MATERNAL HEALTH/FAMILY PLANNING (MH/FP) ANALYST- UNFPA at United Nations Population Fund - UNFPA

Background

The Nigeria Country Programme is managed through the Country Office in Abuja and the two decentralized offices in Calabar and Kaduna with a Liaison Office in Lagos (LLO). The Lagos Liaison Office is covering Lagos and Ogun states including other projects and satellite activities of the Organization in the South-West geo-political zone. The LLO works with Implementing Partners to support Maternal Health, Sexual and Reproductive Health (includes ASRH), Gender based violence programmes, and data collection and use including in humanitarian context. The LLO plays the coordination role in the zone and performs oversight functions, supporting the Abuja Office in resource mobilization, strategic planning and monitoring and evaluation.
The Organization is strengthening the delivery of supported programmes and its support to its partners in the states where it works to achieve results in an efficient manner.  To strengthen this process, and for UNFPA to keep its leadership role in the area of Family Planning, Maternal and Reproductive Health including Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health (ASRH), at the sub-national levels, the country office is looking for a Programme Analyst –Maternal Health/Family Planning (MH/FP) for its Lagos Liaison Office.
The Program Analyst (MH/FP) position will be based in the Lagos Liaison Office and would report to the Programme Specialist (RH) and Head of the LLO

Job Purpose

The Program Analyst (MH/FP) provides technical support for Family Planning and Maternal Health across the full range of the work of the LLO.

S/he analyses and assesses relevant political, social and economic trends and provides substantive inputs to project formulation, monitoring and evaluation, joint programming initiatives and State development frameworks. The Program Analyst guides and facilitates the delivery of UNFPA’s programmes by supporting the delivery and monitoring of results achieved during implementation.

S/he guides the development of methodologies as well as capacity development in FP/MH to ensure relevance, efficiency, effectiveness, sustainability, and impact of the work of UNFPA.  S/he works in close collaboration with the Country Office to ensure compliance with technical norms in line with international best practices and the rules and regulations of the United Nations.

S/he supports the States and other Implementing Partners to build capacity in Family Planning and Maternal Health at all levels of the health systems within the states.

Duties and Responsibilities

• In collaboration with State Government counterparts, NGOs and other partners, contributes substantively to the formulation and design of the country programme and its component projects in line with State Government priorities and according to UNFPA programme policies and procedures. Ensures quality of Maternal Health and Family Planning programme / project design incorporating lessons learned, newly developed policies and best practices and establishing appropriate execution mechanisms.
• Analyzes and interprets the political, social and economic environment relevant to population and development, reproductive health and gender, and identifies opportunities for UNFPA assistance and intervention. Keeps abreast of new policy developments and strategies analyzing policy papers, strategy documents, State plans and development frameworks, and prepares briefs and inputs for policy dialogue, technical assistance coordination, and development frameworks especially in the areas of Maternal health and Family Planning.
• Strengthens the implementation and  monitoring of Maternal Health and Family Planning programmes by establishing collaborative relationships with executing agencies, experts, State government counterparts and other UN agencies facilitating timely and efficient monitoring of project inputs and addressing training needs of project personnel.
• Help create and document knowledge about current and emerging issues and trends in Maternal Health, Family Planning and Reproductive Health Commodity Security by analyzing related programmes, projects, strategies, approaches and ongoing experience for lessons learned, best practices, and shares with management for use in knowledge sharing and planning future strategies.
• Assists advocacy and resource mobilization efforts of the Country Office by preparing relevant documentation, i.e. project summaries, conference papers, speeches, donor profiles, and participating in donor meetings and public information events with focus on Maternal Health and Family Planning.
• Support the LLO to ensure the scale up of the Family Planning and Maternal Health Programs especially with regards to strengthening systems at the state level for service delivery and demand creation.
• Provide technical support in collaboration with staff at the LLO and the Country Office on efforts at the sub-national level to analyze Maternal Health and Family Planning commodity systems to assure availability of family planning commodities and other life-saving maternal commodities and medicines.
• Support the strengthening of the health commodity logistics systems in line with priorities defined in the State and national Health Strategy document, and in line with national and international protocols and guidelines including but not limited to the National Reproductive Health Commodity Security Strategic Plan.
• In collaboration with other technical staff and government and NGO partners, provide support to national and state initiatives e.g. MSS, Volunteer Obstetrician scheme, Maternal Death Surveillance Scheme etc aimed at improving Maternal Health and Family Planning services to the populace.
• Work with other technical colleagues to support advocacy efforts on Maternal Health and Family Planning in collaboration with partners in order to facilitate the adoption of an integrated approach to SRH and holistic quality reproductive health service delivery to targeted beneficiaries.
• Actively participate in the development and updating of guidelines, standards, tools, manuals and approaches as required in the field of Maternal Health and Family Planning;
• Provide technical and programmatic support for Maternal Health and family planning related research, and identify, document, and disseminate lessons learned and best practices in these program areas.
• In conjunction with other technical staff at the LLO, provide support and guidance to Implementing Partners on program planning, implementation and monitoring of activities including state level  planning and reviews of AWP activities
• Prepare quarterly and annual reports on program implementation and financial status and provide technical support to IPs in the preparation of their Annual Work Plans (AWPs) for all the states and Partners supported by the LLO
• Provide partners with the technical backstopping, assistance and advice on the strategic direction for strengthening the delivery, access to and quality of maternal health and family planning services.
• Provide technical updates, training and mentoring for partners in relevant clinical and technical areas related to family planning and maternal health
• Conduct regular technical supportive supervisory and monitoring visits to project sites and locations of IPs in collaboration with other UNFPA staff and Partners to improve the quality of programming and service delivery.
• Perform any other duties and responsibilities assigned by the UNFPA Country Representative, Deputy Representative or the Head of Sub Office.

Work Relations

Within the LLO, the Program Analyst – MH/FP supports the Head of the LLO to facilitate the work of consultants and experts hired to support the work of the Office, establish and maintains collaborative relationships with counterparts in government, multi-lateral and bilateral donor agencies including the civil society to address emerging issues.  S/he would effectively influence counterparts from diverse backgrounds to jointly contribute to achieving UNFPA’s mandate. The Program Analyst is a substantive contributor to the programme team in the Office.

Internal contacts include the Representative, Deputy Representative, Assistant Representatives, the Country Office programme/ technical team while external contacts would include other UN agencies in-country, and counterparts and partners in country programme activities, including international and national NGOs and the Academia, amongst others.

Required Competencies:

Core competences:

• Commitment to UNFPA's Values and Guiding Principles;
• Developing People/Fostering Innovation and Empowerment/Performance Management;
• Team Work/Communication/Self-Management
• Strategic Thinking/Results Orientation and Commitment to Excellence/Decision Making;
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Learning

Functional Competencies:

• Results-based programme development and management
• Innovation and marketing of new approaches
• Leveraging the resources of partners/ building strategic alliances and partnerships
• Advocacy/ advancing a policy oriented agenda
• Resource mobilization

Required Skills and Experience

The ideal candidate should be a Nigerian National and should

• Have an Advanced University degree in Public Health, Reproductive Health, OBGNY, Community Medicine, Program Management or other related subject; Specific qualification in Midwifery and Family Planning is an added advantage
• Have a minimum 5 years of experience working in Maternal Health and Family Planning programmes in Nigeria is required
• Be familiar with national and sub-national initiatives to scale up and improve maternal health and family planning programs is required
• Have demonstrated experience in strategic programme management with strong technical knowledge of maternal health, family planning, and reproductive health in general
• Have proficiency in current Microsoft Office software applications and databases for health logistics management is desired,
• Have experience working with Government, International NGOs and the Civil Society in the area of maternal health and family planning would be an added advantage
• Have excellent organizational skills coupled with an ability to reach consensus; Leverage to work with government officials and ability to maintain neutrality and impartiality  among all stakeholders.