JUNIOR PROFESSIONAL
OFFICER PROGRAMMEIN UNAIDSUNAIDS HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENTUNAIDS | 2019

Since the first cases of HIV were reported more than 35 years ago, 78 million
people have become infected with HIV and 35 million have died from AIDSrelated illnesses. Since it started operations in 1996, UNAIDS has led and inspired
global, regional, national and local leadership, innovation and partnership with theultimate goal of consigning HIV to history.

Why UNAIDS?
An exciting mandate…
UNAIDS is leading global effort to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030 aspart of the Sustainable Development Goals.
UNAIDS places people living with HIV and people affected by the virus at thedecision-making table and at the centre of designing, delivering and monitoring
the AIDS response. It is a bold advocate for addressing the legal and policy
barriers to the AIDS response. It brings together communities that have been left
out of decision-making.
UNAIDS provides strategic direction, advocacy, coordination and technicalsupport to catalyse and connect leader from governments, the private sector andcommunities.
UNAIDS leads the world’s most extensive data collection on HIV epidemiology,
programme coverage and finance, that is vital for an effective AIDS response.
UNAIDS is a model for UN Reform and is the only cosponsored Joint Programmein the UN system. It draws on the expertise of 11 United Nations system
Cosponsors and is the only UN entity with civil society represented on its
governing body.

Opening up opportunities…
The UNAIDS Secretariat has offices in 70 countries, with 70% of its staff based inthe field.
Thanks to the cosponsored nature of UNAIDS, our Junior Professional Officers(JPOs) are exposed to a wide spectrum of UN agencies and programmes. Thishas helped several former JPOs to find employment within the UN or withinternational NGOs.
An induction programme and a new mentoring opportunity are offered to first-year
JPOs to ensure an effective introduction and support in first steps in their new job.
The JPO Get-Together webinar series is being relaunched to build knowledge ofUNAIDS and the UN System, and facilitate networking.

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JPOs have access to the same learning opportunities as staff members. In
addition, a new learning and development framework is being designed inconsultation with current JPOs.
HRM regularly checks in with JPOs to ensure a valuable learning experience andprovide advice to supervisors.
JPOs have the status of internal candidates in competitive selection processes for
UNAIDS positions.
In recent years, during their assignment 16 UNAIDS JPOs were selected for
UNAIDS Secretariat staff positions at the P2, P3 and P4 levels.

South Sudan. UNAIDS.

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Junior Professional Ofﬁcers in UNAIDS
Over the last decade UNAIDS has welcomed 66 JPOs, two thirds of whom havebeen women, thanks to the support of 13 donor countries. We are actively seeking
to extend opportunities with other donor countries.
Donor countries and Junior Professional Ofﬁcers
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Where we are��

Location of staff members (Dec 2018)

Headquarters 30%,
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Field 70%,476

5Testimonials“I was fortunate to have an opportunity to work in both Headquarters aswell as at country level which gave me two very different perspectives.
I am certain that my subsequent job offer by UNICEF was a direct
result. The JPO experience has also resulted in many professional andpersonal contacts.”
Former Finnish JPO“My assignment in Guatemala was one of the most enriching experiencesof my life. I got a chance to interact closely and network with a wide
range of technical experts, activists, donors and government authorities.
I was blessed to have an incredibly supportive supervisor, who becamea mentor for my whole life. I was privileged with the opportunity to keep
serving the organization, which has now taken me to Panama, Switzerland,and soon to Jamaica!”
Former Cuban JPO sponsored by Spain“My experience at UNAIDS tells of an organization that invests in his staff,
builds capacity and provides real opportunities for meaningful work.
Partnerships are at the centre of UNAIDS work. Career paths are varied,and mobility is promoted. UNAIDS is also a Joint Programme, working
with UNAIDS is like working with other 11 UN organizations.”
Former Italian JPO“What I really loved about my UNAIDS JPO experience was working withand learning from colleagues with different professional and multicultural
backgrounds. I was lucky to have very accessible supervisors who helpedme hone my technical skills and gave me the opportunity to work inseveral different projects across the Programme Branch. I learned agreat deal from this experience: always listen, learn and evolve, getinspired by talking with many different colleagues, be open to a changing
environment, and never give up when facing challenges that seem too
difficult to overcome – if one door closes another one will open up.”
Former German JPO

6Current opportunitiesApplications from people living with HIV are particularly welcome.
Applications from women are particularly encouraged.
https://www.unaids.org/en/vacanciesandtenders/vacancies

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UNAIDS
Joint United Nations
Programme on HIV/AIDS
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1211 Geneva 27
Switzerland+41 22 791 3666

unaids.org