Programme Specialist, Sexual and Reproductive Health, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, NOC

• Level: NOC
• Contract type: Fixed Term Appointment
• Closing date: 14 Mar 2025 11:59 PM (America/New_York)
• Duty station: Dar es Salaam

The Position:

The Programme Specialist, Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) plays a leadership role in coordinating and managing comprehensive programmes on sexual and reproductive health and rights more broadly; including maternal health, family planning and HIV prevention while integrating human rights and disability inclusion into the work of UNFPA Tanzania Country Office. The  Programme Specialist supports national efforts to achieve universal access to sexual and reproductive health , including by promoting policy and programmatic commitments, and domestic financing for long-term sustainability of SRHR.

Under the overall supervision of the Representative, the Programme Specialist, Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) will be directly supervised by and report to the Deputy Representative. S/he  will lead the SRHR team and collaborate with the Country Office’s operations and administrative support staff.

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:

Working within a complex country context, the Programme Specialist, SRH will lead the SRHR portfolio in the Tanzania Country Office, and ensure effective leadership and management of UNFPA interventions covering: maternal health including emergency obstetrics and newborn care and midwifery; family planning, and HIV while integrating human rights, disability inclusion and focus on other marginalized groups. The Programme Specialist, SRHR will support national efforts to achieve the ICPD Programme of Action commitments, aligned to the UNFPA Tanzania Country Programme 2022-2027; the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (2022-2027) and national and sectoral development priorities and plans.

He/she works in an integrated, coordinated, and rights-based manner which is fundamental to UNFPA’s overall strategy; with the aim of enhancing the capacity of the Country Program to deliver results in development and humanitarian contexts.

As a Programme Specialist, SRH, he/she will (1) advance policy dialogue and thought leadership; (2) support national capacity development; (3) lead advocacy, partnerships and mobilise resources; (4) coordinate and manage programmes; (5) supervise and manage performance of teams/staff in the unit and (6) support knowledge management on SRH more broadly and specifically on; family planning; maternal health including emergency obstetrics and newborn care, HIV etc.

You would be responsible for:

1. Policy Dialogue and Thought Leadership

• Represent UNFPA in strategic and substantive meetings to advocate for the development, and implementation of policies, plans, programmes and strategies for the realization of SRHR in line with Tanzania’s national, regional and global commitments;
• Engage in discussions on sector reform, aid effectiveness and UN reforms;
• Provide technical input to the development of relevant advocacy and policy documents to advance sexual and reproductive health and rights;
• Provide input into the development of global UNFPA’s policies using in country experience;

2. National Capacity Development

• Support national capacity development in SRHR by drawing on and feeding into national and sectoral capacity assessments to ensure a process of capacity building in strategic planning and results based management;
• Organize capacity development sessions for IPs to ensure that they are informed of and are implementing programmes in accordance with organizational policies and procedures;
• Lead programme and project implementation guiding and orienting executing agencies and programme personnel introducing effective modalities and practices of implementation;
• Regular follow-up and support to Implementing Partners to ensure timely-implementation and reporting, including financial;

3. Partnerships and resources mobilization

• Contribute to the resource mobilization strategy by analysing information on potential donors, preparing substantive briefs and project proposals in line with donor priorities, creating feedback mechanisms and providing information on progress of donor funded projects;
• Represent UNFPA at UN inter-agency meetings for health, government-led technical committees including Development Partner Group-Health to promote change and enhance effectiveness and impact of working groups to ensure full inclusion and monitoring of SRHR;
• Effectively network with partners seizing opportunities to build strategic alliances with institutions and individuals relevant to UNFPA’s mandate and strategic agenda;
• Sensitizes UN partners, donors and government authorities to the Fund’s strategic agenda, identifying areas for joint efforts;

4. Programme Management and Coordination

• Provide substantive leadership and inputs into the design and formulation of programmes and projects translating UNFPA’s mandate and strategic priorities into local interventions, and responding to Government plans and priorities;
•  Introduces into the project formulation process the results of programme and project reviews and evaluations, best practices, as well as innovative strategies, approaches and policies;
• Advise and report on achievement of SRHR programme and project results, proactively measuring substantive progress and the effective utilization of financial and human project resources using appropriate monitoring and measuring mechanisms and tools;
• Achieves results by effectively monitoring, evaluating programmes and projects and managing the projects’ human, financial and information resources. Seeks out best practices and innovative approaches and applies them to programme/project development and implementation;
• Guiding and managing innovative and responsive programming for the effective implementation of SRHR programmes;
• Work closely with UNFPA Operations Staff members to ensure that activities are implemented within the allocated budgets and in-line with policies and procedures;

5. Supervision and performance management

• Coach and manage staff in the team, direct reports and facilitate working groups and task teams;
• Ensure that staff members within the team comply with policy and programmatic guidelines;

6. Knowledge Management 

• Share information and knowledge on cross cutting dimensions related to SRHR with key partners including civil society, government and donors to ensure full integration of issues into capacity development processes and health sector institutional reforms through a rights based approach;
• Document lessons learned through aid effectiveness and core reforms including health sector reforms and related implications to UN and UNFPA programming;
• Supporting the generation of strategic information and evidence to inform national policies and strategies for SRHR improvement; and
• Provide technical support to national and international development partners and civil society to document best practices and lessons learned in order to move forward with the SRHR agenda to attain national and global priorities and achievements.

Perform any other duties as assigned by the supervisor and senior management from time to time in consultation with the Representative.

Qualifications and Experience: 

Education:  

• Advanced degree in public health, social/health policy and planning, health systems, or other related social sciences including development studies and related disciplines;

Knowledge and Experience: 

• At least five years of professional experience, preferably programme management in reproductive health / maternal health and implementing health programmes in the context of health sector SWAPs.
• Demonstrable technical expertise in SRHR;
• Demonstrated results orientation, with proven experience in using results-based management tools
• Proven experience in coordinating/managing a team of staff, experts and consultants.
• Familiarity in communicating in a clear and articulated manner, technical and/or complex issues to different types of audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to write robust proposals and mobilization of resources.
• Demonstrated experience in networking, coordination and liaison with government counterparts, NGOs, UN agencies, private sector, development partners and CBOs.
• Possess excellent interpersonal, negotiating, intercultural communication skills, and political acumen.
• Experience using Microsoft Office software packages, Cloud applications and web-based ERP management systems;
• Strong analytical orientation and sound judgment, initiative, culturally sensitive and, resourceful
• Dedication to the United Nations principles and demonstrated ability to work harmoniously in team and with persons of different nationalities

Language:

Fluency in Kiswahili and English is required.
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 national governments and partners/ building strategic alliances and partnerships
• Delivering results-based programme
• Internal and external communication and advocacy for results mobilisation

Managerial Competencies (if applicable):

• Providing strategic focus,
• Engaging in 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. 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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How to Apply:

This is Full-time Job, To submit your application, please follow the link provided below.

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