Programme Specialist

at  unfpa

THE POSITION:

The Programme Specialist will provide support to the regional efforts to accelerate progress towards zero preventable maternal deaths in the East and Southern Africa (ESA) region as part of the Unitaid-UNFPA SafeBirth Africa (SBA) joint project which is funded by the European Union in the framework of the Team Europe Initiative on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) in Africa. S/he will coordinate efforts with the ESA countries (particularly the two pilot countries: Madagascar and Uganda), the East African Community (EAC), the Southern African Development Community (SADC), African Union Commission (AUC, in particular with the CARMMA Plus team) and Africa CDC. S/he will also coordinate with Unitaid’s implementing partners (notably Jphiego) and engage with EU Delegations across the ESA region.
The Programme Specialist will also work with UN Agencies, regional and national institutions, professional associations, and other partners in the region to strengthen national capacities to utilize the latest advances in maternal health quality-assured life-saving commodities. S/he will also support advocacy efforts in working with decision-makers and regulatory bodies while also supporting evidence generation on good and promising practices in the region. The Programme Specialist will work and coordinate closely with other UNFPA business units involved in the implementation of the SBA joint project including the Maternal Newborn Health team in Headquarters, West and Central Africa Office (WCARO), Supply Chain Management Unit (SCMU), Supplies Partnership Programme, and Madagascar and Uganda Country Offices. The Programme Specialist will work under the direct supervision of the Regional Health Systems Specialist.

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 who 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.

EDUCATION:

Advanced university degree (Masters Level) in Public Health, Medicine, biology, epidemiology, international development, or other related fields.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

Essential

• Minimum of 5 years of progressive professional work experience in programme/project management and coordination in the development sector, especially in the area of SRHR and maternal health. Previous experience working with the UN and UNFPA at an international level, or with AUC/RECs, and in the ESA region, is an added advantage.
• Knowledge of policy formulation, research, and advocacy and previous record in coordination, partnerships, and communication.
• Strong understanding of health systems strengthening, access to essential medicines issues, and previous experience working on maternal health and postpartum haemorrhage.
• Experience in supporting strategic activities and working with other UN Agencies, development, and African partners including reporting and communication.
• Demonstrated diplomatic skills and ability to function effectively in an international and multi-cultural environment
• Strong computer literacy skills, and knowledge of office software packages.
• Excellent analytical, communication (writing and oral), and interpersonal skills.
• Familiar with UN and UNFPA policies, procedures, and programming priorities.

Desirable:

• Experience coordinating multi-country/regional initiatives in Africa with a wide range of stakeholders (governmental, non-governmental, UN agencies, development agencies, etc.).
• Knowledge of the actors and dynamics of the Team Europe Initiative on SRHR in Africa.

JOB PURPOSE:

The Programme Specialist will coordinate the technical and programmatic efforts of the SafeBirth Africa project in the ESA region. The project aims to improve maternal health and well-being and reduce adverse maternal outcomes by strengthening the national policy and regulatory environments, and financing and delivery systems including the capacity of frontline health workers, by taking advantage of ongoing continental and regional initiatives, to utilize the latest medical advances in maternal health life-saving supplies focusing on postpartum haemorrhage.

The Programme Specialist will support the regional efforts on:

• Generating evidence on the impact, feasibility, acceptability, and cost of priority postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) drugs and delivery models. (Specific Objective 1 of the SBA project)
• Leveraging regional and continental platforms to increase the policy, regulatory, financing, and delivery capacity of the national health systems to roll out the use of new and underused quality-assured PPH commodities (medicines, medicinal supplies, devices, and equipment) for the prevention and treatment of PPH, especially within primary health care settings. (Specific Objective 2 of the SBA project)
• Improving access to affordable quality-assured recommended commodities to prevent and treat PPH in Africa, especially through manufacturers in Africa, building on existing continental and regional initiatives. (Specific Objective 3 of the SBA project)