The Position:
The Technical Adviser post is located in the UNFPA Pacific Office, Fiji, and works under the direct supervision and guidance of the UNFPA Pacific Director and Representative. S/he is the principal technical adviser at the Sub Regional level for Sexual Reproductive Health & Rights (SRHR) policies and programmes across the humanitarian and development nexus, including in the context of climate change.
Watch from the video, why you should apply! https://youtu.be/U52G3CxGTsE
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 (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 being eroded, we need principled and ethical staff who embody the international human rights norms and standards, and who will work to respect, promote and defend them boldly, visibly and vocally.
UNFPA is seeking candidates who 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 Technical Adviser post provides strategic technical and programmatic leadership for the Pacific region in SRHR to ensure that the UNFPA Pacific remains abreast of the Fund’s policy and programme policies as well as current thinking and academic advances in 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 SRHR. S/he engages and remains abreast of regional, sub regional and national political contexts and trends in order to substantially contribute to strategic programme, policy and advocacy action. This will support ensuring that UNFPA substantive areas may be firmly placed within national development frameworks and programmes, including the achievement of the SDGs.
S/He will work closely with partners to facilitate the coordination, management, monitoring and reporting of quality, timely and integrated technical and programme support to the 14 countries in the Pacific region. The existing operating frameworks include the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, ICPD Programme of Action and the ICPD 25 Nairobi Summit Commitments, the SAMOA Pathway, national commitments to Universal Health Coverage, UNFPA’s Strategic Plan and sub-Regional programme, the UN Pacific Strategy, national country level plans, as well as specific donor-funded programmes. Understanding the SIDS context and being able to function in a Multi Country Office environment is critical to success.
Specifically, the SRHR portfolio contributes to achievement of the three transformative results: zero unmet need for family planning and contraceptive choices; zero preventable maternal mortality; zero GBV and harmful practices through ensuring universal access to SRHR information and services.
Responsibilities of the Technical Adviser include:
● a focus on the specific and tailored needs of women and girls in the Pacific;
● contributing to the positioning of SRHR within national plans for Universal Health Coverage;
● contributing to analyses of transitional financing for sexual and reproductive health;
● implementation of the Transformative Agenda and driving the three transformative results, especially targets on zero unmet need for family planning and contraceptive choices;
● working closely with governments and civil society partners at the country level providing capacity building, advocacy, technical advice, and analytical contributions based on data and evidence;
● identifying emerging needs and new delivery modalities for capacity building, technical guidance and support;
● developing and maintaining technical partnerships in the sub-region;
● remaining abreast of cutting edge approaches, adaptation and innovation.
In all activities, s/he works within an interdisciplinary team providing integrated programme and technical support to the region. S/he works closely with the Asia Pacific Regional Office as conjoined technical unit; and liaises with other units, such as the Programme and Technical Divisions, other Regional Offices, the UNFPA Technical network, ensuring the timeliness, adequacy, relevance and quality of technical support to UNFPA operations.
The primary roles of the Technical Adviser are:
A. Strategic technical development, analysis and strategic thinking, generation of new knowledge, adaptation, innovation and dissemination
B. Programme management, monitoring and oversight, quality assurance mechanisms, management of data and analysis for multidisciplinary application
C. Advocacy and policy development and support to governments and key strategic partners
D. Developing and sustaining strategic and technical partnerships across government, civil society, community led organisations, and academics,
E. Technical representation in a range of fora within and beyond UNFPA.
F. Collaborating with UN team members across the Multi Country Offices in the Pacific.
Requirements:
Qualifications and Experience
Education:
Advanced University Degree (Masters) in Public Health, Medicine, Nursing, Midwifery, Sociology, Anthropology, Health Economics, Health Systems, or other related discipline is required. Ph.D. in related field is preferable.
Knowledge and Experience:
● At least 10 years of increasingly responsible professional experience in public health, programme management and development relevant to sexual and reproductive health and rights, including seven years at the international level is required;
● Demonstrated experience in SRHR including Family Planning, contraceptive choices, and maternal and newborn health cover EmONC is required
● Experience in Health Systems, Health reform, Health Sector review especially SWAPS is an asset
● Solid understanding of health economics/health financing highly is desirable
● Experience and capacity in development and delivery of SRHR training components to government, NGO, and community level participants is an asset
● Knowledge and practical experience in sexual reproductive health and rights programming in humanitarian, including climate change, settings is an asset
● Knowledge and understanding on quality of care, specifically client rights issues and BCC, is desired
● Understanding of Human Rights dimensions of SRHR/FP and gender and application of relevant international human rights standards in SRHR is an asset;
● Familiarity with UNFPA’s mandate, policies and procedures, and experience in programme and/or technical assistance with the UN System and other international development organizations is an asset
● Strong track record of technical leadership, and proven ability to produce demonstrable results is required;
● Strong verbal and written communications skills in English and/or in the relevant language in the region
● Demonstrated ability to network within the academic and development community;
● Familiarity with management and monitoring tools, ICT/ERP is desirable;
● Field experience is an asset; knowledge of the Pacific region is desired.
Languages:
Proficiency in both spoken and written English. Working knowledge of Pacific languages is an asset.