The Position:

The Health System/ SRHR Specialist is located in the Malawi Country Office (CO) and reports to the Deputy Representative. The Health System/ SRHR Specialist acts as SRHR Team Leader and provides strategic direction in SRHR area and oversees UN Joint Programme (JP) Umoyo Wathu (UW) on Health System Strengthening in UNFPA Malawi. S/he establishes and maintains collaborative relationships with counterparts in government, multi-lateral and bilateral donor agencies, UN agencies, civil society and the private sector to advocate for universal access to comprehensive SRHR information and services. S/he must effectively influence counterparts from diverse backgrounds to contribute to achieving UNFPA’s mandate. In addition, Health System/ SRHR Specialist will take a leadership in the integration of all existing and new programmes pertaining to SRHR including the UN Joint Programme (JP) such as Umoyo Wathu (UW) on Health System Strengthening. Health System/ SRHR Specialist will also work with other Team Leaders to implement 9th Country Programme in integrated manner.

The Health System/ SRHR Specialist will take a leadership role in inter-agency work, particularly through UNSDCF coordination mechanisms, to position UNFPA’s transformative results in joint UN initiatives.

Job Purpose:

To meet the needs, the Country Office has secured funding from the UK’s FCDO UW programme, which is a UN Joint Programme with UNICEF and WHO, providing technical assistance to the Government to strengthen health system particularly around the pillars of integration, quality of care, resilience building and governance in selected districts.

The Health System/ SRHR Specialist leads the CO’s strategic approach to accelerate progress towards universal SRHR, in particular towards the three Transformative Results. S/he oversees Umoyo Wathu (UW) on Health System Strengthening and supervises the other SRHR team members. S/he will work under the supervision of Deputy Representative to promote innovative approaches on the integration of SRHR with other programme areas. S/he also assists the Deputy Representative on managerial and strategic matters related to SRHR.

The primary roles of the Health System/ SRHR Specialist are:

• Policy dialogue and advocacy.
• Programme leadership through day-to-day oversight for the implementation, monitoring, and reporting of Programme activities and work plans.
• Resource management of the SRHR components of the Country Programme, including SRHR related budgets and consultancies.
• Evidence management, knowledge management and innovation related to SRHR matters.
• Strengthening of CO’s strategic partnerships with Government, NGOs, civil society, other UN agencies, development partners, and academia on SRHR matters.
• Quality assurance of technical support and capacity development.
• Managing her/his team effectively, including management of travel, leave and training plans.
• Managing and coordinating the implementation of Umoyo Wathu (UW) on Health System Strengthening UN Joint programme

Qualifications and Experience Required:

Education:

Post-graduate Master’s degree in public health, medicine and/or other related social science field.

Knowledge and Experience:

• Minimum of 7 years of progressively responsible professional experience at national level in the field sexual and reproductive health and rights including maternal health.
• Conversant with national frameworks and policies on SRHR, Youth, HIV and other related issues and their linkages with the changing global environment and how this affects the context of Malawi.
• Strong track record of technical leadership, including in planning and evaluation, and proven ability to demonstrate results;
• Experience working with health systems, 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 a strong asset.

Languages:

• Fluency in English; knowledge of other official UN languages is an asset.