Location: Maiduguri, Nigeria
Post type: Temporary Appointment
Duration: 9 months
Closing date: 20 January 2022
This post is non-rotational.
THE POSITION
The Sexual and Reproductive Health in Emergencies (SRHiE) Specialist will be based in Maidugui to provide oversight and technical leadership to reproductive health programs in the North East region of Nigeria. The SRHiE Specialist supports the Humanitarian Programme Coordinator in Nigeria and establishes and maintains collaborative relationships with other counterparts in government, multi-lateral and bilateral donor agencies and civil society to address emerging issues. S/he must effectively influence counterparts from diverse backgrounds to contribute to achieving UNFPA’s SRHiE mandate.
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 (2018-2021), 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 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
Nigeria faces multiple crises, with a protracted conflict in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe (BAY) states, which has spread to neighbouring Cameroon, Chad and Niger, intercommunal clashes in the northwest that have led to over 40,000 people crossing the border with Niger for safety, and climate shocks such as drought and floods. Nigeria also hosts about 50,000 Cameroonian refugees in the west and faces a widespread farmers/herders crisis in its middle belt region.
According to the Global Risk Index INFORM, Nigeria today is amongst the countries with the highest overall projected conflict risk index and increased risk in socio-economic vulnerability, inequality, and food insecurity in 2019. After more than ten years of conflict, the humanitarian crisis in the BAY states remains one of the most severe in the world today. A total of 8.7 million people – more than one in two people in the three crisis-affected states are in need of humanitarian assistance in 2021. The majority of the people in need are in Borno State, the epicenter of the crisis. One in four of the affected population is under 5 years of age. Women and children are the face of the crisis. Women and children constitute 81% of the overall crisis population and 87% of the new displacements. The gendered dimensions of displacement is having a significant impact on the status of women and girls especially within the context of mobility, fragmentation of households, demoralization and trauma.
The crisis is predominantly a protection crisis characterized by grave violations of human rights and dignity. Protection concerns including killings and maiming, sexual violence and abuse, arbitrary arrests and detention without access to justice and legal services, physical safety and security, forced recruitment, abductions forced marriages and forced displacement remain a major concern for the physical and mental wellbeing of IDPs, returnees and host communities in the BAY states. Since the start of the conflict in 2009, over 36,000 people have been killed in the BAY states – almost half of them civilians. Some 22,000 people are still missing, which is the highest number of missing persons globally, and 60 per cent of them are minors. A total of 1,947 cases of recruitment and use of children by armed groups were reported in 2018. Gender-based violence is pervasive, with 99 percent of reported cases being against women and girls. Desperation drives women to negative coping strategies such as exchanging sex for food and other necessities. These all drive greater maternal mortality, morbidity such as fistula, unwanted pregnancies, and girls dropping out of school.
NSAGs’ activities have extensively damaged hospitals, schools, markets, roads, communication towers and many other community assets as well as disrupting essential social services. Of the 2,631 health facilities in BAY states, 23% are either damaged (12.4%) or non-functional (10.2%), while 11.4% are only partially functional. This places a huge strain on the functional facilities. NSAG attacks and vandalization of health facilities continue to be reported in Borno state, significantly disrupting delivery and access to essential health care services in many LGAs.
In response to the humanitarian situation, UNFPA is working with government authorities, UN sister agencies and non-governmental organizations on the prevention and response to GBV as well as delivery of a comprehensive sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services to the affected population. UNFPA is delivering a response package that includes assisted delivery, obstetric care, family planning, GBV coordination, clinical management of rape, psychosocial support (PSS), case management, establishment of safe spaces for women and girls, and GBV prevention. UNFPA is also the lead agency for interagency GBV and SRH coordination where it coordinates the GBV Sub-Sector, the SRH Working Group, the GBVIMS Technical Group and the PSEA Task Force.
The present job description is to provide oversight and technical leadership to sexual and reproductive health programs and coordination in the North East region of Nigeria.
Under the overall supervision and guidance of UNFPA Representative and the direct supervision of the Humanitarian Coordinator, the Reproductive Health Specialist will be based in Maidugui to provide oversight and technical leadership to reproductive health programs in the North East region of Nigeria. The incumbent will be responsible for the overall coordination for effective and efficient implementation of the reproductive health component in the North East states while contributing to the Nigeria Humanitarian Response Plan.
Main Tasks & Responsibilities
Program Development and Implementation
- Adapt rapid assessment tools and facilitate field assessment of RH needs of affected population and other services offered to women and men of reproductive age, including adolescents
- Provide technical and programmatic support to national staff, different implementing partners, and national authorities in the BAY states in planning and implementing RH programs
- Assist implementing partners and UNFPA staff in applying UNFPA financial rules and procedures in the budgeting and accountability of project funds;
- Participate in planning and procurement of emergency RH kits and other commodities,equipment and supplies and monitor their distribution and utilization by the end-point user.
- Ensure application of effective planning, monitoring and evaluation to track programme implementation and provide required feedback for performance excellence
- Explore opportunities and entry points for UNFPA to design RH interventions appropriate to the target areas
- Ensure adequate and accelerated implementation of activities with different funding sources
- Contribute to preparation of reports including situation reports as required.
- Monitor project expenditures and disbursements of RH programs for the North-eastern parts of Nigeria to ensure that delivery is in line with approved budgets and work plans and to realize targeted delivery levels
Partnership and Resource mobilisation:
- Represent UNFPA in agency meetings, and chair the RH working group
- Ensure that RH needs are addressed within different humanitarian initiatives including the NHO/HRP, sitreps and other reports
- Establish linkages between existing RH and GBV programs
- Actively contribute to resource mobilization efforts with concept papers, project proposals and donor relations
Monitoring & Evaluation
- Monitor RH assistance provided by UNFPA through implementing partners to crisis affected populations and ensure that adequate RH requirements are being met
- Conduct regular monitoring visits
- Prepare regular progress reports, including lessons learnt and challenges Capacity Development
- Provide coaching to the RH staff in the NE where appropriate
- Coach and build capacity of implementing partners responding to the humanitarian crisis
Other Duties
- Perform any other duties as required by UNFPA Representative or supervisor
Qualifications and Experience
EDUCATION:
Advanced university degree, with specialization in areas such as in medicine, Public Health, or relevant Social Sciences.
- Advanced university degree in medicine, Public Health, or relevant Social Sciences.
- 5 years of relevant professional experiences in humanitarian technical assistance, programming and management in reproductive health or public health.
- Knowledge of UNFPA humanitarian Fast Track procedures is an advantage
- Experience in working in hardship fragile context is an advantage
- Proficiency in current office software applications
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
- 5 years of relevant professional experiences in humanitarian technical assistance, programming and management in reproductive health or public health.
- Experience leading inter-agency coordination mechanisms with a wide range of stakeholders
- Knowledge of UNFPA humanitarian Fast Track procedures is an advantage
- Experience in working in hardship fragile context is an advantage
- Proficiency in current office software applications;
- Demonstrable knowledge of humanitarian emergency operations, including the Sector System and HPC, and roles/responsibilities of key humanitarian actors.
LANGUAGES:
Fluency in English; knowledge of other official UN languages is desirable.
Required Competencies
Values:
• Exemplifying integrity
• Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system
• Embracing diversity in all its forms
• 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
• Communicating for Impact
Functional Competencies:
- Advocacy/advancing a policy-oriented agenda
- Engaging internal/external partners and stakeholders
- Leveraging the resources of national governments and partners/building strategic alliances and partnerships
- Delivering results-based programmes
- Internal and External communication and advocacy for resource mobilization
UNFPA Work Environment
UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, teamwork, Embracing diversity in all its forms, integrity and a healthy balance of work and life. We are committed to maintaining our balanced gender distribution and therefore encourage women to apply. UNFPA promotes equal opportunities for all including persons with disabilities.
Disclaimer
WARNING TO APPLICANTS: UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Should you have received a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Furthermore, please note that emblems, logos, names and addresses are easily copied and reproduced. Therefore, you are advised to apply particular care when submitting personal information on the web. Should you feel that you have received a fraudulent notice, letter or offer that makes use of the name or logo of UNFPA, you may submit a report through the UNFPA fraud hotline http://www.unfpa.org/help/hotline.cfm
Notice to applicants: In accordance with the rules of the United Nations, persons applying to posts in the international Professional category, who hold permanent resident status in a country other than their country of nationality, are required to renounce such status upon their appointment. Exceptions to this rule are very limited and can be made only for: (a) stateless persons; (b) newly appointed staff members who have applied for citizenship by naturalization, when such citizenship will be granted imminently; (c) acting staff members in the General Service and related categories with permanent residency status, on promotion to the Professional category; (d) staff members appointed under a temporary appointment. Please understand that UNFPA is not in a position to provide advice on or assistance in applying for any citizenship.
We are no longer accepting applications for this position.
