National Consultant-Midwifery, Dhaka, UNFPA Bangladesh

The Position:

Working directly under the Chief-of-Health, UNFPA, Bangladesh Dhaka, the consultant will provide high level of coordination and technical support to the Chief-of-Health in accelerating these initiatives to demonstrate tangible results by the end of 2025. 

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 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.

You would be responsible for:

The Consultant will be responsible for:

Midwifery Deployment 

1. Fast tracking all paperwork at different stages and levels within the government systems on midwifery post creations and deployment at District Hospitals (DH), Upzilla Health Complexes (UHC), Union Health and Family Welfare Centres (UHFWCs), Maternal and Child Welfare Centres (MCWC) and Medical Colleges. 
2. Work closely with the SRHR Specialist and Senior SRHR Consultant to liaise (and move approval processes) with secretaries, concerned additional secretaries and other action takers in the ministries of health, finance and planning, including in the public service commission. 

Midwifery Mentorship Programme

1. Develop a Road-map for the country wide roll-out of the mentorship programme. 
2. Roll out of the programme in CP 10 and project districts with more than 70% of expected pregnancies in the catchment areas of the health facilities with mentored-midwife taking place in the facilities and more than 50% voluntarily accepting PPIUCDs.
3. Working closely with DGNM and DPHNs, establish an accountability framework/guideline for the mentored-midwife to demonstrate agreed results on percentage of institutional delivery, PPIUCD and other SRHR interventions.
4. Working with DGNM, establish an accountability framework/guideline for DPHN (and ADPHN) to demonstrate agreed results on percentage of institutional delivery, PPIUCD and other SRHR interventions in mentored-midwife facilities in their districts.

Midwifery support through International IPs

1. Lead reviewing (and develop a reference note) of all activities implemented by the IPs and advise for which Bangladesh doesn’t have the expertise and need continued support from them.
2. Develop 2025 Action-plan for implementing (most efficiently) and concluding the identified activities through the IPs.
3. By mid-2025, develop the exit-plans for all IPs to ensure sustainability and roll-out in the country. 

South-South Cooperation 

1. In consultation with the Chief-of-Health, coordinate between Bangladesh and other countries on this. 
2. Function as a focal person to communicate and maintain communication between Bangladesh and other countries, keeping all informed and ensuring actions are taken on agreed points.
3. Coordinate with Nepal Office to move the agreed (in 2023) work forward as per the Cooperation Document developed jointly following our mutual visits in 2023 - 24.
4. Coordinate the work with India and Egypt Offices.
5. Coordinate on any future South-south cooperation request.  

Establishment of MSc Midwifery Course

1. Conclude establishment of MSc Midwifery course in the country – a work in advance stages of being launched.
   
    

Educational Experience:

• Master’s degree in midwifery or Women’s Heath and Midwifery or relevant field
• Registered by the Bangladesh Nursing and Midwifery Council

Knowledge and Experience: 

• A minimum of 15 years of relevant professional experience in midwifery programme.
• Prior experience of working with government, UN and other relevant development agencies. 
• In depth knowledge and working experience on different midwifery pillars and issues 
• Knowledge about UN common programming principles including Human Rights Based Approach Proven knowledge and technical expertise in health. 
• Understanding of the Midwifery profession and its social and economic aspects
• Proven ability to work with the Government (at the central as well as local levels) 
• Demonstrable analytical and strategic planning skills. 
• Proficient in MS Office Operations, internet, etc. 

Values:

• Exemplifying integrity 
• Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN System 
• Embracing cultural diversity 
• 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 relationship 
• Communicating for impact 

Languages:

• Fluency in English and Bangla is required. 
  
   

Grade: NOB

Duration: The Consultant will be recruited for a total of 11 months

Place where services are to be delivered: The services are to be delivered within Bangladesh

Delivery dates and how work will be delivered (e.g. electronic, hard copy etc.): During this 11 month, a work plan will be developed in consultation with the Chief of Health, who will ensure participation and inputs by all relevant team members of the Health Unit. 

1. Provide in the monthly reports, brief details of measurable progress against the 5 identified work outlined in the scope of work above, against which the monthly payment will be disbursed.
2. Last month’s payment will be disbursed upon handing over, as a consolidated package, the documents outlined in the scope of work above, viz., 
   1. Midwifery Deployment: Brief report on the status of Midwifery Deployment – showing the results achieved and key activities undertaken 
   2. Midwifery Mentorship 
      1. Country wide road map of mentorship programme roll-out
      2. CP-10 and Project Districts Mentorship Roll-out Progress Report 
      3. Mentorship Accountability Framework for in-service midwifes
      4. Mentorship Accountability Framework for DPHN 
   3. International IPs
      1. IP activity-review document
      2. 2025 Action-Plan for the IPs
      3. Exit Plans for the IPs
   4. South-South Cooperation: Progress Report, demonstrating the key achievements of South-South Cooperation 
   5. MSc Course: Brief report on progress made

Monitoring and progress control, including reporting requirements, periodicity format and deadline:

Monthly Reports and Monthly Review/Progress Meetings led by Chief-of-Health and attended by relevant members of the Health Unit invited. 

Supervisory arrangements: The Consultant will be supervised by the Chief of Health 

Expected travel: UNFPA will pay any work-related travel within the country

 

Inputs/services to be provided by UNFPA or implementing partner (e.g support services, office space, equipment), if applicable:
Office space will be provided at IDB/UNFPA Office (and DGNM as per requirement). The Consultant is expected to work from IDB / UNFPA Office for up to 50% of time as the responsibilities of this consultancy requires extensive and intensive engagement and joint work with UNFPA Health Unit 

Payment Instruction: Upon submission of monthly timesheet.

Other relevant information or special conditions: 

1. The tools, reports or documents or any part, cannot be sold, used, or reproduced in any manner without the prior written approval of UNFPA.
2. No additional payment will be provided other than what is contracted.
3. Working arrangement will be 40 hours/week
   
    

Compensation and Benefits:

This position offers an attractive remuneration package including a competitive net salary plus health insurance and other benefits as applicable.

UNFPA Work Environment:

UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, diversity, integrity and healthy work-life balance. We are committed to ensuring gender parity in the organization and therefore encourage women to apply. Individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community, minority ethnic groups, indigenous populations, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups are highly encouraged to apply. UNFPA promotes equal opportunities in terms of appointment, training, compensation and selection for all regardless of personal characteristics and dimensions of diversity. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is at the heart of UNFPA's workforce - click here to learn more.

Disclaimer:

Selection and appointment may be subject to background and reference checks, medical clearance, visa issuance and other administrative requirements. 

UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process and does not concern itself with information on applicants' bank accounts. 

Applicants for positions in the international Professional and higher categories, who hold permanent resident status in a country other than their country of nationality, may be required to renounce such status upon their appointment.