Programme Specialist

Job Description

The Position:

The Family Planning Specialist (FPA) is a leadership position in UNFPA; s/he will act as the senior most Specialist on family planning in UNFPA and will provide policy and strategic guidance and oversight across all the family planning projects, with particular attention to interventions under UNFPA Supplies, and will ensure linkages with all other relevant projects including related to maternal health, adolescent health and gender equality, working in close collaboration with concerned UNFPA staff.

The FPA will lead and manage the family planning programme including supply chain management (SCM) initiatives, especially related to last mile assurance (LMA) and will ensure that the strategies produce optimal results as per the UNFPA’s 8^th Country Programme 2018-2022 and relevant bilateral agreements and are aligned with the National Health Sector Strategy (2016-2021) and the Nepal Costed Implementation Plan on Family Planning (2015-2020).

S/he will work in close collaboration with key stakeholders in particular the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP), provincial and local health authorities, implementing partners, and the FP2020 partnerships in Nepal to advance family planning as a part of the sexual and reproductive programme. S/he will also work closely with the Logistics Management Section, MoHP to strengthen FP commodity management and SCM capacities in the country.  The FPA will work under the supervision of the UNFPA Deputy Representative and will directly supervise other programme officers.

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:

The purpose of this position is to leverage the family planning programme in Nepal as a key strategy for reducing unmet need for family planning,  maternal mortality and safeguarding reproductive rights. The FPA will be expected to provide policy and technical leadership and oversee the management of the family planning programme, including SCM initiatives; s/he will engage in policy and advocacy work and promote sustainability of the family planning programme through building strategic partnerships and engaging in health financing. S/he will support the implementing partners in capacity building and service delivery efforts and will contribute to strengthening coordination among the key family planning and SCM partners in the country.

Currently, UNFPA is implementing two major projects in family planning. They include (1) UNFPA Family Planning Project (UNFPP), funded by the UK government (DFID) and implemented at the national and sub-national level (due to end in December 2020); and (2) UNFPA Supplies, a global Trust Fund, which ensures a reliable supply of quality contraceptives and maternal health commodities and aims to build capacities for supply chain management and quality reproductive health services. Since 2013, Nepal has been a recipient country for UNFPA Supplies, with the goal of building an enabling environment for family planning and reproductive health commodity security (RHCS) through policy and advocacy work; improving access to quality family planning services; strengthening efficiency for procurement and supply of commodities; and strengthening capacity and systems for supply chain management. Both projects are implemented in close coordination with the three tiers of Government – Federal, Provincial and Local /Ministries and the respective divisions.

You would be responsible for:

Policy Engagement, Advocacy, Partnership and Resource Mobilization

• Serve as the senior most specialist on family planning to UNFPA Nepal and provide policy advocacy support to leverage family planning in the health agenda.
• Advocate with government and development partners for increased and sustained financing for family planning, reproductive and maternal health programming.
• Contribute to enhancing capacities to mobilize social and political support and financial resources for family planning and support national and sub-national stakeholders for inclusion of family planning in relevant policies, plans and budgets.
• Develop and maintain collaborative relationships with relevant government authorities at national and sub-national level, civil society organizations, NGOs, private sectors and the external development partners and assert UNFPA’s comparative advantage and a leadership role in facilitating effective coordination and collaboration among the key partners.
• Represent UNFPA in relevant policy dialogue, technical working groups and in coordination mechanisms linked to family planning, commodity security and supply chain management.
• Serve as a resource of knowledge and information on matters related to life saving reproductive health commodities, including aspects of supply chain management (procurement, logistics management, forecasting & quantification).

Programme Management and Oversight

• Provide oversight and technical leadership to guide the design, planning, implementation and reporting of the family planning programme based on evidence, with attention to supporting the new federal structure requirements under the health sector.
• Provide timely and adequate technical support to the family planning programme, ensuring integration with the sexual and reproductive health interventions and adherence to global quality standards and protocols, as per national commitments.
• Contribute to strengthening of health systems and services at national and sub-national level including through capacity building for supply chain management to improve access to and use of modern contraceptives.
• Maintain constructive dialogue and technical exchange with relevant partners to promote and provide coordinated support for family planning.
• Support the convening of the FP2020 partners, in collaboration with the FP2020 Secretariat and Track 20, to advance the implementation of the Costed Implementation Plan on Family Planning (2015-2020).
• Support the development of the family planning sustainability strategy and plan in consultation with key stakeholders drawing on best practices.
• Assist national partners and government in the preparation of a National Supply Plan for reproductive health commodities and in analyzing and disseminating data on the status, movement and utilization of commodities.
• Provide regular support to UNFPA staff based in the provincial capitals and in districts and undertake technical support and monitoring missions as required.
• In collaboration with the M&E officer and other relevant staff, review, analyze, and evaluate the effectiveness of family planning interventions and recommend areas for further improvements as needed.
• Provide oversight and guidance to ensure activities in the agreed annual workplans are implemented in a timely manner, within the allocated budget and they produce high quality results; ensure financial and narrative reporting obligations are met in a timely manner.
• Ensure regular review and adjustments are made based on operational matters and bring to the attention of UNFPA management any challenges in a timely manner and propose solutions and/or alternate strategies for achieving the anticipated results.

Knowledge Management

• Provide technical support and oversight and commission relevant research and analysis aimed at generating information and enhancing the knowledge-base to influence family planning policy makers, programme managers and services providers.
• Contribute to the identification, analysis and synthesis of technical knowledge and evidenced-based information on family planning.
• Develop policy briefs, analytical papers, presentations and other policy related documents as needed.
• Contribute to analytical works through documenting lessons learned from implementation including effective strategies for reaching vulnerable groups.
• Assist in organizing and participate actively in meetings and desk reviews and undertake monitoring missions to assess progress of the strategic plan implementation, including appropriate substantive and administrative follow-up action.

Required Qualification & Experience

Education and Experience: 

• Master’s Degree in Public Health, with at least 5 years professional experience in policy advocacy work and in managing health programmes, preferably in the area of sexual and reproductive health and family planning (SRH/FP) and supply chain management or Medical Doctor (MBBS).

Knowledge and Skills:

• Knowledge of decentralization of health system in the federal Nepal as well as of the latest developments in the field of SRH/FP including health financing and health systems strengthening is preferable.
• Excellent analytical skills and ability to provide strategic technical leadership, handle complexities and engage effectively with a wide range of stakeholders essential.
• Demonstrated leadership, management, and team working skills required.
• High degree of proficiency in both written and spoken English and Nepali required.
• Ability to elaborate reports, document and disseminate good practices essential.

Languages:

• Fluency in English and Nepali is required. Working knowledge of another UN language an asset.

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:

• Business acumen
• Implementing management systems
• Innovation and marketing of new approaches
• Client orientation
• Organizational awareness

Managerial Competencies:

• Providing strategic focus
• Engaging in internal/external partners and stakeholders
• Leading, developing and empowering people, creating a culture of performance
• Making decisions and exercising judgment

How to Apply

UNFPA has established an electronic application management system. This allows applications to create a candidate profile, which can be updated regularly and submitted for more than one vacancy.

A full job description of the position can be accessed at https://erecruit.partneragencies.org and only online applications using this link will be accepted.

Download the Step by Step Guide to Applying in the E-Recruit System of UNFPA at https://www.unfpa.org/resources/step-step-guide-applying-jobs-unfpa. Please print out the Guide for your reference during the registration and application process.

Notice: There is no application, processing or other fee at any stage of the application process. UNFPA does not solicit or screen for information in respect of HIV and AIDS and does not discriminate on the basis of HIV/AIDS status. 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.