The Position:

The Programme Specialist, Comprehensive SRHR will serve as the sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) technical focal point for SRHR and Maternal Health Linkages, including comprehensive abortion care (CAC) at the global level. This Specialist will analyze and identify opportunities for integration across areas as well as linkages of both services and interventions inside and outside of the health system, to ensure a comprehensive, life course oriented and evidence-based program. S/he will work within the Maternal and Newborn Health Thematic Fund (MHTF) team and across the SRHR Branch and liaise with other technical and programme staff across UNFPA HQ, Regional Offices and Country Offices, as well as external private and public partners. This post reports directly to the Programme Specialist, MNH/SRHR Universal Health Coverage, Systems and Policies, under the guidance of the Maternal & Newborn Health Thematic Fund (MHTF) Coordinator who provides overall strategic direction.

How you can make a difference:

UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person’s potential is fulfilled. UNFPA’s new strategic plan (2022-2025), focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and end gender-based violence and harmful practices.

In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff, who embody these international norms and standards, and who will defend them courageously and with full conviction.

UNFPA is seeking candidates that transform, inspire and deliver high impact and sustained results; we need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them and who commit to deliver excellence in programme results.

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

Compensation and Benefits:

This position offers an attractive remuneration package including a competitive net salary plus health insurance and other benefits as applicable.

UNFPA Work Environment:

UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, diversity, integrity and healthy work-life balance. We are committed to ensuring gender parity in the organization and therefore encourage women to apply. Individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community, minority ethnic groups, indigenous populations, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups are highly encouraged to apply. 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.