The Position:

The Chief of Maternal Health and Health Systems Strengthening (HSS) is located in Mali country office. Under the direct supervision of the Deputy Representative, the incumbent leads the Health Team covering sexual and reproductive health and family planning and provides strategic oversight and technical leadership for the development, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of UNFPA’s SRHR related interventions within the Country Programme and UNSDCF while working closely with Ministry of Health, UN agencies and NGO/CSOs at central and local levels.

The Chief of Maternal Health and HSS also leads UNFPA’s advocacy and knowledge management efforts for the health sector in the country, especially for the areas related to SRHR. As the Chief of Maternal Health and HSS, s/he directs, leads, manages, and develops a team of professional and support staff based in both the capital and districts, to achieve the strategic goals and objectives of the SRHR component of the country programme, also by effectively coordinating with other units within the UNFPA country office. The Chief of Maternal Health and HSS also contributes to partnership building for resource mobilization and for strengthening synergies with other partners, including UN agencies, bilateral and multilateral donors, and NGO/CSOs, in areas related to SRHR where UNFPA has primary responsibility and/or comparative advantages.

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.

Qualifications and Skills required

• Advanced degree in social sciences, public health, community health, international relations, international law, human rights or related field.
• At least 7 years of experience working on Health particularly SRHR, of which at least 4 years are at an international level
• Proven track record of leading and managing large teams to deliver Health Programmes at country levels
• Proven track record in developing publications and research on SRHR to inform policies and programming
• Demonstrated experience in working in complex contexts – with emergency field experience an asset
• Experience leading inter-agency coordination mechanisms on Health with a wide range of stakeholders is an asset

Other Desirable Skills:

Initiative; strong conceptual abilities; sound judgment; strong interest in development work, especially the mission of UNFPA; and dedication to the principles of the United Nations.

Languages:

Proficiency in English and French required

Compensation and Benefits:

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

Disclaimer:

UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Fraudulent notices, letters or offers may be submitted to the UNFPA fraud hotline http://www.unfpa.org/help/hotline.cfm

In accordance with the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations, persons applying to posts in the international Professional category, who hold permanent resident status in a country other than their country of nationality, may be required to renounce such status upon their appointment.