JOB DESCRIPTION
Coordinator- Technical Support Unit, Bhubaneswar, UNFPA
1. POSITION(S) VACANT: Coordinator- Technical Support Unit, Bhubaneswar, UNFPA
2. ORGANIZATION BACKGROUND:
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), formerly the United Nations Fund for Population Activities, is a UN organization working for reproductive rights for all and supports access to a wide range of sexual and reproductive health services including voluntary family planning, maternal health care and comprehensive sexuality education and end gender-based violence and harmful practices.
PROJECT BACKGROUND
UNFPA has been a longstanding partner of the Government of Odisha, including a critical partnership with the Directorate of Family Welfare, National Health Mission, Government of Odisha. UNFPA has extended its support to NHM/ DoFW in the areas of Family Planning, Maternal Health, Quality Assurance and Adolescent Health. A dedicated Technical Support Unit (TSU) of UNFPA is placed at the Directorate of Family Welfare and in six aspirational districts of Odisha to support the work in the above areas.
From January 2023, UNFPA has entered into its tenth country program cycle (2023-2027) and has renewed its partnership with NHM/ DoFW, Government of Odisha. In the tenth country program cycle, UNFPA and NHM Odisha have mutually agreed to strengthen the existing partnership base, and extend the work on Family Planning, Quality Assurance/Maternal Health, Adolescent Health, Health Sector response to Gender-based Violence, aspirational district support and dedicated work on improving SRH through leveraging the Mission Shakti Self Help Group Platforms. A technical support unit of UNFPA is also placed at the Department of Mission Shakti.
3. JOB DESCRIPTION/ RESPONSIBILITIES:
Under the overall guidance of MD NHM/ Team Leader SHSRC (and/ or designated authority) and Head of Office of UNFPA, the TSU Coordinator, will be a crucial pillar for coordinating and strengthening the work on Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) with a rights-based approach through program planning, coordination, policy advocacy.
S/he will be responsible for coordinating the entire work of UNFPA support areas through DoFW as well as SRH work with Mission Shakti ensuring partnerships at NHM, DoFW and Mission Shakti, as well as substantially contributing in the areas of policy and convergence. More especially the work will entail the following.
Key Deliverables:
(A) Programme Coordination and Policy Dialogue:
(1) Contribute to the effective coordination between the TSU at the Directorate and NHM on the implementation of UNFPA work planning activities and other areas of mutual interest between UNFPA and NHM Odisha ensuring alignment with NHM PIP;
(2) Work with TSU Manager at DoFW to ensure implementation of work plan activities in close coordination and association with NHM;
(3) Coordinate between NHM Odisha and Mission Shakti to ensure that the SRH activities under NHM PIP and UNFPA work plan are properly aligned. Appraise the SRH component of state program implementation plan (PIPs) and suggest appropriate actions to strengthen them further. Follow up to ensure that suggestions are satisfactorily addressed in the revised state PIPs;
(4) Participate in the PIP review and planning meetings at NHM and support NHM in the planning and implementation process;
(5) Stay up to date with SRH technical and programme policies and guidelines. Assess implications of new policy developments and strategies on programme execution and ensure their application through coordination and technical support;
(B) Coordination for the roll out of new contraceptives and strengthening family planning programmes:
(1) Coordinate between NHM and DoFW on providing quality technical inputs in the planning and roll out of new contraceptives, including criteria for finalization of pilot districts;
(2) Coordinate with TSU at DoFW to finalize training and roll-out plan of new contraceptives;
(3) Coordinate and support TSU at DoFW to provide backstopping and quality assurance support in the roll out of new contraceptives;
(4) Provide technical support in designing of SBCC strategy in the roll out of new contraceptives, and coordinate with Directorate on its implementation strategy;
(5) Provide technical support to the Directorate and NHM on strengthening Family planning initiatives at the state level;
(6) Provide technical inputs to the formulation, review, implementation and monitoring of family planning policies, guidelines, protocols, quality assurance, and monitoring & evaluation framework to track and assess progress, and new technology updating for FP, in close collaboration with DoFW team and UNFPA;
(7) Review and provide feedback on FP indicators. Support and review the rollout of FP 2030 plan state level;
(8) Provide support to introduce new contraceptive/s, assess challenges faced by the state and provide support to address bottlenecks;
(9) Review the supply of FP commodities and support health facilities with uninterrupted supply of FP commodities including roll out of newer contraceptives;
(10) Co-ordinate with NHM and development partners for a coordinated action to strengthen Family planning services;
(11) Support in roll out and strengthening of Family planning initiatives at the state level;
(12) Appraise the FP component of state program implementation plan (PIPs) and suggest appropriate actions.
(C) Documentation and Reporting:
(1) Analyze the FPLMIS, HMIS data, demographic data including quality of data, to identify key challenges in strengthening of SRHR in Odisha;
(2) Coordinate with TSU at DoFW to formulate innovative strategies for improving SRHR services in the state, including revision of work plans if needed;
(3) Provide oversight and support to TSU team members at DoFW in Data Analysis and generating Dashboards, quality reports etc. on the SRHR;
(4) Analyse facility visit reports of the district RMNCHA consultants, track improvements in availability and accessibility of FP commodities with FP services and use of advisory guidelines for right based Family planning services, areas that need action and bring necessary action points to the attention of district or state level health officials. Follow up at State/district level for action;
(5) Promote information and knowledge-sharing of good practices.
Other Activities:
(1) Engage in activities to enhance reach of family planning services to young people from marginalized communities in the state;
(2) Assist the state office in designing and demonstrating models for Family planning services for young people through convergence;
(3) Carry out any other program-related activities as and when required and as advised by UNFPA/ DoFW
4. QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE AND COMPETENCIES:
Qualification:
(1) Masters in Public Health (MPH), Post-Graduate in Management, or Social Sciences or equivalent stream and related subjects.
Experience:
(1) Minimum three to five years of experience in health program management at sthe tate level;
(2) Technical knowledge and field experience in public health programs particularly Family planning and contraceptive;
(3) Working experience and familiarity with UN Agency and government health system is desirable;
(4) Experience on training and capacity building on family planning issues is highly desirable;
(5) Strong technical knowledge and experience on programs/ projects on Family planning; with a focus on a rights-based approach.
Skills and Competencies:
(1) Ability to communicate (read, speak, and write) in English and Hindi. Knowledge of Odia will be advantageous;
(2) Effortlessly multi-task, handle various responsibilities and meet deadlines;
(3) Good negotiation and facilitation skills including ability to work in diverse settings;
(4) Working knowledge of MS Word, PowerPoint and Excel is a must;
(5) Good communication, documentation, negotiation, inter-personnel skills, and team management;
(6) Willingness and ability to travel extensively to the districts.
5. NATURE OF ENGAGEMENT:
The Consultant shall be hired on a consultancy contract through Strategic Alliance Management Services P Ltd. (SAMS), a respected HR Agency.
6. REMUNERATION & PER DIEMS:
Gross compensation budgeted for the position is Rs.1,000,00/- to Rs. 1,25,000/- per month and will be commensurate with the salary history of candidates.
7. LOCATION: Bhubaneshwar
8. DURATION: The successful candidate shall be issued successive consultancy contracts for a period of one year by UNFPA’s third-party payrolling partner(s). The contract is extendable based on performance and program needs.
The initial contract from the date of joining till June 30, 2023, shall be issued by SAMS. The subsequent contract for the balance period shall be issued by SAMS and/or UNFPA’s successor third-party payrolling partner.
9. REFERENCE: C-TSU-UNFPA
10. CONTACT INFORMATION:
Team SAMS
Strategic Alliance Management Services P Ltd.
1/1B, Choudhary Hetram House, Bharat Nagar
New Friends Colony, New Delhi 110 025
Phone Nos.: 011- 4081 9900; 4165 3612
11. APPLICATION PROCESS:
Eligible candidates interested in the position are requested to apply using the link https://recruitment.samshrm.com/Jobs/UNFPA, by or before January 23, 2023.