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
Programme Implementation
Monitoring, Reporting and Learning
Coordination
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:
Language:
Required Competencies
Core Competencies:
Functional Skill set:
Values:
Impact of Results / Deliverables
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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