Programme Analyst, Family Planning & Reproductive Health Commodity Security - NOB, Banjul, The Gambia

UNFPA’s current strategic direction defines its work around three transformative and people-centric results leading up to 2030. These include (i) end to unmet need for family planning; (ii) end preventable maternal deaths;(iii) end to gender-based violence and harmful practices. 

UNFPA adopted a refreshed Family Planning Strategy, 2022-2030, with an acceleration plan, that defines its leadership role to accelerate global efforts on family planning; focusing on a range of interrelated technical priorities including standard setting, normative guidance and technical advice, the supply of quality-assured commodities, purposeful partnerships, data, and accountability. UNFPA Supplies Partnership – a multilateral, multi-donor, UNFPA-managed thematic fund - is a key vehicle for UNFPA to advance its family planning mandate.

The Family Planning and RHCS Analyst will work under the authority of the Representative, and the direct supervision of the Assistant Representative. You will contribute substantially to the implementation of effective strategies to ensure the Securing of Reproductive Health Commodities. S/he will provide technical support to the implementation of the corporate Family Planning Strategy and the associated Acceleration Plan.

The Programme Analyst ensures the effective management of UNFPA-supported Reproductive Health Commodity Security-related programmes, comprising family planning commodities and maternal health life-saving medicines. S/he also oversees procurement planning, forecasting, and budgeting, procurement orders, inventory tracking and monitoring, reporting, logistics management information systems, policy and advocacy, stock management, making commodities available to beneficiaries at the last mile, supporting downstream quality monitoring activities, managing logistics information, and updating the Shipment tracker software.

The Programme Analyst will also have working relations with the operations and programme staff members, considering the commodity requirements across the country programme.

You will execute and apply established procedures and contribute to the creation of substantial knowledge by compiling, synthesizing, and analyzing information relating to RH product supply problems, and guarantee traceability, quality control, and monitoring of Reproductive Health Commodities (RH) at all levels of the supply chain as part of the implementation of Last Mile Assurance (LMA). 

You will report to the Assistant Representative 

UNFPA is the lead United Nations agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is intended, every childbirth is safe, and every young person's potential is fulfilled. The UNFPA Strategic Plan for 2026-2029 articulates the organization’s response to a complex global environment, providing a roadmap for resilience and renewal. It is designed to accelerate the implementation of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. This mandate is pursued through a focus on four interconnected outcomes: ending the unmet need for family planning; ending preventable maternal deaths; ending gender-based violence and harmful practices; and adapting to demographic change through evidence and rights-based policies.

In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff who embody these international norms and standards and will defend them courageously and with full conviction.

UNFPA is seeking candidates who transform, inspire, and deliver high-impact sustained results, ensuring effective external relations, communications, partnership-building and resource mobilization in a rapidly changing development and funding landscape. We need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them, and who commit to delivering excellence in programme results
 

Working with the team of the Ministry of Health, Non-Government Organizations, Private Sector, the Family Planning and Reproductive Health Commodity Security Analyst will carry out the following duties and responsibilities: 

●    Ensure coordination with national authorities, international and national NGOs and UN organizations related to logistics as appropriate. In humanitarian settings, this includes the Logistics Cluster or Sector.
●    Liaise with the National Quantification Committee and programme managers to develop the commodity procurement plan for the Country Office.
●    Timely submit to the Supply Chain Management Unit (SCMU) the requests for quotation, and provide to SCMU focal point all documents requested to finalize the quotation
●    Complete all field office pre-shipment coordination activities (e.g., warehouse readiness checks, notifying IPs, obtaining customs clearance documentation, authorizing shipments)
●    Timely monitor Order Tracking System (OTS) data and other order tracking tools for information on the status of shipments and any evidence of issues requiring field office follow-up action. 
●    Ensure timely completion of customs clearance procedures to ensure that all commodities ordered are delivered on time and that they comply with the required technical specifications indicated in the purchasing plans.
●    Prepare handover documents and coordinate the preparation of shipments with the warehouse focal points or managers, as appropriate. 
●    Ensure quarterly reporting of contraceptive stock status by the Central Medical Stores and partners in respective regions through continuous monitoring of the pipeline, and regularly inform UNFPA Country Office on the contraceptive stock status situation.
●    Ensure that proper management of narcotics or dangerous goods is maintained in line with national protocols, to avoid complications and delays in the provision of these commodities. 
●    Coordinate with the warehouse focal point in-country inventory stock counts and reconciliations, safe disposal of expired and damaged goods. 
●    Ensure the appropriate handover documents are promptly completed, signed, and properly filled.
●    Provide oversight to physical inventory stock counts, logistics indicators assessments, and related surveys. 
●    Serve as the official point of contact for all cases involving inventory write-offs.
●    Perform all relevant LMA process activities (Supply Chain MAPS, Supply Chain Capacity Assessment, Supply Chain Management Risk Assessment, Programme Supplies Reports, Audits, and Spot-checks in line with the WHO Good Storage and Distribution Practices.
●    Provide advice and technical support to Health Facilities and warehouse personnel on good storage and distribution practices.
●    Provide downstream support on quality monitoring of RH commodities such as temperature monitoring and control, adequate storage space, and expiry product management.
●    Work with relevant parties to ensure healthy product safety and stock accountability at all levels of the supply chain.
●    Provide technical backstopping and support/conduct technical backstopping and support/conduct relevant research, analysis, and training activities aimed at providing an information and knowledge-base and readily useable methodologies to RH/FP planners, policymakers, programme managers, and service providers. 
●    Assist in the collection, collation, and documentation of RHCS interventions within the regions and share lessons learned and success stories for improved programming and advocacy work.
●    Contribute to overall health management and coordination, health system strengthening, and HIV prevention efforts.
●    Remain knowledgeable and up to date on all technical and implementation issues that relate to FP/RHCS as well as other components of Health Systems strengthening.

●    Regularly undertake monitoring missions to County Warehouses to assess the stock status of RH commodities and storage conditions and prepare substantive reports of the missions and administrative follow-up actions. 
●    With the experts of the MOH and local partners, investigate reported stock-outs and stock imbalances, and take immediate action to remedy these situations,
●    Provide support to the process of quarterly and annual technical and financial reviews of the RHCS project through the preparation of internal documents to assess the progress of implementation. 
●    Analyze needs and opportunities for technical assistance in family planning, including RHCS, and review availability of relevant programmes/projects to meet these needs.
●    Establish clear and appropriate priorities by focusing on tasks and activities that have a strategic impact on the results for improvement in provision and access to services. Ensure functional flow of information through effective use of all communication media, written, verbal, and electronic. 
●    Regularly perform risk management of the supply chain processes and ensure that risks are managed and corrective measures are put in place.
●    Helps develop and document programme and policy-relevant knowledge about current and emerging FP trends by analyzing programme strategies, approaches, and ongoing experience for lessons learned, and best practices, for use in knowledge sharing and planning future strategies.
●    On behalf of the UNFPA Gambia Country Office, participate actively in all initiatives and meetings about RHCS/FP

 ●    Support design and implementation of the Country Programme component on Reproductive Health Commodity Security, including supply and demand-related interventions required to ensure quality RH commodities are available in the right quantities at the right place and when needed.
●    Contribute to the development and monitoring of demand forecasting and procurement plans for RHCS.
●    Monitor and analyze continuously the RHCS/FP and logistics data, as well as the substantive program implementation, including preparing substantive program and financial reports on the RHCS project. 
●    Organize and participate in the evaluation and periodic technical reviews of the program
●    Ensure timely and quality reporting requirements, both financial and programmatic, are met, especially with monitoring implementation progress of TA interventions/ Annual work plans for the UNFPA Supplies Partnership programme (UNFPA’s flagship thematic fund for Family Planning), including tracking and reporting on quarterly milestones and targets, identifying potential programme challenges to resolve, and sharing good practice.
●    Undertake any other assignments that UNFPA Country Office may give. 
 

• Postgraduate degree in public health, nursing, project management, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of professional experience in the area of FP programmes, logistics, and supply chain systems
• Proven experience in managing RH or health programmes with direct experience relating to supply management systems, of which five years of national and/or international experience in advising on RH commodities, health systems, and supply management. Knowledge of UNFPA programming processes, proposal/project development, monitoring and evaluation, and program management skills is desirable but not required. 
• Proven experience in managing public health programs or projects in a developing country context.
• Willingness and capability to undertake duty travel to regions. 
• Courtesy, tact, and the ability to function in a multicultural work environment. 

• Fluency in English is required; knowledge of other official UN languages is desirable.

• Exemplifying integrity, 
• Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system, 
• Embracing cultural diversity, 
• Embracing change

• Achieving results,
• Being accountable,
• Developing and applying professional expertise/business acumen,
• Thinking analytically and strategically,
• Working in teams/managing ourselves and our relationships,
• Communicating for Impact
   

• Providing logistical support
• Managing data
• Managing documents, correspondence, and reports
• Managing information and workflow
• Planning, organizing, and multitasking.
• Supporting financial data analysis

• Providing strategic focus,
• Engaging with internal/external partners and stakeholders,
• Leading, developing, and empowering people, creating a culture of performance
• Making decisions and exercising judgment

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. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. 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.

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.