Programme Adviser, Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, Programme Division (PD), Nairobi, Kenya, P-5

The Programme Adviser, Humanitarian Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights is based in the Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Branch (SRHRB), Programme Division (PD) in Nairobi, Kenya. The incumbent will provide policy advisory and technical assistance in family planning and maternal and newborn health areas of work, across the humanitarian-development-peace continuum in support of operationalizing and implementing UNFPA’s strategic plan 2026-2029. S/he will also provide strategic guidance and technical oversight of SRHRB’s work in comprehensive abortion care (CAC) and integration of CAC into comprehensive SRHR programming as part of Universal Health Coverage.

The incumbent will contribute to the UNFPA Supplies Partnership and the Maternal and Newborn Health Fund to address priorities and work with countries to strengthen policy frameworks, improve supply chain governance, and accelerate access to quality sexual and reproductive health commodities and services, including maternal and newborn health services particularly in fragile, humanitarian, and climate change-affected settings. This includes building institutional capacity for risk-informed planning and supporting effective implementation of sexual and reproductive health interventions before, during, and after crises.

The UNFPA Supplies Partnership (USP) is the largest thematic trust fund of UNFPA. It is a Global Health Initiative that strengthens health systems through improving supply chains, advancing policy, diversifying financing and expanding access to quality-assured contraceptives and maternal health medicines – reaching over 20 million women and girls annually in 54 of the lowest-income countries.

The UNFPA Maternal and Newborn Health Fund (MNHF) is UNFPA’s flagship initiative to end preventable maternal and newborn deaths. The Fund delivers catalytic investments and targeted support to power country-led solutions that save lives, strengthen health systems, and turn national and global commitments into action.

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 who will defend them courageously and with full conviction.

UNFPA is seeking candidates who transform, inspire, and deliver high-impact and sustained results and ensure effective external relations, communications, and 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.

Under the overall supervision of the Maternal and Newborn Health Team Leader, the incumbent will work closely with the Family Planning and Maternal and Newborn Health team leads and will collaborate with counterparts from other Programme Division branches (particularly Gender Human Rights and Inclusion Branch and  DDDB), Regional Technical Advisors and country office teams, as well as counterparts in Humanitarian Response Division (HRD) and the Supply Chain Management Unit (SCMU).

The incumbent will be responsible for leading and monitoring UNFPA Programme Division’s integration of SRHR across the humanitarian-development-peace (HDP) continuum in line with UNFPA’s Strategic Plan 2026-29. This includes, but is not limited to, developing guidance to support the integration of humanitarian preparedness into country programme documents and national preparedness plans; institutionalizing and monitoring implementation of MISP readiness assessments (MRA) and MRA Action Plan reviews; and working with countries and regions to ensure that effective and quality HDP continuum approaches are incorporated into USP - MNH Fund integrated workplans. S/he will work with countries to ensure continuation and scale-up of quality SRHR programming in post-acute (protracted or recovery) phases and integration into national programmes. As a key member of the USP team, s/he will provide leadership in strengthening the programme’s crisis prevention and response activities across the 54 USP countries. 

The incumbent will provide technical support and leadership to the development of strategies, guidance, and policy briefs related to SRHR in climate and other humanitarian crises, ensuring alignment with global norms and guidelines and will ensure documentation of best practices and lessons learned, fostering cross-regional and cross-sectoral knowledge sharing and learning on HDP continuum approaches. 

S/he will represent UNFPA Programme Division in internal and external fora related to SRHR and HDP-continuum approaches for SRHR, including with country and regional offices, implementing partners, UN agencies, governments, and donors.

A. Strategic Leadership and Policy Guidance

• Providing strategic direction and thought leadership to UNFPA’s Programme Division for the integration of quality comprehensive SRHR interventions, including FP, MNH, HIV and CAC across the HDP continuum;
• Demonstrating leadership and advocating for UNFPA’s continued positioning as the UN’s lead agency for SRHR and SRH in Emergencies, through internal and inter-agency fora and with relevant partners.
• Developing policy briefs and programming guidance documents and resources on issues relevant to comprehensive SRHR, including MNH, HIV and FP across the HDP continuum;
• In close collaboration with Regional offices, supporting countries to integrate MISP preparedness, national preparedness plans, and humanitarian considerations into national SRHR policies.

B. Technical and Programme Support

• Lead the development and implementation of USP’s humanitarian strategy and action plan, ensuring that the programme capitalizes on its potential to strengthen humanitarian preparedness and response in acute and protracted crisis situations;
• In collaboration with ITSO, developing and implementing a global database and tracking tool to monitor MISP readiness assessment (MRA) and action plan implementation improve preparedness for SRH commodities, supplies, and service delivery across UNFPA country offices;
• Working with DDDB and humanitarian counterparts at global, regional and national levels, ensure that national and sub-national population data are updated and aligned with needs for humanitarian planning and response for SRH and GBV;
• Working with DDDB and humanitarian counterparts at global, regional and national levels, strengthen data systems for SRH including maternal and newborn health, including MPDSR, in humanitarian and fragile settings;
• Collaborating with SCMU and HRD to refine, coordinate, and streamline approaches to ensure the timely availability of life-saving commodities and supplies at the last mile during all phases of a crisis;
• Collaborating with PD-GHRIB to strengthen SRH-GBV integration in Humanitarian-Development-Peace  (HDP) continuum approaches;
• Liaising with the Humanitarian Results Manager to ensure alignment of Programme Division-SRHRBs HDP continuum strategies and approaches aligned with agency-wide humanitarian priorities under SP 2026-29 priorities and reporting on progress as required.

C. Partnership, Advocacy, and Resource Mobilization

• Actively engaging in advocacy and resource mobilization activities to advance UNFPA’s work in ensuring continuation of quality SRH commodities, supplies, and services across the HDP continuum;
• Represent UNFPA in high-level inter-agency fora, coordination mechanisms (e.g., Global Health Cluster, IASC), and with donors on humanitarian SRHR issues, positioning UNFPA as the lead agency;
• Cultivate and maintain strategic partnerships with UN agencies (WHO, UNHCR, UNICEF, OCHA), civil society organizations, donors, and academia to promote joint programming, advocacy, and resource mobilization for SRHR in emergencies;
• Contribute to the formulation and execution of ambitious resource mobilization strategies, developing compelling proposals and high-quality donor reports on humanitarian SRHR results.

D. Knowledge Management and Innovation

• Lead the generation, management, and dissemination of evidence and best practices on effective humanitarian SRHR programming, including operational research and lessons learned;
• Foster a culture of innovation by identifying and piloting new approaches (e.g., digital health, cash-based interventions) to overcome barriers to accessing SRHR services in volatile contexts.

Any other duties:

• Performs any other duties as may be directed by Family Planning team lead, the Maternal and Newborn Health team lead and/or the SRHR Branch Chief.

Education: 

Advanced university degree in health with clinical qualifications or a Master’s degree in Public Health or related discipline.  Clinical experience is an added advantage.

Knowledge and Experience:

• Minimum 10 years progressive professional experience managing SRHR programmes in development and/or humanitarian contexts;
• Extensive experience in ensuring quality SRHR programming and service delivery, in particular maternal and newborn health, contraceptive and family planning services, comprehensive abortion care, and clinical management of rape and intimate partner violence in humanitarian and development contexts;
• Experience managing health teams with the ability to motivate and encourage staff;
• Experience in training and capacity strengthening;
• Excellent ability and flexibility to understand the cultural and political environment and demonstrated capacity to communicate and uphold UNFPA’s mandate and priorities in this context;
• Experience leading initiatives, creating, and maintaining networks, and liaising with key stakeholders including donors;
• Experience in resource mobilization;
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, tasks efficiently with strong attention to detail;
• Ability to work independently and collaborate as part of a team.

Languages:

Fluency in English is required. Working knowledge of other UN languages an asset.

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;
• Communicating for impact.

Functional Competencies:

• Strategically positioning UNFPA programmes;
• Providing conceptual innovation to support programme effectiveness;
• Providing a technical support system;
• Strengthening the capacity of country offices;
• Facilitating quality programme results;
• External and internal communication and advocacy for resource mobilization;
• Technical expertise.

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: https://www.unfpa.org/diversity-equity-inclusion

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.