The Position:

The Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) and Health Systems Specialist’s post is based in the Kenya Country Office and reports to the SRHR and Youth Adviser. As the holder of the position, you will contribute to the three UNFPA transformative results namely ending preventable maternal deaths, ending the unmet need for family planning, and ending GBV and harmful practices.

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, and exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them, and who commit to delivering excellence in programme results.

Job Purpose:

The SRHR and Health Systems Specialist will provide substantive support to the implementation of the maternal and newborn health programme that entails delivery care including Emergency Obstetric Care (EmNOC), postpartum care, obstetric fistula, MPDSR, and midwifery; integration of SRHR services, including family planning; and health systems strengthening for effective and quality delivery of SRHR services. The SRHR and Health Systems Specialist strongly contributes to the country office's “big thinking and focus” in SRHR including innovative approaches in programming and fostering integration of SRHR with other programmes, including GBV.

 The primary roles of the SRHR and Health Systems Specialist are:

• Advocacy, partnership, and resource mobilization 
• Technical assistance and capacity development
• Programme management 

The SRHR and Health Systems Specialist will work under the supervision of the SRHR/Youth Advisor, and overall guidance of the Representative and Deputy Representative. The incumbent will work with consultants, advisors, experts, and technical and operations team members from within and outside UNFPA and will establish and maintain collaborative relationships with counterparts in government, multilateral and bilateral donor agencies, civil society, academia, and private sector in support SRHR advocacy efforts, resource mobilization, technical assistance, and programme management.

You would be responsible for:

Advocacy, partnership and resource mobilization 

• Support the team lead in SRHR environmental scanning and advocacy work on universal access to SRHR in the context of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) through a Primary Health Care (PHC) approach. 
• Support advocacy for the implementation of ICPD25 and other SRHR-related global, regional, and in-country commitments/strategies such as Ending Preventable Maternal Mortality (EPMM) and Every Newborn Action Plan (ENAP).
• Analyze and assess relevant technical, political, social, and economic trends and ensure that SRHR programmes are responsive to new and emerging realities, including inclusion, emergency preparedness, humanitarian Response, and resilience building.
• Support the SRHR/Youth team in preparing white papers, policy briefs, fact sheets, and other relevant materials for evidence-based policy dialogues at national and county levels.
• Participate and provide technical/programme inputs to UN and other inter-agency fora such as the H6 platform, SRHR-related Joint Programme technical committees, etc.
• Actively participate and provide technical assistance in the UNSDCF Strategic Results Areas to advance UNFPA’s area of work.
• Supports positioning UNFPA in national fora around SRHR and Health systems strengthening and maintaining collaborative relationships with counterparts in government, civil society, private sector, and development partners.
• Contribute to the development of donor profiles and participate in donor/ development partners’ fora such as DPHK Support advocacy and resource mobilization efforts of the Country Office for the SRHR Programme component by preparing/drafting relevant documentation i.e. concept notes, proposals, project documents, project summaries, conference papers, speeches etc.
• Support the SRH/Youth team in initiating/developing, strengthening, and monitoring substantive and intellectual regional partnerships in SRHR and Health systems strengthening, including South-South and triangular cooperation. 

Technical assistance and capacity development

• Engage in relevant national coordination platforms such as the Maternal and Newborn Health Technical Working Groups (TWG) to advance the SRHR/health systems strengthening agenda.
• Support the development of, review, and analysis of evidence-based Sexual and Reproductive, Maternal, and Newborn Health policies, strategies, plans and guidelines, protocols, and related legislation.
• Strengthen evidence generation and utilization on SRHR and health systems strengthening providing technical guidance on the implementation of operational research, national assessments, documentation of good practices, and generation and dissemination of knowledge products.
• Provide technical support to the Ministry of Health, County Governments, as well as non-Governmental Organizations, Academia, and other partners, in the implementation and monitoring of SRHR policies and programmes and health systems strengthening interventions.
• Support the SRHR/ Youth team in the development of innovative approaches to SRHR and Health systems strengthening, and the rolling out of these approaches in consultation with CO colleagues as well as national and international strategic partners.
• Support the SRHR/ Youth team and Gender teams in the integration of all programme components within the planning and implementation process. 
• Organize or contribute to capacity development activities of national counterparts, particularly at the county level.
• Facilitate the development/adaptation / of training materials, manuals, protocols, and tools as needed, in the area of SRHR and Health and health systems strengthening and ensuring their availability and promoting their use for capacity development.

Programme management

• Support the preparation of annual work plans and budgets with implementing partners to ensure they are in line with country programme priorities.
• Monitors timely submission of reports and other relevant documents, the release of project funds, and effective implementation of the project activities and ensures that implementing partners adhere to UNFPA policies and procedures and any relevant Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
• Raise requisitions for relevant travels and procurement. 
• Manage assets that have been procured by the UNFPA and supplied to the implementing partners. 
• Support quality assurance activities for implementing partners including audits and spot checks.
• Carry out any other duties as requested by the Representative and Deputy Representative

Qualifications and Experience: 

Education:  

Post-graduate/master’s degree in public health, medicine, and/or other health-related fields.

Knowledge and Experience: 

• Minimum of five years of professional experience in the field of sexual and reproductive health and rights, including maternal health and health systems strengthening. 
• Sound knowledge of the SRHR environment in Kenya including national frameworks and policies on SRHR, maternal health, ASRH, HIV, Inclusion, and family planning. 
• Proven experience in resource mobilization including innovative programme financing approaches. 
• Experience working with health systems in government institutions, NGOs, and/or donor institutions. 
• Good knowledge of the programme development mechanism of the United Nations country programmes and familiarity with UNFPA programmes and policies. 
• Demonstration of programme management skills.
• Field experience is a strong asset.

Languages: 

Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of Kiswahili is desirable.

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.
   

Managerial Competencies:

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

Functional Skill Set:

• Advocacy/ Advancing a policy-oriented agenda.
• Leveraging the resources of national governments and partners/ building strategic alliances and partnerships.
• Delivering results-based programmes.
• Internal and external communication and advocacy for results mobilization.
• Strategically positioning UNFPA Programmes.
• Providing a technical support system.
• Facilitating quality programme results.
• Strengthening the capacity of the country office.
• Providing conceptual innovation to support programme effectiveness.

 Compensation and Benefits:

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

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