Job Description
The Position
UNFPA is the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency aims to achieve universal access to sexual and reproductive health and rights [SRHR] for all by ending unmet need for family planning, ending preventable maternal death, and ending violence and harmful practices against women and girls. 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 to accelerating progress towards realising the ICPD and SDGs in the Decade of Action leading up to 2030.
Afghanistan is grappling with a precarious health situation characterized by a fragile healthcare system and unequal access to services, particularly in rural areas. The challenges are multifaceted, including insufficient funding, heavy dependence on foreign aid, and transportation, a shortage of healthcare professionals, and limited access to quality healthcare. The repercussions are profound, with ongoing communicable disease outbreaks, unmet maternal and child health needs, and high rates of malnutrition contributing to substantial mortality and morbidity.
In addition, Afghanistan has faced significant challenges in achieving high immunization coverage due to ongoing conflict, insecurity, geographical barriers, and limited access to healthcare services, particularly in remote and conflict-affected regions.
Afghanistan remains one of the few countries where polio is endemic. Despite significant progress in polio eradication efforts, challenges such as vaccine hesitancy, inaccessible areas due to conflict, and security concerns continue to impede vaccination campaigns. However, concerted efforts by national and international health authorities have led to notable achievements in reducing polio cases in recent years. Afghanistan has also experienced recurring measles outbreaks in recent years.
Therefore, UNFPA is seeking candidates who transform, inspire, and deliver high-impact and sustained results; we need staff who are transparent, and exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them and who commit to deliver excellence in program results.
For this post, UNFPA is looking for a person with strong experience and a passion for managing maternal nutrition and immunization programming across the country.
Scope of work
Under the overall guidance of the Deputy Representative, he/she will directly report to the Maternal and Reproductive Health Consultant.
The National Maternal Nutrition and Immunisation Officer will provide a substantive contribution to the implementation of maternal nutrition and immunization programming to enhance maternal reproductive health and the humanitarian portfolios of the UNFPA Country Office. This will entail the identification of needs, programming, monitoring, reporting, and learning, as well as coordination. The incumbent will work closely and mainly with other RH and humanitarian team members but not exclusively, managing maternal health, quality of care services, family planning, psychosocial support, and adolescent health.
Assessment
Ensure immunisation and maternal nutrition areas are included in various humanitarian and development assessment initiatives, including multi-agency initial rapid assessment
Programme Implementation
Provide support in continuing the integration of maternal nutrition and immunisation interventions, including setting up key indicators, baselines and targets;
Maintain the mainstreaming of the maternal nutrition programming across RH, and humanitarian interventions;
Provide support in development of information and communication materials for high-level advocacy to promote evidence-based policy and programmatic actions for maternal nutrition and immunisation in the country as well as for public education and awareness generation purposes;
Provide technical assistance and training support for UNFPA and its partners on maternal nutrition and immunisation issue and how it is mainstreamed to the overall UNFPA programming;
Support the Polio Eradication (Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation / Global Polio Eradication Initiative GPEI) project in targeted provinces;
Monitoring, Reporting and Learning
Monitor implementation of UNFPA’s maternal nutrition and immunisation programming executed by implementing partners
Provide knowledge management support and products for the maternal nutrition and immunisation programme area, such as conducting literature reviews, data analysis, policy analysis, report and manuscript writing, audio visual publications, social media posts and keeping stock of emerging global and local literature
Provide substantial support through conceptualisation, proposal development, donors reports, and development of other relevant documents
Contribute to the development of innovative approaches/mechanisms for maternal nutrition and immunisation programming.
Coordination
Actively participate in the health and nutrition clusters as well as other relevant coordination mechanisms to share UNFPA’s maternal nutrition and Immunization programming in both humanitarian and development fora.
Actively participate in the RMNCAHiE WG to ensure maternal health issues are part of the main agenda.
Actively advocate for the integration of immunisation initiatives within the aforementioned coordination mechanisms. Highlight the critical role of immunisation in maternal and child health
Others:
Any other related tasks as may be required or assigned by the supervisor.
Education: Advanced (Master's) degree or equivalent in nutrition, public health, or/and midwifery, or medicine.
Knowledge and Experience:
Two years of qualifying experience; or a first-level university degree in combination with four additional years of qualifying experience in strategic planning and management of maternal nutrition prevention and response interventions as well as immunisation response may be considered in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Demonstrated networking and working experience with the key development partners and stakeholders.
Knowledge and understanding of UN/UNFPA humanitarian/development programming and operations and about UN common programming principles, including human rights-based approach, gender equality and capacity development (experience with UNFPA is an asset).
Excellent communication, facilitation and negotiation skills.
Demonstrated experience in working successfully as a member of the multidisciplinary team.
Ability to self-manage, emotional intelligence, empathy, team spirit, conflict management as well as negotiating skills.
Practical experience facilitating and training of staff and partners, preferably in maternal nutrition.
Language:
Fluency in Oral and Written English is required
Fluency in Oral and Written Dari/Pasthu is advantaged.
Required Competencies
Core Competencies:
· Achieving results;
· Being accountable;
· Developing and applying professional expertise/ business acumen.
· Thinking analytically and strategically.
· Working in terms/ managing ourselves and our relationship.
· Communicating for impact.
Functional Skill set:
· Advocacy/ Advancing a policy-oriented agenda.
· Leveraging the resources of national governments and partners/ building strategic alliances and partnerships.
· Delivering results based programme.
· Internal and external communication and advocacy for result mobilisation.
Values:
· Exemplifying integrity
· Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system
· Embracing culture diversity
· Embracing change
Impact of Results / Deliverables
Maternal nutrition programming with continuation of the integration within units of UNFPA country office;
Immunisation programming with continuation of the integration within units of UNFPA country office
Supported the Polio Eradication project in the targeted provinces
Developed strategy to incorporate immunisation activities in different UNFPA-supported humanitarian and development actions;
Reviewed and updated the Maternal Nutrition strategy
Contributed to the capacity building of community midwives and other health providers on maternal nutrition and immunsiation
Knowledge products for innovative approaches to maternal nutrition and immunisation.
UNFPA’s maternal nutrition and immunisation programming is visible in humanitarian and development fora.
Monitoring and progress control, including reporting requirements, periodicity format and deadline
The consultant will work closely with the other units in the UNFPA Afghanistan Country Office to carry out the duties, as detailed above. The consultant will provide a periodic report to the supervisor.
Supervisory arrangements
Under the overall guidance of the Deputy Representative, he/she will directly report to the International Midwifery Specialist.
Expected travel
The consultant will be based in Kabul. he or she may travel outside of Kabul as guided by the office.
Inputs / services to be provided by UNFPA or implementing partner (e.g support services, office space, equipment), if applicable:
The consultant will be responsible for arranging her/her own laptop and other working aid equipment. The office will provide office space.
Other relevant information or special conditions, if any:
The working arrangement will be 40 hours/week. The payment of the consultant will be made as per UNFPA IC policy. And s/he will receive a monthly payment upon submission of the timesheet.
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