Job Description
The Junior Professional Officer (JPO) will work as a member of the country team to support WHO's work in midwifery, including in the areas of sexual, reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health (SRMNCH). In particular, the JPO will support the implementation of the joint WHO-UNFPA-UNICEF-ICM 2019 “Framework for Action: Strengthening quality midwifery education for universal health coverage (UHC) 2030” in the context of improving quality of care through the global network for quality of care, which is actively led by the governments in both Sierra Leone and Malawi. The JPO will participate in efforts to harmonize support to countries in the design and implementation of national health strategies and plans in the context of SRMNCH and with an integrated focus on midwifery, in the context of the UN Secretary General’s Every Woman Every Child initiative, Sustainable Development Goal 3 to help catalyse the related Global Strategy for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescent’s Health 2016-30. The overall aim is to work towards universal coverage of effective midwifery interventions to reduce morbidity and mortality among women, children and adolescents, and to improve health and development. In 2020, “The International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife”, the JPO will have a unique opportunity to be engaged and actively support the development and implementation of the advocacy and communications strategy, in partnership with the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM), The International Council of Nurses (ICN) and the Nursing Now campaign.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Support the implementation of the joint WHO-UNFPA-UNICEF-ICM 2019 “Framework for Action: Strengthening quality midwifery education for universal health coverage(UHC) 2030” to help catalyse the implementation of the Global Strategy for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescent’s Health 2016-30.
- Assist in the development and implementation of a harmonized country-level engagement approach for midwifery through the quality of care network, and facilitate coordination between multiple global partners and initiatives aimed at achieving the GS2 including through the H6, Global Financing Facility (GFF) and other coordination and financing mechanisms.
- Contribute to the evidence-based development of policy and tools to improve the quality of midwifery care across the continuum of care and in facilities and communities, including on: midwifery education; addressing gender inequality and increasing the voice, agency and visibility of midwifery; and integration of midwifery with key areas of public health including family planning, breastfeeding, STI’s /HIV, and cervical cancer.
- Provide specific country level support on advocacy and communications during 2020 , the “International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife”, and contribute to other tasks related to midwifery.
Competencies
- Producing results
- Knowing and managing yourself
- Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
- Teamwork
- Communication
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
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Minimum: Fully qualified midwife with an advanced university degree in midwifery, public health, health education, health economics or other health-related sciences
A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s degree or equivalent) in combination with qualifying experience (at least 3 years of relevant working experience) may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree
Part of the candidates' academic training must have taken place in a developing country that appears on the following list of eligible countries of the Dutch JPO Programme.
Experience:
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Minimum 2 years to maximum 4 years of relevant working experience, in midwifery with some international exposure.
Desirable: Work experience in midwifery in a developing country or with an international organization.
Working experience within the UN system should not exceed 50% of the relevant working experience including UNV, ( paid) UN internship and UN consultancy.
All paid work experience since obtaining Bachelor’s degree will/can be considered.