The Position:
The Programme Specialist, Maternal Health (MH) is located in the Bangladesh Dhaka Office and reports to the Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRHR) Specialist.
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.
Job Purpose:
The Programme Specialist, Maternal Health(M H) ensures the effective management of UNFPA activities in the areas of maternal and child health, midwifery led services at facilities and family planning . S/he oversees programme formulation and evaluation, joint programming initiatives and national development frameworks. You will lead the respective programme teams and collaborate with the UNFPA Bangladesh s operations/administrative support staff.
You would be responsible for:
- Collaborating with Government counterparts, NGOs and other partners, the Programme Specialist, Maternal Health oversees the formulation and design of the Maternal Health, midwifery-led care and Family Planning components of the country programme and its associated projects in line with Government priorities and according to UNFPA programme policies and procedures. Lead the achievement of programme results by ensuring appropriate policies and procedures are applied by programme team, and appropriate monitoring and oversight mechanisms and systems are established and implemented.
• Undertake analysis of national and subnational trends, gaps, challenges in addressing major Maternal Health, Family Planning and midwifery-led care issues related to the rights of women and adolescents in Bangladesh, to identify strategic entry points for new initiatives, planning future strategies, or strengthening existing work to advance the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) Agenda and Agenda 2030.
• Review the political, social and economic environment relevant to Maternal Health with a particular focus on family planning and its linkages with midwifery-led care, midwifery education and other Sexual and Reproductive Health programme components and pursues opportunities for UNFPA assistance and intervention. Assesses implications of new policy developments and strategies on programme execution and ensures appropriate implementation. Oversee Maternal Health , Family Planning and midwifery-led care programme implementation, establishing collaborative partnerships with executing agencies, experts, government counterparts and other UN agencies to facilitate timely and efficient delivery of project inputs, and addressing training needs of project personnel.
• Ensure the creation and documentation of knowledge about current and emerging Maternal Health ( MH) trends, midwifery-led care and Family Planning issues, by the programme team through the analysis of programme, projects, strategies, approaches and ongoing experience for lessons learned, best practices, and uses this knowledge for information sharing and planning future strategies.
• Participate in advocacy and resource mobilization efforts of the Country Office by ensuring preparation of relevant documentation, i.e. project summaries, conference papers, speeches, donor profiles, and participate in related donor meetings and public information events.
Qualifications and Experience:
Education:
Advanced degree in public health with a background in medicine, nursing or midwifery or other related field.
Knowledge and Experience:
• Five years of professional experience in the field of Maternal Health health, with experience in programme/ project management.
• Three years of experience working in the field of family planning and midwifery-led care is highly desirable.
• One-two years of experience managing large donor-funded projects would be desirable.
• Prior experience working for the United Nations and national and international NGO working in the area of Maternal Health would be an added advantage.
• Proficiency in current office software applications (MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint, and other presentation software).
Languages:
Fluency in English and Bangla is required. Working knowledge of another UN language an asset.
Required Competencies:
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 relationships,
Functional Competencies:
- Advocacy/ Advancing a policy-oriented agenda
- Leveraging the resources of national governments and partners/ building strategic alliances and partnerships
- Delivering results-based programmes
- Internal and external communication and advocacy for results mobilization
Managerial Competencies (if applicable):
- Providing strategic vision and focus
- Engage internal/external partners,
- Lead, develop and empower people, create impact a culture of performance
- Making decisions and exercising judgment
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.
We are no longer accepting applications for this position.
