National Post: Programme Specialist, Sexual Reproductive Health and HIV, Botswana, NOC

The Position:

he Programme Specialist -Sexual Reproductive Health (SRH) and HIV will be based in UNFPA Botswana Country Office (CO) and will report to the UNFPA Head of Office. S/he will lead integration of SRH, maternal health, and HIV/AIDS, RMNCAH and foster universal access to SRHR and its integration in UHC The Programme Specialist facilitates linking and integrating of UNFPA supported strategic interventions at policy, programmatic, and service delivery level in support of Government of Botswana and UNFPA 7th Country programme (2022-2026).

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: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and end gender-based violence and harmful practices. In its alignment to the UNFPA strategic plan and regional specific priorities  UNFPA East and Southern Africa region has a fourth transformative result of ending sexual transmission of HIV.

sformational journey mapped out in the Strategic Plan leads to 2030 and aims at achieving universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights. Emerging trends inform the plan, new and expanded priorities add to longstanding commitments, and “how we work” is changing.

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.

Job Purpose:

The Programme Specialist: SRH/ HIV provides high level programme and technical support by addressing critical sexual and reproductive health dimensions, including the prevention of unintended pregnancies, unsafe abortion, prevention of maternal mortality, and the integration of HIV and sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) both in development and humanitarian context.   This includes ensuring effective management of UNFPA supported programs and project in the areas of SRH, HIV and AIDS, and maternal health by providing technical leadership in  programme conceptualisation, design, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation and will be the technical lead in joint programming initiatives in the support of government priorities, while working in an integrated and collaborative manner with the Country Office’s programme and operations staff.

Responsibilities:

The Programme Specialist, SRH and HIV will be responsible for: 

A. Technical support to the programme design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation

• Provide technical leadership to strengthen the policy, institutional and implementation frameworks to enhance national capacities for provision of equitable high-quality, rights-based integrated SRH, including HIV and GBV information and services across the life course.
• Support national partners to mainstream resilience, prevention and preparedness efforts for maintaining availability of SRH including linkages to HIV, GBV, and other services for all during emergencies, including by providing technical support on implementation of Minimal Initial Service Package (MISP).
• Generate recommendations and knowledge for integration of SRH/HIV/GBV/MNH dimensions in national health and other sector development policies, strategies, plans,and service delivery platforms including CCA .
• S/he will lead strategy development, programme design and implementation as well as monitoring and evaluation, and providing technical support to national partners on the implementation of the programme. 
• Lead SRHR analysis and research of the political, social and economic situation in the country for substantive inputs to the Country Programme Development

B. Capacity development and coordination

• Coordinate and oversee programme implementation by establishing collaborative partnerships with executing agencies, government counterparts, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), academia, professional associations, and other UN Agencies to facilitate timely and efficient achievement of results. 
• Leads, provide substantial inputs and actively engage in inter-agency and national platforms’ on SRH/HIV/MNCH linkages to facilitate joint programming.
• Strengthens coordination of SRH, maternal health as well as HIV/AIDS Prevention programmes to scale-up implementation and ensure accelerated integration of HIV/AIDS, MH and SRH programmes.
• Proactively and effectively engage in the UN Reform Agenda and contributions to the UNSCDF (2022-2026) implementation and monitoring.

C. Evidence and Knowledge Management

• Provide technical support and leadership to the generation, analysis, reproting, and use of evidence and knowledge about current and emerging HIV/AIDS, GBV, MNH, and other SRH issues and trends. This includes evaluating programmes, projects and ongoing experience for lessons learned and best practices and actively sharing and applying this knowledge. 
• Reviews the political, social and economic environment relevant to family planning, adolescents and youth sexual reproductive health and rights, gender, population dynamics and pursues opportunities for UNFPA interventions.  Assesses implications of new policy developments and strategies on programme execution. 
• S/he will provide technical backstopping and support/conduct relevant research, analysis and capacity building activities aimed at providing information and knowledge-base and readily usable methodologies to planners, policy makers, and programme managers. 
• Document good practices for deepening knowledge base for UNFPA, UN Agencies and partners as an integral resource for linking HIV and SRHR facilitating timely and efficient delivery of programmes.

D. Programme management

• Provide regular analytical reports to be shared with MoH, UN Agencies and other relevant stakeholders.
• Provide substantive leadership in ensuring appropriate UNFPA policies and procedures are applied, oversight mechanisms and systems are established and implemented. This includes development of work plans, monitoring program implementation and programme budgets, including timely submission of narrative and financial reports.
• Support increased financing and expanded partnerships, including South-South Learning towards achieving universal SRHR through substantive contributions to advocacy and resource mobilization efforts of the Country Office.
• Work closely with UNFPA Operations Staff members to ensure that activities are implemented within the allocated budgets and in-line with policies and procedures.
• Regularly follow-up and provide support to Implementing Partners to ensure timely-implementation and reporting, including financial.
• Provide technical leadership to the development of donor reports as assigned. 

E. General Support 

• Stand-in for other team members on selected functions as may be required. 
• Carry out any other duties as may be required by UNFPA leadership. 

Qualifications and Experience Required: 

Education: 

• Master’s degree in Public health, nursing, or social sciences such as sociology, demography, development studies or related fields.

Knowledge and Experience: 

• At least 5 years of professional relevant experience in the field of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, including HIV prevention, with significant programme and policy experience
• At least 5 years’ experience designing and managing SRHR for young people; and in strategic planning, implementation, and evaluation of HIV/AIDS and/or SRH interventions. 
• Experience working in collaboration with government, development partners, civil society organizations and private sector.
• Strong results-based management skills
• Experience in program implementation in humanitarian contexts will be an asset

Languages: 

Fluency in oral and written English is required.

Required Competencies:

 Values:

• Exemplifying integrity.
• Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system.
• Embracing cultural diversity.
• Embracing change.

Core Competencies:

• Achieve 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.

Managerial Competencies:

• Providing strategic focus
• Engaging internal/ external partners and stakeholders
• Leading, developing and empowering people/ creating a culture of performance
• Making decisions and exercising judgment

Functional Skill Set:

• 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, 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.