Current Vacancies at United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)

Job Purpose:

• This Specialist plays a vital role in providing technical guidance to support conceptualization and implementation of comprehensive SRHR and MNH policy and programming within and beyond the MHTF, while ensuring that different contexts and realities are taken into account, without compromising the mandate of UNFPA and the evidence base. The Specialist focuses on integrating comprehensive abortion care into the comprehensive approach to SRHR, primarily through linkages with EmONC and midwifery programming, to increase access to safe abortion care to the full extent of the law, and post-abortion care everywhere in line with the ICPD PoA and UNFPA mandate. The Specialist will build close relationships with stakeholders internally and externally to support best practice in SRHR and MNH programming and policy and to ensure ownership across global, regional and country level. 

This post is responsible for:
Conceptualization and implementation of comprehensive SRHR and MNH programming and advocacy

• Identify opportunities to and support the implementation of the comprehensive SRHR package of interventions in existing programs, within and beyond the health system
• Support capacity strengthening and knowledge management and building on UNFPA’s work and position related to unsafe abortion, post abortion care and comprehensive abortion care
• Review country program documents and country work plans for SRHR integration and comprehensive programming
• Develop indicators for SRHR integration to add to the existing MHTF results indicator framework and other relevant indicator frameworks
• Provide technical input to tools, guidance, and related documentation developed by other technical units
• Seek and establish partnerships with civil society, academia, other UN agencies and professional associations to ensure multi-stakeholder ownership of the implementation of different components of the SRHR package
• Support fund raising efforts and the generation of knowledge products related to comprehensive abortion care and the broader SRHR and maternal and newborn health agenda
• Working with existing partners as well as identifying women’s rights organizations, movements, community women groups & networks and other allies to improve awareness of women’s rights and entitlements in relation to sexual and reproductive health and rights and maternal health.

Capacity building on SRHR integration into MNH programs in country

• Provide technical support to focal countries and other ROs/COs (according to needs/requests) related to comprehensive abortion care in line with UNFPA mandate
• Contribute to build capacity on Values Clarification and Attitude Transformation (VCAT) modalities as a tool for more effective and quality implementation of comprehensive SRHR programs at global, regional and country level to deliver excellence in program results.
• Provide relevant input to the community of practice on MNH/SRHR 
• Disseminate and provide assistance to the implementation of policy and guidance documents at global, regional and country level
• Gather and disseminate lessons learned and promote their strategic use throughout the organization.

Ensure linkages between SRHR/ MNH, Gender and Adolescent and Youth Program streams

• Ensure integration and linkages between the thematic areas of MNH andSRHR with adolescent and youth programming including ASRHR, child marriage, teenage pregnancy prevention, contraceptives, HPV, HIV, and comprehensive sexuality education
• Support integration of gender transformative and human right based approaches into the MHTF including integration between MNH and GBV services 

Support the efficient management of overall MHTF 

• Contribute to annual work planning, evidence generation and best-practice documentation and communication through a coordinated approach to knowledge management within the MHTF.  
• Contribute to the MHTF annual report and other UNFPA reports as needed. 
• Act as focal point for a discrete number of MHTF countries 
• Contribute to review of MHTF multi-year proposals and annual work plans and budgets. 
• Support coordination of UNFPA’s co-sponsorship of the UNDP/UNFPA/UNICEF/WHO/World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction under the strategic guidance of the Chief SRHRB
• Contribute to briefing notes within the area of responsibility. 
• Any other tasks as requested by the MNH MHTF coordinator, Chief, SRHRB or the Director, PD

Qualifications and Experience: 

Education:  

• Advanced university degree in Public Health.

Knowledge and Experience: 

• Five years of experience in global public health with a consistent experience in working on comprehensive abortion care
• Experience supporting the implementation of programs on comprehensive abortion care in low-resource settings
• Experience delivering technical assistance on comprehensive abortion care
• Experience of working in a multilateral agency with knowledge and understanding of UNFPA’s mandate
• Experience working with donors, through proposal development and reporting
• Excellent communication, writing and presentation skills
• Strong knowledge of the global abortion ecosystem

Languages: 

• Fluency in English is required; proficiency in French an asset

Required Competencies: 

Values:

• Exemplifying integrity, 
• Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system, 
• Embracing cultural diversity, 
• Embracing change

Core Competencies: 

• Achieving results,
• Being accountable,
• Developing and applying professional expertise/business acumen,
• Thinking analytically and strategically,
• Working in teams/managing ourselves and our relationships,
• Communicating for impact

Functional Competencies:

• Business acumen
• Implementing management systems
• Innovation and marketing of new approaches
• Client orientation
• Organizational awareness

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Job Purpose:

• Under the overall supervision of the Maternal Health Thematic Fund (MHTF) Coordinator, the MNH Partnerships and Advocacy Specialist will help to strengthen strategic partnerships and coordination mechanisms for a range of organizations and actors working on midwifery and human resources for health, EmONC and MNH service delivery, PHC and UHC including NGOs, government partners, UN agencies and other national and international organizations.
• This specialist will also contribute to the development of communications and advocacy materials and document best practices and lessons learned in MNH, particularly related to midwifery, the EmONC network approach, service delivery redesign in the context of PHC and UHC.
• The MNH Partnership and Advocacy Specialist duties include:  building and sustaining partnerships, advocacy and communications, event and information management.

Building and Sustaining Partnerships 

• Support the establishment and coordination of a new inter-agency, multi-sectoral midwifery coordination platform linked to EPMM-EPMM 
• Support the coordination of the MHTF flagship initiative Global Midwifery Acceleration Roadmap 
• Support the organization and coordination of work plan activities for other coordination platforms to strengthen midwifery education (i.e: AIME: Alliance to Improve Midwifery Education), EmONC, and MPDSR.
• Facilitate collaboration with stakeholders and partners to strengthen midwifery services.

Communications and Advocacy

• Develop relevant MNH (Midwifery/EmONC/MPDSR) communications and advocacy materials including social media and website content, media materials and global advocacy brochures
• Support the development of briefing notes, talking points, speeches on MNH/SRHR 
• Support the coordination and planning of high-level interagency meetings, webinars, workshops and conference events on MNH.
• Support with the development of all relevant donor reports.

Technical support for EmONC and midwifery integration to ensure gender transformative human rights-based Maternal and Newborn Health  

• Support development and review of relevant technical midwifery and MNH materials for stakeholder capacity building workshops and events. 
• Provide inputs, as requested, on national and regional maternal and newborn health strategies to ensure an integrated SRHR perspective.
• Support countries with the strengthening of midwifery education globally. 
• Support development of work processes and internal coordination to ensure integration of gender transformative human rights-based MNH/SRHR and FP approaches.

Project and Information Management

• Stay abreast of the latest research and innovations in midwifery and reproductive health.
• Develop results-based donor reports that capture progress on implementation of the midwifery and EmONC programme outcomes
• Contribute to literature reviews, peer-reviewed articles and funding proposals on MNH (midwifery/EmONC/MPDSR).
• Support alignment between the MHTF and other non-core resource funded initiatives under the maternal and newborn health program
• Act as the MHTF country focal point for a discrete set of countries as assigned by the MHTF coordinator

Administrative and Miscellaneous Duties

• Perform any other duties as required by direct supervisors and the MHTF Coordinator

Qualifications and Experience: 

Education:  

• Advanced University degree in midwifery or public health.   

Knowledge and Experience: 

• 5 years of experience working in the development sector, preferably on maternal and newborn health, of which 2 are at the international level in low resource settings.
• Experience working in the multilateral system. 
• Experience leading inter-UN agency coordination mechanisms with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Demonstrable knowledge of MNH in low resource settings and roles/responsibilities of key actors in this field.
• Robust communication and advocacy skills
• Experience in report writing, literature reviews and funding proposals
• Experience in designing and developing MNH advocacy and communications products
• Experience in high level meeting/event planning and coordination

Languages: 

• Fluency in English is required; proficiency in French is an asset.

Required Competencies: 

Values:

• Exemplifying integrity, 
• Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system, 
• Embracing cultural diversity, 
• Embracing change

Core Competencies: 

• Achieving results,
• Being accountable,
• Developing and applying professional expertise/business acumen,
• Thinking analytically and strategically,
• Working in teams/managing ourselves and our relationships,
• Communicating for impact

Functional Competencies:

• Business acumen
• Implementing management systems
• Innovation and marketing of new approaches
• Client orientation
• Organizational awareness

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ob Purpose:

• The incumbent will ensure an integrated and systems strengthening approach to SRHR/MNH which is fundamental to advancing the UNFPA strategy plan, the Maternal Health and Wellbeing Strategy and the MHTF goals and results towards ending preventable maternal deaths and promote maternal wellbeing
• This specialist provides strategic technical support and guidance as part of a broader team to ensure that the ICPD Programme of Action continues to be firmly positioned within the broader global development agenda, including in support of the achievements of the Sustainable Development Agenda 2030. 

Responsibilities of the incumbent in this post include:

• influencing the substantive research agenda; 
• advising on priorities in substantive areas; 
• maintaining technical partnerships on critical issues; 
• providing leadership to ensure that technical knowledge is updated, generated, collected and disseminated for effective technical and policy engagement.
• Capacity building of UNFPA staff and partners

In all activities, s/he fosters collaboration within the Programme Division and across UNFPA including the Humanitarian Response Division, Regional Offices, and with the UNFPA technical network, ensuring the timeliness, adequacy, relevance and quality of substantive outputs. 

The incumbent is responsible for:

Strategic technical support

• Scan the substantive environment and maintain feedback loops on technical issues with other branches, with Regional and National technical staff in order to identify substantive gaps and needs in support of UNFPA’s Strategic Plan.
• Identify priority areas in health systems strengthening, UHC, PHC, health policy and resource allocation for maternal and newborn, and contribute to develop UNFPA strategic positions and related policies, frameworks, evidence-based arguments, and operational strategies, in collaboration and coordination with other Branches, for overall health system strengthening;
• Lead UNFPAs work on health systems reorientation to support countries to expand coverage and quality of Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care and referral systems. 
• Understand and respond to the needs of the field through the regional offices, in developing and updating policies, frameworks, operational guidance, standards, instruments and tools; focusing on equity in access to Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) and Maternal and Newborn services, quality of care and accountability;
• Strengthen the integration of maternal and newborn health and other SRH components as well as NCDs.
• Participate in and work to ensure the complementarity and synergies between critical partnerships, including Ending Preventable Maternal Mortality (EPMM) and Every Newborn Action Plan (ENAP) initiatives, as well as the Quality of Care Network for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health; Identify and provide advice, in the substantive areas, on UNFPA’s comparative advantage, substantive role and specific contribution in the changing development agenda; 

Results-based management

• Establish operational guidance in the substantive area in respect to UNFPA strategic plan targets and indicators; specifically support the development and utilization of programme indicators in relation to the Maternal and Newborn Health and Wellbeing strategy and the Maternal Health Thematic Fund.
• Ensure incorporation of data monitoring, evaluation results, lessons learned and new knowledge in the updating of specific substantive programmes, tools and approaches;
• From an evidence based approach contribute to strategic directions, management and monitoring of the thematic areas of the Maternal Health Thematic Fund, specifically in the area of EmONC.
• Contribute MHTF annual reports and other donor reports as requested.

Capacity development

• Develop the knowledge based in UHC, PHC, health systems strengthening and system review in relation to the UNFPA Strategic Plan 2012-2025;
• Coordinate the organization and facilitation of capacity building to enhance the substantive competencies in Health System Strengthening and SRHR of UNFPA staff, institutions and consultants at all levels;
• Establish networks with community of health system experts to advocate for MNH/SRH financing issues and compatibility of systems in support of countries;
• Contribute with thematic technical inputs to partnerships and collaborations with other UN agencies(H6, GFF, HRP, and PMNCH) 
• Identify, develop and adapt training materials and manuals in the substantive area and ensure their availability for capacity development;
• Support the advisory services provided to field offices on systems strengthening issues focusing on equity in access to SRH services, quality of care and accountability.
• Coordinate the UNFPA technical network in the substantive area, maintaining communication and feedback loops on all substantive work;
• Coach and manage staff under direct supervision in line with UNFPA policies and procedures manual direct expert consultants and facilitate working groups and task teams.
• Contributes to technical review and approval of MHTF focus country multi-year proposals and annual work plans
• Act as focal point for a discrete set of MHTF focus countries as indicated by the MHTF coordination. 

Evidence and knowledge development and dissemination

• Lead the analysis and synthesis of trends and research findings in the technical area in order to produce cutting edge technical knowledge as part of a coordinated approach to knowledge management for the maternal and newborn health programme 
• Contribute to the corporate work to identify, analyze, and synthesize state-of-the-art technical knowledge and evidence and ensure its transfer to improve the effectiveness of UNFPA operations;
• Ensure that evidence, technical knowledge and analysis of lessons learned are collected, managed, disseminated and available for application in UNFPA operations, in collaboration with the SRHR Branch, Programme Division, the Regional Offices, and UNFPA technical network;
• Assemble briefing and background materials in the substantive area for senior management staff.

Technical representation

• Liaise and collaborate with other UN organizations on health system strengthening, analysis and tools to ensure incorporation of ICPD principles and program interventions; 
• Support the branch management and senior advisors in meetings and consultations related to SRH systems strengthening;
• Represent UNFPA on substantive issues in technical meetings,  contribute to elaborating UNFPA as Health Systems Strengthening approach especially in maternal health and provide inputs for advocacy  of thematic issues in international, U.N., and other policy and technical meetings and fora;
• Collaborate with UN agencies, academia, research and training institutions, professional societies, in the substantive area;
• Carry out any other duties as may be required by the MHTF/Maternal and Newborn Health Program lead 

Qualifications and Experience: 

Education:  

• Advanced university degree in areas such as public health, health systems strengthening and health financing with a particular focus on SRH/maternal and newborn health 

Knowledge and Experience: 

• At least 7 years of relevant experience in maternal and newborn health, medicine, nursing, midwifery, public health or other related areas
• Knowledge and understanding on equity in access to care, quality of care, specifically client rights issues, and accountability strengthening is essential.
• Up-to-date on state-of-the art SRHR knowledge, essential
• Understanding of Human Rights dimensions of SRHR and gender, essential;
• Strong track record of technical capacity, and proven ability to produce demonstrable results;
• Extensive network within the academic and development community;
• Field experience is an asset.

Languages: 

• Fluency in English is required and working knowledge of French or another UN language is considered an asset.  

Required Competencies: 

Values:

• Exemplifying integrity, 
• Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system, 
• Embracing cultural diversity, 
• Embracing change

Core Competencies: 

• Achieving results,
• Being accountable,
• Developing and applying professional expertise/business acumen,
• Thinking analytically and strategically,
• Working in teams/managing ourselves and our relationships,
• Communicating for impact

Functional Competencies:

• Advocacy/advancing a policy-oriented agenda
• Providing a technical support system
• Delivering results-based programmes
• Strategically positioning UNFPA programmes

Managerial Competencies (if applicable):

• Providing Strategic Focus
• Engaging internal/external stakeholders and Partners
• Leading, Developing and Empowering People/Creating a Culture of Performance
• Making Decisions and Exercising Judgment