Family Life Education (FLE) Coordinator

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is the lead UN agency focused on delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, 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 promote sexual and reproductive health and rights, particularly for women and girls. The organization works closely with various partners, including national governments and civil society organizations, to implement programs that address critical issues such as maternal health, family planning, and gender-based violence. UNFPA's strategic plan for 2023-2027 emphasizes three transformative results: ending preventable maternal deaths, fulfilling unmet needs for family planning, and eliminating gender-based violence and harmful practices. The organization is committed to strengthening national health systems and service delivery, particularly in the context of Fiji, where it collaborates with the Ministry of Health and Medical Services to advance health and rights for all individuals.

Job Overview:
The Family Life Education (FLE) Coordinator will play a pivotal role in leading the development and implementation of a revised, internationally aligned FLE curriculum for primary and secondary schools in Fiji. This position is crucial for enhancing teacher competency and providing appropriate resources to ensure effective delivery of the curriculum. The FLE Coordinator will be responsible for ensuring that the Ministry of Education's (MOE) FLE monitoring and evaluation plan is implemented effectively. This includes consolidating high-level policy and advocacy support for FLE through evidence generated on the success of its implementation, ensuring its institutionalization for sustainability, and supporting the planning and execution of capacity-building approaches for both in-service and pre-service teachers. The role also involves integrating FLE into the Fiji Education Management Information System to track teaching and learning outcomes, as well as ensuring programmatic linkages between FLE implementation and young people's access to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services through the health sector. The FLE Coordinator will facilitate synergies among various youth initiatives across multiple ministries and organizations, ensuring a cohesive approach to FLE in Fiji.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Family Life Education (FLE) Coordinator will have a comprehensive set of duties and responsibilities, including:

• Collaborating with MOE Primary officers for Healthy Living and Moral and Civic Education and Secondary Curricular officers to integrate FLE content into curricular documents for primary and secondary education.
• Leading the development of Teacher’s Guides and Student books for delivering FLE, with support from Family Planning Australia (FPA).
• Reviewing and proposing entry points for FLE integration in the existing learner assessment framework.
• Advocating for FLE within the learner assessment framework to influence the FLE committee.
• Developing proposals for the MOE regarding a teacher micro-credit scheme and offering FLE as a minor in the Bachelor of Education program.
• Drafting and submitting proposals for building teacher competencies upon MOE approval.
• Identifying technical, human resource, and programmatic needs for implementing teacher competence-building proposals.
• Leading the adaptation and finalization of the FLE Monitoring and Evaluation plan, integrating school-based FLE indicators into the Education Management Information System.
• Coordinating with the Ministry of Health and Medical Services to strengthen linkages between schools delivering FLE and SRH service delivery at the community level. 1
• Supporting MOE Primary and Secondary Curricular officers by contributing to meeting agendas, stakeholder presentations, and preparing monthly reports on subcommittee activities. 1
• Facilitating stakeholder dialogue and policy advocacy on FLE as planned.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an Advanced University Degree (Master’s) in Education or Social Sciences, along with at least 2 years of relevant work experience in health promotion, particularly focusing on adolescents and youth sexual and reproductive health (SRH), Family Life Education (FLE), comprehensive sexuality education, gender equality, and human rights. Alternatively, candidates with a Bachelor’s Degree in relevant disciplines such as Education, Family Health, Health Research, Health Promotion, or Gender Equality, along with 4 years of experience, will also be considered. Candidates should have a strong understanding of Family Life Education/CSE issues in the context of Fiji/Pacific, experience in designing and evaluating health promotion interventions, and familiarity with high-level policy dialogue and advocacy.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes an Advanced University Degree (Master’s) in Education or Social Sciences, or a Bachelor’s Degree in relevant fields such as Education, Family Health, Health Research, Health Promotion, or Gender Equality. The emphasis is on candidates who have specialized knowledge and skills related to health promotion and education, particularly in the context of adolescents and youth.

Experience:
Candidates should have at least 2 years of relevant work experience in health promotion, specifically focusing on adolescents and youth SRH, Family Life Education, and gender equality. Experience in designing, monitoring, and evaluating health promotion interventions, as well as familiarity with participatory stakeholder workshops, is essential. Previous experience with education curriculum review and alignment with international guidelines is highly desirable.

Languages:
Fluency in written and spoken English is mandatory for this position, while proficiency in Fijian is considered an advantage. Candidates should be able to communicate effectively in both languages, particularly in the context of educational and health promotion materials.

Additional Notes:
This position is a full-time role with a focus on developing and implementing educational programs in Fiji. The contract duration and seniority level will be determined based on the selected candidate's qualifications and experience. UNFPA is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion within its workforce and encourages applications from individuals belonging to underrepresented groups, including women, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and persons with disabilities. The organization offers a supportive work environment that values gender equality and healthy work-life balance.