Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) Consultant - UNFPA Guyana

THE UNITED NATIONS POPULATION FUND (UNFPA)

Sub-regional Office for the Caribbean invites applications from suitably qualified individuals

PURPOSE OF CONSULTANCY

UNFPA, with funding support from Global Affairs Canada, aims to improve the protection of women and girls in Guyana; by increasing the exercise of their rights to bodily integrity and Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH). The programme seeks to enhance access to and use of quality SRH and rights information and services by women and adolescent girls, especially survivors of Gender-Based Violence (GBV), with a focus on strengthening programme frameworks and intersectoral coordination of the MISP and GBV in Emergencies Minimum Standards. 

The SRH Consultant will provide strategic technical and programmatic leadership and programme implementation support for the UNFPA in MISP in Guyana; to ensure MISP programme implementation, capacity building, advocacy and policy dialogue work that reflects UNFPA’s policy and programme policies as well as current thinking and academic advance in substantive areas affecting the ICPD Programme of Action. S/he maintains primary responsibility for coordination of the provision of technical assistance and programmatic support to primarily to Guyana [with technical guidance from the SRH Technical Advisor within the UNFPA Sub-Regional Office for the Caribbean]; in keeping with the work programme developed for interventions under the Global Affairs Canada project.
 

BACKGROUND

Background

UNFPA, with funds from Global Affairs Canada, is working in Guyana to improve protection for women and girls through enhanced access to integrated SRH and GBV services. Through this programme, UNFPA will particularly contribute to enhanced quality and accessibility of sexual and reproductive health and rights frameworks and services for women and adolescent girls, especially for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence. The programme is designed to apply internationally recognized principles and will mainly implement evidence-based and sustainable interventions to improve the accessibility and increase the utilization of quality and integrated sexual and reproductive health services and GBV prevention and response services. 
The Minimum Initial Service Package (MISP), which this programme is grounded in, lays out a set of priority activities for reproductive health. The MISP emphasizes the prevention of mortality and morbidity of the affected population, particularly women and girls. The MISP is a coordinated set of activities designed to prevent and manage the consequences of sexual violence; reduce transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV); prevent newborn and maternal morbidity and mortality; and to plan for comprehensive RH services. As part of the MISP related activities, technical assistance will be provided to the Ministry of Health to effectively forecast, procure, distribute and track the delivery of SRH commodities. 

UNFPA will work with government and civil society stakeholders and UN agencies to ensure complementarity and coherence among other programme interventions. UNFPA will also work with Government and civil society partners to aid implementation of this initiative. Under the direct supervision of the UNFPA Liaison Officer in Guyana and with the technical guidance of the SRH Technical Advisor within the UNFPA Sub-Regional Office for the Caribbean [who will be based in Guyana], the SRH Consultant will be responsible for leading Minimum Initial Service Package (MISP) interventions in Guyana as well as for providing MISP technical support. This position is time-bound and linked to the ‘Equal SRHR’ funding source. 
 
 
Scope of work – inter alia

The SRH Consultant will work in close coordination with the UNFPA Guyana Liaison Officer within the UNFPA Sub-Regional Office for the Caribbean as well as the SRH in Emergencies Coordinator and the SRH Technical Adviser within the UNFPA Sub-Regional Office for the Caribbean. He/she will:

• Provide support to the UNFPA Guyana Liaison Office in coordinating, in the field, the SRH humanitarian and live-saving response.
• Actively participate and support discussions within existing inter-agency and multi-sectoral SRH mechanisms at National and local levels as necessary.
• Support the Ministry of Health in Guyana in the functioning of a SRH working group, including the work plan of the SRH Working Group, and coordination of meetings.
• Represent UNFPA in relevant Clusters and other humanitarian coordination bodies to ensure that SRH issues are adequately considered in the context of the humanitarian response efforts.
• Provide technical assistance to National Emergency Management Agencies and Ministries of Health on incorporation of the MISP into national health sector emergency preparedness and response plans.
• Provide support to overall implementation, supervision and monitoring of UNFPA humanitarian response SRH program, guided by UNFPA’s response strategy and the approved project proposal and work plan for the funding source.
• Provide technical and related programme leadership and support to develop and operationalize UNFPA’s SRH annual plan activities according to agreements and commitments.
• Assist and provide technical support in the overall coordination, implementation, management and monitoring of SRH program in the coverage area of the project.
• Provide technical assistance on the delivery of integrated life-saving interventions to public health care providers and CSOs.
• Provide technical assistance to government entities and CSOs on MISP and collection/utilization of SRHR related data and information.
• Support the development key messages and advocacy notes to promote consistent communications that emphasize the life-saving nature of SRH related interventions in the crisis-affected context.
• Develop strategy for effective communications with affected populations on SRH services, risk mitigation strategies, and to promote gender equality.
• Provide support to the RHCS Consultant in the provision of technical assistance to the Ministries of Health to effectively forecast, procure, distribute and track the delivery of sexual and reproductive health commodities.
• Provide assistance to the UNFPA Guyana Liaison Office on the provision of technical assistance to the Ministry of Health in Guyana to update the safe and post abortion care guidelines.
• Provide technical assistance to civil society organizations on designing and implementing SRHR demand generation interventions.
• Establish linkages between existing Gender and SRH programs in the context of sexual violence and health to ensure synergies between programs and maximize program impact.
• Represent UNFPA on programme issues upon request and elaborate UNFPA’s substantive sub-regional and global perspectives in SRH.
• Carry out any other duties as may be requested by the office of the UNFPA Liaison Officer for Guyana or the SRH Advisor.

Submission Details

Interested Individual Consultants should submit their Application packages by Sunday, January 29, 2023 by email to guyana.office@unfpa.org ONLY and register in UNFPA Consultants Roster via this link: http://consultantroster.unfpa.org.  

Hard copies can be dropped off at the office - Attention: Adler Bynoe, Liaison Officer, UNFPA Guyana Liaison Office, Sub-Regional Office for the Caribbean, UN House, Lot 107-108 Duke Street, Kingston, Georgetown, Guyana.

To apply, kindly submit application letter and CV to:

Vacancy #: 2023/SRH/GUY/IC-006

The Spotlight Initiative

107-108 Duke Street, Georgetown, Guyana

Email:  guyana.office@unfpa.org

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

Note:

• There is no application, processing or other fee at any stage of the application process. 
• UNFPA does not solicit or screen for information in respect of HIV or AIDS and does not discriminate on the basis of HIV/AIDS status. 
• UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, teamwork, respect for diversity, integrity and a healthy balance of work and life. We are committed to maintaining our balanced gender distribution and therefore encourage women to apply.