Position Summary:

The Reproductive and Maternal Health Technical Adviser provides strategic, technical and programmatic leadership for the region in the area of expertise to ensure that the regional office and country offices remain abreast of UNFPA’s policies as well as current thinking and academic advance in a given substantive areas affecting the ICPD Programme of Action. S/he maintains primary responsibility for coordination of provision of technical assistance and programme support to the countries of the region in the area of Sexual and Reproductive Health. S/he analyses continental as well as specific regional/cluster trends and contributes to strategic action in response of these, contributing to the monitoring of UNFPA substantive areas being firmly placed within national development frameworks and programmes, including the achievement of the SDGs.

In all activities, s/he works within an inter-disciplinary team, providing integrated programme and technical support to the region. S/he also liaises with other units, such as the Programme and Technical Divisions and the UNFPA Technical network, ensuring the timeliness, adequacy, relevance and quality of technical support to UNFPA operations. S/he may assume supervisory responsibilities, and will work under the overall supervision of the Regional Director.

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 program results.

Job Purpose:

The Maternal and Reproductive Health Technical Adviser ensures the effective management of UNFPA activities in the areas of sexual and reproductive health and rights with a focus on integrated Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) policy, rights-based family planning, midwifery workforce development, and Reproductive Health Commodity Security (RHCS) in the context of South-South and triangular cooperation (SSTC). S/he leads SRH programme formulation and evaluation, joint programming initiatives and provides advisory for national development frameworks across the West & Central Africa region. S/he leads strengthening strategic partnerships in the area of sexual and reproductive health for UNFPA’s mandate and programme delivery through proactive engagement, policy advocacy, resource mobilization and effective communication.

Qualifications and Experience

Education: 

Advanced university degree or equivalent in Public Health, Medicine, Sociology, Health Systems/Economics, or other fields directly related to Sexual and Reproductive Health.

Knowledge and Experience:

• Responsible professional experience in the substantive area, of which seven years at the international level;
• Proven experience in Family Planning and EmOC is essentialHealth systems strengthening experience, health sector reform;
• Basic understanding of health economics/health financing;
• Knowledge and understanding of quality of care, specifically client rights issues and BCC;
• Understanding of Human Rights dimensions of Reproductive Health/Family Planning and gender;
• Demonstrated expertise in the substantive area of work; and programme experience;
• Strong track record of technical leadership, and proven ability to produce demonstrable results;
• Demonstrated ability to network within the academic and development community;
• Familiarity with management and monitoring tools;
• Field experience (at district, regional and national levels) is strongly desirable.

Languages:

• Fluency in English and French is required.
• Knowledge of other official UN languages, preferably Spanish, would be a plus.