The Position:

Under the overall guidance of the UNFPA Representative and the supervision of the Deputy Representative of UNFPA in Malawi, the Programme Specialist SRHR is part of the Country Office’s senior staff, leads and supervises the work of the Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) Team in the UNFPA Country Office. S/he provides strategic direction, management and coordinates UNFPA’s efforts on sexual and reproductive health, ensures the active participation of UNFPA Malawi in support of the SRHR efforts of the government of Malawi. S/he will develop, coordinate, implement, and monitor national SRHR strategies and programmes; support advocacy efforts and resource mobilisation; formulate, implement, monitor and evaluate all SRHR activities being undertaken by UNFPA in Malawi on maternal health, family planning and HIV prevention using an integrated approach. 

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 9th Country Programme (CP) in Malawi 2024 - 2028 is guided by Malawi Vision 2063, the human capital development agenda of the medium-term implementation framework (MIP-1), the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD), and the UNFPA Strategic Plan, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for Malawi (UNSDCF). The 9th CP prioritizes the health and well-being of adolescent girls, by improving access to adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights, increasing the agency and empowerment of adolescents to reduce gender-based violence and harmful practices, including child marriage, and to strengthen HIV prevention, among others. 

The Programme Specialist for SRHR, NOC, in Malawi analyzes SRHR trends and the policy environment in Malawi to inform strategic decision-making relating to maternal health, family planning and HIV prevention. S/He is responsible for strategic planning, programmatic and progress reports using a results based approach, on progress, and achievements of SRHR supported programmes and associated projects of UNFPA Malawi.  S/He ensures coherence with agreed national and international planning frameworks, including the Malawi Vision 2063 and relevant national development frameworks, related national SRHR sectoral policies and strategies, UNFPA Strategic Plan, UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF). 

The Programme Specialist SRHR will oversee the work of the SRHR Unit as well as programme associates, consultants, advisors, and experts. S/He establishes and maintains collaborative relationships with counterparts in government, multi-lateral and bilateral donor agencies and civil society to address emerging issues. S/he must effectively influence counterparts from diverse backgrounds to contribute to achieving UNFPA’s mandate. S/He provides oversight and coordination of SRHR team members and ensures a strategic, integrated approach across all UNFPA-supported interventions. The Programme Specialist SRHR is expected to lead strategic planning exercises, guide programmatic alignment with national and UN frameworks, and contribute to high-level engagement and resource mobilization efforts.

A. Strategic Planning, Programme Management, and Coordination

• Oversees the SRHR programme of UNFPA in Malawi, including providing strategic direction, leadership and supervision to programme analysts, officers, and consultants contributing to programme coherence, performance monitoring, evaluation, and the documentation of approaches, models lessons learned and innovations.
• In collaboration with Government of Malawi, NGOs and other partners lead the formulation, strategic alignment, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of SRHR interventions of UNFPA in Malawi.
• Works in partnership with the Government of Malawi and implementing partners to develop and design quality programmes that aim to improve maternal health, reduce the unmet need for contraceptives and HIV prevention, in line with Government priorities and according to UNFPA programme policies and procedures.
• Coordinates the development of the SRHR Annual Work Plan by the unit in conjunction with the implementing partners, monitors and reports on progress made with programme implementation  
• Ensure quality of programme/project design, monitor and gather evidence, document models, lessons learned, that can be used to inform policies,  promising practices for scaling up. 

B. Coordinate SRHR-related planning, budgeting, and reporting exercises, ensuring coherence with the Country Programme and donor commitments.

• Provide technical and managerial support to the Government and NGO partners in the implementation of the programme, including periodic technical reviews as well as programme evaluation exercises.
• Coordinate SRHR financial planning, budgeting, monitors project expenditures and disbursements, supports and ensures timely financial reporting, supports asset management in coherence with UNFPA and donor policies, and procedures.
• Oversee project implementation establishing collaborative relationships with executing agencies, experts, government counterparts and other UN agencies facilitating timely and efficient delivery of project inputs and addressing training needs of project personnel. 
• Facilitate internal coordination within UNFPA units (e.g. Gender, Youth, M&E, Operations) to ensure integration of SRHR across the programme portfolio.

C.  Policy Engagement and Technical Leadership

• Analyse and interpret the political, social and economic environment relevant to sexual and reproductive health and identify opportunities for UNFPA assistance and intervention. 
• Provide substantive inputs to ensure SRHR is integrated in national development frameworks and sectoral strategies.
• Initiate and support policy dialogue to advance the ICPD agenda and sexual and reproductive health rights.
• Ensure the availability and use of technical information for planning and programming.

D. Representation and partnership

• Represent UNFPA in relevant national, subnational, and UN interagency forums, technical working groups, and coordination platforms.
• Build and maintain partnerships with government institutions, civil society, academia, and development partners.
• Advocate for UNFPA’s mandate and contribute to positioning SRHR within broader health and development agendas.

Required Qualifications and Experience 

Education: 

Knowledge and Experience: 

• Minimum of five (5) years of SRHR with a focus on maternal health, contraception and , HIV programming advocacy work and capacity development.
• Demonstrated experience in SRHR advocacy, policy and programme development, and working in collaboration with government and civil society. 
• Demonstrated experience in coordinating/managing a multi-disciplinary team of staff, experts, and consultants and providing strategic leadership in complex programme environments.
• Experience in programme/project management including experience in large multi-sector projects, designing and appraising proposals and actively liaising with relevant and potential project partners. 
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, negotiation, and managerial skills required. Self-starter, proactive, passion for the issues.
• Proven ability to develop and implement effective resource mobilization strategies and campaigns.
• Excellent written and oral communications and editing skills in English; 
• Field experience is an asset.

Languages: 

Fluency in English; knowledge of other official UN languages, is desirable.

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:

Managerial Competencies:

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.