The Position:

The Technical Specialist for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights will be based in Port Moresby under the overall guidance of the UNFPA Representative in Papua New Guinea and the direct supervision of the Deputy Representative. S/he will work collaboratively with the National Department of Health, the Provincial Health Authorities, NGO partners, bilateral and multilateral donor agencies to enhance sexual and reproductive health and rights in the country. 

How you can make a difference:

UNFPA is the lead United Nations agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is intended, every childbirth is safe, and every young person's potential is fulfilled. The UNFPA Strategic Plan for 2026-2029 articulates the organization’s response to a complex global environment, providing a roadmap for resilience and renewal. It is designed to accelerate the implementation of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. This mandate is pursued through a focus on four interconnected outcomes: ending the unmet need for family planning; ending preventable maternal deaths; ending gender-based violence and harmful practices; and adapting to demographic change through evidence and rights-based policies. 

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 who transform, inspire, and deliver high-impact and sustained results and ensure effective external relations, communications, and partnership-building and resource mobilization in a rapidly changing development and funding landscape. We need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them, and who commit to delivering excellence in programme results.

Job Purpose:

The Technical Specialist for SRHR will provide technical support and contribute towards the acceleration of the implementation of the Papua New Guinea National Health Plan 2021-2030, which includes improving access to quality and affordable sexual and reproductive health services for all citizens. This includes addressing key areas like family planning, adolescent and youth-friendly health services and maternal health, particularly the Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance Response. S/he will also contribute towards strengthening institutional capacities at provincial level for Emergency Maternal Obstetric and Neonatal Care (EMONC), as well as expanding access to and building capacities for fistula repair, and ensuring the implementation of effective strategies for Reproductive Health Commodity Security (RHCS) in the country. This position will also work closely with UNAIDS and WHO in Papua New Guinea to maximise the impact of a coordinated response to halt and reverse the recent upward trend in HIV and AIDS incidence. 

You would be responsible for:

Providing leadership and technical support to national efforts to scale up an integrated sexual and reproductive health and rights programme, with the view to increase demand for, access to and utilization of reproductive health information and services, including family planning, particularly in humanitarian emergencies.

Advocacy and Partnership

• Lead the national advocacy efforts with partners and facilitate adoption of an integrated approach to SRHR that takes as its foundation the reliable and consistent availability of planned RH commodities, including in humanitarian emergencies. This integrated approach should be complemented by a focus on issues of quality of care,  as well as of access and demand.
• Provide technical support and advice to strengthen the national health system for  increased access to, demand for and utilization of sexual and reproductive health services, including family planning. Demonstrated ability to provide technical advice and information on increasing the contraceptive prevalence rate, condom usage, and the effectiveness of national reproductive health commodities and logistics systems.
• Collaborate with the country office staff members to promote integrated approaches to improving sexual and reproductive and rights, particularly in areas such as: (i) HIV/AIDS prevention programmes; (ii) Adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights programmes; (iii)  Integrating SRHR with our Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and Sorcery Accusation Relation Violence (SARV) prevention programmes; and all of these in both development and emergency settings.
• Collaborate with other UN Agencies and development partners to promote and provide integrated technical support for sexual and reproductive health and rights within the country (particularly with WHO, UNAIDS, DFAT, Marie Stopes,  FHA PNG) and to carry out operations research and implement findings.
• Advocate with government and development partners for increased and sustained financing for sexual and reproductive health and family planning programming.

Capacity development and Technical Support

• Provide government and nongovernmental organization (NGO) counterparts with technical assistance and advice on strategic directions for strengthening the delivery, access to and quality of sexual and reproductive health services, including in humanitarian emergencies.
• Provide technical assistance to partners to ensure effective demand generation for sexual and reproductive information and health services, particularly for young people. 
• Build national capacities for contraceptive technology (including long acting methods) and logistics  planning and management, quantification and forecasting, as well as warehousing and distribution. Ensure close coordination and communicating with NDOH on stock availability, provide updates and accurate reports for UNFPA’s Last-Mile Assurance processes.
• Design and implement effective institutional and human resources capacity building  for RHCS system strengthening through developing and/or adapting existing training materials and manuals.
• Assist national partners and the government in the preparation of the National RHCS Supply Plan and in analysing and disseminating data on the status, movement and utilization of RH commodities.
• Provide technical support in the monitoring of the procurement of Reproductive Health Commodities to ensure uninterrupted flow of Reproductive Health Commodities.
• Provide technical leadership and support to national partners in setting up an effective procurement and supply chain management system for all SRH related  commodities, including the logistics management information system, in compliance with global UNFPA standards.
• Building partners capacity on the Minimum Initial Service Package (MISP) as part of UNFPA PNG’s response to humanitarian emergencies.
• Provide technical assistance to the government to develop mechanisms for sustained health systems strengthening and financing.

Evidence and knowledge development and dissemination

• Contribute to the identification, analysis and synthesis of technical knowledge and evidence-based information in sexual and reproductive health and rights.
• Coordinate the implementation of various surveys/data collection mechanisms on SRHR and RHCSs initiated by the office. 
• Undertake active environmental scanning in the area of SRHR in order to identify gaps and opportunities for timely UNFPA interventions.
• Assist to organize and participate actively in meetings and desk reviews and undertake monitoring missions to assess progress of all SRHR programme implementation, including appropriate substantive and administrative follow up actions.
• Collect, compile and share relevant data on family planning and RHCS, including those required to fulfill UNFPA Supplies reporting requirements
• Oversee, monitor and analyze on a continuous basis, substantive programme implementation and reporting, including financial reports, on all SRHR and RHCS related programmes.
• Assist in conducting operational research and programme evaluations, advocate for incorporation of results and lessons learned in the updating of strategies and approaches in order to improve the effectiveness of national programme implementation.
• Consolidate, document and disseminate good practices on SRHR, including family planning.
• Undertake any other assignments as may be given by the UNFPA Representative.

Qualifications and Experience 

Education:

Master’s degree in medicine, public health, pharmacy, supply chain management, social sciences of business or other related field.

Knowledge and Experience:

• 5 years of increasing responsibilities in managing SRHR or health programmes with direct experience relating to sexual and reproductive health, family planning, maternal health and supply management systems.
• Knowledge of supply chain management including forecasting, warehousing, distribution, transportation, logistics information systems and eLMIS.
• Health sector specific experience, particularly with public health systems in developing countries.

Languages: 

Fluency in English.

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,

Functional Competencies:

• Conceptual innovation in the provision of technical expertise
• Leveraging the resources of national governments and partners/building strategic alliances and partnerships
• Resource Mobilization
• Job knowledge/technical expertise and Results based management
• Adaptation/application of knowledge in different contexts
• Integration in a multidisciplinary environment

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.