Technical Adviser job Vacancy, Tuesday 8, Fevruary 2012

VACANCY NO.: Job ID 1923

CLOSING DATE: 6 March 2012 (5.00 p.m. New York time)

POST TITLE: Technical Adviser, Reproductive Health/Maternal Health

CATEGORY: ICS-12

DUTY STATION: Bangkok, Thailand

POST TYPE: Non-Rotational

POST NUMBER: 35560

DURATION: 1 year fixed-term initially*

ORGANIZATIONAL UNIT: Asia and the Pacific Regional Office

ORGANIZATIONAL SETTING:

The Technical Adviser post is located in the Asia and the Pacific Regional Office of UNFPA, based in Bangkok, and is under the overall supervision of the Regional Director and reports directly to the Deputy Regional Director. S/he is the principal adviser at the regional level for integrated technical and programme advice on reproductive health/maternal health (RH/MH). The Technical Adviser works in an integrated manner with the technical and programme staff in the RO, under the coordination of the Deputy Regional Director.

JOB PURPOSE

The Technical Adviser post provides strategic technical and programmatic leadership for the region in RH/MH to ensure that the RO, SRO and COs remain abreast of the Fund’s policy and programme policies as well as current thinking and academic advance in a given substantive areas affecting the ICPD Programme of Action and the MDGs. S/he maintains primary responsibility for coordination of provision of technical assistance and programme support to the countries of the region in RH/MH, including with UNFPA headquarters and among inter-agency and other external partners. S/he analyses regional as well as sub-regional trends and contributes to strategic action in response of these, contributing to the monitoring of UNFPA substantive areas being firmly placed within national development frameworks and programmes, including the achievement of the MDGs and SG’s Global Strategy for Women’s and Children’s Health and within humanitarian and fragile country contexts.

Responsibilities of the Technical Adviser include: to support the elaboration of the UNFPA strategic and business plans in the region; to identify new and emerging needs and new delivery modalities for technical guidance and support; to develop and maintain technical partnerships in the region; and to ensure that technical knowledge is updated, generated, collected and disseminated for effective technical, capacity building and policy dialogue.

In all activities, s/he works within an inter-disciplinary team providing integrated programme and technical support to the region. S/he also liaises with other units, such as the Programme and Technical Divisions and the UNFPA thematic/technical networks, ensuring the timeliness, adequacy, relevance and quality of technical support to UNFPA programmes and operations.

The primary roles of the Technical Adviser are:

A. Strategic technical development, monitoring and oversight, B. Quality control of the technical support and capacity development C. Evidence and knowledge development and dissemination D. Management and coordination of knowledge networks E. Technical representation

MAJOR ACTIVITIES/EXPECTED RESULTS:

A. Strategic technical development, monitoring and oversight

 Provide technical and related programme leadership, management advice and strategic support and guidance to the region, in RH/MH, including for emergency preparedness, humanitarian assistance, recovery and transition in collaboration with technical and programme staff in the RO and SRO and with COs and HQs;  Identify and provide analysis/evidence based advice in RH/MH, on UNFPA’s comparative, substantive role and specific contribution in the changing development agenda, and participate in policy dialogue;  Contribute to the development and implementation of an integrated strategy, as appropriate, for the delivery of technical assistance and programme support in the region;  In the area of RH/MH, manage substantial inputs and provide support to implementation of a regional programme, grounded in sound substantive bases and responsive to region’s and countries’ priorities;  Contribute to the substantive elaboration of UNFPA Strategic Plan and Business Plan and to its implementation in the region;  Contribute to the development, implementation and monitoring of regional strategies in the region;  Identify and analyze trends, threats and risks in RH/MH that may affect the ICPD agenda and MDGs and UNFPA’s work within the region;  Scan the environment in the region to identify tendencies in RH/MH, and ensure that they are appropriately addressed at the regional and/or sub-regional levels;  Identify requirements for and contribute to the development of new or updated policies, positioning, frameworks, guidance, standards, instruments and tools;
 Participate in the UNFPA and external technical network in RH/MH, maintaining communication and feedback loops on all substantive work; and  Coach and manage junior professional staff and associates, direct expert consultants and facilitate working groups and task teams.

B. Quality control of technical support and capacity development

 Advise the COs on the implementation and proper application of UNFPA policies, strategies, guidelines and tools on substantive matters in the region, ensuring consistency and coherence in addressing priorities for UNFPA;  Ensure that state-of-the-art thinking and research is integrated within the work of the regional and country offices and partnership networks;  Review products of technical support at key stages of UNFPA, UN, and national development planning exercises, including advise management on clearance for final draft CPDs;  Analyze technical and programmatic and substantive reports from the field and recommend required follow-up actions; Organize or contribute to regional and inter-country training activities in RH/MH for capacity

 development of COs/national/regional counterparts;  Support the regional adaptation of training materials, manuals and tools in RH/MH, as required, and ensure their availability and promote their use for capacity development;  Contribute to the development and implementation of a regional integrated technical delivery strategy to strengthen capacities in the region, and guide the management of this system;  Support the development of (sub) regional institutional capacities for delivering high-quality technical support in select areas of UNFPA’s mandate;  Monitor the quality of the technical support received at the country level, in the area of expertise, for effective policy dialogue and programming;  Initiate, develop, strengthen and monitor substantive and intellectual regional partnerships in RH/MH, including for South-South technical support to countries and for the implementation of the regional programme;
 Contribute to providing guidance to COs to include South-South cooperation in the development of Country Programmes; and  Liaise with respective counterparts in TD, PD and other ROs to identify opportunities for South-South cooperation in the region and with other regions.

C. Evidence and knowledge development and dissemination

 Play a key role in building up, coordinating and monitoring the regional knowledge platform in their areas of expertise and competency;  Contribute to developing a mechanism to share technical skills and knowledge within and among programme countries and/or other regions in RH/MH;  Facilitate and help maintain and make accessible data bases on best practices, partnerships and consultant rosters and help ensure their accessibility;  Collect, analyze and synthesize information/data and experience on programme priorities to be used in regional and global advocacy;  Lead the analysis and synthesis of substantive trends, emerging needs and research findings in the region in order to produce new, cutting edge technical knowledge;  Prepare white papers, briefing and materials for evidence-based policy dialogues at regional level, provide similar support at the request of country offices;  Disseminate and promote the use of state-of-the-art technical knowledge, evidence, lessons learned, and success stories and ensure their use to improve the effectiveness of UNFPA operations.  Monitor and analyze reports on humanitarian, economic, political and social factors in development and management of population and development programmes;  Collect, analyze and synthesize information/data and experience on programme priorities to be used in regional and global advocacy and for resource mobilization;  Contribute to the advocacy efforts to advance the ICPD agenda and the attainment of MDG targets and indicators at the regional level; and  Contribute evidence-based and knowledge sharing in the area of work, and regional experiences of working with UN-wide frameworks and instruments related to the new aid environment.

D. Management and coordination of knowledge networks

 Coordinate overall provision of technical support to the country offices in the region in RH/MH;  Develop and co-ordinate the substantive elements of partnerships and collaboration in RH/MH, with other UN agencies, including in the context of the UNDG, particularly with the regional technical arms of these agencies, as well as with regional institutions;  Identify sources of technical knowledge among institutions and consultants; and  Establish and maintain relationships with institutions in the region.

E. Technical representation

Represent UNFPA on substantive issues in the region and elaborate UNFPA’s substantive  regional and global perspectives in RH/MH;  Participate in policy dialogue, and advocate for substantive issues in international, inter-governmental, U.N., and other policy and technical meetings and fora;  Collaborate on substantive issues with UN agencies, academia, research and training institutions, think tanks, centers of excellence, professional societies in the region; and  Act as focal point for inter-agency working groups in RH/MH.

Carry out any other duties as may be requested by the Regional Director and the Deputy Regional Director. 

WORK RELATIONS:

External partners include UN agencies, including their regional teams; donor and programme countries; regional and international organizations and counterparts on substantive issues including Centers of Excellence, IGOs, Economic Commissions, NGOs, Academia, and Research Institutions, professional associations, and international experts, in developing a wider network of technical experts and institutions in the region to provide technical support to countries.

Internal partners include regional and sub-regional programme and technical staff; UNFPA country offices programme and technical staff; Programme and Technical Divisions; and the UNFPA thematic/technical networks, in ensuring integrated programme and technical support in line with the needs of countries.

CORE COMPETENCIES:

• Commitment to UNFPA's Values and Guiding Principles; • Developing People; • Personal Leadership and Effectiveness; • Building and Managing Relationships;

FUNCTIONAL COMPETENCIES:

• Developing and implementing conceptually innovative approaches to the provision of technical expertise - conceptual innovation; • Leveraging the resources of national governments and partners, and building strategic alliances and partnerships - building strategic partnerships; • Job knowledge / technical expertise - expert knowledge of own discipline; • Adaptation and application of knowledge / innovations in different contexts; • Integration in a multidisciplinary environment.

JOB REQUIREMENTS:

Education:

Post-graduate University Degree or equivalent (preferably Ph. D.) in public health, medicine, sociology, health systems/economics, or other field directly related to the substantive area identified in the title of the post.     

Knowledge and Experience:

 10 years of increasingly responsible professional experience in the substantive area, of which seven years at the international level;  Proven experience in midwifery, EMOC and family planning essential  Up-to-date, state-of-the art knowledge in RH, essential  Understanding of health economics/health financing highly desirable  Health systems and health reform experience, an asset  Knowledge and understanding on quality of care, specifically client rights issues and behavior change communication, an asset  Experience in health sector review, especially SWAps, an asset  Understanding of Human Rights dimensions of RH/FP and gender, an asset;  Demonstrated expertise in the substantive area of work and programme experience;  Strong track record of technical leadership, and proven ability to produce demonstrable results;  Strong verbal and written communications skills in English and advocacy and presentation skills essential  Demonstrated ability to network within the academic and development community;  Familiarity with management and monitoring tools is desirable;  Field experience is strongly desirable; and  Experience in the Asia and the Pacific region is an asset.

Languages: Fluency in English and French is required. Portuguese is an asset.

Other Desirable Skills: Initiative, strong conceptual abilities, sound judgment, strong interest in development work, especially the mission of the United Nations Population Fund and dedication to the principles of the United Nations.

UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender quality, teamwork, respect for diversity, integrity and a healthy balance of work and life. We are committed to maintaining our balanced gender distribution and therefore encourage women to apply.

We offer an attractive remuneration package commensurate with the level of the position. The package includes a competitive salary plus housing allowance, home leave, health insurance and other benefits.

HOW TO APPLY:

UNFPA has established an electronic application management system. This allows applicants to create a candidate profile, which can be updated regularly and submitted for more than one vacancy.

Download the Step by Step Guide to Applying in the E-Recruit System of UNFPA athttp://www.unfpa.org/employment/application_guide.doc. Please print out the Guide for your reference during the registration and application process.

Notice: There is no application, processing or other fee at any stage of the application process. UNFPA does not solicit or screen for information in respect of HIV or AIDS and does not discriminate on the basis of HIV/AIDS status.

This is a project-funded post.

• No expectancy of renewal in accordance with UN Staff Regulations 4.5

How to apply: 

UNFPA has established an electronic application management system. This allows applicants to create a candidate profile, which can be updated regularly and submitted for more than one vacancy.

Download the Step by Step Guide to Applying in the E-Recruit System of UNFPA athttp://www.unfpa.org/employment/application_guide.doc. Please print out the Guide for your reference during the registration and application process.

Notice: There is no application, processing or other fee at any stage of the application process. UNFPA does not solicit or screen for information in respect of HIV or AIDS and does not discriminate on the basis of HIV/AIDS status.