Midwifery Specialist

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is intended, every childbirth is safe, and every young person's potential is fulfilled. Established in 1969, UNFPA operates in over 150 countries and has a mission to ensure that every individual has the right to make informed choices about their reproductive health. The organization focuses on four interconnected outcomes: ending unmet need for family planning, preventing maternal deaths, ending gender-based violence, and adapting to demographic changes. UNFPA is committed to gender balance and fostering an inclusive workforce, encouraging qualified female candidates to apply.

Job Overview:
The Midwifery Specialist position is crucial for providing technical expertise and program support to enhance UNFPA Afghanistan's midwifery and maternal health initiatives. This role involves designing, implementing, and ensuring the quality of midwifery-related interventions, which are essential for making maternal and reproductive health services accessible and of high quality in both humanitarian and basic human needs settings. The Midwifery Specialist will work under the supervision of the Programme Specialist for Reproductive Health/Family Planning, contributing to the improvement of midwifery practices, workforce capacity, and service delivery models in accordance with international standards and UNFPA priorities. The position is vital for maintaining life-saving reproductive and maternal health services and enhancing the quality and reach of midwifery services across UNFPA-supported programs.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Midwifery Specialist will be responsible for a variety of duties including: providing technical support for the design and implementation of midwifery and maternal health interventions; ensuring alignment of these interventions with international standards; supporting the implementation of the Minimum Initial Service Package (MISP) for reproductive health in humanitarian settings; contributing to the development of quality assurance mechanisms for maternal and reproductive health services; monitoring program implementation through field visits; collaborating with partners and stakeholders; and organizing capacity-building workshops for midwifery practitioners. The role also involves documenting best practices and lessons learned, contributing to program reporting, and supporting the development of technical guidance and training materials related to midwifery practice.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a registered midwife status along with an advanced university degree in Midwifery, Public Health, Maternal Health, or related health sciences. A minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible professional experience in midwifery, maternal health, or reproductive health programming is required. Experience in program implementation and technical support related to maternal and reproductive health services is essential, as is experience in strengthening midwifery services and health workforce capacity. Familiarity with humanitarian or crisis-affected settings is desirable, and experience working with international organizations, NGOs, or UN agencies is considered an asset. Strong analytical, coordination, and organizational skills are necessary, along with a willingness to travel to field locations where security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security permits.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes being a registered midwife with an advanced university degree in Midwifery, Public Health, Maternal Health, or related health sciences. This educational foundation is critical for understanding the complexities of midwifery and maternal health programming and for providing the necessary technical support and leadership in these areas.

Experience:
The position requires at least 5 years of progressively responsible professional experience in midwifery, maternal health, or reproductive health programming. This experience should include program implementation and technical support related to maternal and reproductive health services, as well as experience in strengthening midwifery services and health workforce capacity. Experience in humanitarian or crisis-affected settings is desirable, and familiarity with international organizations, NGOs, or UN agencies is an asset.

Languages:
Fluency in English is mandatory for this position, as it is essential for communication and documentation purposes. Additionally, a working knowledge of other official UN languages is desirable, which would enhance collaboration and communication with diverse stakeholders and partners in the field.

Additional Notes:
This position offers an attractive remuneration package that includes a competitive net salary, health insurance, and other applicable benefits. UNFPA promotes a work environment that reflects values of gender equality, diversity, integrity, and a healthy work-life balance. The organization is committed to ensuring gender parity and encourages women to apply, as well as 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 emphasizes equal opportunities in terms of appointment, training, compensation, and selection for all candidates, regardless of personal characteristics.