The Position:

The Sexual, Reproductive, and HIV Specialist is responsible for developing, monitoring, and evaluating the implementation of projects and initiatives related to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and HIV in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). 

The Specialist will provide technical assistance to country offices in the region and collaborate with the Regional Office and Headquarters to ensure the effective implementation of UNFPA's SRHR and HIV programs. The specialist will report to the SRH Regional Advisor.

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:

Working within a Regional Office (RO) environment, you will ensure the effective implementation of UNFPA regional program and initiatives in sexual and reproductive health, maternal health, and HIV prevention within an integrated approach, in the context of the ICPD Program of Action and UNFPA Strategic Plan. 

Employing your technical assistance, expertise, and program management experience, you will contribute to oversee the work of consultants, implementing partners, CO, and experts. You 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.

You would be responsible for:

• Coordination and follow-up of Country Offices (COs) SRH Workplan Implementation: Work with COs to accelerate the reduction of maternal mortality and adolescent pregnancy, focusing on sexual and reproductive health (SRH) project development and implementation.
• Provide Technical Assistance: Offer oversight and technical support to COs on SRHR and HIV/AIDS programming, including policy, capacity building, and service delivery.
• Ensure Fund Accountability: Review timely execution and implementation of projects in the region, including funds from MHTH, UBRAF, and others.
• Participate in Inter-agency Groups: Collaborate with groups like UNAIDS, GTR, and GCTH-SM to align strategies and interventions for transformative results.
• Report to UNFPA Headquarters: Provide detailed reports and updates on project progress and fund utilization.
• Represent UNFPA: Attend regional and global meetings and events related to SRHR and HIV/AIDS.
• Facilitate Knowledge Management: Capture lessons learned and best practices for future planning and CO training.
• Support Advocacy and Resource Mobilization: Prepare documentation (e.g., project summaries, speeches) and participate in related meetings and events.

Key Outcomes:

1. Catalyzing and Guiding High-Impact SRHR and HIV/AIDS Programming Across the LAC Region

• Drives regional efforts to accelerate the reduction of maternal mortality and adolescent pregnancy, directly supporting 23 country offices, with a focus on 17 prioritized ones.
• Provides expert technical assistance and comprehensive oversight to country offices on SRHR and HIV/AIDS programming, encompassing policy development, capacity building, and service delivery.
• Leads the development and promotion of a portfolio of cost-effective interventions focused on sexual well-being and health across the lifespan, guiding country offices in their implementation.
• Monitors and supports the development and implementation of high-quality SRHR projects in alignment with regional and global strategic frameworks.

1. Ensuring Robust Financial Stewardship and Accountability for Regional SRHR Initiatives

• Oversees the proper and timely utilization of allocated funds for SRHR and HIV/AIDS programs, including MHTH, UBRAF, and other mobilized resources.
• Conducts rigorous review of project execution and implementation to ensure financial efficiency and adherence to programmatic objectives across regional countries.
• Prepares and submits detailed, accurate reports to UNFPA headquarters on project progress, financial utilization, and programmatic achievements, ensuring full accountability.
• Identifies and addresses any financial bottlenecks or implementation challenges to optimize resource deployment for maximum impact.

1. Fostering Strategic Partnerships, Policy Integration, and Knowledge Management for Regional Impact

• Coordinates and strengthens collaboration with all relevant stakeholders, including inter-agency groups (e.g., UNAIDS, GTR, GCTH-SM), to align strategies and interventions towards achieving the "3 zero transformative results."
• Actively participates in the development of regional and global SRHR and HIV/AIDS strategies and policies in collaboration with the Regional Office and Headquarters.
• Represents UNFPA at high-level regional and global meetings and events pertaining to SRHR and HIV/AIDS, advocating for UNFPA's mandate and objectives.
• Establishes and maintains an effective knowledge management system to capture, document, and disseminate lessons learned and best practices across the LAC Region.
• Contributes significantly to advocacy and resource mobilization efforts, including the preparation of essential documentation (e.g., project summaries, conference papers, donor profiles) and participation in related events.

Carry out any other duties as may be required by UNFPA leadership.

Qualifications and Experience: 

Education:  

Master's degree in Gender, SRH, public policy, social work, international development, or a related field.

Knowledge and Experience: 

• At least 5 years of experience in SRHR and HIV/AIDS programming, including project development, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation, of which at least 3 years are at the international level.
• Substantive knowledge and practical experience in SRHR, Gender and HIV/AIDS issues in LAC. 
• Proven experience in providing technical assistance to government and civil society partners.
• Excellent communication and writing skills.  
• Experience in program/ project management, including expertise in large multi-sector projects and inter agency initiatives.  
• Experience in drafting and implementing initiatives. 
• Field experience is an asset, especially having worked with governmental institutions at country level and/or UN agencies.
• Prior experience in UNFPA is an asset.

Languages: 

Fluency in written and spoken Spanish and English is required; knowledge of other official UN languages, preferably Portuguese, is desirable.

Required Competencies: 

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,

Functional Competencies:

• Advocacy/ Advancing a policy-oriented agenda
• Leveraging the resources of national governments and partners/ building strategic alliances and partnerships
• Delivering results-based program
• Internal and external communication and advocacy for results mobilization

Managerial Competencies (if applicable):

• 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 
   

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.