PLEASE NOTE: candidates who have previously applied for this position do not need to apply again.
The Position:
The UNFPA Regional Office for East and Southern Africa established a Multi-Country Middle-Income Countries (MIC) Technical Hub, based in Johannesburg, to strengthen the efficiency and effectiveness of its presence and programme support in the region. The MIC Hub provides unique technical expertise and programme advisory services to Country Offices based in a select group of middle income countries in Southern Africa, i.e. Botswana, Eswatini, Mauritius, Namibia, Seychelles and South Africa.
How you can make a difference:
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), reaffirms the relevance of the current strategic direction of UNFPA and focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and end gender-based violence and harmful practices. These results capture our strategic commitments on accelerating progress towards realizing the ICPD and SDGs in the Decade of Action leading up to 2030. Our strategic plan calls upon UN Member States, organizations and individuals to “build forward better”, while addressing the negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on women’s and girls’ access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, recover lost gains and realize our goals.
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:
The position of Socio-Economic Policy Advisor/ Head of MIC Hub in the East and Southern Africa region will lead the Middle Income Country (MIC) Technical Hub comprised of a multi-discplinary Expert Team and will report to the Deputy Regional Director. S/He, as part of the team, will also provide tailored technical, policy, programme support and guidance to the selected middle-income countries in an integrated, responsive and coordinated manner.
You would be responsible for:
Under the overall guidance of the ESARO Senior Management Team and in close collaboration with the Management teams of the abovementioned Country Offices located in selected MICs, the incumbent will lead socio-economic policy development and key relationships for the following responsibilities within the Middle Income Country Technical Hub:
Policy and Programme Development Tailored Capacity Development Partnerships and Sustainable Financing Leadership and Effective management1. Policy and Programme Development
Ensure UNFPA supported programmes are aligned with and support the strengthening of (i) health financing and delivery systems; (ii) relevant social systems and (iii) broader public financial management system and reforms underway in MICs, and through this help to build strong links between the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Development Planning (and equivalents), and others where needed, for ICPD related policies, strategies and programmes; Serve as a key technical resource to the Country offices and to line Ministries through tailored evidence-based advocacy and policy arguments around the economics of health care, sustainable financing, investment cases for SRHR; Advise and collaborate in the development, implementation and evaluation of technical cooperation programmes in the areas of sustainable financing in alignment with efficiency and equity goals and geared towards strengthening of relevant national systems required to advance the ICPD agenda, including, Universal Health Coverage; Assist the country and regional institutions with preparation, implementation and review of annual budgets, resource tracking and accountability,2. Tailored Capacity Development & Partnerships
Foster multisectoral partnerships and assist in policy dialogues for action within the region to further the advancement of the ICPD Programme of Action; Advise and provide technical cooperation to Ministries of Health and other relevant line Ministries to strengthen countries' institutional capacity in the design, implementation and monitoring of health and related financing policies, to increase financial risk protection, reduce out-of-pocket expenditures and to ensure efficiency gains in the use of resources, purchasing arrangements and service delivery; Collaborate with the UNFPA country offices, other UN agencies, multilateral and bilateral agencies and international financial institutions in the development of programmes required to strengthen national capacity in the areas of health economics, sustainable financing for SRHR, economic evaluation and research, investment cases and costing of relevant strategies and plans, as well as monitoring cost-effectiveness of public policy interventions required to reduce health and income inequalities constraining progress towards the ICPD Agenda; Contribute to broader SRHR research and analytical work within and beyond the health sector, as requested by the Country office managemen3. Partnerships and Sustainable Financing
Promote and develop collaborative actions with national governments, the UN system, multilateral and bilateral partners, professional and academic organizations to promote the development, implementation, monitoring and reporting of integrated responsive and tailored programme models to further advance the ICPD agenda; Provide support to the UNFPA Representative and/or Heads of Offices in partnership efforts required to mobilize the scale of sustainable financing required to achieve the desired results in respective countries.4. Leadership and Effective Management
Supervise professional staff of the MIC Hub and ensure that all staff under her/his supervision have a clear understanding of their individual responsibilities and accountability to the team in accordance with UNFPA's established Policies and Procedures; Provide leadership to the preparation of the MIC Technical Expert Team’s Annual Work Plan, budget requirements, monitoring and annual reports; Promote the mobilization of domestic and external resources in support of the Country Offices’ programmes and MIC Expert team’s targeted programmes as applicable; and Provide oversight to the effective coordination of the planning and delivery of integrated policy, programme and technical support and advice to Country Offices within the region including transitioning MICs.5. Undertake any other relevant actions as may be requested by the Regional Director, Country Representative and/or Head of Offices in support of country programme development and implementation.
Qualifications and Experience Required:
Education:
Master’s degree/ Advanced university degree in public health, medicine, demography, economics, international development, public administration, management or other related fields.
Knowledge and Experience:
10 years of increasingly responsible professional experience in management and leading development programmes and inclusive policy actions relevant to addressing the socio-economics dimensions of SRHR, including health economics, health financing, social policy and financing, social protection, and related areas. Understanding of UNFPA's mandate in particular sexual and reproductive health, rights-based family planning, gender based violence, population dynamics; population data, etc. Established engagement within global and regional professional networks related to the portfolio; Strong track record of producing demonstrable results at regional and country offices;This vacancy is archived.