Sexual and Reproductive Health in Emergency (SRHiE) Specialist (m/f)

Description

• The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the sexual and reproductive health organization of the United Nations is recruiting for a Sexual & Reproductive Health in Emergency (SRHiE) Specialist position to be located in Pemba, Cabo Delgado Province
• The SRHiE Specialist will support UNFPA’s Emergency and Early Recovery Response Sexual, Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn and Adolescent Health (RMNAH) responses in Cabo Delgado
• Cabo Delgado Province has been hit by persistent violence by Non-State Armed Groups since November 2017. These attacks intensified in 2020 displacing populations from the Districts most affected by the conflict. According to IOM Data Tracking Matrix (DTM), by the end of December 2020, a total of 669, 2956 people had been internally displaced within Cabo Delgado and to the neighboring provinces of Nampula, Niassa, Zambezia and Sofala
• Women and girls have had to bear the biggest brunt of the insecurity in Cabo Delgado. In the Districts most affected, health facilities have either been completely destroyed or are partially functional. Services in Health Facilities in the Districts of displacement are overstretched and with limited supplies, are barely coping with increased demand for sexual, reproductive, maternal and newborn health (SRMNH) services
• The conflict in Cabo Delgado has execrated pre-existing vulnerabities of women and some of the worst reproductive and maternal health indicators in Mozambique. According to the 2007 Census, Cabo Delgado had the highest maternal mortality ratio, at 822 per 100,000 live births in the country, which is caused by a multitude of factors. For example, this is the province with the lowest contraceptive prevalence rate (2.9 per cent) and institutional birth coverage in Cabo Delgado Province is 36 per cent, according to IDS 2011, representing the second-lowest coverage in the country
• The incidence of early pregnancies is particularly high in Cabo Delgado, where 54 per cent of adolescents aged 15-19 became pregnant in 2011 (IDS). This rate is the highest in the country
• Cabo Delgado province also has the lowest rate of schooling among women in Mozambique. The low level of schooling leads to inadequate health care demand behaviour, e.g. preference for traditional healers and midwives, low number of institutional births, inadequate hygiene practices, etc.
• UNFPA is working alongside other humanitarian Agencies in supporting the Government to respond to the humanitarian crisis caused by the violence in Cabo Delgado. As the Sexual and Reproductive Health lead, UNFPA is leading SRH responses in support of the Government to respond to the emergency sexual and reproductive health needs of women and girls displaced by the conflict and in host communities
• UNFPA is presently scalling up its humanitarian responses in Cabo Delgado aiming at ensuring ZERO maternal deaths, ZERO unmet need for family planning, and ZERO incidences of GBV among the populations affected by the conflict in Cabo Delgado. In order to achieve these 3 zeros, UNFPA is working to increase the demand for and access to quality maternal and sexual and reproductive health services for the populations affected by the insecurity in Cabo Delgado

Role Description

• Under the overall guidance of the UNFPA Deputy Representative and direct supervision of the Humanitarian Coordinator, the SRHiE Specialist supports UNFPA’s emergency sexual, reproductive, maternal, newborn, and adolescent health (RMNAH) coordination and programming for the emergency response to the armed conflict in Cabo Delgado
• In particular, the incumbent provides technical support to UNFPA implementing partners and Government counterparts for the implementation of UNFPA’s SRH in Emergencies interventions. UNFPA works principally with the Provincial Department of Health (DPS) and the Provincial Health Services (SPS) in Cabo Delgado, as the Government counterpart, to lead emergency sexual, reproductive, maternal and newborn health services
• In keeping with its mandate and responsibility under the Inter-Agency Working Group (IAWG) on Reproductive Health in Emergencies, UNFPA is the lead on Sexual and Reproductive Health interventions in Cabo Delgado humanitarian responses, under the Health Cluster. The incumbent coordinates the Cabo Delgado SRH Technical Working Group (SRHWG) under the Health Cluster, for the implementation of multi-sectoral, inter-agency SRH interventions in the Cabo Delgado humanitarian emergency response
• The incumbent will work to improve access and availability of Sexual and Reproductive Health and rights to populations most affected by the Cabo Delgado armed conflict, especially women and girls. S/he also facilitates the planning and distribution to service delivery points of emergency medical supplies and equipment; provide technical support to Implementing Partners, Government counterparts, and Health Cluster Partners on SRH related issues (including reproductive, maternal and new-born health, family planning information and services, STIs and HIV prevention, care and treatment, and clinical care for survivors of sexual violence)
• As the situation stabilizes the incumbent will plan for capacity building and institutional strengthening of the health systems in Cabo Delgado for the delivery of comprehensive sexual, reproductive maternal, maternal, newborn, and adolescent health services in Cabo Delgado. well as linkages between SRH, GBV and nutritional programmes
• Type of Contract: Service Contract (for nationals only)
• Category: SB-5
• Duration: 12 months
• Start date: April 2021

Duties

• In particular, the post holder will be responsible for the following:

Technical Support and Programme Development

• Technical SRH in Emergencies support to UNFPA humanitarian response implementing partners
• Ensuring full implementation and follow-up of life-saving Minimum Initial Service Package (MISP) for Reproductive Health in the emergency responses in Cabo Delgado
• Provide technical assistance to SPS to expand quality emergency reproductive health services to ensure universal access to reproductive health, including family planning, specialist care at delivery, obstetric emergency and newborn care for women and girls affected by the conflict
• Reproductive health Commodity Safety and Security (RHCS): Plan for and monitor SRH commodities and supplies including stock management and forecasting for purposes of prepositioning and minimizing stock-outs
• Identify gaps in the quality of programme implementation and propose solutions and ideas for improvement

Training and Capacity Building

• Provide technical support in the organization and implementation of SRHiE training and capacity strengthening interventions for the implementing partners and to Government counterparts
• Technical support for the implementation of various training and capacity building activities: preparation of the contents of continuing training, the profile of facilitators, participants, post-training supervision
• Conduct supervision and monitoring visits to programme implementation sites across the province
• Technical support for community-based interventions, including community-based approaches to family planning
• Strengthening the capacity of DPS in the areas of needs assessment, resource mobilization, monitoring and evaluation of results

Monitoring and Evaluation

• Provide support in the collection and monitoring of SRH data and analysis of key SRH statistics, indicators, and Programme reports
• Carry out evaluations, formulate recommendations on potential critical maternal health problems and provide advice on Programme targets

Communication and Knowledge Management

• Prepare and disseminate periodic SRHiE response and situation reports
• Document lessons learned and best practices on SRHiE interventions in Cabo Delgado
• Perform other relevant duties, as requested by the direct supervisor

Requisites

• Post-graduate Degree in Medicine, Nursing, or Sexual and Reproductive Health
• A minimum of 7 years of relevant experience managing or supporting SRH interventions, in either development or preferably in humanitarian settings
• Experience working directly with Government counterparts, especially with Ministry of Health.
• Speak and write fluent Portuguese and English language skills
• Computer usage knowledge and the main work packages
• Ability to work as a team and under pressure
• Analytical capacity to identify opportunities, proposals and approaches that will contribute to the success of the programme
• Values:
• Exemplifying Integrity
• Demonstrating Commitment to UNFPA and the UN System
• Embracing Diversity
• Embracing Change
• Core Competencies:
• Achieving Results
• Being Accountable
• Developing and Applying professional expertise
• Thinking analytically and strategically
• Working in teams, managing self and relationships
• Communicating for Impact
• Functional Competencies:
• Performance Management
• Developing People/Training and Monitoring
• Working as a team
• Self Management/Emotional Intelligence
• Communication
• Results orientation/Commitment to Excellence
• Knowledge Sharing/Continuous Learning
• Functional skills:
• Technical knowledge of SRH interventions, especially in emergency settings
• Knowledge of capacity building and training of counterparts
• Conceptual innovation in providing technical knowledge
• Drawing on the resources of governments and national partners, and building strategic alliances and partnerships

Notes

• Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted
• The salary and benefits shall apply under the provisions contained in the UNDP Service Contract User Guide