Job Description

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 an International Consultant to support the UNFPA country office, in the development and roll out of the PSS (Psychosocial Support)- RH (Reproductive Health) integration SOP. 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. 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. 

The Standard Operating Procedures are aimed at providing guidance in standardizing Psychosocial Support Services for women and girls in the Family Health Houses (FHHs) in Afghanistan that are supported by UNFPA. The SOPs are aligned with the Client - centered approach that aims at allowing the service seeker to take lead in their healing process. 

Providing RH and PSS services under one roof makes it easy for women to seek psychosocial support on various issues of concern. The PSS services will leverage on the fact that FHHs are already established through community acceptance and support to ensure easy access for women and girls.

The SOP is to be designed to ensure that service providers deliver quality PSS services that are effective and responsive to the needs of women and girls. The PSS - RH integration SOP is a technical guidance document that aims to ensure that women and girls receive high quality psychosocial support services. The developed document will guide Psychosocial Support Services in all Family Health Houses (FHHs) where UNFPA and implementing partners are piloting psychosocial support and reproductive health service integration. PSS-RH integration programming is a new initiative in Afghanistan and requires coordination with the RH Unit and Area Offices. 

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. 

Responsibilities: 

Working remotely but under the direct supervision of the UNFPA MHPSS Specialist, Afghanistan the Consultant will be responsible for the following duties:

1) Conduct a rapid situational analysis of the current services provided via PSS-RH integration in Family Health Houses (FHH) to determine the functionality of the current model being implemented.

2) Ensure the PSS-RH integration SOP is in line with available global guidance that adheres to IASC Guidelines and UNFPA’s Minimum Standards.

3) Produce a Final version of the PSS- RH SOP. The SOP to be clear, concise, technically sound, and suitable for submission to donors and implementation at FHHs with implementing partners. Major tasks here will include:

Ensure a consistent style and format throughout the document.

Produce and proof-read the final product to ensure it is complete and ready to be formatted and printed.

Some basic graphic design work may be necessary.

4) Provide technical support for the roll out of PSS-RH integration SOP in Family Health Houses (FHH) through a validation workshop.

Qualifications and Experience: 

Education:

Advanced degree with specialization in areas such as social work, psychology, public health, law/human rights, international relations, or a related field.

Experience working under minimum supervision and tight deadlines

Knowledge and experience:

At least five years of experience in the fields of SRH is essential. Knowledge and experience in mental health/ psychosocial support (MHPSS) programming is an advantage

Excellent understanding of human rights and the survivor-centered approach.

Mother-tongue level of proficiency in English (spoken and written)

Outstanding writing skills, with ability to conceptualize, synthesize, and compose in a style that appeals to a variety of audiences.

Strong research skills.

Computer literate (able to use MS Windows, Zoom, office applications, etc.); Graphic design skills are an added advantage.

Monitoring progress control, including reporting requirements:

Progress will be monitored on a weekly basis, with updates shared electronically against the terms of reference and deliverables as per initial agreement.

Inputs/services to be provided by UNFPA or implementing partner (e.g. support services, office space, equipment):

The consultant will be working remotely and is expected to have access to required equipment (computer, wi-fi, etc.) at their own expense.

Other relevant information:

The working arrangement will be 40 hours/week 

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Disclaimer: 

UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Fraudulent notices, letters or offers may be submitted to the UNFPA fraud hotline http://www.unfpa.org/help/hotline.cfm

In accordance with the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations, persons applying to posts in the international Professional category, who hold permanent resident status in a country other than their country of nationality, may be required to renounce such status upon their appointment.