UNFPA Reproductive Health / Maternal Health Specialist Job in Garowe, Somalia

Vacancy Announcement
 

Leader in Reproductive Health & Population Development
 

1. General Information:
 

Vacancy Number: VA/FPA/SOM/02-3/2014
 

Post Title: Reproductive Health / Maternal Health Specialist
 

Type of Contract: Fixed-Term
 

Level: NO-C
 

Duration: One (1) year
 

Duty Station: Garowe
 

Date of Issue: 28 February 2014
 

Closing Date: 14 March 2014
 

Organizational Unit: UNFPA Somalia Country Office
 

The United Nations Population Fund is an international development agency that promotes the right of every woman, man and child to enjoy a life of health and equal opportunity. 

UNFPA supports countries in using population data for policies and programmes to reduce poverty and to ensure that every pregnancy is wanted, every birth is safe, every young person is free of HIV/AIDS, and every girl and woman is treated with dignity and respect.

Duties and Responsibilities:
 

Under the overall supervision of the Representative/Deputy Representative and the direct supervision of the Head of Office/Programme Coordinator, the Reproductive Health/Maternal Health (RH/MH) Specialist ensures the effective management of UNFPA activities in the area of reproductive/maternal health.

S/he oversees project formulation and evaluation, joint programming initiatives and national development frameworks. 

S/he leads the RH/MH programme team and collaborates with the CO’s operations/administrative support staff.

More specifically, the Reproductive Health/Maternal (RH/MH) Health Specialist will perform the following duties:  

• In collaboration with Government counterparts, NGOs and other partners, the RH/MH Specialist oversees the formulation and design of the RH/MH programme and its component projects in line with Government priorities and according to UNFPA programme policies and procedures.
• Oversees achievement of programme results by ensuring appropriate policies and procedures are applied by programme team, and appropriate monitoring and oversight mechanisms and systems are established and implemented.
• Ensures the creation and documentation of knowledge about current and emerging population development trends, RH and gender issues, by the programme team through the analysis of programme, projects, strategies, approaches and ongoing experience for lessons learnt, best practices, and uses this knowledge for information sharing and planning future strategies.
• Reviews the political, social and economic environment relevant to population and development, reproductive/maternal health and gender, and pursues opportunities for UNFPA assistance and intervention. Assesses implications of new policy developments and strategies on programme execution and ensures appropriate implementation.
• Contributes to the selection of Implementing partners and contractors suitable for implementing UNFPA programs.
• Oversees project implementation, establishing collaborative partnerships with executing agencies, experts, government counterparts and other UN agencies to facilitate timely and efficient delivery of project inputs, and addressing training needs of project personnel.
• Ensures quality of a program implementation through supervision, reporting and monitoring systems.
• Analyzes and generates reports on program and project progress in terms of achieving results, using existing monitoring and evaluation tools and introducing new mechanisms and systems where necessary; identifies constraints and resource deficiencies and recommends corrective actions.
• Monitors project expenditures and disbursements to ensure delivery is in line with approved project budget and to realize targeted delivery levels.
• Helps create and document knowledge about current and emerging issues related to RH/MH, Youth and HIV/AIDS prevention among the vulnerable groups, by analyzing programs, projects, strategies, approaches and ongoing experiences, lessons learned, best practices and shares with management for use in knowledge sharing and planning future strategies.
• Assesses and undertake capacity building in the partner organizations. Ensures the creation and documentation of knowledge about current and emerging RH/MH, Youth and HIV/AIDS prevention among the vulnerable groups, issues, by the programme team through the analysis of programme, projects, strategies, approaches and ongoing experience for lessons learned, best practices, and uses this knowledge for information sharing and planning future strategies.
• Participates in advocacy and resource mobilization efforts of Country Office by ensuring  preparation of relevant documentation, i.e. project summaries, conference papers, speeches, donor profiles, and participating in related donor meetings and public information events.
• Carries such other tasks as assigned by the UNFPA Representative and Deputy Representative and supervisor.

Work Relations: The RH/MH Specialist oversees the work of the programme team as well as consultants, advisors, and experts and establishes and maintains collaborative relationships with counterparts in government, multi-lateral and bilateral donor agencies and civil society to address emerging issues.

 S/he must effectively influence counterparts from diverse backgrounds to contribute to achieving UNFPA’s mandate.
 

Internal contacts include the Representative, Deputy Representative, Assistant Representative, the CO’s programme/ technical team. External contacts include other UN agencies in country, and counterparts and partners in Country programme activities, including international NGOs, experts etc.
 

Education: Advanced degree in health, population, demography and/or other related social science field.
 

Knowledge and Experience: A minimum of 5 years professional experience in the field of Public Health (including Reproductive Health), with experience in programming/project management.
 

Required Competencies:
 

i) Values: Exemplifying integrity, Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system, Embracing cultural diversity, Embracing change
 

ii) 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
 

iii) Required Skillset: 

• Advocacy/advancing a policy oriented agenda 
• Leveraging the resources of national governments and partners/building strategic alliances and partnerships 
• Delivering results based programmes 
• Internal and external communication and resource mobilization

Languages: Fluency in English is required. 

Working knowledge of Somali is desirable.

Applications with a current CV and duly completed P-11 UN Personal History Form (www.escwa.un.org/main/vacancies/P_11.doc) marked: “VA/FPA/SOM/02-3/2014 – RH/MH Specialist” should be forwarded to the following email address: recruit.unfpasom@unfpa.org.
 

UNFPA will only be able to respond to those applications in which there is further interest.
 

UNFPA Work Environment: UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, teamwork, respect for diversity, integrity and a healthy balance of work and life. We are committed to maintaining our balanced gender distribution and therefore encourage women to apply. 

Disclaimer WARNING TO APPLICANTS: UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fees in connection with the application or recruitment process. Should you have received a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. 

Furthermore, please note that emblems, logos, names and addresses are easily copied and reproduced. 

Therefore, you are advised to apply particular care when submitting personal information on the web. 

Should you feel that you have received a fraudulent notice, letter of offer that makes use of the name or logo of UNFPA, you may submit a report through the UNFPA fraud hotline athttp://www.unfpa.org/help/hotline.cfm

Notice to Applicants: 

In accordance with the 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, are required to renounce such status upon their appointment. 

Exceptions to this rule are very limited and can be made only for:
 

(a) stateless persons; 

(b) newly appointed staff members who have applied for citizenship by naturalization, when such citizenship will be granted imminently; 

(c) acting staff members in the General Service and related categories with permanent residency status, on promotion to the Professional category;

(d) staff members appointed under a temporary appointment.
 

Please understand that UNFPA is not in a position to provide advice on or assistance in applying for any citizenship.
 

*No expectancy of renewal in accordance with UN Staff Regulations 4.5