Regional Midwifery Coordinator Consultant

The Position:

Regional Midwifery Coordinator Consultant (Home-based) will report to UNFPA EECARO SRH Advisor and the work of the Consultant at all stages will be monitored by the UNFPA EECARO SRH/RHCS 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 UNFPA EECARO supports the countries and territories in Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EECA) to advance midwifery work to accelerate progress towards universal health coverage, universal access to SRHR and the attainment of SDGs in the region. This goal is being advanced through strengthening midwifery education, institutional capacities of the sexual and reproductive health workforce, as well as strengthening professional and academic networking between regional and global institutions and societies specialized in midwifery.

Following the release of the global The State of the World’s Midwifery (SoWMy) 2021 report, the UNFPA EECARO with support from the MHTF initiated the region-focused integrated programme through joint UNFPA global/regional/field support, consisting of three interlinked steps: 1) Regional assessments of midwifery workforce through identifying gaps in regulations, education, association, capacities, leadership; 2) Advocacy for improved, evidence-informed policies and regulations in midwifery; and 3) Rollout of the new education curricula in the EECA countries in line with ICM Global Standards for Midwifery Education and related recommendations.

The first-ever regional midwifery report "The state of midwifery workforce in Eastern Europe and Central Asia" which was produced and published in English and Russian in December 2022 was launched virtually on 5 May 2023 on the occasion of the International Day of the Midwife 2023 by the UNFPA Regional Office for Eastern Europe and Central Asia and the WHO Regional Office for Europe. It was culminated by the adoption by the participants from more than 25 countries, representing Governments, CSOs, different institutions and professional societies of the Statement of Commitment to Advance Midwifery Work in EECA Countries (developed together with ICM, EFNNMA, WHO) calling for increased support for improved policies, regulations, training and working conditions for midwives.

The second flagship assessment of Midwifery education in Eastern Europe and Central Asia was commissioned by the regional SRH programme in 2022 with support of the UNFPA MHTF midwifery programme, in line with the recommendations of the SoWMy 2021 global report and the 2022 EECA regional midwifery workforce report. The study was conducted in 14 countries and territories that had participated in one or both phases of the assessments of current state of midwifery education in EECA and the extent to which SRHR interventions for universal health coverage were included in national midwifery curricula.

The purpose of this consultancy is to provide coordinated support to the Regional Midwifery Programme, which aims to enhance national and regional advocacy efforts for advancing midwifery education, regulations, associations, and evidence-informed practices within the EECA region. The consultant will play a key role in driving progress towards these goals by coordinating regional activities and facilitating collaboration and communication between Country Offices and the Regional Office. The consultant will monitor and report on the program’s progress, including following up on ongoing assessments and pilots, analyzing findings at a national level, and reviewing national recommendations, culminating in a comprehensive report on the 2024 results achieved under the MHTF program and the mapping of 2025 priorities for EECA countries.
 

You would be responsible for:

The consultant will be responsible for the following deliverables:

• Coordinate the progress and the delivery of the ongoing midwifery-related programme activities in the EECA countries.
• Follow up on ICM Congress outcomes and coordinate information sharing between ICM, the Regional Office, and Country Offices.
• Conduct a mapping of 2025 priorities in midwifery for EECA countries to implement the recommendations of the national rollouts of the regional midwifery studies.
• Monitor the regional OSRS (Obstetric Surveillance and Response System) programme implementation status in the pilot countries and develop a summary of 2024 results and challenges.
• Prepare a concept note and draft agenda for a regional midwifery workshop to be conducted in the first quarter of 2025, in consultation with the regional office and country offices.
• Prepare the 2024 EECA report for the UNFPA MHTF programme.

It is expected that all the deliverables will be completed within the period of November - December 2024, for a total of 16 workdays.

The International Consultant is expected to submit to UNFPA EECARO the following deliverables on the specified dates:

1st deliverable: Mapping of 2025 country needs and priorities in midwifery
2rd deliverable: OSRS implementation summary in pilot countries
3rd deliverable: Concept note and draft agenda for the Q1 2025 regional midwifery workshop
4th deliverable: Report on 2024 results achieved under the MHTF programme, including on the follow-up with participating countries on the outcomes of national rollouts of the regional midwifery assessments and the ICM conference

Expected Travel:

The ICM coordinator will attend the regional ICM Congress in Berlin (8-10 Nov 2024) to be administered by UNFPA EECARO.
 

Qualifications and Experience: 

Education:  

• Master's degree or equivalent in medicine, public health, or social sciences.

Knowledge and Experience: 

• At least 5 years of experience working in the area of maternal health; experience with midwifery and/or surveillance programs would be an asset.
• Good knowledge of the EECA region and experience working in EECA country/ies.

Languages: 

Fluency in English and Russian and a proven record of developing reports in both languages are required.

 

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,

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.