Vacancy for FP/RHCS Specialist, NOC at the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the leading UN organization in Reproductive Health and Population and Development, is recruiting personnel for the vacant position below:

Job Title: FP/RHCS Specialist, NOC
Job ID: 17984
Location: Abuja, Nigeria Country Office  –  NOC
Full/Part Time: Full-Time
Regular/Temporary: Regular
Duration: One year (Renewable based on satisfactory performance)

Organizational Setting

• The Global Programme to enhance Reproductive Health Commodities Security (GPRHCS) is a part of the UNFPA’s global efforts to improve access to and utilization of family planning commodities worldwide.
• The Global programme works with national governments to strengthen or establish secure, reliable, cost-effective, and sustainable systems to ensure supply of and demand for a wide range of reproductive health commodities: including contraceptives and condoms.
• With support from the GPRHCS, the UNFPA Country Office in the Federal Republic of Nigeria is working closely with Federal, States and Local Government counterparts in support of government-led efforts to all aspects of in-country demand for Family Planning services.

Job Purpose

• Under the overall guidance of the UNFPA Resident Representative in Nigeria and the direct supervision of the Deputy Representative, the Family Planning/ Reproductive Health Commodity Security (FP/RHCS)  Specialist will work closely with the National RHCS Analyst and Programme Teams in the UNFPA Country office.
• S/he will also work closely with different Nigerian Federal and State Ministry of Health Departments, Local Governments, NGOs and partners to enhance Reproductive Health Commodity security (RHCS).
• Provide leadership and technical support to national efforts to analyze RH commodity systems, to design the health commodity supply logistic in line with the health priorities defined in the National Health Strategy, and the national FP/RHCS plans.

Qualifications and Experience
Education:

• Masters Degree in Pharmacy, Procurement, Logistics, Supply Chain Management or equivalent education.
• Professional and logistics qualifications in procurement an asset. A course in logistics, essential drugs, and MIS is a plus.

Knowledge and Experience:

• Minimum of 7 years experience in increasing responsibilities at the national level in SRH ideally, in logistics systems, public sector pharmaceutical supplies management of which 5 years experience relating to health and logistics systems and management of family planning programmes.
• Senior-level procurement and supply management and advisory services covering the full procurement cycle and significant experience in logistics capacity building, covering the full procurement cycle.
• Health sector-specific experience, including: Experience with Public Health systems in developing countries, Health Commodity Supply Market, Logistics and inventory management related to pharmaceuticals and medical supplies, based on sound Supply Chain Management principles.
• Excellent written and oral communications skills. Fluency in English is required.
• Experience in public sector pharmaceutical program management at national level, especially in policy & management, Selection, Access, Quality Assurance and Rational Drug Use is strongly desired.
• Extensive knowledge of supply management: forecasting, warehousing, distribution, transportation, logistics information systems and eLMIS.
• Significant public procurement and supply management experience related to the Health Sector (pharmaceuticals and non-pharmaceutical medical supplies), and other funding mechanisms emphasizing donor coordination/harmonization and in challenging situation.

Main Tasks & Responsibilities
Advocacy, Partnership and Resource Mobilization:

• Lead the national advocacy efforts with partners and facilitate 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.
• Collaborate with the country office staff members to promote integrated approaches to improving reproductive health, particularly in areas such as: (i) Condom programming under HIV/AIDS programme; (ii) Improving access to contraceptives by unmarried young people; (iii) Repositioning family planning.
• Collaborate with other UN Agencies and development partners to promote and provide integrated technical support for RH/RHCS within countries (particularly with WHO, UNICEF, DFID, USAID, CIDA) and to carry out and implement findings of joint assessment of critical maternal health drugs.
• Identify potential new donors and initiate the development of proposals to mobilize resources for the programme.

Capacity development and Technical Support:

• Provide 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.
• Lead the roll-out of CHANNEL software through capacity building, installation of adequate equipment, sustain monitoring and supporting supervision.
• Assist national partners in analyzing and disseminating data on the movement and utilization of commodities.
• Provide technical assistance to ensure the effective functioning of the RHCS Committee and monitor the procurement of Reproductive Health Commodities to ensure uninterrupted flow of RHCS.
• Lead the improvement of the Contraceptive Commodity Warehouse (CCW) Shed36 (renovation, equipment, functioning) and support State warehouses.
• Build national capacity in contraceptive technology (especially long acting methods) and logistics planning and management (quantification and forecasting, identifying warehouses and setting-up/schedule transportations, identify suitable routings, communicate with FMOH on stock availability, provide update accurate reports, etc.)
• Technical leadership and support to national partners in setting up an effective procurement and supply management for all health commodities in compliance with national standards and norms.
• Provide support for an improved coordination, organization and management of the Logistic Management Information System (LMIS), with RHCS mainstreamed, of the public health facilities and ensure national ownership and readiness to take over this responsibility

Evidence and knowledge development and dissemination:

• Contribute to the identification, analysis and synthesis of technical knowledge and evidence-based information in RHCS.
• Coordinate the implementation of the annual GPRHCS survey.
• Assist to organize and participate actively in meetings and desk reviews and undertake monitoring missions to assess progress of the strategic plan implementation, including appropriate substantive and administrative follow-up actions.
• Oversee, monitor and analyze on a continuous basis, substantive programme implementation, including preparing substantive programme and financial reports on the national RHCS Strategic Plan.
• Undertake any other assignments as may be given by UNFPA Representative.

Required Competencies
Core Competencies:

• Commitment to UNFPA Values and Guiding Principles;
• Developing People/Fostering Innovation and Empowerment/Performance Management;
• Team Work/Communication/Self-Management
• Strategic Thinking/Results Orientation and Commitment to Excellence/Decision Making;
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Learning

Functional Competencies:

• Ability to lead, develop and motivate a diverse team of specialists
• Advocacy/advancing a policy-oriented agenda
• Results-based programme development and management
• Leveraging the resources of national governments and partners/building strategic alliances and partnerships
• Innovation and marketing of new approaches
• Resource mobilization (Programme)
• Job knowledge

UNFPA Work Environment:

• UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, teamwork, Embracing diversity in all its forms, integrity and a healthy balance of work and life. We are committed to maintaining our balanced gender distribution and therefore encourage women to apply. UNFPA promotes equal opportunities for all including persons with disabilities.

How To Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply

Application Deadline 28th August, 2018.

Note

• This vacancy is only for nationals of Nigeria
• No expectancy of renewal in accordance with UN staff regulations 4.5.