NATIONAL POST: Programme Officer, Maternal Health and Midwifery (MHM), Kigali, Rwanda Country Office, NOB at UNDP – United Nations Development Programme: (Deadline 28 August 2022)

The Position:

Under the overall supervision of the Deputy Representative, and direct supervision of the National Programme Specialist – Reproductive Health, the Maternal Health and Midwifery Programme Officer will work closely with the Integrated SRH & Rights Unit and the larger UNFPA Programme and Operations Teams using UNFPA and national systems and tools to deliver development results.

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 Officer substantively contributes to the effective management of UNFPA activities in the areas of health system strengthening to promote maternal /neonatal outcomes, human resources for SRH services, with a strong emphasis on midwifery, health financing and quality of care. S/he analyzes and assesses relevant political, social and economic trends and provides substantive inputs to programme formulation, monitoring, and evaluation within national development frameworks and the UN Delivering as One (DaO) context. The incumbent guides and facilitates the delivery of UNFPA’s Rwanda human resources for SRH programmes by monitoring results achieved in the implementation. S/he ensures and guides the appropriate application of systems and procedures and develops enhancements if necessary.

The Programme Officer facilitates the work of consultants, advisors and experts and s/he establishes and maintains collaborative relationships with counterparts in government.

You would be responsible for:

Programme Management

• In collaboration with Government counterparts, Regional Office, UN partners, NGOs, contributes substantively to the formulation and design of the UNFPA Maternal Health and Midwifery program component within the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF)in line with Government priorities and the Country Programme and in adherence to UNFPA policies and procedures.
• Ensures quality of programme/project design incorporating lessons learned, newly developed policies and best practices and establishing appropriate execution and monitoring mechanisms and systems.
• Analyzes and reports on programme and project progress in terms of achieving results, using existing monitoring and evaluation tools and introducing new mechanisms and systems; identifies constraints and resource deficiencies and recommends corrective action.
• Coordinate IPs to ensure smooth execution of maternal health, midwifery, innovation and health system strengthening projects, monitors projects expenditures and disbursements to ensure delivery is in line with approved project budgets and to realize targeted delivery levels.
• Expedites and coordinates 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.

Leadership role in advocacy, visibility, partnership to leverage ICPD Agenda and SDG decade of action and delivering as one

• Participation in national and One UN coordination forums such as Result Groups and Task Teams under UNSDCF, Health Development Partners meetings, health sector working group, Reproductive Maternal Neonatal Child and Adolescent Health Technical Working Group (RMNCAH TWG) etc.
• Support the advocacy efforts of the Country Office to advance Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights
• Support Country Office efforts for resource mobilization to finance the SDGs, partnership expansion including with the private sector using innovative financing mechanisms
• Support the evidence generation required to mobilize resources to finance the SDG including investment cases to end preventable maternal deaths, end unmet need for family planning and end Gender-Based Violence and harmful practices against women

Technical Support

• With the guidance by the Reproductive Health Specialist, and in collaboration with Family Planning/Reproductive Health Commodity and Security Programme Officer and with substantive support from programme staff in the Country Office, he/she will provide ongoing technical and managerial assistance for ensuring up-to-date effective programme strategies to advance the SRHR agenda including spearheading innovations across maternal and neonatal health programming
• Support the ongoing efforts of the Government of Rwanda to promote Universal Health Coverage including ensuring universal access to quality Sexual and Reproductive Health Information and services, rights and choices for all

• Together with the Reproductive Health, the National Maternal Health and Midwifery Officer, provide technical support for strengthening and expansion of human resource capacities in health with a focus on midwifery services including promoting integration of competency based midwifery training curriculum, standardization of midwifery training and practice as well as supporting preparation, establishment and the functionality of the upcoming first Masters of Science in Midwifery in Rwanda.

• Fosters strategic alliances and partnerships between UNFPA Country Office and other UN agencies, local and international NGOs, academic institutions, health professional association and other relevant stakeholders, as necessary, to ensure that UNFPA priority issue of strengthening midwifery component is taken into account.

• Establish effective networking with key stakeholders such as Ministry of Health Human Resource Directorate, Ministry of Education, Development partners, Training Institutions, Civil Society Organizations, including NGOs other allied health professional associations to support the implementation of recommendations from a national wide Emergency Obstetric and Neonatal Care (EmONC) need assessment including establishment and monitoring the functionality of EmONC facility network.

• Coordinate the implementation of capacity building activities targeting the human resource for health with a focus to midwives using innovative approach such as Mobile Learning System, Mobile Mentorship, roll out of Comprehensive Abortion Care program among others.

• Participate in Human Resource Development strategy development/implementation technical working group meetings; establish synergies and related activities in the health system fostering access to skilled birth attendance including Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (EmONC) services.

• Compile relevant national and international statistics, supervise commissioned research and needs assessments.

• Conduct monitoring field visits to ensure timely and quality execution of projects with the involvement of the relevant local and regional authorities. Ensure project activities progress according to work plans and timetables

• Prepare annual budgets, budget revisions and work plans, in consultation with the Reproductive Health Specialist and other staff of the Sexual Reproductive Health Unit
• Promote information and knowledge-sharing of the program good practices and model resources and support advocacy and promotional aspects of the maternal health programs.
• Foster innovations and creativity across maternal and neonatal health programming including alternative service delivery models

• Performs any other duties as assigned by the supervisor or as required by the post.

Qualifications and Experience: 

Education:  

• Advanced degree in public health, development management, population, international development, demography and/or other related social science field.
• Bachelor degree in general medicine or specialty in obstetrics and gynecology would be an added value

Knowledge and Experience: 

• Prior professional experience of at least five years in the field of obstetrics, maternal health programs, or active engagement in Sexual Reproductive Health advocacy related agenda in Rwanda.
• Knowledge of the country context and good understanding of the Rwandan Health systems, particularly in the maternal, neonatal and child health services.
• Familiarity with UN policies will be an added advantage.
• Strong analytical and leadership skills; demonstrated writing and oral communication skills;

Languages: 

• Fluency in English

Required Competencies: 

Values:

• Exemplifying integrity,
• Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system,
• Embracing cultural diversity,
• Embracing change
• Valuing diversity

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,

Developing People:

• Developing People / Coaching Mentoring
•  Performance Management

• Fostering Innovation and Empowerment.

Personal Leadership and Effectiveness:

• Analytical and Strategic Thinking
• Results Orientation/commitment to Excellence
• Appropriate and Transparent Decision Making

• Knowledge Sharing / Continuous learning

Building and Managing Relationships:

• Working in Teams
• Communicating Information and Ideas
• Self Management / Emotional Intelligence
• Conflict Management / Negotiating and Resolving Disagreements

Compensation and Benefits:

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

Disclaimer: 

UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Fraudulent notices, letters or offers may be submitted to the UNFPA fraud hotline http://www.unfpa.org/help/hotline.cfm

In accordance with the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations, persons applying to posts in the international Professional category, who hold permanent resident status in a country other than their country of nationality, may be required to renounce such status upon their appointment.

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