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. UNFPAโs 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 realising the ICPD and SDGs in the Decade of Action leading up to 2030. Our strategic plan calls upon UN Member States, organisations, and individuals to โbuild forward betterโ, while addressing the negative impacts of the various natural and men- made disasters on womenโs, girlsโ and young peopleโs access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, recovering lost gains, and realising our goals.
The Afghanistan CO is looking for a Maternal & Reproductive Health (MRH) Consultant who will provide technical assistance in promoting sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) as well as ensuring the effective technical management of UNFPAโs donorsโ supported projects.ย
S/he will work in close collaboration with humanitarian agencies (UN and (I)NGOs) and national partners and civil society organisations to implement the scale up of existing MRH including family planning (FP) and maternal nutrition interventions and adaptation to the current humanitarian and Humanitarian, Development and Peace (HDP) contexts. The MRH Consultant will be responsible for ensuring integration of UNFPA mandate within the programme delivery, coordinating UNFPAโs projects with other stakeholders, overseeing the management of the MRH Unit, the implementation of its related projects and funds, coordinating the work with area sub-offices and provincial coordinators.ย
UNFPA is committed to delivering an integrated, multi-agency, nationwide response to Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) and Gender-Based Violence (GBV) needs.ย
Job Purpose:
Under the overall supervision of the Country Representative, the consultant will be supervised directly by the Programme Coordinator and work closely with the Senior Management Team, various country office Units, including Operations, Communications, M&E, Humanitarian, AAP, Partnership and Mobilisation, GBViE, and Heads of area/field offices.ย
Coordination:
Coordinate with implementing partners on the coordinated implementation of the MRH component of the project. Participate in meetings related to project (s) and prepare reports and proposals when required. Build strong partnerships with MRH projectsโ partners and stakeholders at national, provincial, and regional levels. Participate in the Health Sector and Health Cluster coordination bodies. Ensure integration of MRH in contingency plans of HDP actors.UNFPA Project Implementation:
Supervise and follow up on all activities programmed MRH projects and contribute to the design and scale up whenever needed to any additional regions.ย Provide technical support and guidance to the implementing partner, technical staff, and partner agencies to ensure good quality implementation of project activities. In consultation with relevant UNFPA units, review and prepare work plans and budget revisions of the projects. Build capacity of newly recruited staff under the implementation partners, through coaching and on the job trainings Supervise all training/awareness sessions/workshops on MRH as outlined in the project documents.Assessment, Monitoring, and Evaluation:
Conduct regular field missions to provinces and assessments as appropriate to inform strategic approaches and for addressing the issues around MRH and access to MRH services.ย Monitor progress of the projectsโ activities, identify sources of delays in the project implementation, contribute to feasible solutions, and ensure follow-up actions are being carried out.Reporting:
Prepare regular reporting on projectsโ status (mainly for donors and CO)ย Supervise quarterly work plans of implementing partners.ย Any other activities as requested by the CODelivery dates and how work will be delivered (e.g. electronic, hard copy etc.):
The following key deliverables are expected from the consultant and documents to be submitted to UNFPA in electronic copy:
Weekly basis
MOM with MRH Unit membersMonthly basis:
MOM with field offices and area coordinators Contribution to SitRep and donorsโ reports Status of funds covering the MRH projects Contribute to regular donorsโ meetings.ย MOM with regional office colleaguesQuarterly basis:
MOM with implementing partners.ยAd hoc basis/ Emergency response
Contribute to SitReps MOM with key partners and de facto (when applicable)ยQualifications and Experience:ย
ย Education:ย ย
Public Health Specialist with an advanced masterโs degree in health care sciences, public health, or other related fields. PhD in related field preferred
Knowledge and Experience:ย
Minimum 7 years of increasingly responsible professional and managerial experience in programme/ project management in the field of maternal health, including at least 3 years in a developing country. Prior experience of working in multi-stakeholder environment, including NGOs, bilateral and multilateral agencies Familiarity with the UN Common System at the field and international level is an asset. Willing to travel to remote parts of the country to monitor the implementation of projects. Ability to use Microsoft Office applications. Strong communication and writing skills in English. Fluency in English is required; Knowledge of other official UN languages would be an asset.Inputs/services to be provided by UNFPA orย implementing partner (e.g. support services, office space, equipment), if applicable:
The consultant is expected to provide all necessary equipment to complete the assignment (computer, software, phone, etc).
UNFPA will provide all relevant background information and documentation regarding the regional and country contexts as well as relevant documents on the related position.ย