The Position:
The Maternal Health (MH)/Emergency Obstetric and Neonatal Care (EmONC) Specialist will be based at the Sudan Country Office (CO), working closely with the UNFPA team, government entities, and implementing partners to strengthen maternal and neonatal health services. S/he will provide technical support for the planning, implementation, reporting monitoring, and evaluation of SRH/EmONC projects and contribute to EmONC and MH assessments, research, and activity monitoring. The specialist will also support health system strengthening efforts, ensuring high-quality maternal health service delivery in humanitarian and development contexts. S/he will report directly to the SRH Team Lead and work in close collaboration with relevant UNFPA units, government counterparts, implementing partners, and other stakeholders.
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 International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) and Sustainable Development Goals (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.
Since mid-April 2023, the ongoing conflict, along with previous conflicts dating back to 2003, has led to Sudan becoming the world’s largest internal displacement crisis. Approximately 11.4 million people – or one in every five individuals in Sudan – are now displaced. This figure includes 8.6 million people displaced since mid-April 2023 and an additional 2.75 million people displaced prior to this date. Around 3 million people have fled to neighboring countries, including the Central African Republic, Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia, South Sudan and Uganda. 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 Program results.
Job Purpose:
The MH/EmONC Specialist will provide technical leadership in maternal health and EmONC services, ensuring high-quality programming and policy implementation in Sudan. The role includes designing, implementing, and monitoring maternal health and EmONC projects, conducting assessments and research, and strengthening the capacity of national health systems and frontline health workers to deliver high-quality care. S/he will also work closely with partners to integrate maternal health into broader SRH, gender, and humanitarian response programs, ensuring the sustainability and effectiveness of UNFPA-supported interventions.
You would be responsible for:
Technical Support & Program Implementation:
Support the design, implementation, and monitoring of MH/EmONC programs, ensuring alignment with national strategies and UNFPA priorities. Ensure that work plans are prepared and signed in a timely manner, oversee the implementation of implementing partners (IPs), and ensure accurate and timely reporting. Provide technical support to implementing partners to improve maternal and newborn health services, including EmONC, antenatal care, postnatal care, and family planning. Conduct MISP, EmONC and MH assessments to identify gaps and improve service delivery at health facilities. Strengthen the health system response to maternal health emergencies, including referral systems, quality of care, and health workforce capacity-building. Facilitate the work of consultants, advisers, and experts, and establish and maintain cooperative relationships with government counterparts and civil society organizations, including community-based groups, women and youth-led organizations to address emerging SRHR, gender equality, and adolescent and youth SRH issues. Contribute to the achievement of Program results by supporting Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) with a focus on Emergency Obstetric and Neonatal Care (EmONC), including men and boys’ engagement, SRH interventions for persons with disabilities, and other marginalized groups. Work with implementing partners to design, plan, implement, and monitor Program initiatives related to rights-based quality SRH service delivery, including adolescent and youth SRH, EmONC, family planning, sexually transmitted infections/ HIV, and management of sexual and gender-based violence. In addition to providing technical support and capacity building when required to IPs. Report on the progress of SRH projects in the targeted areas. Lead and actively participate in the formulation of midwifery component work plans using relevant state-of-art knowledge, research and statistical data. Contribute to the effective coordination of midwifery, including identifying gaps and proposing practical solutions in human resource planning and management of midwifery workforce; midwifery education and training; midwifery professional association development and midwifery standards and regulation).Data Analysis & Evidence-Based Programming:
Conduct/support operational research and assessments to generate evidence for improved MH/EmONC service delivery. Develop data-driven recommendations to improve maternal and newborn health outcomes. Analyze technical, policy, programmatic and substantive reports from the field on maternal and new-born health and midwifery and recommend required follow-up actions; Prepare white papers, briefings and materials for evidence-based policy dialogue on midwifery workforce training and management at the regional country level; Provide inputs to content for visibility of UNFPA’s work and achievements on sexual and reproductive health and rights, including for development of briefs, reports and social media.Capacity Building & Health System Strengthening:
Design and implement training programs for health workers on maternal health, EmONC, and SRH services. Strengthen the capacity of national and sub-national health authorities to integrate maternal health services into broader health programs. Support the development and dissemination of clinical guidelines, protocols, and training materials. Contribute to the implementation of effective knowledge management strategies including the dissemination of national guidelines, protocols and Information Educations and Communication (IEC) materials for improved RH and family planning service delivery.Monitoring, Evaluation & Reporting:
Monitor the implementation of maternal health and EmONC interventions, ensuring the quality and effectiveness of service delivery. Track program indicators and contribute to UNFPA’s reporting obligations on maternal and newborn health. Document and share best practices and lessons learned from program implementation.Advocacy, Partnership & Resource Mobilization:
Engage with government counterparts, NGOs, and other partners to strengthen maternal health policies and programs. Advocate for increased investment in maternal health and EmONC services, including in humanitarian settings. Contribute to resource mobilization efforts by developing proposals and donor reports. Participates in relevant workshops and events, enhancing UNFPA mandate on SRHR and works to ensure that SRHR issues are incorporated in national development plans and frameworks. Ensure proper emergency preparedness and contingency plans are in place in the areas covered by the office. Provide strategic, technical, policy and programme leadership to the regional office, country offices, programme countries and regional stakeholders in the area of midwifery workforce education, regulation, and associations; Manage inputs and provide support to the implementation of the regional SRHR and Health Systems programmes, ensuring responsiveness to national priorities on midwifery; In collaboration with the Resource Mobilization and Partnerships unit, identify potential funding opportunities, including from public and private sectors Develop proposals for funding that are innovative and demonstrate potential for high impact. Carry out any other duties as may be required by UNFPA leadershipQualifications and Experience Education:
Advanced degree in Public Health, Medicine/Health Sciences or other related discipline.
Knowledge and Experience:
Minimum five years of experience in maternal and newborn health, EmONC, or related fields. Proven experience in program/project management, including designing, implementing, and monitoring health interventions. Strong expertise in maternal health service delivery, including EmONC, antenatal/postnatal care, and family planning. Experience in research, data analysis, and evidence-based decision-making. Knowledge of the health system in Sudan and experience working with government counterparts and international organizations. Strong understanding of humanitarian and emergency health response. Languages: Fluency in English and Arabic is requiredRequired Competencies:
Values:
Exemplifying integrity, Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system, Embracing cultural diversity, Embracing changeCore Competencies:
Achieving results, Being accountable, Developing and applying professional expertise/business acumen, Thinking analytically and strategically, Working in teams/managing ourselves and our relationships,Functional Competencies:
Advocacy / Advancing a policyoriented agenda, leveraging the resources of provincial and local governments and partners/building strategic alliances and partnerships; Delivering results-based programmes; Internal and external communication and advocacy for results mobilization. Project management leadership.Managerial Competencies (if applicable):
Providing strategic focus; Engaging internal/external partners and stakeholders; Leading, developing and empowering people, creating a culture of performance; Making decisions and exercising judgmentCompensation and Benefits:
This position offers an attractive remuneration package including a competitive net salary plus health insurance and other benefits as applicable.
UNFPA Work Environment:
UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, diversity, integrity and healthy work-life balance. We are committed to ensuring gender parity in the organization and therefore encourage women to apply. Individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community, minority ethnic groups, indigenous populations, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups are highly encouraged to apply. UNFPA promotes equal opportunities in terms of appointment, training, compensation and selection for all regardless of personal characteristics and dimensions of diversity. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is at the heart of UNFPA's workforce - click here to learn more
Disclaimer:
Selection and appointment may be subject to background and reference checks, medical clearance, visa issuance and other administrative requirements.
UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process and does not concern itself with information on applicants' bank accounts.
Applicants for positions in the international Professional and higher categories, who hold permanent resident status in a country other than their country of nationality, may be required to renounce such status upon their appointment.