Job Purpose:

ORGANIZATIONAL SETTING: The UNFPA Angolan is currently implementing its 9^th Country Programme Document or CPD 2024-2028 to accelerate the Three Transformative Results, namely zero preventable maternal deaths, zero gender-based violence and harmful practices, and zero unmet needs for family planning. Globally UNFPA just launched its new Strategy for Reproductive, Maternal and Newborn Health and Wellbeing 2025-2030, with four strategic pilers: Commit, Deliver, Empower, and Leverage.

To support the CPD implementation, the CO signed a financial agreement with the Norway Embassy /Government in October 2024 for the project “Strengthening Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in 5 provinces in Angola (Cunene, Malanje, Bié, Namibe and Luanda)”. This four years’ project, dedicated to adolescent girls and young women, seeks to explore innovative strategies to reduce preventable maternal deaths and increase the coverage of family planning / contraceptive services by using the Menstrual Health Management (MHM) as the entry point. Specifically, this Norway-funded initiative aims to reduce maternal mortality from post-partum hemorrhage (PPH) by 50% through a pilot / assessment study of PPH bundled interventions and capacity development of health professionals on the new WHO-FIGO-ICM PPH guidelines, as well as exploring other high-impact strategies towards achieving this objective. Additionally, the project will facilitate reactivation and strengthening of the Maternal Mortality Reduction Committees in targeted provinces and community mobilization efforts to address social and gender norms that limit the realization of the sexual and reproductive rights of girls and young women.

In this context, the purpose of this consultancy is to provide technical assistance to the Country Office in the project implementation within the broader assistance to planning, implementation (management), monitoring and reporting of the planned activities under “Quality SRH services” component of the Country Programme, especially under “reduction of preventable maternal deaths” and with focus on the targeted provinces for the Norway project. To this end, the IC hired will bring his/her capacity to integrate the main project components with a Sexual and Reproductive Health integration using the gender lens to improve the women and girls’ and women’s capacities on bodily autonomy, and support the reduction of maternal mortality, especial those caused by the PPH.  Although the consultancy will focus on managing the Norway-funded project (component of reduction of Maternal Mortality), UNFPA seeks to leverage it to make a national-level impacts. 

You would be responsible for:

The consultant will be responsible to provide specific technical assistance to the achievement of the expected results of the Norway-funded project (Maternal health/ SRH component) in line with the UNFPA Strategy for Reproductive, Maternal and Newborn Health and Wellbeing 2025-2030 and CPD, specifically under CPD output of quality of SRHR services. 

The consultant will also support the UNFPA articulation and advocacy with Ministry of Health, implementing partners, Provincial health Cabinets, Committees on Maternal mortality, community/religious leaders, and health service providers, in achieving these results. The consultant will work closely under the technical supervision by the Assistant Representative (direct supervisor) and overall guidance from the Representative, and in collaboration the focal point for the Norway project (Gender, Humanitarian, and Youth national officer) and other programme officers/specialists – Population and Development Specialist, Empowering Girls National Project coordinator, KM associate, and the Communication and partnerships officer to ensure the holistic vision needed in undertaking the tasks. 

Main partners for this technical assistance is Ministry of Health (DNSP) and provincial health departments. 

Description of services, activities or outputs 

Under the overall guidance of the UNFPA Representative and day-to-day technical supervision by the Assistant Representative, the IC contractor will perform the following activities and outputs. 

Output 1: Reduced maternal deaths in five targeted provinces by technically supporting the implementation of the Norway-funded initiative. 

Activities: 

• Support the planning, implementation and monitoring, reporting of PPH assessment study in targeted provinces in collaboration with the International and National coordinators; act as a Secretariate for the Steering committee of the study. 
• Support the replication of the Training of Prevention, diagnostic, and treatment of PPH using the new WHO-FIGO-ICM guideline issued in October 2025 at the provincial level, with focus on logistical and administrative supports. 
• Support PPH study data collection phase in the field in five targeted provinces (17 health facilities) together with the national coordinator and SRH supervisors. 
• Facilitate in-country missions of the International Study Coordinator 
• Support the dissemination phase of the PPH study 
• Develop a draft advocacy strategy and its plan for the Country Office to accelerate the reduction of maternal mortality based on the evidence. 
• Keep track of results obtained from replication of the PPH training, and use it as an advocacy tool to develop a more sustainable mechanism scale it up to all the health professionals involved in maternal and newborn health in Angola. 

Deliverables: 

• Final data collection tools are available with the final (tested) study protocol 
• Agenda and minutes of the Steering committee meetings are available 
• Monthly progress reports documenting the training efforts, progress on the PPH assessment study, and other key activities agreed with the supervisor. 
• A document summarizing advocacy strategies for the CO to reduce MMR based on the evidence from the PPH study (once the final report will become available). 

Output 2: Strengthened capacity of health professionals to manage Emergency Obstetric and Neonatal Care with focus on hemorrhage prevention and AGYW.

Activities: 

• Technically contribute to mapping of the service delivery points of Emergency Obstetric and Neonatal Care (basic and comprehensive) 
• Lead the planning, and monitoring of the training of 100 health professionals facilitated by EMONC trainers (yearly target for the Norway project) in 5 target provinces to provide quality Emergency Obstetric and Neonatal Care and in other provinces planned under CPD/ workplan 2026. 
• Coordination with national/ provincial authorities to deliver above activities. Provide all the logistic and admin supports to implement the capacity development sessions. 
• Propose a sustainable mechanism of capacity development (low dose, high-frequency training) for PPH and EMONC, as well as a mechanism for post-training supervisions. 

Deliverables: 

• A mapping of EmONC (basic and comprehensive) is available for 5 targeted provinces 
• An initial planning document available (related to this activity) including the strategies to effectively roll out the training, looking at the sustainability in the future.
• Monthly reports that include the progress/result achieved, challenges, and lessons learned regarding the capacity development of health professionals on EmONC 

Output 3: Strengthened community mobilization and sensitization to contribute to reduction of preventable maternal deaths, comprehensive sexuality education for adolescents, and access to family planning. 

• Technically support planning/preparation, implementation and monitoring sensitization sessions on sexual and reproductive health to women with focus on Obstetric and Neonatal care /reduction of MMR and sexual and reproductive health, and early pregnancy prevention, engaging traditional and religious/ community leaders and key actors (in coordination with other programme officers of UNFPA) 
• Support the CO’s efforts in expanding the adolescent-friendly health services to accelerate prevention of adolescent pregnancies, reduction of unmet needs, and Prevention of HIV and other STIs. 
• Assess the status of provincial committees on maternal deaths (initial needs assessment) and propose strategies to activate/ strengthen the capacity in data collection and monitoring to reduce maternal and neonatal deaths. 

• Deliverables: 

• A detailed planning document of above-mentioned activities (including when, who, how, and monitoring plan) 
• A report on initial needs assessment of five provincial committees of maternal deaths audit and prevention with recommendations on capacity building. 
• A report on capacity development of the provincial committees on data collection, audits, and reporting of maternal deaths. 

• Output 4: a real-time or semi real-time monitoring system is established to trace maternal health and other SRH key indicators at the provincial level (in coordination with the Population and Development Specialist) 

• Provide technical inputs to the implementation of a real-time monitoring system model to provide updated information on maternal health key indicators and monitor the total number of maternal deaths and other key SRH indicators in targeted provinces.
• Deliverables: 
• A draft list of key performance indicators related to maternal and neonatal health, and family panning 
• Monthly reports documenting the process of setting up above-mentioned monitoring system, including advocacy meetings, challenges, and recommendations 

Other specific activities: 

• Participate in programmatic and operational meetings related to the project and Sexual and Reproductive Health/ Quality of services 
• Provide support to the UNFPA to monitor, monthly, the programmatic and financial implementation of the Norway-funded project for the Maternal and Neonatal Health component 
• Work with Implementing Partners (IP) to follow up the work plans and timeframes for UNFPA programme.
• Assist monitoring and reporting on the key performance indicators (CPD and Norway-funded program) including inputs to donor reports. 
• Provide substantive inputs to donor reporting (Norway and Country Office Annual report/ milestone indicators) 
• Provide specific technical support and assures quality of the project, as deemed appropriate.

Maintain up to date knowledge on the national norms, policies, and strategies related to Maternal and Neonatal Health /SRH and ensure that programmatic activities comply with the national the national quality standards and guidelines. 

Delivery dates:

Monthly reports with specific milestones should be submitted at the end of the month. In addition to the monthly reports, submit specific deliverables mentioned below by the end of Month 1, 3 and 6. 

Month 1: 

• A detailed work plan for the consultancy, including strategies to effectively achieve the target indicators, is developed and agreed with the supervisor. 
• Final data collection tools for PPH study and a draft study protocol 
• Ethics committee’s application (draft) developed 

Month 3: 

• Final PPH study protocol and data collection tools 
• A report on needs assessment of provincial committees on maternal deaths and recommendations 
• A report on the consultancy’s involvement / support provided to the mapping of basic/comprehensive EmONC (reported as part of the monthly report) 
• Inputs provided to the Norway project’s donor report (April) 

Month 6: 

• Final PPH assessment study report available 
• Final report reporting on the deliverables, challenges, lessons learned, and recommendations to the office linked to the specific outputs listed above. 
• A consolidated report of EMONC and PPH training implemented, results achieved, challenges and opportunities, and sustainability strategies 

Knowledge, qualifications and Experience: 

• Minimum 2-3 years of increasingly responsible professional experience in public health, project management, social sciences, or other related fields relevant to sexual and reproductive health, maternal and neonatal health, reduction of maternal deaths, and HIV prevention, etc. 
• Practical experience in design, monitoring and evaluation of development projects.
• Experience working in collaboration with government, development partners, civil society organizations, private sector, and youth-led organizations, on issues affecting adolescents & youth.
• Proven ability to effectively collaborate with team members to achieve demonstrable results.
• Highly motivated, proactive, able to work independently with proven ability to exercise sound judgement and initiative, working in harmony with people from different backgrounds and cultures.
• Strong interpersonal, organizational and communication skills;
• Capacity and availability to provide comprehensive supports in the field – including logistics and administrative supports- to project activities and management of a project. 
• Familiarity with UNFPA’s mandate, policies and procedures, and experience in programme and/or technical assistance with the UN System and other international development organizations.
• Proficiency in current office software applications (Word, Excel, Power Point). 

• Excellent written and oral communications skills both in Portuguese and English 

  Education:  

Advanced degree in health, education, population, demography, project management and/or other related social science discipline. 

Languages: 

Fluency in English and Portuguese 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,

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. 

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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.