National Consultant: Reproductive Health Commodity Security (RHCS) Consultant, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

The Position:

The consultant will be based at the Federal Ministry of Health, Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Lead Executive Office.

The consultant will report to the  Programme Specialist SRHR at UNFPA Country Office.

How you can make a difference:

UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled.  UNFPA’s strategic plan (2022-2025), reaffirms the relevance of the current strategic direction of UNFPA and focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and end gender-based violence and harmful practices. These results capture our strategic commitments on accelerating progress towards realizing the ICPD and SDGs in the Decade of Action leading up to 2030. Our strategic plan calls upon UN Member States, organizations and individuals to “build forward better”, while addressing the negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on women’s and girls’ access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, recover lost gains and realize our goals.

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 that transform, inspire and deliver high impact and sustained results; we need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them and who commit to deliver excellence in programme results.

Job Purpose:

The consultant will support the Federal Ministry of Health in planning, implementing, and monitoring Reproductive Health Commodity Security (RHCS) activities at the Federal level, ensuring systematic assessment of results and providing technical assistance.

You would be responsible for:

• Coordinate joint interventions between UNFPA and the Ministry of Health (MOH) through proposal development, work plan preparation, implementation, and reporting.
• Strengthen Federal RHCS forums/networks focusing on Commodity Security (CS) to ensure it remains a priority.
• Conduct field visits, participate in review meetings, and prepare status and progress reports, identifying challenges and recommending corrective actions.
• Oversee physical inventory stock counts, logistics indicators assessments, and related surveys.
• Monitor and ensure quarterly reporting of contraceptive stock status by the MOH and partners.
• Support coordination efforts with other UN agencies, Partners and Ethiopian Pharmaceutical Supply Services (EPSS) in RHCS and supply chain management system activities.
• Build capacity at the Federal MOH in forecasting, inventory control, storage, and distribution of RH commodities, including contraceptives.
• Optimize commodity distribution and facilitate information exchange on RH commodities.
• Document and share lessons learned and success stories for improved programming and advocacy.
• Provide technical support for policy and program development in RHCS and supply chain management.
• Regular monitoring missions to assess RH commodities' stock status and storage conditions.
• Technical support to Federal MOH in logistics information management, forecasting, monitoring, and evaluation.
• Investigate reported stock-outs and stock imbalances and take immediate corrective actions.
• Ensure effective implementation of Last Mile Assurance (LMA) assessments, quarterly stock status reviews and the national roll-out of the Supply Chain Assessment and Supportive Supervision (SCAS) tool.
• Support the Federal MOH on supply chain systems optimization and digitization efforts to ensure end-to-end visibility of programme supplies.
• Provide technical support to the MOH on the monitoring and evaluation of RMNCH domestic resource mobilization efforts
• Participate in evaluation and periodic technical reviews of the program.
• Represent UNFPA in national forums/Technical working groups pertaining to RHCS
• Work closely with Pharmaceutical & Medical Device and Maternal and Child Health Lead Executive Offices of MOH.C

Qualifications and Experience: 

Education:  

• Master’s degree in Pharmacy, Public Health, or related Health Sciences.
   

Knowledge and Experience: 

• Master’s degree in Pharmacy, Public Health, or related Health Sciences.
• Minimum of two years of experience in RHCS program planning, implementation, and management.
• Extensive knowledge of commodity logistics, warehouse management, forecasting, and quantification of RH commodities.
• Strong teamwork, communication, and analytical skills.
• Proficiency in current office software applications.
• Familiarity with the Ethiopian Public Health System is a distinct advantage.
   

Languages: 

Fluency in English; knowledge of Ethiopian regional languages and another UN language is an asset.

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,

Compensation and Benefits:

Please note that grade mention in the consultancy is for reference purpose  keeping in view the generic requirement of the consultancy and final lumpsum renumeration will be determined upon evaluation of requirement and candidate's profile. Apart from fee, an individual consultant is not entitled to any right, benefit, payment or compensation that is not expressly contained in the individual consultant contract.

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 diversity and gender parity in the organization and therefore encourage women and person with disabilities to apply. 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.