INTERNATIONAL CONSULTANT: SRHR Integration and Emerging Trends Specialist UNFPA – United Nations Population Fund: (Deadline 15 February 2025)

The Position:

The SRHR Integration and Emerging Trends Specialist will work closely with the SRHR unit to support implementation of innovative and health system strengthening programs leading to a higher quality of care, higher uptake of SRHR services and enhanced knowledge about human rights based SRHR.He/she will also ensure that the SRHR agenda is included in the health national Adaptation Plans for climate, that women and young people subject to migration are accessing SRHR services and that information about SRHR is widely distributed. He/she will also support sustainable pre- and in-service capacity building activities for health care workers to enhance the quality of care. He/she will participate in relevant meetings/workshops with partners as requested by the supervisor. He/she will work with the Resource Mobilization Team to develop communication for effective partnership advocacy tools and materials for SRHR.

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 SRHR Integration and Emerging Trends Specialist will provide technical assistance to the Ministry of Health and other line ministries to strengthen SRHR services by integrating SRHR across sectors such as Technical and Vocational Education Trainings (TVETs), agriculture, and climate change adaptation initiatives – among others. This includes expertise in midwifery, digital health, comprehensive abortion care, climate change and climate adaptation, youth on the move and migrants. The specialist will support SRHR innovation, mobilize resources, and support research to ensure high-quality, person-centered SRHR care aligned with the UNFPA mandate.

You would be responsible for:

A. SRHR innovations

• Support innovative programs related to SRHR including digitalisation of healthcare including expansion of CAC- activities and other activities supporting the National Health Intelligence Center.
• Manage the KURA! program including budget responsibilities and close collaboration with partners such as Luxembourg, Rwanda TVET Board (RTB), Rwanda Biomedical Center (RBC) and the Ministry of Health (MoH.)

B. Health system strengthening

• Work closely with the Ministry of Health to support Health system strengthening through support to revision of strategic documents and implementation of HSSPV
• Work with the Health Workforce Development (HWD) department at MoH to ensure revision of existing health care provider curricula to include international SRHR competencies including youth friendliness, respectful maternity care and people centeredness.
• Support the inclusion and emphasis of menstrual health as a vital part of the SRHR.
• Support activities related to CAC and enhancement of SRHR access.

C. Midwifery

• Work closely with the SRHR unit to ensure implementation of the Midwifery Curricula including faculty development and strengthening of scope, regulation, leadership and associations for midwifery.
• Support the Global Midwifery Acceleration Roadmap and ensure that Rwanda as a champion country is leading the way for other countries and achieving the set milestones in midwifery.
• Ensure research is published on achievements in midwifery.

D. Migration

• Support as the migration focal point to ensure access to high quality SRHR services for women and young people subject to migration.
• Support South-South collaboration and work closely with IOM to ensure that data and SRHR is included in the joint work plan on Migration.

E. Climate Adaptation

• Support the inclusion or SRHR priorities in the Nationally Determined Contributions as well as the Health National Action Plan towards Climate Change Adaptation.
• Act as the Climate change focal point and ensure that the Country office is aware of how we can program more climate change effectively.

F. Research and Innovations/Resource Mobilisations

• Contribute to the evidence generation activities supported by the Country office through supporting the research conducted by the CO.
• Provide technical and programmatic support to harmonize SRHR- programs targeting the furthest behind first including Comprehensive Abortion Care, migrants and key population.
• Produce at least 2 concept notes for Resource mobilisation.

Qualifications and Experience: 

Education:  

• Master’s degree in health sciences, Midwifery, Public Health or any other with specialized knowledge in the field of Sexual and Reproductive Health.

Knowledge and Experience: 

• Minimum of 5 years of professional experience in Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), with demonstrated expertise in at least two of the following areas: clinical midwifery, digital health, comprehensive abortion care, and SRHR integration within different sectors including climate change adaptation initiatives.
• Proven experience in working with government institutions on health systems strengthening, particularly in policy development, research, and program implementation related to SRHR.
• Familiarity with the national health system and policy landscape in Rwanda or similar developing country contexts, with knowledge of key stakeholders and SRHR priorities.
• Understanding of the impact of climate change on SRHR and experience in integrating climate adaptation strategies into SRHR programs.
• Strong research and analytical skills, with experience in conducting or contributing to SRHR-related research and evidence generation activities.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and advocacy skills, with the ability to work effectively with diverse stakeholders, including government officials, healthcare providers, and community members.
• Initiative, sound judgment, and the ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Languages: 

• Fluency in English. Knowledge of other working languages of the UN is an asset.
• Ability to write clearly and concisely.

Required Competencies: 

Values:

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

Compensation and Benefits:

This position offers an attractive remuneration package including a competitive net honorarium as applicable.

UNFPA Work Environment:

UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, diversity, integrity and healthy work-life balance. We are committed to ensuring gender parity in the organization and therefore encourage women to apply. Individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community, minority ethnic groups, indigenous populations, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups are highly encouraged to apply. UNFPA promotes equal opportunities in terms of appointment, training, compensation and selection for all regardless of personal characteristics and dimensions of diversity. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is at the heart of UNFPA’s workforce – click here to learn more.

Disclaimer:

Selection and appointment may be subject to background and reference checks, medical clearance, visa issuance and other administrative requirements.

UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process and does not concern itself with information on applicants’ bank accounts.

Applicants for positions in the international Professional and higher categories, 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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