Programme Specialist, SRH

The Position:

The Programme Specialist SRH, position is located in the Country Office of UNFPA in Juba and overseas the Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) team in achieving its mandate and making substantive contribution to the overall work of the Integrated Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (ISRHR) Unit.

This Programme Specialist, SRH leads the effective delivery of activities in the areas of Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) and UNFPA’s support to the Ministry of Health in South Sudan on issues of Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH). This Programme Specialist role reports to the Programme Advisor, SRH/MNH and maintains collaborative relationships with other specialists, coordinators and all team members in the ISRHR Unit and the CO.

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 Programme Specialist, SRH works closely with other staff in the UNFPA Integrated Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (ISRHR) unit to enhance SRH initiatives. S/he analyses and assesses relevant political, social and economic trends and provides substantive inputs to UNFPA Country Office (CO) on SRH/RMNCAH and related support to the Ministry of Health; including planning, monitoring, evaluation and reporting. S/he is engaged in joint programming under the UN ‘Delivery as One’ umbrella and works closely with other SRH partners internally and externally.

S/he leads activities of related project staff and consultants, and ensures oversight of the work of Implementing Partners (IP) in close collaboration with operations staff, programme officers, and counterparts in ISRHR unit as well as in other UN Organizations, technical staff in government ministries and civil society organizations to ensure successful implementation of UNFPA-supported programmes to enhance SRH.

Within the context of health system strengthening and financing, the Programme Specialist SRH analyzes relevant political, social and economic environment and trends; provides substantive inputs for the formulation, management, monitoring and evaluation of a comprehensive SRH/RMNCAH programme related activities; contributes to CO’s efforts in advocacy, policy advice/dialogue and resource mobilization in support of SRH; provides technical support and contributes to building the capacity of partners for the implementation of Country Programme activities. S/he facilitates the delivery of UNFPA’s programmes by monitoring results achieved against set targets. S/he oversees the work of consultants, advisors, experts; establishes and maintains collaborative relationships with counterparts in government, multi-lateral and bilateral donor agencies and civil society to address emerging issues. S/he effectively influences counterparts from diverse backgrounds to jointly contribute to achieving UNFPA’s mandate. S/he plays a pivotal role in managing resources for SRH from potential development partners.

S/he provides strategic leadership and support for the MoH for enhanced leadership and stewardship for RMNCAH. S/he will support capacity building for MoH for improved results based management for RMNCAH and provide technical oversight to ensure universal access to sexual reproductive health and rights. The Programme Specialist will support the identification of new and emerging needs and new delivery modalities for SRH-MNH interventions and support strengthened advocacy, partnership and innovation as well as contribute to evidence-based policy dialogue. The officer will support alignment of UNFPA supported programmes with the Partnership for Recovery and Resilience being implemented in the targeted states by the UNDS and development partners and actively support, engage and participate in MOH-led and development partner’s coordination fora including the Health Sector Working Group and the Health summit. S/he is a senior member of the ISRHR unit and overall UNFPA CO programme team

You would be responsible for:

A. Programming and Strategic Leadership of SRH Activities and Support to MoH

In collaboration with Government counterparts, especially the Ministry of Health (MoH), CST advisers, NGOs and other partners contribute substantively to the formulation and design of the country programme and its AWPs in line with Government priorities and according to UNFPA programme policies and procedures. Ensure quality of programme/project design incorporating lessons learned, newly developed policies and best practices and establishing appropriate execution and monitoring mechanisms and systems.
Lead analysis and research of the political, social and economic situation in the country and preparation of substantive inputs to United Nations programming processes (Common Country Assessment [CCA], United Nations Development Assistance Framework [UNDAF], Country Programme Development [CPD], Country Programme Action Plan [CPAP]) as they relate to SRH,
Analyze and report on programme and project progress in terms of achieving results, using existing monitoring and evaluation tools and introducing new mechanisms and systems; identify constraints and resource deficiencies and recommend corrective action. Monitor projects expenditures and disbursements to ensure delivery is in line with approved project budgets and to realize targeted delivery levels.
Lead and coordinate project implementation establishing collaborative relationships with executing agencies, experts, government counterparts and other UN agencies facilitating timely and efficient delivery of project inputs and addressing training needs of project personnel.
Contribute to knowledge generation about current and emerging trends and issues on SRH/ RMNCAH, by analyzing programmes, projects, strategies, approaches and ongoing experience for lessons learned, best practices, and shares with management for use in knowledge sharing and planning future strategies.
Ensure donor commitments and targets related to SRH programmes are shared with IPs and achieved
Design and deliver relevant capacity development initiatives to MoH and related agencies staff;
Create platforms to engage relevant stakeholders (government, NGO, CBO and community) to enhance the work of UNFPA South Sudan on SRH and RMNCAH issues
Coordinate relevant programmatic partnerships in the country and externally to deliver on key strategic areas for the organization; contribute to National priorities and development agenda

B. Monitoring, Evaluation and Knowledge Management for Policy Advocacy

Lead the achievement of programme results by ensuring that monitoring and oversight mechanisms are established and implemented
Participate in relevant national and sub-national fora, enhancing UNFPA mandate on SRH and RMNCAH to ensure that technical issues are incorporated in national development plans and frameworks.
Ensure increased availability and use of technical information to improve data collection, analysis, and use; with special attention to recent developments in analysis of data from censuses, surveys, statistics, etc.
Ensuring effective knowledge management strategies are implemented by the programme team, capturing lessons learned and best practices for future planning; addressing training needs of partners and staff.
Create substantive knowledge of SRH and RMNCAH issues in the country, assesses technical assistance needs in these areas and advises on the suitability of programmes and related interventions to meet these needs.
Participate actively in appropriate UN coordination mechanisms (e.g. Joint UN Teams) and support and contribute to all joint programmes/activities among the UN agencies.
Support government and implementing partners to prepare and submit technical and financial reports in conformity with signed donor agreements and in accordance to UNFPA guidelines and standards.
Lead the evaluation and documentation of program results, best practices and lessons learned and effectively share these with relevant partners to inform programming, policy and advocacy.
Follow up and monitor the technical quality and financial effectiveness and accountability of UNFPA-supported programmes in the regions to ensure value for money. Support state/local governments to conduct quarterly and annual review meetings to address coordination, implementation and planning across development and humanitarian settings.
Prepare analytical and project reports to be shared with the Government, UNFPA Country Office, UN Country Team (UNCT), donors and other relevant stakeholders on SRH and RMNCAH.
Support capacity building of government and local partners to generate, analyse and utilize quality data for evidence-based decision making, policy and program formulation, monitoring and evaluation in support of integrated development and humanitarian response.

C. Partnerships, Communications and Capacity Building

Coordinates partnerships and mobilizes support for national policies and programmes for SRH with a particular focus on RMNCAH and other integrated and innovative approachs to SRH
Contribute to advocacy and resource mobilization efforts of the Country Office by preparing relevant documentation (i.e. project summaries, conference papers, speeches, donor profiles, and participating in donor meetings and public information events).
Develop factsheets, briefing materials, info graphics, and presentations for public information, advocacy and resource mobilization purposes.
Prepare project proposals with SRH and RMNCAH components and share information about UNFPA tools for co-financing and funding.
Build strong technical and programme multi-sectoral partnerships for advocacy for ICPD agenda from a SRH and RMNCAH perspective through national institutions, networks, alliances and coalitions. Monitor and keep updates on existing and potential partnerships. Follow through and ensure that recommendations and action points agreed to are addressed.
Map and develop a database of SRH actors and institutions in the country and provide support towards institutional and leadership development to strengthen and professionalize the sector in the country.
Plays a key role in supporting the CO to respond to its growing role in supporting the Government and partners in accelerating efforts towards SRH and RMNCAH in South Sudan
Work with media to publicize UNFPA’s work and achievements, to disseminate UNFPA’s results in national media.
Facilitate the identification of resource gaps in the country settings and provide technical input to the development of resource mobilization documents.
Support accountability and Programme visibility for UNFPA programmes in the country, in alignment with donor signed agreements. Provide leadership in demonstrating UNFPA’s work to partners to enhance goodwill and partnership.

D. Humanitarian Response/Preparedness

Provide information, analysis, reporting on humanitarian needs, response, gaps related to SRH in emergencies to inform response planning and implementation, including participation in joint assessments.
Manage the planning, implementation, monitoring of youth development components of humanitarian response and preparedness by UNFPA Country Office, including development of contingency plans and response plans.
Expedite and coordinate humanitarian response implementation by establishing collaborative relationships with executing agencies, experts, government counterparts and other UN agencies.
Facilitating timely and efficient delivery of project inputs.
Ensure financial management and donor reporting for humanitarian response.
Facilitate Minimum Initial Service Package (MISP) training including on Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, in collaboration with other UNFPA staff as part of humanitarian response and preparedness efforts.

E. General Support

Stand-in for other team members on selected functions as may be required.
Carry out any other duties as may be required by UNFPA leadership.

Qualifications and Experience:

Education:

Advanced/ Masters Degree in health, population, demography, development, gender, law and/or other related social science field.

Knowledge and Experience:

At least 5 years of increasingly responsible professional experience in the field of development and population activities;
Work experience in the field of Sexual and Reproductive Health is preferred.
Training in Sexual Reproductive Health
Specialized knowledge and experience in SRH is desired;
Experience in programme/ project management including experience in large multi-sector programmes;
Experience working with the Ministry of Health and Local Government (districts) is desirable.
Field experience is an asset;
Prior experience in the UN system is an asset
A thorough understanding of the UN system in general, and especially UNFPA mandate, its policies and operations and current development topics and political issues in South Sudan will be an added advantage
Demonstrated ability to work in a team

Languages:

Fluency in oral and written English is required. Knowledge of Arabic is an added advantage. Working knowledge of another UN Official Language, an asset.

Required Competencies:

Values:

Exemplifying integrity.
Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system.
Embracing cultural diversity.
Embracing change.

Core Competencies:

Achieve 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 Skill Set:

Advocacy/Advancing a policy-oriented agenda
Leveraging the resources of national governments and partners/ building strategic alliances and partnerships
Internal and external communication and advocacy for results mobilisation
Delivering results-based programmes
Technical Understanding of the areas of work
Project Management
Managing financial processes
Proficiency in current office software applications

Compensation and Benefits:

This position offers an attractive remuneration package including a competitive net salary plus health insurance and other benefits as applicable.