Sexual and Reproductive Health Specialist, P3, FTA, Paramaribo, Suriname

The Position:

The Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) Specialist ensures the effective management of UNFPA activities in the areas of Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH), including Reproductive Health Commodities Security (RHCS), Adolescents RH, Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) and integrated SRH/Gender-based Violence services in the English and Dutch speaking Caribbean. Based in Paramaribo, Suriname, one of the Liaison offices of the UNFPA Sub-regional Offices for the Caribbean (SROC), the SRH Specialist will provide technical and programmatic leadership within the UNFPA SROC in SRH as well externally in coordination and collaboration with relevant stakeholders
across the UN, CSOs, Governments, regional and international entities. The SRH Specialist will have oversight responsibility of the Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights programming for SROC ensuring that capacity building, advocacy and policy dialogue work reflects UNFPA’s policy and programme policies as well as emerging thinking in substantive areas affecting the ICPD Programme of Action in the English and Dutch-Speaking Caribbean. In particular, the Specialist will play a key role in facilitating the implementation of the 2025-2029 programme “Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention in Belize and Suriname: Empowering Adolescent Girls to Realize their full potential”. S/he leads the SRH programme team and collaborates with the technical and programme staff in the regional office and the Sub-Regional Office for the Caribbean (SRO).

How you can make a difference:

UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled.  UNFPA’s strategic plan (2022-2025), reaffirms the relevance of the current strategic direction of UNFPA and focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and end gender-based violence and harmful practices. These results capture our strategic commitments on accelerating progress towards realizing the ICPD and SDGs in the Decade of Action leading up to 2030. Our strategic plan calls upon UN Member States, organizations and individuals to “build forward better”, while addressing the negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on women’s and girls’ access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, recover lost gains and realize our goals.

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 that transform, inspire and deliver high impact and sustained results; we need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them and who commit to deliver excellence in programme results.

Job Purpose:

Under the direct supervision of the UNFPA Deputy Director for the UNFPA Sub-regional Office for the Caribbean (SROC), the SRH specialist will ensure the effective implementation of UNFPA’s sub-regional programmes and initiatives in sexual and reproductive health in the context of the ICPD Programme of Action and UNFPA Strategic Plan 2026-2029. S/he maintains primary responsibility for the provision of technical assistance and programme support to priority countries in the sub-region in SRH, including Reproductive Health Commodities Security (RHCS), Adolescents RH, Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE), integrated SRH/Gender-based Violence services and humanitarian preparedness and response. The SRH specialist will coordinate and monitor the work of consultants, implementing partners, and technical experts. S/he will establish and maintain collaborative relationships with counterparts in government, multi-lateral and bilateral donor agencies, and civil society to address emerging issues and effectively influence diverse stakeholders to contribute to achieving UNFPA’s mandate in the English and Dutch speaking Caribbean.

You would be responsible for:

A. Leadership, Management, Technical Guidance and Oversight:
● Oversees achievement of programme results in SRH by ensuring appropriate policies and procedures are applied by the programme team, and monitoring and oversight mechanisms and systems are established and implemented. Substantively contributes to the roll-out of the 2027-2031 Sub-Regional Programme, as well as the formulation of Annual Work Plans (AWPs) in SRH in line with government priorities, the Multi-Country Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (MSDCF) for the Caribbean, and according to UNFPA policies and procedures.
● Leads SRH Workplan Implementation in the Caribbean Sub-regional Office with special attention to the 2025-2029 programme “Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention in Belize and Suriname: Empowering Adolescent Girls to Realize their full potential”, funded by Global Affairs Canada. Works with relevant Liaison Offices to formulate forward-thinking strategies to accelerate the reduction of adolescent pregnancy.
● Maintains collaborative partnerships with implementing entities, technical experts, and government counterparts to ensure strategic alignment around priorities and timely delivery of activities.
● Provides technical expertise and oversight for the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of SRH programmes including in Reproductive Health Commodity Security, Comprehensive Sexuality Education, HIV and STIs prevention, among other areas. This includes technical support in policy development, capacity building, and guidance and support to innovative solutions in close collaboration with the LACRO SRH Technical team.
● Contributes to the development of policies, frameworks, guidance, standards, instruments and tools based on the best available evidence at global, regional and national levels.
● Supervises and guides national staff, direct expert consultants and facilitates working groups and task teams in SRHR as required.
● Conducts rigorous review of project execution and implementation to ensure financial efficiency and adherence to programmatic objectives and recommends required follow-up actions.
● Prepares and submits detailed, accurate reports to UNFPA SRO leadership and to donors on project progress, financial utilization, and programmatic achievements, ensuring full accountability.

B. Advocacy, Partnerships, Policy Integration, and Knowledge Management
● Builds and maintains strategic partnerships with government agencies, NGOs, donors, UN agencies and other stakeholders such as the private sector.
● Contributes to SRO advocacy for policies and programmes that promote SRHR and rights and enhance access to comprehensive SRH services and information in line with the ICPD Programme of Action and broader regional trends in low fertility, population aging, and demographic resilience.
● Represents UNFPA at sub-regional and global meetings and events related to SRHR, advocating for UNFPA's mandate and objectives while ensuring feedback mechanisms to guide SRH flagship initiatives in the sub-region.
● Contributes to development of partnerships and resource mobilization efforts with an objective of ensuring sustainability and domestic financing to enhance access to SRHR including by serving as key focal point for the Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention project with Global Affairs Canada.
● Promotes and supports research and innovation in SRH by staying abreast of latest research, trends and developments in SRH and enhancing data-driven decision-making and continuous improvements in SRH interventions.
● Strengthens the capacity of national and sub-regional partners and UNFPA staff in SRH through training, technical assistance and knowledge sharing.
● Carries out any other duties as may be required by the SRO Director.
 

Qualifications and Experience: 

Education:  

Master's degree in public health, health economy, medicine, social sciences, public policy or a related
field.

Knowledge and Experience: 

Languages: 

Fluency in written and spoken English is required. Knowledge of Dutch is desirable.

Required Competencies: 

Values:

Core Competencies: 

Functional Competencies:

Compensation and Benefits:

This position offers an attractive remuneration package including a competitive net salary plus health insurance and other benefits as applicable.

UNFPA Work Environment:

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.
 

Disclaimer:

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.