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UNFPA , Technical Specialist (Family Planning), ICS-11

We are pleased to re-advertise the following vacancy:

VACANCY NO.: Job ID 1918

CLOSING DATE: 2 March 2012 (5:00 p.m. New York time)

POST TITLE: Technical Specialist (Family Planning)

CATEGORY: ICS-11 (equivalent to P4)*

POST NUMBER: New

DUTY STATION: Freetown – Sierra Leone

POST TYPE: Non-Rotational

DURATION: One year (renewable)

ORGANIZATIONAL UNIT: Africa

The Family Planning Specialist will be based in the Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MOHS) and will operate as integral part of the Ministry’s Reproductive Health/Family Planning (RH/FP) Division. The UNFPA CO will be responsible for providing support services to the specialist. Under the overall guidance of the UNFPA Representative and the direct supervision of the Director of the Reproductive and Child Health Directorate, the incumbent will perform the following functions:

  1. Act as the key resource person on family planning and cervical cancer for the MOHS;
  2. Provide technical support to the regular reproductive health program of UNFPA;
  3. Provide MOHS project staff, and government counterparts at central and district levels with the technical backstopping, assistance and advise on the strategic direction for strengthening the delivery, access to and quality of family planning and cervical cancer services;
  4. Provide technical updates, training and mentoring for MOHS project staff and partners in relevant clinical and technical areas related to family planning and cervical cancer eg in the National School of Midwifery;
  5. Give technical guidance in the development and implementation of FP and cervical cancer protocols, policies, training modules, operational manuals and approaches for locally appropriate family planning and cervical cancer service delivery and for supportive supervision of service providers based on best practice;
  6. Provide quality assurance and close monitoring of all family planning training ensuring its integration in other relevant RH areas;
  7. Assess and advise, in close collaboration with the Reproductive Health Commodity Security (RHCS) Steering Committee, on the supply chain management to ensure regular and uninterrupted supply of contraceptive commodities;
  8. Work with the RH/FP Manager to assure the integration of the family planning activities in all reproductive health and maternal and neonatal health activities;
  9. Conduct regular technical monitoring visits to the field sites supported by MOHS;
  10. Participate in the development of the family planning communication strategy and ensure the standardization of family planning messages;
  11. Ensure that all service delivery planned and provided to the community is of high quality and responsive to the increased demand created by the Maternal and Neonatal Health Initiative (MNHI);
  12. Actively participate in the development and updating of guidelines, standards, tools and approaches as required;
  13. Provide technical and programmatic support for family planning related research, and identify, document, and disseminate lessons learned and best practices in family planning.
  14. Any other activities/responsibilities as needed by the MOHS.

CORE COMPETENCIES:

• Commitment to UNFPA's Values and Guiding Principles; • Developing People/Fostering Innovation and Empowerment/Performance Management; • Team Work/Communication/Self-Management • Strategic Thinking/Results Orientation and Commitment to Excellence/Decision Making; • Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Learning

FUNCTIONAL COMPETENCIES:

• Conceptual innovation in the provision of technical expertise • Leveraging the resources of national governments and partners/building strategic alliances and partnerships • Job knowledge/technical expertise

JOB REQUIREMENTS:

• Advanced university degree in Reproductive Health, Obs&Gyn, Public Health, Community Medicine or other related subject, • 7 years of experience in clinical and programmatic family planning programming and/or Reproductive Health Care programmes, out of which 5 years of experience in developing countries. • Experience in promotion of and building national capacity in long acting and permanent methods of contraception including the implant, in post war contexts like Sierra Leone where national FP systems have broken down • Demonstrated experience in strategic programme management with strong technical knowledge of family planning, cervical cancer, reproductive health in and/or maternal health and how services link to communities and special client groups in post war settings. • Interpersonal and communication skills for the dissemination of information and the advocacy activities. • Excellent writing and presentation skills. • Proficiency in current Microsoft Office software applications, census data processing and analysis software e.g. CSPro, SPSS, STATA • Fluency in English is required. Working knowledge of another official UN language is desirable.

UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender quality, teamwork, respect for diversity, integrity and a healthy balance of work and life. We are committed to maintaining our balanced gender distribution and therefore encourage women to apply.

We offer an attractive remuneration package commensurate with the level of the position. The package includes a competitive salary plus housing allowance, home leave, health insurance and other benefits.

This is a project-funded post.

How to apply:

UNFPA has established an electronic application management system. This allows applicants to create a candidate profile, which can be updated regularly and submitted for more than one vacancy.

Download the Step by Step Guide to Applying in the E-Recruit System of UNFPA at http://www.unfpa.org/employment/application_guide.doc. Please print out the Guide for your reference during the registration and application process. Notice: There is no application, processing or other fee at any stage of the application process. UNFPA does not solicit or screen for information in respect of HIV or AIDS and does not discriminate on the basis of HIV/AIDS status.

*This is a project funded post.

In accordance with the rules of the United Nations, persons applying to posts in the international Professional category, who hold permanent resident status in a country other than their country of nationality, are required to renounce such status upon their appointment. Exceptions to this rule are very limited and can be made only for: (a) stateless persons; (b) newly appointed staff members who have applied for citizenship by naturalization, when such citizenship will be granted imminently; (c) acting staff members in the General Service and related categories with permanent residency status, on promotion to the Professional category; (d) staff members appointed under a temporary appointment. Please understand that UNFPA is not in a position to provide advice on or assistance in applying for any citizenship.

1/ No expectancy of renewal in accordance with UN Staff Regulation 4.5