The Position:
The Midwifery Technical Specialist will provide overall technical strengthening of UNFPA’s global midwifery programme; build synergies with partners and will support improved monitoring and better integration of midwifery within UNFPA’s programmes such as Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care, maternal morbidities, family planning, HIV, STIs, child marriage, gender based violence and maternal death surveillance and response.
The Technical Specialist will be located in the Sexual and Reproductive Branch (SRHB) of the Technical Division of UNFPA. She will directly report to the Senior Human Resources for Health Advisor and the SRH Branch Chief and will form part of the core Maternal Health Thematic Fund (MHTF) team.
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:
To support Technical Strengthening of the Midwifery Programme and the Operationalization of the Global Midwifery Strategy (2018-2030) as part of the Maternal Newborn Health Thematic Fund, to help achieve the 2030 Agenda on promoting health and ending preventable Maternal and Newborn Mortality and Morbidity.
The Midwifery programme is a key component of the Maternal Health Thematic Fund, UNFPA’s 2018-21 Strategic Plan and the UN Secretary General’s Global Strategy for Women’s and Children’s Health. Midwifery also plays a critical role in the achievement of UNFPA’s 3 Transformative Results on ending preventable maternal mortality, ending harmful practices like FGM and child marriage and ending unmet need for family planning. In 2018, UNFPA has launched a new Global Midwifery Strategy that is aligned with Agenda 2030 on ending preventable maternal and newborn mortality and morbidity and UNFPA’s Strategic Plan in achieving the transformative results.
Launched in 2008, UNFPA is supporting midwifery globally in over 120 countries and 32 countries receive additional support from the MHTF for strengthening midwifery education, regulation, associations and workforce policies and creating an enabling environment for midwives to practice their profession. Midwifery programme is aligned with UNFPA’s work on female genital mutilation (FGM), fistula and other areas of maternal health such as family planning, emergency obstetric and newborn care (EmONC), HIV, STIs, and maternal death surveillance and response (MPDSR).
To further accelerate progress in meeting national midwifery goals, the incumbent will provide overall technical strengthening of the UNFPA midwifery programme; building synergies with partners and global coordination. S/he will ensure monitoring and high quality reporting and contribute to knowledge sharing, knowledge generation (research) while promoting effective communications and advocacy around midwifery. In addition s/he will support better integration of midwifery within UNFPA’s programmes such as Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care, maternal morbidities, family planning, HIV, STIs, child marriage, gender based violence and maternal death surveillance and response; global scale-up and monitoring of innovative programmes like the Helping Mothers Survive/Helping Babies Breathe; scale-up of e and m-learning and support to the Sahel Project in West Africa.
Education:
Advanced university degree in midwifery (at least Masters)
Knowledge and Experience:
• At least 10 years of relevant organizational, and management experience in SRH, midwifery and maternal health programmes.
• Experience in managing midwifery educational programmes and developing or implementing midwifery regulation are desired
• Experience in planning, programming, implementing midwifery capacity strengthening programmes.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills in English. Knowledge of additional UN languages is an asset
• Proficiency in current office software applications
Languages:
Fluency in English; knowledge of other official UN languages, preferably French is highly desirable.