The Position:

The position of Programme Specialist, Universal Health Coverage, Systems and Policies, reports to the MNH team lead / Maternal and Newborn Health Thematic Fund (MHTF) Coordinator, under the overall guidance of the Chief of the Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Branch in the Programme Division.

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 strategic plan (2022-2025), reaffirms the relevance of the current strategic direction of UNFPA and focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and end gender-based violence and harmful practices. These results capture our strategic commitments on accelerating progress towards realizing the ICPD and SDGs in the Decade of Action leading up to 2030. Our strategic plan calls upon UN Member States, organizations and individuals to “build forward better”, while addressing the negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on women’s and girls’ access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, recover lost gains and realize our goals.

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:

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:

A. 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;

B. 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.

C. 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.

D. 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.

E. 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

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.