Reproductive Health Officer

Contract

This is a UNV International Specialist contract. This kind of contract is known as International UN Volunteer. It is normally internationally recruited only. More about UNV International Specialist contracts.

The Syria crisis is in its tenth year of conflict, and the situation in Syria continues to deteriorate. Approximately 13 million Syrians are in need of humanitarian assistance in Syria. UNFPA Country Office has been expanding its support for promoting Reproductive Health (RH) services through Minimum Initial Service Package (MISP) and implementing Prevention and Response GBV programs. The United Nations Security Council Resolution has asked the UN Humanitarian agencies to provide humanitarian support to inside Syria from the neighbouring countries, including Turkey.

To support the cross-border program into Syria from Turkey, UNFPA has established a humanitarian operation project office in Gaziantep, Turkey. UNFPA established women and girl’s safe spaces, is supporting hospitals, is regularly delivering RH and dignity kits, and provides regular training on RH and GBV. UNFPA leads the GBV sub-cluster, under the Protection Cluster, and the RH sub-group under the Health Cluster. UNFPA, through the SRH working group, plans to enhance the transition of services from the RH initial and basic services to the comprehensive ones, based on the MISP, as needed and when the essentials are in place. Moreover, the quality of care related to the RH services provided is a main priority and component in such a structure.

UNFPA works more specifically with 5 different implementing partners which implement integrated Reproductive Health/Gender Based Violence (RH/GBV) programmes. UNFPA supports those partners through funding but also through major capacity building and guidance activities.

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of Reproductive Health specialist or his/her designated mandated representative(s), the UN Volunteer, the reproductive health officer, will: ● Support continuous quality improvement of integrated and stand-alone Sexual and Reproductive Health programs including service delivery in clinical and community-based settings ● Support the Reproductive Health Working Group, ensure that proposed emergency RH interventions are guided by the MISP (Minimum Initial Service Package for RH in Crisis Situations) and guided by the agreed work plan ● Support the midwifery skills enhancement strategy ● Work closely with the Gender Based Violence (GBV) team to implement holistic programming to meet the diverse and unique needs of women and girls. ● Undertake RH capacity-development activities/training for RH and clinical health staff; Assess the partners’ capacity, their needs and gaps, and suggest the appropriate support needed (continuous process). ● Ensure that information from coordination meetings is shared internally and with other sectors, as appropriate. ● Assist with identifying guidance needs and developing guidance to ensure the MISP and appropriate SRH components are integrated into emergency response ● Review and disseminate key best practice guidelines documents and provide individual support to country staff for implementation ● Support the planning of transition period from the essential RH services to the comprehensive side, since it is one of the main objectives in MISP. ● Ensure the quality of care for the RH services provided through the implementation of the quality of care tools that have been developed by the SRH Working group and linking it to the RH medical protocols developed by SRH working group. ● Support the implementation of the adolescent girls’ strategy from RH perspectives and improve the RH outcomes from it through building the capacity of the staff, improving the data collection tools and coordinating with other partners to enhance the community level.
● Make sure that all RH services are aligned with the recommendations of the health cluster guidance on COVID-19 and other relevant RH technical guidance. ● Support the efforts taken to decrease the cesarean section births in Northwest Syria through training and data analysis.

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to integrate the UN Volunteers programme mandate within their assignment and promote voluntary action through engagement with communities in the course of their work. As such, UN Volunteers should dedicate a part of their working time to some of the following suggested activities:

● Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day). ● Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country. ● Provide annual and end of assignment self- reports on UN Volunteer actions, results and opportunities.
● Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc. ● Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly arrived UN Volunteers. ● Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.

13. Results/expected outputs

● As an active UNFPA team member, efficient, timely, responsive, client-friendly and high-quality support rendered to UNFPA and its beneficiaries in the accomplishment of her/his functions, including: ● Contributed to evidence-based management of UNFPA ● Supported the implementation of Country Programme in particular: o Enhancement of midwifery skills of clinical staff on the ground o Enhancement of SRH and GBV skills of health coordinators o UNFPA technical support to other organization is available whenever required o Quality of care for RH services is an asset in partners’ work plan o Timely implementation and documentation of activities agreed with donors ● Communicated with stakeholders is respectful and efficient ● Improved partners capacity in the area of reproductive health in emergency through coaching, mentoring and formal on-the-job training as per the RH working group and UNFPA work plans ● Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) perspective is systematically applied, integrated and documented in all activities throughout the assignment ● A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for peace and development during the assignment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in and capacities developed

● Professionalism ● Integrity ● Teamwork and respect for diversity ● Commitment to continuous learning ● 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 ● Flexibility ● 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.

● Strong up to date clinical management knowledge ● Experience in coordinating, implementing and managing reproductive health programs in emergency contexts and/or refugee settings is essential. ● Proven familiarity with international guidelines for sexual and reproductive health in both emergencies and development ● Capacity building experience is an asset ● Ability to interpret health data ● Proficiency for computer applications such as MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint. ● Ability to effectively deal with Google products for invitations, forms, excel, word and notes. ● Prior experience in working in developing countries or in multi-national settings with people from different cultural backgrounds is an asset ● Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines ● Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel ● Excellent oral and written skills; excellent drafting, formulation, reporting skills ● Sound security awareness ● Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including grassroots community members, religious and youth organizations, and authorities at different levels; familiarity with tools and approaches of communications for development

Gaziantep is an essentially safe and easy place to live, although the proximity with the Syrian border, and given the Syrian conflict and Kurdish-related tensions, it is essential to be cautious and to follow security temporary restrictions as they arise. Furnished and unfurnished apartments can be easily rented close to the office at reasonable prices. Supermarkets and grocery stores have all the essentials including a large choice of fruits and vegetables. In terms of social life, there are plenty of restaurants and bars (very few serving alcohol), and a few sports possibilities. Health care is available and adequate. There are more than 7 flights a day for Istanbul, from where you can go anywhere. The main problem concerning social life is that most people speak only Turkish. There are no schools in other languages than Turkish. There is no real dress code, women for example dressing in either a western way or more traditional Muslim. Temperatures are high during summer and below zero during winter, and the weather is generally dry.

Turkey is a unique country and Syrian Response is a unique (humanitarian) operation. It provides for an interesting and enriching environment, but also requires a mature level of cultural awareness, as well as more stamina and commitment than elsewhere to make life comfortable and affordable. Therefore, flexibility and the ability and willingness to live and work in harsh and potentially hazardous conditions, involving physical hardship and little comfort, are essential