Regional Humanitarian Project Coordinator and SRH in Emergencies Specialist, APRO, Bangkok, Thailand, P-4

The Position:

The Regional Humanitarian Project Coordinator and SRH in Emergencies Specialist will manage the DFAT-funded Regional Prepositioning Initiative Phase III (2021- 2026), ensuring women, girls and other at-risk groups such as people living with disabilities, in disaster prone countries within Asia and the Pacific, have improved access to quality integrated Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) and Gender-Based Violence (GBV) information and services through the use of prepositioned supplies.

You will report directly to the Regional Humanitarian 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:

Asia and the Pacific faces frequent natural hazards and disasters and protracted crises. UNFPA supports governments to address SRH and GBV needs through preparedness efforts, including supply prepositioning and SRHiE programming. A key component of this is strengthening humanitarian preparedness, including prepositioning of essential SRH and GBV supplies for immediate distribution and use, and Sexual and Reproductive Health in Emergencies (SRHiE) programming. 

The Regional Humanitarian Project Coordinator and SRH in Emergencies Specialist will manage Phase III of the Regional Prepositioning Initiative (2021-2026), supported by the Government of Australia. This involves providing technical and programmatic support and oversight to 11 UNFPA Country Offices in the Asia Pacific region to implement the annual workplans; preparing progress updates, annual reports and workplans for the donor; undertaking budget monitoring, facilitating information sharing both internally and externally; supporting strategic capacity building and implementation of advocacy activities; facilitating strategic dialogues; and undertaking project monitoring and evaluation. The position will also provide programmatic support to country offices experiencing humanitarian crises to contribute to the regional office’s work on emergency preparedness and response, and ensure that women, girls and at-risk groups in disaster-prone countries within Asia and the Pacific have improved access to quality integrated SRH and GBV services during emergencies. 

The position requires a strong background in SRHiE, with a clinical focus, including expertise in the Minimum Initial Service Package (MISP) for Sexual and Reproductive Health in Crisis Situations, and experience in developing technical guidance and implementing capacity-building initiatives.

You would be responsible for:

A. Programme management, coordination and implementation of the Regional Prepositioning Initiative

• Develop and oversee workplans for the Regional Prepositioning Initiative, ensuring alignment with results frameworks and providing technical and programmatic support to country offices.
• Monitor the programmatic aspects of the Regional Prepositioning Initiative, in collaboration      with the Regional Supply Chain Team on the development and approval of procurement plans, prepositioning of supplies at the country and regional level, and customisation of supplies for vulnerable groups.
• Undertake budget monitoring and budget and workplan revisions to ensure full implementation in line with the approved annual workplans.
• Support country offices to strengthen advocacy for SRH and GBV in emergencies, particularly related to disability inclusion, accountability to affected populations and leaving no one behind.
• Design and facilitate strategic capacity building activities to strengthen capacities to respond to SRH and GBV needs during disasters in a sustainable way that is in line with UNFPA’s localisation commitments.
• Strengthen accountability to affected populations across the Regional Prepositioning Initiative, including by supporting country offices to establish effective feedback mechanisms, analyzing the feedback received, and using it to inform programming.
• Support the integration of cash and voucher assistance within SRH and GBV preparedness and response strategies under the initiative.
• Identify operational and financial bottlenecks, liaise with UNFPA units and develop solutions.
• Uphold compliance with UNFPA corporate and donor guidelines and regulations and managing audit processes as necessary as well as preparing for project closure.

B. SRHiE Technical Support and Capacity Building

• Provide technical and operational guidance to country offices on SRHiE programming, prioritizing Regional Prepositioning Initiative countries while supporting others as needed.
• Lead capacity-building on MISP, SRH-GBV integration and clinical management of rape.
• Develop technical guidance documents, toolkits, and knowledge products on SRHiE programming, addressing topics such as menstrual health management in emergencies, and adolescent and youth SRH in emergencies.
• Support country offices in conducting MISP Readiness Assessments and preparing for humanitarian responses, including simulation exercises and disaster risk reduction planning.
• Review and provide feedback on country-level preparedness, contingency and response plans for SRHiE, including Interagency Reproductive Health kit quantification and procurement strategies.
• Support country offices on SRH integration in national and/or sub-national disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation policies.

C. Knowledge Management

• Document and share good practices and lessons learned on preparedness, prepositioning and SRHiE programming to inform policies and programming globally and regionally.
• Strengthen internal communications to influence policy and programming, by contributing to the development of new UNFPA policies, procedures and guidelines leveraging lessons learned and achievements under the Regional Prepositioning Initiative.
• Strengthen external communications and visibility through developing and sharing good practices, human interest stories and updates of the Regional Prepositioning Initiative.
• Coordinate and facilitate strategic dialogues on emerging humanitarian issues related to UNFPA’s mandate, and strengthen inclusion across UNFPA’s humanitarian preparedness and response in the region.

D. Partnership and Resource Mobilization

• Maintain donor relations through regular updates, reports and communication products while identifying opportunities to expand partnerships.
• Lead monthly meetings with the donor and undertake regular and proactive communication with the donor.
• Prepare substantive briefs on possible areas of cooperation and identify opportunities for new projects.

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

Qualifications and Experience: 

Education:  

Advanced university degree in public health, medicine, gender studies, humanitarian studies, international development, or a related field.
 

Knowledge and Experience: 

• Minimum of 7 years of relevant professional experience in humanitarian programming, including SRH in Emergencies (SRHiE).
• Proven expertise in MISP training, capacity building, and SRH-GBV integration in humanitarian contexts.
• Experience in managing large-scale projects, donor relations, and results-based management.
• Demonstrated ability to develop technical guidance, toolkits, and knowledge products.
• Strong understanding of disability inclusion and accountability to affected populations in humanitarian settings.
• Familiarity with emergency supply chain management and SRHiE procurement processes, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region.
• Knowledge of UN procedures, including UNFPA’s policies and humanitarian commitments, is an asset.
• Strong organizational and coordination skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities within tight deadlines.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Proficiency in knowledge management and resource mobilization.
• Cultural sensitivity and ability to work effectively in a multicultural environment.

Languages: 

Fluency in English is required; Working knowledge of another official UN language is desirable.