the new Strategic Plan is outcome 4, which focuses on helping countries adapt to demographic change in ways that strengthen societal resilience while upholding human rights, gender equality, and individual choice. Through this outcome, UNFPA supports governments in using population data, demographic analysis, and foresight to develop evidence-based and people-centred policies related to ageing, youth, migration, social protection, labour markets, and demographic resilience, while ensuring that no one is left behind.
UNFPA Serbia operates in accordance with its Country Programme Document (CPD), which is jointly agreed with the Government of Serbia and defines the strategic priorities and interventions in the country. Through the implementation of the CPD, and as an active member of the United Nations Country Team (UNCT), UNFPA contributes to coordinated UN efforts and to the achievement of shared development outcomes under the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF). The UNSDCF between the UN and the Government of Serbia 2026-2030 supports national development priorities, including the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and EU accession reform processes.
The Country Programme Document for Serbia (2026–2030) envisions that by 2030, Serbia will accelerate the implementation of the ICPD Programme of Action and advance human capital development and demographic resilience as a key pillar of its EU accession process. It aims to support an inclusive society in which all individuals, especially youth, women, older persons, and people in vulnerable situations, have equal opportunities to make informed and healthy life choices and to access quality, integrated SRHR and GBV prevention and response services.

The National Consultant will work under the daily supervision and guidance of the UNFPA SRH and Youth Programme Analyst. Overall supervision of UNFPA's work under this process will be provided by the Head of the UNFPA CO Serbia.

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 PD Consultant will provide day-to-day technical, programmatic, administrative, and coordination support to the implementation of UNFPA activities in the area of population and development, in close coordination with the Programme team at the CO.

You would be responsible for:

● Support the implementation, monitoring, and reporting of programme and project activities in the area of population and development, including demographic resilience, ageing, social inclusion, intergenerational exchange, gender-responsive family policies, and related thematic areas, in coordination with government counterparts, implementing partners (IPs), consultants, and other stakeholders. This includes tracking progress against work plans, indicators, timelines, and deliverables, as well as supporting the delivery of project inputs and the organization of project activities.
● Facilitate high-level policy dialogue and technical working groups with governmental counterparts to finalize previously initiated policy processes related to the development of normative and legislative acts, including the Law on the Central Register of Persons with Disabilities and the Demographic Development Strategy.
● Contribute to relevant administrative and programme management processes, including providing inputs on the performance and progress of programme team members, as relevant, to support effective implementation and accountability;
● Provide oversight, coordination, and guidance in relation to consultants and external experts engaged under programme processes, including monitoring progress, reviewing outputs, and ensuring timely delivery and quality of assigned tasks;
● Support advocacy, partnership building, and resource mobilization efforts for new projects and programmes through donor mapping, identification of strategic funding opportunities, and preparation of new project proposals and concept notes in alignment with UNFPA priorities.
● Prepare the event scenario and speaking points for the events, support the preparation and follow-up of meetings through briefing notes and debrief summaries, and provide assistance to the communications team by contributing key inputs for social media visibility and messaging throughout the events.

Qualifications and Experience:

Education:

● A first-level university degree in social sciences is required.

Knowledge and Experience:

● A minimum of 7 years of relevant professional experience at national and/or international level in social inclusion, population and development, and project monitoring, with a demonstrated track record of working on policy-relevant or analytical assignments.
● Prior experience in thematic areas relevant to the UNFPA mandate, including population and development, ageing, social inclusion, family-friendly policies, and intergenerational exchange, is considered an asset.
● Proven experience in working in partnership with government institutions, development partners, the academic community, and civil society organizations (CSOs).
● Strong analytical, interpersonal, and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple tasks, meet tight deadlines, and work effectively under pressure.
● Good understanding and command of new and emerging digital tools and technologies relevant for research, analysis, and knowledge management.
● Proficiency in MS Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook).

Languages:

● Excellent written and spoken command of English and Serbian.

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,

Travel:

Possible travel to different project sites, in line with the main tasks and job requirements. Official travel associated with the assignment must be authorized by the supervisor and arranged, in accordance with UNFPA’s Duty Travel Policy and procedures. Any travel undertaken by an individual consultant must be pre-approved by UNFPA.

Only individual consultants whose assignment involves travel or who will provide services from UNFPA premises must submit a Health Statement for Individual Consultant from a recognized medical practitioner confirming they are medically fit for the assignment. This statement shall be valid for one year unless otherwise indicated by the medical practitioner. An updated statement will be required if the existing statement expires during the consultancy or if the individual consultant travels to a location not covered by the statement.
Only individual consultants whose assignment involves travel or who will provide services from UNFPA premises must complete the BSAFE security awareness training and submit a printed copy of the certificate to the Hiring Office.

Compensation and Benefits:

The monthly remuneration will be paid in the local currency, based on the applicable United Nations exchange rate at the time of payment. Local individual consultants are generally compensated in the same currency as staff members performing similar duties at the same duty station. Official travel expenses are not included in the monthly remuneration and will be paid separately in accordance with UNFPA’s Duty Travel Policy. Please note that individual consultants are not considered United Nations staff members and are therefore not exempt from income taxation on payments received from UNFPA. The consultant is solely responsible for any applicable income taxes, and UNFPA does not provide reimbursement for such tax obligations.

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.