Sexual, Reproductive, Maternal, Neonatal, Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCAHA) and Healthy Ageing Officer World Health Organization

JOB DESCRIPTION

Cluster: Universal Health Coverage / Life Course (ULC)
Programme Areas: Sexual, Reproductive, Maternal, Neonatal, Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCAHA) and Healthy Ageing
Unit/Team: SRMNCAH and healthy aging team
Position Title: National Sexual, Reproductive, Maternal, Neonatal, Child and Adolescent Health) & Healthy Ageing Consultant (NPO/SRMNCAH-HA)
Level NPO, NOC, Step-1
Duty Station: Lusaka, Zambia

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME AND IMMEDIATE STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES

The SRMNCAH-HA Programme aims to assist the Zambian government in developing, implementing, and evaluating policies for Sexual, Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, and Adolescent Health (SRMNCAH), as well as promoting healthy ageing for Universal Health Coverage. Aligned with the Global Strategy for Women’s, Children’s, and Adolescents’ Health (2016-2030) and the Decade of Healthy Ageing (2016-2030), the program supports the government in reducing mortality and morbidity, guided by WHO norms. The ultimate goal is to ensure universal access to high-quality health services and improve the impact of interventions through resilient health systems.

Key activities include providing technical assistance, capacity building, social mobilization, defining research agendas, and strengthening strategic information systems, the program focuses on reducing mortality and morbidity by providing technical assistance, capacity building, and social mobilization.

PURPOSE OF THE POSITION

The position, within the ULC Cluster, supports the Zambian government in SRMNCAH and healthy ageing programs, ensuring integration into robust health systems. The incumbent collaborates with the three levels of the WHO offices, government bodies, universities, NGOs, and other partners, providing technical support for Sexual, Reproductive, Maternal, Neonatal, Child, and Adolescent Health, and Healthy Ageing.

Under the direct technical supervision by the WHO Representative (WR) and the Universal Health Coverage Across Life Course (ULC) cluster coordinator, the incumbent will manage strategic planning, operational monitoring, capacity building, advocacy, partnerships and resources mobilization related tasks of the overall SRMNCAH-HA program. The responsibilities include policy development, guideline dissemination, advocacy coordination, and support for program setup and scaling. The role also involves cross-cluster collaboration, proactive participation in capacity building, advocacy, and resource mobilization, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and priorities.

SUMMARY OF ASSIGNED DUTIES

The WHO country office is looking for a dynamic and experienced program manager for Sexual, Reproductive, Maternal, Neonatal, Child, and Adolescent Health (SRMNCAH) and Healthy Ageing in Zambia. The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in advancing the country’s health agenda, ensuring the provision of high-quality services, and contributing to the achievement of the national and global health targets by 2030.

• Manage and oversee the WHO country office program for SRMNCAH and Healthy Ageing, ensuring alignment with national health priorities.
• Implement innovative approaches to foster collaboration and linkages with programs, clusters, and partners, ensuring timely and efficient support, especially during emergencies.
• Facilitate the dissemination of evidence-based guidelines, tools, norms, and standards for SRMNCAH and Healthy Ageing services.
• Contribute to Zambia’s efforts to end preventable maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent morbidity, eliminate mother-to-child transmission of preventable diseases, and promote universal access to Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights.
• Coordinate and oversee advocacy efforts for prioritizing SRMNCAH and Healthy Ageing in the national development agenda.
• Advise the Ministry of Health on institutionalizing Maternal and Perinatal Disease Surveillance and Response (MPDSR) and advocate for improved domestic resource allocation.
• Monitor the implementation of key SRMNH and Healthy Ageing interventions and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) in Zambia.
• Support the Ministry of Health in setting up and scaling up sustainable Maternal and Neonatal Health (MNH) and Healthy Ageing programs and systems.
• Provide expert advice to the Ministry of Health on priority child and adolescent health interventions.
• Support the scaling up of Integrated Management of Childhood Illnesses (IMCI) and the operationalization of the nurturing care framework for early childhood development.
• Oversee and conduct the documentation of best practices in SRMNCAH and Healthy Ageing activities for local use and contribute to regional and global reporting.
• Facilitate the production and utilization of strategic information for evidence-based decision-making.
• Proactively engage in advocacy and resource mobilization activities for SRMNCAH and Healthy Ageing programs in Zambia.
• Play a critical role in integrating SRMNCAH and Healthy Ageing into emergency preparedness and response plans.
• Perform additional responsibilities as assigned by the WHO Representative, including providing backup support as needed.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

WHO Competencies:

• Moving forward in a changing environment

• Promoting the Organization’s position in Health Leadership

• Producing Results

• Building and Promoting Partnerships across the Organization and Beyond

• Communication

• Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences

Functional Knowledge and Skills

• Demonstrated leadership, management and strong organizational skills combined with the ability to work with diverse teams and a broad range of partners
• Proven track record in policy formulation and strategic planning, guidelines development, analysis and reporting in the field of SRMNCAH-HA
• Knowledge and skills in monitoring and evaluation of SRMNCAH-HA programmes
• Proven ability to design, implement and control SRMNCAH and Healthy Ageing projects
• Proven track record of partnership management with a demonstrated experience in negotiating, developing and maintaining effective partnerships and creating harmonized synergies and approaches, including resources mobilization.

Education

Essential:

• Medical or health related degree with a post-graduate degree in Obstetrics and Gynecology or Pediatrics and Child Health, or public health.

Desirable:

• Training in Leadership and management, program/project management, monitoring and evaluation

Experience

Essential:

• At least seven years’ experience at the national level planning, implementing, managing and evaluating programmes relevant to this post (Sexual and Reproductive Health, Maternal Health, Newborn Health, Child Health, Adolescent Health, Healthy Ageing)

Desirable:

• Field experience complemented by experience in negotiating, developing and maintaining effective partnerships and creating harmonized synergies and approaches. Experience in intergovernmental agencies or the UN System.

Use of Language Skills

• Excellent knowledge of English

Other Skills (e.g. IT)

• Computer literacy used for health evidence generation or knowledge information, and Programme management (Ms-Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Statistical software-SPSS, EPI-info, STATA, Atlas-ti/Nvivo, etc…), including email and online data management