National Post: Family Planning/Reproductive Health Commodity Security (FP/RHCS) Specialist, Abuja at United Nations Population Fund - UNFPA

The Position

• The Global Programme to enhance Reproductive Health Commodities Security (GPRHCS) is a part of the UNFPA’s global efforts to improve access to and utilization of family planning commodities worldwide. The Global programme works with national governments to strengthen or establish secure, reliable, cost-effective, and sustainable systems to ensure supply of and demand for a wide range of reproductive health commodities: including contraceptives and condoms.  With support from the GPRHCS, the UNFPA Country Office in the Federal Republic of Nigeria is working closely with Federal, States and Local Government counterparts in support of government-led efforts to all aspects of in-country demand for Family Planning services.
• How you can make a difference: 
• UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, is the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency. UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled. UNFPA’s strategic plan (2022-2025), focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and end gender-based violence and harmful practices. UNFPA works to advance gender equality and women’s empowerment and to address the causes and consequences of GBV, especially its effects on sexual and reproductive health. UNFPA works to address gender-based violence in both development and humanitarian contexts, where the risk of violence against women and girls intensifies. 
• UNFPA Nigeria commenced the implementation of the 9th Country Programme (CP) (2023-2027) of which the four main outputs are : (a) strengthened data systems; (b) strengthened capacities of national and subnational health systems to deliver quality sexual and reproductive health information and services; (c) strengthened capacity of critical actors and systems the provision of life and dignity-saving interventions in humanitarian settings; (d) strengthened capacities and knowledge of critical actors to address discriminatory gender and social norms. 
• In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff, who embody these international norms and standards, and who will defend them courageously and with full conviction. 
• UNFPA is seeking candidates that transform, inspire and deliver high impact and sustained results; we need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them and who commit to deliver excellence in programme results.

Job Purpose

• Under the overall guidance of the UNFPA Resident Representative in Nigeria and the direct supervision of the Sexual Reproductive Health Coordinator, the Family Planning/Reproductive Health Commodity Security (FP/RHCS) Specialist has the responsibility for leadership, normative and programmatic guidance of the UNFPA’s FP strategy, acceleration plan and National FP strategies/commitments. Working within a large and complex Country Office (CO) environment, including interventions related to Humanitarian Response, the FP/RHCS specialist will coordinate the effective management of the UNFPA programme in the areas of FP and RHCS. She/he will provide oversight for the management of the UNFPA Supplies Partnership, for the effective and efficient implementation of the programme and for the delivery of its objectives: availability and choice, strengthened supply chains and Last Mile Assurance (LMA), increased government commitment, and operational effectiveness and efficiency. Through substantive analysis and assessment of political, social and economic trends, the FP/RHCS specialist will contribute to project formulation and evaluation, joint programming initiatives and national development frameworks. She/he will monitor results achieved during implementation, guiding the appropriate application of systems and procedures, and developing enhancements as required. She/he will also work closely with different Nigerian Federal and State Ministry of Health Departments, Local Governments, NGOs and partners to enhance Reproductive Health Commodity security (RHCS).

Main Tasks and Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and technical support to national efforts to Family Planning program and RH commodity security, to design the health commodity supply logistics in line with the health priorities defined in the National Health Strategy, and the national FP/RHCS plans.

Advocacy, Partnership and Resource Mobilization

• Lead the national advocacy efforts with partners and facilitate adoption of an integrated approach to SRH in general and specifically to FP/RHCS that takes as its foundation the reliable and consistent availability of planned RH commodities. This integrated approach is complemented by a focus on issues of quality of care, improvements to the national environment as well as questions of access and demand.
• Collaborate with the country office staff members to promote integrated approaches to improving reproductive health, particularly in areas such as: (i) Condom programming under HIV/AIDS programme; (ii) Improving access to contraceptives by unmarried young people; (iii) Repositioning family planning.
• Collaborate with other UN Agencies and development partners to promote and provide integrated technical support for FP/RHCS within countries (particularly with WHO, UNICEF, DFID, USAID, CIDA) and to carry out and implement findings of joint assessment of critical maternal health drugs.
• Identify potential new donors and develop proposals to mobilize resources for the programme.

Capacity development and Technical Support

• Provide technical support and advice to strengthen the national and sub-national health systems for an increased accessibility, demand creation and use of RH commodities to all individuals. This will entail a demonstrated ability to provide technical advice and information on how to increase contraceptive prevalence rate, condom usages, and effectiveness of national logistics systems.
• Build national capacity in contraceptive technology (especially long acting methods and DMPA SC) and logistics planning and management (quantification and forecasting, identifying warehouses and setting-up/schedule transportations, identify suitable routings, communicate with FMOH on stock availability, provide update accurate reports, etc.) 
• Coordinate the RH supplies quantification, planning, distribution, and commodity reporting processes required by donors and stakeholders.
• Technical leadership and support to national partners in setting up an effective procurement and supply management for all health commodities in compliance with national standards and norms.
• Provide support for an improved coordination, organization and management of the Logistic Management Information System (LMIS), with RHCS mainstreamed, of the public health facilities and ensure national ownership and readiness to take over this responsibility
• Provide support to the implementation of NAVISION e-ELMS software through capacity building and sustain monitoring and supporting supervision.
• Assist national partners in analyzing and disseminating data on the movement and utilization of commodities.
• Provide technical assistance to ensure the effective functioning of the FP/RHCS Committee and monitor the procurement of Reproductive Health Commodities to ensure uninterrupted flow of RHCS.
• Contribute to the development and formulation of national policy and plan of action in the areas of FP/RHCS.
• Coordinate in Completion and Quality Assurance: Oversee the finalization and quality assurance of the yearly supply chain overview report. Ensure that the data is accurate, comprehensive, and effectively disseminated to relevant stakeholders.
• Lead LMA In-Country Assessments: Support in the organization, planning, execution, and reporting for LMA in-country assessments. Ensure that these activities are well-coordinated and effectively implemented.
• Provide technical and operational support for the national roll-out and scale-up of Last Mile Assurance processes.
• Establish and maintain a harmonious working environment; lead the team through the process of change management; promote communication; encourage innovations; strengthen team building through active participation and interaction at all levels; and foster staff engagement, development and empowerment; promote an ethics-based approach in the Partnership towards the management of human and financial resources.

Evidence and knowledge development and dissemination

• Contribute to the identification, analysis and synthesis of technical knowledge and best practices in FP/RHCS.
• Coordinate the implementation of the annual GPRHCS survey.
• Assist to organize and participate actively in meetings and desk reviews and undertake monitoring missions and data dissemination to assess progress of the strategic plan implementation, including appropriate substantive and administrative follow-up actions. 
• Oversee, monitor and analyze on a continuous basis, substantive programme implementation, including preparing substantive programme and financial reports on the national FP/RHCS Strategic Plan.
• Undertake any other assignments as may be given by UNFPA Representative.

 Qualifications and Experience

Education

• Masters degree in medical sciences, public health, pharmacy, procurement, logistics, supply chain management or equivalent education. 
• Professional and logistics qualifications in procurement an asset. A course in logistics, essential drugs, and MIS is a plus.

Knowledge and Experience

• Minimum of 5 years experience in increasing responsibilities at the national level in SRH ideally, public sector pharmaceutical supplies management of which 3 years experience relating to health and logistics systems and management of family planning programmes. 
• Experience in public sector pharmaceutical program management at national level, especially in policy & management, Selection, Access, Quality Assurance and Rational Drug Use is strongly desired.
• Extensive knowledge of Family Planning, supply chain management, forecasting, warehousing and distribution, transportation, logistics information systems and eLMIS.
• Significant public procurement and supply management experience related to the Health Sector (pharmaceuticals and non-pharmaceutical medical supplies), and other funding mechanisms emphasizing donor coordination/harmonization and in challenging situation.
• Senior-level of Family Planning programming and analytical experience in the coordination and implementation of family Planning activities
• Health sector-specific experience, including: Family planning programming, Experience with Public Health systems in developing countries
• Demonstrated ability to work with governments, network within the academic and development community.
• Excellent written and oral communications skills. Fluency in English is required. 

Language: 

       Proficiency in both written and spoken English is required.   

Required Competencies

 Values 

• Exemplifying integrity
•  Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system
•  Embracing cultural diversity
•  Embracing change

Core Competencies

• Achieving results
•  Being accountable
•  Working in teams/managing ourselves and our relationships
•  Communicating for impact
• Commitment to UNFPA 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

• Conceptual innovation in the provision of technical expertise
• Leveraging the resources of national governments and partners/building strategic alliances and partnerships
• Job knowledge/technical expertise and Results based management
• Adaptation/application of knowledge in different contexts
• Integration in a multidisciplinary environment

Managerial Competencies: 

• Strategically positioning UNFPA programmes. 
• Providing conceptual innovation to support programme effectiveness. 
• Generating, managing and promoting the use of knowledge and information 
• Providing a technical support system. 
• Strengthening the programming capacity of implementing partners. 
• Facilitating quality programmatic results
• Internal and External relations and advocacy for results mobilization.