UNFPA Ghana: National Programme Officer

Within the context of UNFPA’s efforts aimed at alleviating poverty and improving people’s lives, and under the overall supervision of the Representative, the NPO substantively contributes to the effective management of UNFPA activities in enhancing access to quality reproductive health information and services.

Category: ICS 9/NOB
Organizational Unit: UNFPA Country Office
Duty Station: Accra Ghana
Duration: One Year Fixed-Term Appointment Initially

She/he will contribute to enhancing national capacity to mobilize and obtain social and political support for national policies and programme sin reproductive health/rights. He/she analyzes and assess relevant political, social and economic trends and provides substantive inputs to project formulation and evaluation, joint programming initiatives and national development frameworks

With an overall focus on access to quality reproductive health services, the NPO-RH undertakes the following:

In collaborating with Government counterparts,technical advisers, NGOs and other partners, contributes substantively to the formulation and design of the country programme and its component projects in line with Government priorities and according to UNFPA programme policies and procedures with focused on RH (including RHCS and Obstetric Fistula) issues. Ensures quality of RG programme/project design incorporating lessons learned, newly developed policies and best practices and establishing appropriate execution and monitoring mechanisms and systems

Ensures the integration of RH/RR components in such UN system-wide process such as CCA, UNDAF, Millennium Development Project and MDGs monitoring Report. Assist in ensuring the prioritization of RH in Swaps, health sector reforms and programme of work, National development frameworks such as the GSDA and similar collaborative efforts
Analyze and interprets the political, social and economic environment relevant to reproductive health and right and gender and identifies opportunities for UNFPA assistance and intervention in the area of RH/RR. Keeps abreast of new policy development frameworks and prepares briefs and inputs for policy dialogues, technical assistance coordination and development frameworks in RH and related areas

Analyzes and reports on progress of RH programme and component projects in terms of achieving results, using existing monitoring an evaluation tools and introducing new mechanisms and systems; identifies constraints and resource deficiencies and recommends corrective actions. Monitors RH projects expenditures and disbursements to ensure delivery is in line with approved project budgets and to realize targeted delivery levels
Expedites and coordinates project implementation by establishing collaborative relationships with executing agencies, technical experts, government counterparts and other UN agencies, Facilitating timely and efficient delivery of RH programme inputs and addressing training needs of project personnel
Helps create and document knowledge about current and emerging trends and issues in RH/RR by analyzing programmes, projects, strategies, approaches and ongoing experience for lessons learned, best practices, and shares with management for use in knowledge sharing and for planning future strategies
In collaboration with Government counterparts, NGOs and other partners, provide technical support by analyzing and assessing relevant political, social and economic trends and provide substantive inputs to project formulation to ensure that obstetric fistula (prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and reintegration) activities are fully implemented and integrated into RH programmes
Provides technical support and advice to strengthen the national health system 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
Leads the national advocacy efforts with partners and facilitates adoption of an integrated approach to SRH in general and specifically to 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
Provides technical assistance to the preparation and implementation of the country action plans in ensuring that contraceptives and other RH commodities are available (in time and in adequate quantities) to women and men, when needed. Cooperate with and support implementing partners in analyzing RH commodity systems
Assists advocacy and resource mobilization efforts of the Country Office by preparing relevant documentation on RH/RR issues, i.e. project summaries, conference papers, speeches, donor profiles and participating in donor meetings and public information events
Undertake other programme-related duties as required by the Country Office
The National Programme Officer should also have:
The ability for advocacy and advancing a policy oriented agenda
A track record in innovation and marketing of new approaches
Integrity, commitment and respect for diversity
Skills to manage relationships, communicate and develop people
An ability for analytical and strategic thinking and results orientation

Required Skills or Experience

Preferably, advance university degree in medicine or masters degree in public health or related qualifications at masters level
Additional Courses in Reproductive health, logistics, essential drugs, health system strengthening and financing, and MIS are a plus
Minimum of ten (10) years with at least five years specific experience in the formulation, monitoring and/or evaluation of projects/programmes in population and reproductive health, public health or in a related social science domain
Proven technical skills in the establishment of norms and tools for reproductive health
Knowledge and practical experience in the operationalization and management of integrated SRH programmes, following a rights-based/gender equity approach

Experience in operational/interventional research in SRH
Training skills to organise and conduct workshops on all aspects of SRH, including, safe motherhood and HIV/AIDS
Ability to function effectively in a team and dedication to multidisciplinary collaboration
Fluency in English, Knowledge of an additional UN language, preferably French would be desirable
Ability to write clearly and concisely
Knowledge of computer systems and applications
Ability to work under pressure with minimal or no supervision

How To Apply

Application supported by relevant curriculum vitae (preferably completed UN P11 Form) with three referees, contact telephone/fax numbers, E-mail address and photocopies of other supporting document should be forwarded to the:

UNFPA Representative
United Nations Population Fund
P. O. Box GP 1423
Accra

NB: All envelopes containing application should bear the title of the post applied for.

Women are encouraged to apply. Successful candidate should be ready to assume duty at short notice.

Offer valid till: 08 Apr, 2011