UNFPA works to ensure sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) remain at the very center of development. UNFPA's work on improving SRHR is a key effort towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal 3, which calls for good health and well-being. It also advances Goal 5, which calls for gender equality, as well as many of the other SDGs included in the 2030 Agenda. UNFPA’s new Strategic Plan 2022 -2025 places universal access to SRH at the heart of its work with three transformative results – ending preventable maternal death, ending unmet need for family planning and ending GBV including harmful practices – as commitments to achieve by 2030.
UNFPA works with governments, other UN agencies, civil society organisations, academia, private sector partners and donors to develop comprehensive and integrated efforts to ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health care. UNFPA advocates for integrating the delivery of these services into primary health care (PHC) and universal health coverage (UHC) so it is as accessible as possible. This is a matter of rights, choices and freedoms.
UNFPA is also working with governments and communities to strengthen and build resilient health systems, including supporting the implementation of SRHR programmes in the context of humanitarian and development context, improving the quality of reproductive health care and strengthening human resources for health especially in respect to midwifery. UNFPA also works to make sure reproductive health commodities are available where needed, and that a functioning logistics system is in place. The Maternal Health Thematic Fund and UNFPA Supplies are just two examples of UNFPA’s work in strengthening health systems and quality services. While strengthening national and community systems, UNFPA also puts special emphasis on increasing access for disadvantaged groups, including young people, the urban poor, rural communities, indigenous populations and women with disabilities.
UNFPA’s SRHR work is comprehensive along a life course and continuum of care tailored to the different challenges people face at different times in their lives, including comprehensive sexuality education, adolescent and youth wellbeing, contraceptive services, antenatal and safe delivery care, post-natal care, services to prevent sexually transmitted infections (including HIV), and services facilitating early diagnosis and treatment of reproductive health illnesses (including breast and cervical cancer).
Organizational Location
The Chief of the Sexual and Reproductive Health Branch (SRHB) reports to and works under the overall direction and leadership of the Technical Division (TD) Director who is the direct supervisor of the post. This post is located at UNFPA Headquarters in New York, USA.
S/He works closely with other Branch Chiefs across TD. The TD Branch Chiefs including the SRHB Chief and the TD Director form the TD leadership team and ensure a coherent and integrated approach to delivering on the TD’s mission and functions.
The SRHB Chief ensures an integrated, and strategic approach to the thematic work on SRHR across a life course and continuum of care. In doing this the Chief contributes to the thought leadership work of TD and the overall Fund’s strategic plan and transformative results.
Education:
- A Masters and/or Ph. D. in Public Health, Medicine, Midwifery, Epidemiology, sociology, Demography, health Economics, health Administration, Management or other field directly related to the substantive area of work.
Knowledge and Experience:
- A minimum of 15 years’ experience of increasingly responsible professional experience in public administration and international development, of which at least 8 years in the thematic area at the international level.
- Extensive operational and managerial experience working on maternal health and SRHR programmes, especially at the field/regional and/or country level.
We are no longer accepting applications for this position.
