Overview
The position acts as the UNFPA regional Principal Lead Adviser for integrated technical and programmatic support on maternal and newborn health, Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), and health systems strengthening in West and Central Africa.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide technical, policy and programmatic leadership, management advice and strategic support and guidance to the regional office and West and Central African countries on maternal and newborn health, SRHR and health systems strengthening.
- Lead on policy and advocacy efforts for situating comprehensive SRHR in UHC and health system strengthening policies and programmes.
- Lead the development and implementation of an integrated strategy for technical assistance, policy and programme support in the region.
- Manage and oversee regional initiatives/programmes on maternal and newborn health, SRHR and health systems strengthening.
- Contribute to health system strengthening by supporting country offices with technical advice to enhance access to SRH services, improve health sector workforce, improve readiness of health delivery systems, ensure access to emergency obstetric and newborn care, ensure availability of essential maternal life-saving commodities, improve health information systems, strengthen maternal and perinatal death surveillance and response systems, enhance governance and leadership for SRHR, and cost and track budgets for maternal health.
- Contribute to the development, implementation and monitoring of regional and national strategies to accelerate efforts to end maternal and newborn deaths and reduce morbidities.
- Identify and analyze trends, threats and risks to maternal health and SRHR delivery systems.
- Identify requirements for and contribute to the development of new or updated policies, positioning, frameworks, guidance, standards, instruments and tools.
- Participate in the UNFPA technical network on maternal and newborn health and health systems strengthening.
- Supervise the Midwifery Specialist and other relevant technical staff, coach and manage junior professional staff and associates, direct expert consultants and facilitate working groups and task teams.
- Advise COs on the implementation and effective application of UNFPA policies, strategies, guidelines and tools.
- Ensure that state-of-the-art thinking and research pertaining to maternal and newborn health, SRHR and health systems are integrated within the work of the region and sub-regional offices and partnership networks.
- Analyze technical, programmatic and substantive reports from the field and recommend follow-up actions.
- Organize and contribute to regional and country level capacity development activities.
- Ensure the identification of relevant research, innovation and best practices and disseminate them appropriately.
- Contribute to the development and implementation of a regional integrated technical delivery strategy.
- Provide strategic technical guidance to promote and deepen integration of all elements of the essential SRHR package.
- Provide technical guidance for countries to advocate for full integration of sexual and reproductive health services into primary health care and UHC initiatives.
- Monitor the quality of the technical support received at the country level.
- Engage actively in the development country programme development process.
- Play a key role in building up, coordinating and monitoring the regional knowledge platform.
- Contribute to developing a mechanism to share technical skills and knowledge.
- Initiate, develop, strengthen and monitor substantive and intellectual regional partnerships.
- Coordinate development of accessible databases on innovation and high impact practices.
- Collect, analyze and synthesize information/data and experience on programme priorities for regional and global advocacy.
- Lead the analysis and synthesis of substantive trends, emerging needs and research findings in the region.
- Prepare white papers, briefing, talking points, statements and materials for evidence-based policy dialogues.
- Disseminate and promote the use of state-of-the-art technical knowledge, evidence, lessons learned, and success stories.
- Advise on application of innovative approaches to address reproductive health needs of population in crisis and recovery settings.
- Collect, analyze and synthesize information/data and experience on maternal health for regional and global advocacy and resource mobilization.
- Contribute to the advocacy efforts to end preventable maternal deaths and the attainment of relevant SDG targets and indicators.
- Coordinate overall provision of technical support to the country offices in the region.
- Develop and co-ordinate the substantive elements of partnerships and collaboration.
- Identify sources of technical knowledge among institutions and consultants; and establish and maintain relationships with institutions and maintain a network of consultants.
- Represent UNFPA on forums and issues pertaining to maternal and newborn health and health systems strengthening in the region.
- Participate in policy dialogue, and advocate for maternal and newborn health and health systems strengthening in international, inter-governmental, U.N., and other regional and sub regional policy and technical meetings and fora.
- Collaborate on substantive issues with UN agencies, academia, research and training institutions, think tanks, centers of excellence, professional societies in the region.
- Act as focal point for inter-agency working groups.
- Carry out any other duties as may be requested by the Office of the Regional Director.
Required Experience
10 years of increasingly responsible professional experience in maternal and newborn health, SRHR and health system strengthening, of which seven years is at the international level; Proven experience in a lead maternal health role, or SRHR including health sector reform, health systems strengthening; Understanding of areas relevant to UNFPA's mandate such as family planning, contraceptive technology, sexual and reproductive health services, reproductive and/or gender-based violence, population dynamics, gender equality, social protection systems; Demonstrated expertise in policy engagement within developing countries and Middle-Income Countries; Established global and regional professional networks related to maternal and newborn health, SRHR and health systems strengthening; Strong track record of producing demonstrable results; Demonstrated ability to engage effectively with national counterparts, academia, civil society organizations, private sector, and development partners including with UN agencies from the H4+/H6 as well as donors; Country and Regional experience is required, ideally within the West and Central Africa region.
Qualifications
Advanced degree in health, Medicine, Obstetric and Gynaecology and/or Public Health, or other fields directly related to maternal and newborn health, SRHR and health system strengthening.
