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

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.