Program Specialist, Family Planning and Supply Management

Overview

Lead family planning strategies and coordinate supply chain management.

You have:

• Master's degree in Public Health, Pharmacy or Medicine with proven experience of strategic responsibility in coordinating reproductive health programs and managing RH supplies.
• At least 5 years' professional experience in the management of health programs and projects in the public or private sector.
• Good command of spoken and written French; knowledge of English as a working language desirable.
• Have a good knowledge of the national socio-cultural context in terms of reproductive health and family planning.
• Analytical, strategic and operational thinking skills oriented towards Results-Based Management (RBM) and a culture of innovation.

Contract

This is a NO-C contract. This kind of contract is known as National Professional Officers. It is normally only for nationals. It's a staff contract. It usually requires 5 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be more than 4,220 USD.

Please keep in mind that the salary displayed here is an estimation by UN Talent based on the location and the type of contract. It may vary depending on the organization. The recruiter should be able to inform you about the exact salary range. In case the job description contains another salary information, please refer to this one.

The Position:

The Program Specialist, Family Planning/Supply Chain Management Program Coordinator plays central role between the Country Office and the Ministry of Health as coordinator of family planning strategies and technical services to maintain the strategic partnerships developed by the Office for the family planning in the country with international stakeholders.

He/she will also contribute to the policy dialogue and advocacy necessary for i) the operationalization of supply chain management guidelines down to the last mile, ii) technical assistance for decisions on the effective implementation of free FP services, iii) the mobilization of domestic resources and iv) assistance to the country for the necessary innovations on the management of gaps identified for good performance in FP services (coverage of young people, side effects, taking into account of the private sector in the new strategies being promoted at the level of the Ministry of Health).

He/she will ensure the full synergy of reproductive health/family planning interventions with the normative frameworks of the Government of Benin and the interventions of other technical and financial partners. Within this framework, he/she will ensure the implementation of innovative strategic and operational appropriate coordination mechanisms for the success of the UNFPA Supplies Partnership in Benin including a gender and rights-based and human beings approach.

He/She will provide the necessary leadership for the development of the budgeted annual health systems strengthening plan and its implementation, including signing and monitoring of the implementation of the compact.

He/she will ensure the transfer of skills in the management of family planning programs and the monitoring of the supply chain down to the last mile to members of the FP program team.

He/she will be under the direct technical supervision of the Resident Representative of the Country Office and will be assisted in his/her duties by the midwifery and maternal health program managers, the logistic manager focal point, the shipment tracker focal point.

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 program specialist provides strategic, technical, political and programmatic leadership on family planning issues, supply chain management, taking into account human rights principles and culturally sensitive programs, without excluding voluntary activities and informed choices. He/she will work to ensure the formulation of the Strengthening of Health Systems and will coordinate the implementation, technical and financial monitoring, reporting and evaluation of interventions, ensuring alignment between national policy/programme frameworks and UNFPA's family planning strategic orientations.

You would be responsible for:

1. Policy dialogue, strategic advocacy and domestic and external resource mobilization for FP

• To provide strategic support for advocacy for the implementation of the national policy of free family planning and for the mobilization of domestic and external resources;
• Participate in the country office's advocacy and resource mobilization, communication and innovation efforts by preparing appropriate documentation (project summaries, conference papers, speeches, donor profiles), taking part in donor meetings and public information meetings;
• Organize and monitor the signature process of the UNFPA Supplies Partnership compact;
• Provide the necessary support to the Ministry of Health for the animation of the platform of donors and PTF in family planning. Assisted the continuation of the follow-up of the coordination mechanism and supply chain of health products actors;

2. Coordination and efficient management of an innovative FP Program and strategic monitoring of national last-mile insurance guidelines

• Provide the leadership needed to implement the free family planning policy.
• Coordinate the development of Health Systems Strengthening with Ministry of Health executives
• Carry out a strategic analysis of implementing partner’s requests and provide the necessary guidance for their implementation
• Coordinate the development and implementation of innovative strategies to operationalize the Last Mile National Guidelines in support of the Ministry of Health.

• Oversee the organization and conduct of Last Mile Assurance (LMA) activities: (assessment of inventory of SR products in stores, completion of LMA tools).

• Provide strategic support to the Ministry of Health in the revision of the Contraceptive Procurement Tables, the development of the National Supply Plan for RH/FP products and the monitoring of orders for RH/FP products.

• Coordinate the quarterly and annual monitoring of the UNFPA supplies partnership and the supply chain tools provided by headquarters.
• Ensure the continuity of UNFPA's technical support for the continuation of the e- SIGL digital platform for managing health product stocks in the private sector.
• Analyze and report on program progress in terms of results achieved, identify resource constraints and shortfalls, and propose corrective measures.
• Document best practices and innovative actions for communication purposes

3- Skills transfer and technical assistance for innovations

• Assist the Ministry of Health in achieving its capacity-building objectives for actors involved in FP programs.
• To contribute to the assistance of the country office, for the necessary innovations on the management of the gaps identified relating to the good performance of the FP services (coverage of young people, secondary effects, taking into account of the private individuals in the new strategies in promotion at the level of the ministry of health);
• Ensure the technical updating of supervised UNFPA team members and consultants.

Qualifications and Experience:

Education:

• Master's degree in Public Health, Pharmacy or Medicine with proven experience of strategic responsibility in coordinating reproductive health programs and managing RH supplies.

Knowledge and Experience:

• At least 5 years' professional experience in the management of health programs and projects in the public or private sector;
• Have a good knowledge of the national socio-cultural context in terms of reproductive health and family planning;
• Analytical, strategic and operational thinking skills oriented towards Results-Based Management (RBM) and a culture of innovation.
• Ability to adapt to working conditions in a multicultural environment and to lead a team.
• Demonstrate excellent ability to reflect and analyze issues relating to women and girl’s empowerment, and gender equity and equality;
• Master the use of standard office software;
• Have held positions of responsibility and have a good knowledge of the mission and the UN agencies and UNFPA procedures are assets;
• Be Beninese.

Languages:

Good command of spoken and written French; knowledge of English as a working language desirable.

Required Competencies:

Values:

Exemplifying integrity,

Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system,

Embracing cultural diversity,

Embracing change

Core 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 / promotion of an action-oriented program,
• Leverage the resources of national governments and partners / form strategic alliances and partnerships,
• Implement results-based programs,
• Conceptual innovation to enhance program effectiveness,
• Improve the quality of program results. Skills transfer

Managerial Competencies (if applicable):

<Managerial Requirements>

Compensation 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.

Potential interview questions