The Position:
The Family Planning Specialist will provide responsive and tailored technical advisory and programme support to country offices, within the East and Southern Africa (ESA) region on positioning right-based family planning within the context of achieving universal access to Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) and goals of the ICPD Programme of Action. The position will facilitate regional efforts to mobilize state and non-state actors to advance actions within continental and regional frameworks in collaboration with the African Union Commission, Regional Economic Commissions and other partners. S/he will in particular support countries under the UNFPA Supplies Partnership in line with the partnership framework, including strengthening the capacity of country offices, governments, civil society and partners in leveraging the programme as a catalyst towards achieving unmet need for family planning. The position will be under the direct supervision of the Regional Health Systems Adviser and the overall guidance of the Deputy Regional Director.
Job Purpose:
The East and Southern Africa Regional Office (ESARO) of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), in line with UNFPA’s Strategic Plan (2022-2025), is accelerating evidence-based interventions towards achieving the Transformative Results in the region, namely (i) ending unmet need for family planning, (ii) ending preventable maternal deaths and (iii) ending gender-based violence and harmful practices by 2030. In addition, the region continues to be the epicentre of HIV infections, informing a regional flagship result area of ending sexual transmission of HIV.
The UNFPA Supplies Partnership plays an important catalytic role in accelerating progress towards the Transformative Results by improving equitable access and use of modern family planning methods and life-saving maternal health medicines in selected countries. The UNFPA Supplies Partnership Programme is in the third phase of the long-term UNFPA Supplies programme for 2021-2030. Through the role, the Regional Specialist will also facilitate integration of family planning within evidence-based comprehensive SRHR programmes, service packages, delivery systems, financing, monitoring and accountability mechanisms as well as resilience building efforts across the humanitarian, development and peace contexts.
S/he as a member of the UNFPA ESA Regional office, will in collaboration with other regional specialists and advisers, be expected to contribute to improved coherence in quality programming for results and contribute to organizational readiness across the humanitarian, development and peace contexts for attaining zero unmet need for family planning.
Required Qualifications and Experience
Education:
Master’s Degree or equivalent in development financing, social policy, economics, demography, population studies, social sciences or other fields directly related to the substantive areas of this position.
Knowledge and Experience:
- 7 years of increasingly responsible professional experience in the field of rights-based family planning with at least five years should be at the international level
- Field experience is strongly desirable
- Professional experience in SRHR including rights-based family planning in humanitarian development and peace settings, including evidence of innovative approaches, will be essential
- Understanding of human rights and cultural dimensions of SRHR will be essential
- Experience of managing initiatives on sexual reproductive health and rights and/or ICPD Agenda will be desirable
- Track record of technical leadership, contribution to technical knowledge management products and proven ability to produce demonstrable results
- Demonstrated experience in advocacy, negotiations and/or policy dialogue, will be essential
- Demonstrated ability to mobilise and manage resources and foster partnerships to advance an agenda will be essential
- Experience of working effectively with civil society, women groups, youth networks, academia, and diverse partners will be an asset
- Strong verbal and written communications skills in English is essential. Proficiency in other UN languages used in the region will be an asset
- Familiarity with management and monitoring tools, M&E and Value-for-Money (VfM) is desirable with field experience
Languages:
Fluency in English is required (both verbal and written)
Computer Skills:
Proficiency in current office software applications.
We are no longer accepting applications for this position.
