Programme Specialist, SRHR/MNH Strategic Information

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is the lead UN agency focused on sexual and reproductive health and rights. Established in 1969, UNFPA operates in over 150 countries and has a mission to ensure that every pregnancy is intended, every childbirth is safe, and every young person's potential is fulfilled. The organization is committed to advancing the rights of women and girls and promoting gender equality, with a focus on the most marginalized populations. UNFPA's Strategic Plan for 2026-2029 outlines its response to global challenges and aims to accelerate the implementation of the Programme of Action from the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.

Job Overview:
The Programme Specialist, SRHR/MNH Strategic Information will play a crucial role in leading the development and implementation of monitoring and evaluation (M&E) frameworks for UNFPA's maternal and newborn health (MNH) programs. This position is essential for ensuring that programs are evidence-based and data-driven, focusing on equity, quality of care, and cost-effectiveness. The incumbent will work closely with the MNH Team Lead and other stakeholders to enhance the resilience of health systems in response to global megatrends. The role involves strategic oversight of M&E frameworks, developing impact tracking methodologies, and ensuring high-quality reporting to donors. The Programme Specialist will also provide technical leadership in designing health surveys and strengthening data collection systems, thereby contributing to the overall mission of UNFPA to improve maternal and newborn health outcomes.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The key responsibilities of the Programme Specialist include:

• Leading the evolution of M&E frameworks for the MNH Fund and Safe Births Africa initiative, ensuring alignment with UNFPA's strategic goals.
• Developing sophisticated methodologies for impact tracking that measure improvements in maternal and newborn survival and wellbeing.
• Providing technical leadership in designing maternal and newborn health surveys and routine health information systems.
• Producing and reviewing reports and documents based on data analysis from various sources.
• Implementing rigorous data quality assurance processes and developing tools to track key MNH indicators.
• Collaborating with sustainable financing workstreams to ensure inclusive measurement frameworks.
• Supporting inter-agency efforts to prioritize high-impact interventions in national RMNCH strategies.
• Representing UNFPA in global technical MNH data partnerships and collaborating with implementing partners on M&E workstreams.
• Converting complex M&E data into high-level analysis for key stakeholders, including the UNFPA Executive Board and international financing institutions.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in Epidemiology, Public Health, Biostatistics, or a related social science field with a specialization in Maternal and Newborn Health. Additionally, candidates should have a minimum of 7 years of progressively responsible professional experience in M&E and measurement related to maternal and newborn health. A strong track record of technical leadership in M&E, experience in managing large-scale frameworks for multi-donor funds, and advanced knowledge of data systems and statistical software are essential. Candidates should also demonstrate the ability to align program monitoring with global strategic plans and the SDGs.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes an advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in a relevant field such as Epidemiology, Public Health, Biostatistics, or a related social science discipline. Specialization in Maternal and Newborn Health is particularly important, as it directly relates to the responsibilities of the role.

Experience:
Candidates should have at least 7 years of increasingly responsible professional experience in monitoring and evaluation, specifically related to maternal and newborn health. This experience should include a significant number of publications in the field, a proven ability to produce demonstrable results, and country-level experience in data systems strengthening and quality improvement. Familiarity with the maternal health landscape in Africa and experience working with regional health bodies is also advantageous.

Languages:
Fluency in English is required for this position, as it is the primary language of communication within UNFPA. Additionally, a working knowledge of French is highly desirable, particularly for supporting regional portfolios and collaborating with French-speaking partners.

Additional Notes:
This position offers an attractive remuneration package, including a competitive net salary, health insurance, and other benefits as applicable. UNFPA promotes a work environment that reflects values of gender equality, diversity, integrity, and a healthy work-life balance. The organization encourages applications from women, individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community, minority ethnic groups, indigenous populations, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups. Reasonable accommodations may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request to support their participation in the recruitment process. UNFPA is committed to ensuring equal opportunities in terms of appointment, training, compensation, and selection for all candidates.