Sexual and Reproductive Health Specialist

Job Title: Sexual and Reproductive Health Specialist

Organization: United Nations Volunteers (UNV)

Host entity: UNFPA GUY

Assignment country: Guyana

Expected start date: 28/08/2023

Sustainable Development Goal: 3. Good health and well-being

Volunteer category: International UN Volunteer Expert

Type: Onsite

Expected end date: 28/08/2024

Number of assignments: 1

Duty stations: Georgetown (GUY)

Details

Mission and objectives

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency. Our mission is to deliver a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled. We promote gender equality and empower women, girls and young people to take control of their bodies and their futures. We work with partners in more than 150 countries to provide access to a wide range of sexual and reproductive health services. Our goal is ending unmet need for family planning, preventable maternal death, and gender-based violence and harmful practices including child marriage and female genital mutilation by 2030. The UNFPA Sub-regional Office for the English and Dutch speaking Caribbean supports 22 countries and territories and has offices in six countries, i.e. Jamaica, Barbados, Belize, Guyana, Suriname and Trinidad & Tobago.

Context

UNFPA and UN Women, with funds from Global Affairs Canada, will jointly work in four Eastern Caribbean countries with the aim to improve economic and social equality for women and girls, including for marginalized or vulnerable women and girls. UNFPA will particularly contribute to enhanced quality and accessibility of sexual and reproductive health and rights frameworks and services for women and adolescent girls, especially for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence. Under the direct supervision of the Technical Advisor for Reproductive Health currently based in Guyana, the SRH specialist is responsible for providing technical support in the area of Sexual and Reproductive Health. The SRH specialist will support ongoing project in the area of SRH, particularly two Canadian funded projects namely; Build back Equal and Equal Access.

Task description

The SRH Specialist provides strategic technical and programmatic support for the SROC in SRH to ensure that capacity building, advocacy and policy dialogue work reflects UNFPA’s policy and programme policies as well as current thinking and academic advance in substantive areas affecting the ICPD Programme of Action. Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of SROC Director or his/her designated mandated representative(s), the UNV SRH will: • Provide technical and related programme support at sub-regional and national levels, in SRHR, including for emergency preparedness, humanitarian assistance, recovery and transition in collaboration with the SRHR technical advisor and programme staff in SROC; • Support countries in the sub- region on the implementation of Minimum Initial Service Package (MISP) for reproductive health by supporting the conduct of readiness assessment and action plans; • Support capacity building of health care providers in specific areas such as clinical management of rape and Intimate partner violence, STI management and family planning with focus on LARC capacity building; • Provide support to government and civil society organization in the area of adolescent programming with a focus on Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) for out of school; • Contribute to the development of new or updated policies, frameworks, guidance, standards, instruments and tools based on the best available evidence in the area of sexual and reproductive health at sub- regional and national levels; • Contribute to the regional adaptation of training materials, manuals and tools in SRHR and ensure their availability and promote their use for capacity development; • Act as focal person on climate change knowledge management at SROC sharing up to date evidence on impact of climate change on SRHR and overall UNFPA mandate; • Carry out any other duties as may be requested by the office of the SROC Director. Results/expected outputs: As an active UNFPA team member, efficient, timely, responsive, client-friendly and high-quality support rendered to UNFPA and its beneficiaries in the accomplishment of her/his functions, including: • Sexual and Reproductive Health coordination mechanisms established in selected countries; • Adolescent friendly standards developed in the four counties; • Minimum Initial Service Package (MISP) for reproductive health country action plans developed; • Implementation plans for health worker’s capacity building on clinical management of rape and Intimate partner violence, STI management and family planning with focus on LARC in place; • Contribute to sub regional strategy on reduction of adolescent pregnancy.

Eligibility criteria

Age

35 - 80

Nationality

Candidate must be a national of a country other than the country of assignment.

Requirements

Required experience

5 years of experience in capacity building of health care providers in specific areas such as clinical management of rape and Intimate partner violence, STI management and family planning with focus on LARC capacity building. Experience in adolescent health programming, knowledge on comprehensive sexuality education is an asset. Health sector-specific experience, including: experience with Public Health systems in developing countries. Good understanding of health system strengthening based on the six health system building blocks. Experience in program management; Knowledge and understanding on quality of care, specifically client rights issues; Understanding of Human Rights dimensions of SRHR and gender; Field experience is essential Experience in the region is an asset Note: Candidates above 29 years of age are also encouraged to apply, please disregard age requirement when applying.

Area(s) of expertise

Development programmes, Health, Procurement and contracting

Driving license

-

Languages

English, Level: Fluent, Required Dutch, Level: Working knowledge, Desirable

Required education level

Master degree or equivalent in health, medicine, nursing or related fields with specialized knowledge in the field of sexual and Reproductive health or other fields directly related to the substantive area identified in the title of the post Note: Bachelor's degree with additional two years of relevant qualifying experience (7+ years), could be accepted in lieu of Master's degree.

Competencies and values

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 Managerial Competencies: - 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

Other information

Living conditions and remarks

Located in the Northern part of South America, Guyana the “land of many waters” is a unique blend of Caribbean and South American culture and history. With 965 miles of navigable rivers, 83% of Guyana is covered by pristine rainforest. The country is bordered by the Atlantic Coastline on the northeast, Venezuela on the west, Suriname on the east and Brazil on the West and South. The national language in Guyana is English. In 2016, Guyana was reclassified as an upper middle-income country following the discovery of large oil and gas reserves, which is expected to increase economic growth significantly in the short to medium term. Primarily due to oil and gas revenues, Guyana recorded a high growth rate of 43.4 per cent in 2020 (International Monetary Fund, April 2021). In addition, the country’s short- to medium-term prospects seem to be very favourable as economic growth is projected at rates of 20.4, 48.7 and 32.0 per cent for 2021, 2022 and 2023, respectively. UNDSS’ rating of Guyana security is level 2 for coastland and level 1 for hinterland. This is mainly due to robberies on the coastland, which sometimes are violent. Incidents such as car theft have also taken place. It is thus important to take sensible precautions to protect oneself and one’s belongings. UNV Contract Conditions: The contract lasts for the period indicated above with possibility of extensions subject to availability of funding, operational necessity and satisfactory performance. However, there is no expectation of renewal of the assignment. Travel to duty station and Entry Lum Sum will be provided. The applicable Volunteer Living Allowance is provided monthly to cover housing, utilities and normal cost of living expenses. Life, health and permanent disability insurance are included (health insurance for up to 3 dependents), as well as final repatriation (if applicable) and resettlement allowance for satisfactory service. International UN Expert Volunteers receive a monthly Expertise Differential which is equal to 40% of the National UN Specialist Volunteer monthly living allowance. Specific UN Volunteer entitlements, including insurance coverage, Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA), Expertise Differential and Deployment / Repatriation lump sums, among others, are available at https://app.unv.org/calculator. Note: International Volunteers in Guyana are entitled to an additional Well-being Differential monthly allowance. The complete UN Volunteer Conditions of Service is available at https://explore.unv.org/cos

Inclusivity statement

United Nations Volunteers is an equal opportunity programme that welcomes applications from qualified professionals. We are committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, care protected characteristics. As part of their adherence to the values of UNV, all UN Volunteers commit themselves to combat any form of discrimination, and to promoting respect for human rights and individual dignity, without distinction of a person’s race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.

Note on Covid-19 vaccination requirements

Selected candidates for certain occupational groups may be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) in line with the applicable host entity policy

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