NATIONAL POST: Programme Analyst-SRHR, Butwal, Nepal, NOB

The Position:

UNFPA works to ensure sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) remain at the very centre of development. The International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) Programme of Action (PoA) draws a clear connection between reproductive health, human rights and sustainable development. When sexual and reproductive health needs are not met, individuals are deprived of the right to make crucial choices about their own bodies and futures, with a cascading impact on their families’ welfare and future generations. And because women bear children, and also usually bear the responsibility for nurturing them, sexual and reproductive health and rights issues cannot be separated from gender equality. Cumulatively, the denial of these rights exacerbates poverty and gender inequality. 

UNFPA works with Governments, UN agencies, civil society and other development partners to promote universal access to sexual and reproductive health care. This includes efforts to strengthen health systems, including supporting the implementation of reproductive health programmes, improving the quality of reproductive health care and strengthening human resources. UNFPA also works to make sure reproductive health commodities are available where needed, such as contraceptives, life-saving medicines and basic medical equipment, and that a functioning logistics system is in place. 

Reproductive health is a lifetime concern for both women and men, from infancy to old age. UNFPA supports programmes tailored to the different challenges people face at different times in their lives, including comprehensive sexuality education, family planning, antenatal and safe delivery care, postnatal care, services to prevent sexually transmitted infections, and services facilitating early diagnosis and treatment of reproductive health illnesses. To support reproductive health throughout the life cycle, services across a variety of sectors must be strengthened in addition to health and education systems.

The Programme Analyst, SRHR plays a key role in providing technical leadership for UNFPA’s work on SRHR/FP/RHCS towards accelerating the achievement of the ICPD PoA and Agenda 2030 in the province. S/he will engage in policy advocacy efforts, provide technical assistance and management including oversight and management of the UNFPA supplies programmed activities and priorities UNFPA’s work strategically within the health sector. 

S/he will be located at the UNFPA Provincial Office and will work under the overall technical guidance and support of the SRHR Specialist, based in the UNFPA Country Office in Kathmandu, and the direct supervision of the UNFPA Provincial Head of Office, and in close collaboration with the UNFPA teams at all levels.

 

How you can make a difference:

UNFPA is the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency, working in a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled. UNFPA's strategic plan focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and end gender-based violence and harmful practices against women and girls.

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 uphold the values enshrined in the United Nations Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 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 Constitution of Nepal 2015 and the Safe Motherhood and Reproductive Rights Act 2018 protects the sexual and reproductive health rights and choices of women and girls. However, Nepal has one of the highest ratio of maternal deaths in the region (239 per 100,000 live births), an indication of the country’s weak health system. Overall, women and girls from marginalized groups continue to suffer disproportionately from unintended pregnancies, unsafe abortion, maternal deaths and disability, sexually transmitted infections and gender based violence.

UNFPA has had a close working relationship with the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) for the last four decades and has contributed to establishing a progressive policy and legislative environment for SRHR; provided technical support to put in place SRH protocols and guidelines; invested in developing health systems including human resources and supply chain management for SRH; and provided SRH commodities to the Government of Nepal. 

Since 2018, UNFPA has focused on enabling the new federal structure, at all levels, to strengthen the delivery of SRH services in the above-mentioned geographic areas, with a focus on marginalized and vulnerable groups. This has included advocacy efforts to mobilize political and financial support from policy makers; provision of technical assistance to put in place an enabling policy environment for SRHR; support for SRH including family planning (FP) commodities; and oversight of a range of implementing partners engaged in capacity building and service delivery at the local level.

The Programme Analyst,SRHR is entrusted with the responsibility of engaging in advocacy and policy dialogue for concerted actions by the provincial and local counterparts, UN system and other development partners, and civil society organizations and networks on issues related to SRHR/FP/RHCS. S/he will provide technical leadership and build partnerships to leverage financial and technical resources for accelerated achievement of UNFPA’s transformative programme goals. S/he ensures effective oversight and management of UNFPA-supported SRHR interventions including family planning, reproductive health commodity security, and coordinating implementation of UNFPA supplies activities in development and humanitarian settings. Through substantive analysis and assessment of political, social and economic trends relevant to SRHR/FP landscape, s/he analyze the implication for UNFPA’s work in the assigned province; contributes to provincial and local policy and programme formulation, domestic resource mobilization guides programme implementation, and ensures the achievement of programme results through monitoring activities, enhancing SRH commodities management and improvement of method mix and choice. S/he establishes collaborative partnerships with key stakeholders and promotes coherence among partners in the development of policies and strategies, guidelines and protocols, and programmes. S/he will engage with UNFPA personnel working across the thematic and other teams at all levels.

You would be responsible for:

A.     Policy Dialogue and Technical Support

• Facilitates UNFPA’s engagement in high-level dialogue with government, civil society, academic institutions and other partners and participates in various health sector technical advisory/working groups and in interagency task teams to position SRHR/FP/RHCS at provisional and local level.
• Promotes awareness of the critical role of the ICPD PoA in the achievement of the SDGs, in particular Goals 3 & 5, in relevant meetings, conferences and other fora.
• Engage in prioritization of FP/RHCS programs at Provincial and local level budgeting and planning process. 
• Identifies policy gaps in the fulfilment of reproductive rights and RHCS and support inclusion SRHR and RHCS in provincial and local levels policies, strategies, technical guidelines, operational plans, manuals, guidelines and training packages.
• Provide technical support in development, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of policies, strategies and programs related to SRHR, RHCS and supply chain management.
• Establishes and strengthens civil society alliances to influence the policy agenda and promote accountability mechanisms for the realization of SRHR.
• Anticipates, plans and supports life-saving SRHR humanitarian response interventions, ensuring adequate attention given to the needs of women and girls during emergencies in collaboration with the UNFPA humanitarian team and other partners.
• Contributes to state-of-the-art research findings and learnings and ensures key findings are fully integrated within UNFPA-supported policies and programmes; and promotes an integrated approach linked to other relevant thematic areas of work.
• Guides rights-based, gender-centric and inclusive policy and programme interventions under SRHR/FP to reach those communities and vulnerable groups that are furthest behind.

B.      Advocacy and Resource Mobilization for SRH commodity and programme financing

• Develops and maintains collaborative relationships with relevant provincial and local government counterparts and other key partners and asserts UNFPA’s comparative substantive role and contributions in advancing SRHR, RHCS and Supply chain management and facilitate coordination and collaboration among the key partners, in development and humanitarian contexts.
• Examines and interprets the political, social and economic environment and implications for UNFPA’s work in SRHR and advocates for increases in provincial and local government budgetary allocations and expenditures for SRH, RHCS and Supply chain management.
• Support integration of evidence-based good practices within provincial and local systems and processes and engages in strategic partnerships to accelerate the sustainability of SRHR, RHCS and Supply chain management interventions.
• Contributes to resource mobilization strategy of UNFPA Nepal by supporting the preparation of relevant documentation, i.e. project proposals that are innovative and demonstrate potential for high impact, best practices and lessons learnt, and communication materials.
• Support the provincial and local level planning and budgeting processes to promote gradual increase in domestic resources for commodity security.
• Lead tracking and analysis of SRHR commodities availability and financing at the provincial and local level for generating evidence to support evidence-based advocacy and decision-making.
• Collaborates with team members, programme partners, and sub-grantees to ensure safe implementation of programmes at the community level applying Do No Harm approach.

C.      Programme Management and Coordination to ensure wider method mix availability and SRH commodity security

• Manages the SRHR programme including RHCS in the assigned province including the development of work plans with implementing partners; maintains oversight on programme delivery; and provides quality assurance.
• Undertakes regular monitoring visits; assesses the effectiveness of SRHR interventions; identifies areas for further improvements; and makes an effort to address the barriers and bottlenecks with the partners, while building capacities for sustainability.
• Regularly monitor the levels of FP/RH commodities availability and stock levels at   different tires of warehouses including the service delivery points through analyzing the information of national Logistics Management Information Systems (LMIS) and periodic surveys.
• Provide technical assistance to expand contraceptive method mix and new live saving maternal and newborn commodities such as DMPA SC, heat stable carbetocin, anti-shock garments in line with national priorities.
• Supports and build capacity of stakeholders in forecasting, quantification, storage and distribution of RH commodities. 
• Undertakes results-based monitoring and reporting under the SRHR programme including timely submission of progress and other reports, as required.
• Contributes to the documentation of lessons learned and best practices related to UNFPA’s work in SRHR/FP; participates in communities of practices in the area of SRHR; and shares new approaches with UNFPA and the implementing partners for optimal results.
• Ensures the timely completion of Last Mile Assurance (LMA) process activities and ensures that adequate remedial actions are taken in response to issues affecting the process.
• Strengthens partnerships and collaboration with the Government, civil society actors and other development partners through supporting effective coordination mechanisms in development and humanitarian contexts.
• Supports the production of high-quality communication materials for SRHR advocacy and for promoting visibility of UNFPA’s work and achievements, including preparing technical briefs, reports, and talking points/statements, as needed.
• Perform any other duties as requested by the supervisor and the management team in UNFPA.

Qualifications and Experience: 

Education:  

• Advanced Degree in Public Health, Health Economics, Medicine/Health Sciences or other related discipline.

Knowledge and Experience: 

• At least two years or more of clinical experience as a public health professional, preferably in a low resource setting.
• Practical experience in emergency health sector, maternal health issues, logistics systems and management of family planning programs. 
• Knowledge and understanding of UN/UNFPA humanitarian/development programming and operations, and about UN common programming principles including a human-rights based approach, gender equality and capacity development.
• Proven ability to engage in high-level policy dialogue and advocacy.
• Ability to express clearly and concisely ideas and concepts in written and oral forms.
• Practical experience in design, management, monitoring and review of SRHR programmes/projects.
• Extensive knowledge of supply management: forecasting, warehousing, distribution transportation, logistics information systems.
• Experience in policy advocacy, documentation, development of national SRHR strategies, protocols and training packages.
• Demonstrated experience in coordination and liaison with government counterparts, NGOs, UN agencies, private sector, development partners and CBOs.
• Good understanding of the Nepal Government’s health related policies, laws, policy making processes and the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with the relevant Government partners and other stakeholders.
• Experience using office software packages and web-based management systems.
• Ability to work independently and demonstrated experience in working successfully as a member of multidisciplinary team.

Languages: 

• Proficiency in English and Nepali is required. Working knowledge of another UN language or local language is an asset. 

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,
• Communicating for impact.

Functional Competencies:

• Advocacy/ Advancing a policy-oriented agenda;
• Leveraging the resources of provincial and local governments and partners/building strategic alliances and partnerships;
• Delivering results-based programmes;
• Internal and external communication and advocacy for results mobilization.

Managerial Competencies (if applicable):

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

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. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. 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.