National RHCS Programme Assistant

Contract

This is a UNV National Specialist contract. This kind of contract is known as National UN Volunteer. It is normally only for nationals. More about UNV National Specialist contracts.

UNFPA, the UN reproductive health and rights agency, aims to achieve universal access to sexual and reproductive health and rights [SRHR] for all by ending unmet need for family planning, ending maternal death, and ending violence and harmful practices against women and girls.

UNFPA has been the lead United Nations agency for reproductive health commodity security and the largest multilateral supplier of contraceptives and condoms.

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 to accelerating progress towards realizing the ICPD and SDGs in the Decadeof Action leading up to 2030.

Afghanistan’s humanitarian crisis continues nearly two years after the takeover by the Taliban de facto authority (DfA). Millions of Afghans are suffering from inaccessibility to essential and lifesaving services, including health and protection services. In addition to unimaginable human costs, the humanitarian crisis is reversing many of the gains of the last 20 years, especially on the rights of women.

The country has one of the highest maternal mortality ratio (MMR) in the Asia and the Pacific region at 620 deaths per 100,000 live births1. Even before the current crisis, the country was already struggling to ensure that basic health services are accessible to Afghan women and their newborns, especially in remote rural communities. Every two hours, a mother dies from preventable pregnancy and childbirth related complications. In the absence of any support, the country risks losing all the gains of the past 20 years in the next two years.

UNFPA has been working and providing lifesaving maternal and reproductive health care services to people in Afghanistan. As part of interventions, UNFPA has been procuring and distributing lifesaving maternal and reproductive health medicines and equipment through different service delivery points including mobile health teams, family health houses, static clinics, and referral health facilities.

UNFPA is seeking candidates to support the Reproductive Health Commodity Security focal point to ensure the distribution, utilization, reporting and quantification of the commodities are being tracked and documented properly.

The Reproductive Health Commodity Security [RHCS] Programme Assistant will provide substantive support to the RHCS Programme Specialist in the implementation of reproductive health commodity security through the development and implementation of a RHCS strategy to enhance family planning, maternal health and reproductive health. This will entail the identification of needs, forecasting, distribution, warehousing, monitoring utilisation, and disposal.

The RHCS Programme Assistant is responsible for assisting the RHCS Programme Specialist in securing essential supplies and ensuring its proper management. The incumbent will work closely with the RHCS Programme Specialist and other RH, Humanitarian, GBViE and A&Y team members as well as the Area Office staff in managing maternal health, quality of care services, family planning, as well as Supply Chain Unit providing assistance to procurement, logistics and operations. He/she will contribute to working with A&Y unit on demand generation interventions. Under the overall guidance from Humanitarian Coordinator and direct supervision of UNFPA Afghanistan RHCS Programme Specialist, the RHCS Programme Assistant will: RHCS Strategy Implementation: ● Provide support and assistance to the RHCS Programme Specialist in reviewing the current context and the rational use of emergency RH kits and other commodities by end-point users after following up their distribution; ● Assist the RHCS Programme Specialist in documenting the conduct of regular meetings with implementing partners (IPs) to ensure timely and proper implementation of SRH planned activities, including FP; ● Provide administrative support to RHCS Programme Specialist and the Humanitarian Unit and liaise with Programme-Finance Associates as required; ● Assist the RHCS Programme Specialist in collaboration with Programme Units and Supply Chain Unit in the preparation of the Distribution Plans for all UNFPA supplies and commodities; ● Provide support as required to Supply Chain Unit in assessing the status of supplies in UNFPA warehouse as well as IP warehouses (Regional and Provincial warehouses); ● Support the RHCS Programme Specialist in ensuring all medicines and supplies are maintained and in stock; prevent stock out while minimizing wastage. ● Provide administrative support to the RHCS Programme Specialist in building capacity of IPs’ Logistics/warehouse focal points and Programme Staff directly managing the UNFPA supplies ● Support the RHCS Programme Specialist in coordinating with Implementing Partners to ensure quality service delivery at all facilities; ● Assist in liaising with UNFPA’s Implementing Partners to gather needed information and share important updates on commodities and supply ● Any other related tasks as may be required or assigned by the supervisor.

Competencies and values: ● Professionalism: demonstrated understanding of operations relevant to UNFPA; technical capabilities or knowledge relevant or transferable to UNFPA procedures and rules; discretion, political sensitivity, diplomacy and tact to deal with clients; ability to apply good judgement; ability to liaise and coordinate with a range of different actors, especially in senior positions; where appropriate, high degree of autonomy, personal initiative and ability to take ownership; resourcefulness and willingness to accept wide responsibilities and ability to work independently under established procedures; ability to manage information objectively, accurately and confidentially; responsive and client-oriented; ● Integrity: demonstrate the values and ethical standards of the UN and UNFPA in daily activities and behaviors while acting without consideration of personal gains; resist undue political pressure in decision-making; stand by decisions that are in the organisation’s interest even if they are unpopular; take prompt action in cases of unprofessional or unethical behaviour; does not abuse power or authority; ● Teamwork and respect for diversity: ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; excellent interpersonal skills; ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and harmonious working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, mixed-gender environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity; sensitivity and adaptability to culture, gender, religion, nationality and age; commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of UN operations; ability to achieve common goals and provide guidance or training to colleagues; ● Commitment to continuous learning: initiative and willingness to learn new skills and stay abreast of new developments in area of expertise; ability to adapt to changes in work environment. ● Planning and organizing: effective organizational and problem-solving skills and ability to manage a large volume of work in an efficient and timely manner; ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor (own) work; ability to work under pressure, with conflicting deadlines, and to handle multiple concurrent projects/activities; ● Communication: proven interpersonal skills; good spoken and written communication skills, including ability to prepare clear and concise reports; ability to conduct presentations, articulate options and positions concisely; ability to make and defend recommendations; ability to communicate and empathize with staff (including national staff), military personnel, volunteers, counterparts and local interlocutors coming from very diverse backgrounds; capacity to transfer information and knowledge to a wide range of different target groups; ● Flexibility: adaptability and ability to live and work in potentially hazardous and remote conditions, involving physical hardship and little comfort; to operate independently in austere environments for protracted periods; willingness to travel within the area of operations and to transfer to other duty stations within the area of operations as necessary; ● Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance; and commitment towards UNFPA’s mission and vision, as well as to the UN Core Values.

Minimum three years of relevant experience in managing reproductive health supplies - including family planning and other relevant commodities, ● Experience in Logistics and Supply Chain Management is an advantage ● Demonstrated interest in UNFPA mandate ● Motivated to contribute towards peace and development and to serve others; Good interpersonal, networking and communication skills; ● Willingness to contribute and work as part of a team; ● Flexible and open to learning and new experiences; ● Respect for diversity and adaptability to other cultures, environments and living conditions; ● Previous experience as a volunteer and/or experience of another culture, (i.e. studies, volunteer work, internship) would be highly regarded; ● Computer skills (i.e. Word, Excel, PowerPoint, social media, and others).

This position will be based in Kabul, the capital city of Afghanistan. As this is a national UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials. National UN Volunteers are part of the malicious insurance plan. Working week for the UN in Afghanistan is from Sunday to Thursday (for the Government from Saturday to Wednesday). Working hours in UNFPA CO are from 7 am to 3:30 pm for national staff, and from 7 am to 4 pm for international staff.