Adolescent/Youth SRHR Specialist, Lilongwe, Malawi, P-4

Background Information

UNFPA Malawi Country Office needs substantive technical expertise and programme leadership at international level in Adolescent/Youth Sexual and Reproductive Health/Rights. The technical expertise is required to provide quality technical support to the Government of Malawi in this domain and to secure managerial excellence in UNFPA’s adolescent/youth programming. The Adolescent/Youth SRHR Specialist leads and motivates the adolescent and youth team in the development of innovative, evidence based and relevant approaches towards contributing to the implementation of the 9th Malawi Country Programme (CP) and ultimately the three transformative results of UNFPA. 

As teenage pregnancy and child marriage remain a major challenge in Malawi, the 9th CPD is girl-centred and the UNFPA Malawi Country Office requires a strengthened voice in the technical discussions around Adolescent SRHR, including community-based prevention efforts, and programmatic expertise in promoting access to quality youth-friendly SRH services and information through innovative, evidence-based, and transformational approaches. An added international staff is necessary to streamline the office’s approach towards adolescents and youth in the context of SRHR, strengthen data/evidence-based approaches, ensure quality and effective interventions, leverage more strategic advocacy, and mobilize resources towards ensuring adolescent and youth programmes are funded. 

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 new strategic plan (2022-2025), focuses on three transformative results: 

End preventable maternal deaths 

End unmet need for family planning 

End gender-based violence and harmful practices. 

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. 

Main Tasks & Responsibilities

Job Purpose: 

The Adolescent/Youth SRHR Specialist will lead and coordinate UNFPA Malawi Country Office’s overall engagement in Adolescent/Youth SRHR and provide technical assurance in the management of adolescent/youth programmes including, but not limited, the ‘Action for Teen Mothers and Adolescent Girls’ Programme. 

The Adolescent/Youth SRHR Specialist is part of a multidisciplinary team, which provides technical, policy, programme support and guidance to UNFPA Malawi Country Office and its counterparts in an integrated and coordinated manner.

This position will report to the Deputy Representative, and s/he will work closely with the national staff in the youth/adolescent team as well as with the SRH and GBV teams of Malawi Country Office. 

Detailed Responsibilities: 

A. Strategic Leadership, Technical Advice, Policy Analysis and Advocacy:

• Under the supervision of Resident Representative and Deputy Representative, provide strategic leadership in terms of programme management, quality assurance, technical advice, advocacy, knowledge management, partnerships, and inter-agency coordination in the areas of Adolescent/Youth Sexual and Reproductive Health (ASRH). 
• Provide technical advice and guidance to the Programme team in order to facilitate smooth and effective implementation of the Adolescent SRH programmes, especially, but not limited, the ‘Action for Teen Mothers and Adolescent Girls’ Programme.  
• Advise Resident Representative and Deputy Representative on Adolescent SRH (ASRH) and Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW) related issues, approaches, innovations and strategic communications.  
• Represent UNFPA on substantive issues related to ASRH and AGYW and advocate for UNFPA’s mandate and positions effectively. 
• Provide policy analysis on ASRH and AGYW issues and support Resident Representative and Deputy Representative in their strategic engagement with the Government and other key stakeholders. 
• Lead or provide technical input to the development of relevant advocacy and policy documents, including engagement with relevant Government entities such as the Ministry of Youth and Sports. Participate in relevant national and district level technical and strategic discussions. 
• Lead the development of knowledge management strategies and methodologies and products. 

B. Quality assurance in the programme, knowledge management, monitoring and reporting:

• Under the supervision of Deputy Representative, provide oversight and ensure quality assurance of the ASRH and AGYW programme activities under UNFPA’s Implementation Partners at district level, especially ‘Action for Teen Mothers and Adolescent Girls’ Programme. 
• Ensure effective, efficient and transparent programme cycle management of adolescent and youth related activities, including annual work planning/budgeting, monitoring, reporting and evaluation, working closely with Implementing Partners. 
• Provide technical guidance and coaching to the Programme Officers responsible for day-to-day management of ASRH and AGYW programme activities. 
• Identify and produce good practices and knowledge products on evidence-based approaches. Facilitate the cross-learning and sharing of good practices across SRH, Adolescent/Youth, and Gender programmes of the Country Office, including, but not limited, the Teens project funded by the Irish Embassy, the Joint Programme on Girls’ Education (JPGE) funded by Norway for greater outcomes. 
• In collaboration with the Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) team, ensure that evidence on the results of the Programme interventions, as well as technical knowledge for gender analysis and behavioral change communications and relevant lessons learned are collected, managed, disseminated, and made available for application in the Malawi Country Programme. 

C. Partnerships Building, Resource Mobilization, and Inter-agency Coordination:

• Provide technical assistance and guidance in support of UNFPA’s convening role in adolescent girls-centered programming, youth empowerment and leadership, sexual and reproductive health and rights, and gender equality. 
• Collaborate with UN agencies, civil society organisations, academia, research and training institutions, and professional societies; and act as focal point for inter-agency working groups in the substantive areas. 
• Develop and implement partnerships and resource mobilization strategies related to ASRH and AGYW. 
• Oversee and manage the design and formulation of programme proposals and initiatives related to ASRH and AGYW; 
• Provide quality assurance for proposal writing and donor reports related to ASRH and AGYW. Explore potential and innovative partnerships related to the SRHR and empowerment of AGYW. 

D. People Management and Leadership:

• Supervise project staff and all staff under the Adolescent and Youth unit, direct expert consultants, and facilitate working groups and task teams. 
• Proactively ensure that projects remain aligned with the broader aims of the CO and Country Programme. 
• Exchange relevant information and maintain an open line of communication with colleagues and his/her supervisor to ensure that synergies across programming activities are obtained. 
• Coach and supervise professional and support staff, be responsible for staff performance, and advise on development needs. 

E. Carry out any other duties as may be reasonably required by UNFPA leadership.

Qualifications and Experience

Education:

• Master’s degree in any of the following disciplines: public health, medical science, social science, sociology, gender, international relations, international development, economics, communications, management, or another related field. 

Knowledge and Experience: 

• 7 years of increasingly responsible professional experience in international development including programme design, management and coordination; of which at least 5 years in the field of adolescent/youth sexual and reproductive health and rights, or adolescent girls and young women-cantered programming in international organizations is required; 
• Demonstrated experience in international development, particularly in the areas related to the mandate of UNFPA is required; 
• Demonstrated experience and expertise in providing technical assistance and leadership in the programming areas of adolescent and youth’s sexual and reproductive health and rights, including GBV and harmful practices, is required; 
• Demonstrated technical leadership in gender transformative approaches and behavioral change communication approaches towards adolescent and youth is desirable; 
• Previous experience in management of multi-sector, holistic and UN inter-agency girls-centered programming is an asset; 
• Previous experience in knowledge management, partnership building, and resource mobilization is an asset; 
• Proven ability to lead teams to achieve demonstrable and high-quality results is required; 
• Field experience in developing context is essential; experience from a   humanitarian context is an asset. 

Languages: 

Fluency in written and oral English. 

Required Competencies

Values: 

• Exemplifying integrity 
• Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system 
• Embracing diversity in all its forms 
• 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. 
• Leveraging the resources of national governments and partners/ building strategic alliances and partnerships. 
• Delivering results-based programme. 
• Internal and external communication and advocacy for results mobilization. 

UNFPA Work Environment 

UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, teamwork, Embracing diversity in all its forms, integrity and a healthy balance of work and life. 

We are committed to maintaining our balanced gender distribution and therefore encourage women to apply. UNFPA promotes equal opportunities for all including persons with disabilities. 

Compensation and Benefits

This position offers an attractive remuneration package commensurate with the level of the post.  

The package includes a competitive net salary plus cost-of-living adjustment, housing allowance, home leave, health insurance and other benefits. 

Disclaimer

Warning to Applicants: 

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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.