Programme Coordinator (Obstetric Fistula Programme) Full-Time

Background Information

Organizational Location:

The Programme Coordinator (Obstetric Fistula Programme) post is under the overall guidance of the UNFPA Country Office Representative, reports directly to the Ministry of Health (MoH) (co-supervision): the UNFPA’s Sexual and Reproductive Health Programme Team Leader and the MoH’s Deputy National Director for Public Health.

Job Purpose:

The Programme Coordinator (Obstetric Fistula Programme), in close collaboration with the MoH, oversees, coordinates and monitors the implementation of the Programme “Promotion of Women and Girls’ Reproductive Health Rights through Prevention and Treatment of Obstetric Fistula (OF)”, and its components in line with national priorities and according to UNFPA policies and procedures.

Brief description of the of Programme:

UNFPA plays a key role in the area of Adolescents Sexual and Reproductive Health (ASRH) in Mozambique. The programme’s goal is to improve the well-being of girls and women living with obstetric fistula (OF) in Mozambique. As gender inequalities faced by women and girls living with obstetric fistula is at the center of the proposed programme, it will contribute towards closing the gender gaps through treatment and prevention. The programme has a duration of four years and is funded by the Government of Canada. The scope is nationwide, with specific focus in the provinces of Cabo Delgado, Nampula, Zambezia, Manica, Sofala and Maputo City. The programme is in line with national policies and strategies, in particular with the National Obstetric Fistula Prevention and Treatment Strategy (2012-2015- 2020) and the Mozambique RMNCAH Investment Case in the context of the Global Financing Facility (GFF). It focuses on childbirth complications within the context of sexual and reproductive health and rights – aiming to reduce the incidence and prevalence of obstetric fistula through a holistic and integrated approach. The Ministry of Health (MoH) led the development of the strategy with its four pillars in the areas of advocacy, prevention, treatment and social reintegration; the Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Action was specifically involved in the area of social reintegration.

The Programme has the following specific objectives:

• Increased knowledge of communities and families about sexual and reproductive health and rights, including Obstetric Fistula;
• Enhanced national capacity for treatment of Obstetric Fistula;
•  Enhanced health system enabling Obstetric Fistula referral and routine-based treatment; and
• Enhanced skills and agency of girls and young women treated/cured of Obstetric Fistula.

Main Tasks & Responsibilities

Coordination and monitoring of national programmes on Maternal and Newborn Health (MNH) and SRH.

• Promote and support MoH in the coordination and monitoring of key interventions for the reduction of Obstetric Fistula, as for example monitoring work conducted on partograms, emergency cesareans, delivery waiting places, blood transfusions;
• Provide technical support for planning, monitoring and evaluation of activities related with Obstetric Fistula, particularly ensuring a gender equality approach;
• To participate actively in meetings and undertake monitoring missions to assess progress of the Obstetric Fistula and maternal health programmes, implementation, including appropriate substantive and administrative follow-up actions;
• Provide support to the process of technical/annual and financial reports and reviews of the Obstetric Fistula programmes at MoH through the preparation of internal documents to assess progress of implementation;
• Undertake any other related assignments as may be given by the MoH and UNFPA in the area of MNH and SRH;
• Strengthen monitoring and evaluation systems regarding MNH and SRH targets;
• Contribute to the monitoring and evaluation and development of annual work plans for accelerating the reduction of maternal mortality;
• Contribute to the preparation of the country performance-based and results-driven annual and other reports;
• Contribute to the creation and sharing of knowledge by summarizing and documenting results, lessons learnt success and best practices, strategies and approaches to control maternal mortality and morbidity;

Policy, advocacy and resource mobilization

• Enhance political and social environment for Maternal and Newborn Health (MNH) and Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) including Fistula Programme;
• Ensure institutionalization of gender equality perspectives into MoH’s policy processes, such as in the elaboration of national plans;
• Provide technical leadership to MISAU to develop national plans in relation to MNH and SRH;
• Leverage resources for Maternal Neonatal and Child Health (MNCH) package implementation from governmental sources in order to gradually increase domestic contributions for MNH and SRH;
• To facilitate platforms of exchange and participation for civil society, development partners and private sector with national and provincial governments for MNH and SRH;
• To support MoH in the coordination and implementation of national activities related to obstetric fistula, in particular: a) Obstetric Fistula National Task Force; b) National Strategy for Obstetric Fistula (including planning, monitoring and evaluation / budgeting) and integration into the National Sexual and Reproductive Health Plan; c) National Monitoring System on Obstetric Fistula, and its integration into the National Health Information System (SIS);
• To advocate for integration of MNH and SHR strategies into Primary Health Care principles

Technical Support and Capacity Building

• Identify gaps and priority areas of work to reach universal coverage of Maternal and Newborn Health (MNH) and Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH), within the framework of Primary Health Care (PHC);
• Scale-up quality health services to ensure universal access to SRH, especially for family planning, skilled attendance at delivery and emergency obstetric and newborn care, ensuring linkages with HIV prevention and treatment;
• Address the urgent need for skilled health workers, particularly midwives;
• Ensuring a gender equality approach is part of MoH’s strategies to address MNC and SRH;
• Facilitate to increase the number of treated cases of Obstetric Fistula guarantying treatment of quality, and contributing to gradually upgrade the operating spaces to permanent treatment rather than campaign, in selected hospitals;
• To contribute on advocacy of implementing PHC principles to avert Obstetric Fistula per (a) reduction of early marriage and pregnancies, (b) encourage education of girls, (c) the importance of delivery within institutions, (d) recognition and early identification of obstetric complications to be channeled to the nearest maternities, particularly if late labor;
• To support the government in tackling the root causes of maternal mortality and morbidity, including gender inequality, low access to education–especially for girls–child marriage and adolescent pregnancy, obstetric fistula and post-partum depression; and
• Perform such other tasks as may be assigned by the supervisor within the field of his/her skills.

Qualifications and Experience

Education: Master’s degree in public health, social development and/or other related social science field is desirable.

Knowledge and Experience

• Health professional;
• At least 10 years of professional experience, including field experience and increasing responsibility in the area of international development including public health, preferably reproductive/maternal health;
• Recognized expertise in providing technical advisory role;
• Strong ability to produce demonstrable results;
• Demonstrated ability to network with partners (governments, academics, civil society) and the development community for evidence-based advocacy, coordination and resource mobilization;
• Familiarity with the work of the UN system and partners specifically related to maternal health;
• Proven knowledge of project management, RBM and human rights based approach;

Computer skills: Computer skills (Microsoft Office applications).

Language skills: Fluency in Portuguese and in English, spoken and written.

Core Competencies

• Achieving results;
• Being accountable;
• Ability to establish effective working relationships with program staff and partners;
• Able to work under pressure with a multisectoral and multicultural team;

Managerial Competencies

• Providing strategic focus;
• Engaging internal/external and stakeholders;
• Leading, developing and empowering people/creating a culture of performance;
• Make decisions and exercising judgment;

Functional Skill Set:

• Advocacy/ Advancing a policy-oriented agenda;
• Leveraging the resources of national governments and partners/ building strategic alliances and partnerships;
• Delivering results-based programme;
• Conceptual innovation in the provision of technical expertise;
• Integration in a multidisciplinary environment and in UN-Delivering as One work environment;
• Internal and external communication and advocacy for results mobilization.

UNFPA Work Environment

UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, teamwork, Embracing diversity in all its forms, integrity and a healthy balance of work and life. We are committed to maintaining our balanced gender distribution and therefore encourage women to apply. UNFPA promotes equal opportunities for all including persons with disabilities.