Job Description

• Level: P-4
• Contract Type: Fixed Term Appointment
• Closing date: 17 Jan 2024 05:00 AM (America/New_York)
• Duty station: Johannesburg, South Africa

The Position:

The Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) and Adolescent Sexual Reproductive Health Services (ASRHS) linkages Specialist post is located in the East and Southern Africa Regional Office (ESARO) based in Johannesburg, South Africa, and reports directly to the Youth Team Lead and SYP Regional Coordinator.

S/he will work closely with Regional Technical Advisers and Specialists, particularly the Health System Strengthening Regional Advisor, and will assist in assuring continuous technical assistance on Comprehensive Sexuality Education, adolescent responsive health systems, youth-friendly health services, and referral mechanisms between the education and health sectors to the twelve countries part of the Safeguard Young People Programme (SYP). The SYP is co-funded by UNFPA, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Job Purpose:

Since 2013, the SYP has built the capacity for CSE programming in the region; developing materials and resources, training programme staff, including training of trainers, and institutionalizing CSE in education systems. Likewise, significant attention has been paid to strengthening youth-friendly services provision through the health sector. In order to build stronger referral pathways and linkages between CSE and SRHR services, working in collaboration with the relevant Country Offices, Regional Economic Communities (RECs), and the relevant ESARO units, the CSE and ASRHS linkages Specialist will provide technical assistance to the COs and stakeholders on sexuality education in and out of school and its links with youth-friendly health services with the particular scope of strengthening the referral mechanisms between the Education and the Health Sectors. She/He serves as the focal point for developing, managing, and strengthening partnerships with relevant stakeholders on specific areas of work within his/her portfolio. S/He will also provide strategic advice and ensure the appropriate design of integrated CSE/SBCC and YFHS interventions within the Country Offices (COs) Annual Work Plans.

You will be responsible for:

A. Technical assistance:

• Provide technical support to countries on adolescent-responsive health systems and youth-friendly health services (YFHS).
• Provide technical support to countries to review and revise quality comprehensive sexuality education curricula and related training materials for both in-school and out-of-school adolescents and young people.
• Provide technical assistance on referral mechanisms, structures, and models for the delivery of comprehensive services and information to adolescents and young people fostering collaboration between the education and the health sectors.
• Provide support to strategies to reach marginalized and vulnerable young people in the region with CSE as well as youth-friendly and disability-friendly health services.
• Strengthen the capacities of UNFPA staff, youth-serving organizations, youth networks, in-service and pre-service teachers, and health providers in delivering integrated quality CSE programmes and youth-friendly health services and information including for marginalized adolescents.
• Contribute to the development of CSE and YFHS support and technical materials including knowledge products on self-care for ASRHR, referral mechanisms, Social and Behaviour Change Communication (SBCC), and innovative solutions e.g. digital solutions.
• Support demand generation for services including contraceptives and condoms including condom programming initiatives.
• Advocate for and provide Technical Assistance (TA) in the institutionalization of CSE in teacher training schools and tertiary institutions (government and private).
• Coordinate CSE activities in partnership with other UN partners (such as UNESCO, UNICEF, and UNAIDS), RECs, and civil society organizations.
• Conduct operations research activities to test CSE delivery methodologies and service delivery models, especially for marginalized adolescents - young members of key populations, adolescents living with HIV, adolescents at risk of marriage, youth with disabilities, etc.
• Technically support initiatives with faith-based organizations and other gatekeepers to advance the ASRHR agenda with a focus on CSE, YFHS, and access to condoms and other
• Document and disseminate best practices related to CSE activities; present project successes in regional conferences; and, contribute to the mobilization of resources for the expansion of CSE and especially the SYP.
• Foster innovation in the delivery of CSE training and content and its link with access to ASRHR by adolescents and young people in the region.

B. Partner and Stakeholder Management:

• Provide technical advice and build the capacity of partner organizations to implement the programme, providing ongoing technical support to partners/stakeholders as well as UNFPA CO offices.
• Regularly review political and social environments relevant to SRHR and advise the programme teams and partner organizations on the appropriate strategies and interventions to ensure the success of the SYP.
• Manage the technical liaison and partnership with relevant agencies/organizations, including other UN agencies, to facilitate timely and efficient delivery of programme results and outcomes both at national and regional levels.

C. Contribution to the Safeguard Young People Programme:

• Lead on documentation of best practices in the areas of CSE in and out of school, Youth friendly Health Services, and their linkages.
• Contribute to results reporting and dissemination including quarterly reports (SIS), annual reports
• Support resource mobilization efforts for CSE, SBCC, and YFHS.
• Actively contribute and participate in SYP Regional Coordination and Steering Committee meetings
• Support review of existing data related to CSE and ASRH services in the twelve countries to inform programme planning and effective implementation.
• Ensure integration of sound CSE and YFHS interventions at the country and regional level including contributing to the Annual Work plans.
• Support the Regional Programme Coordinator on programme reviews, planning, and reporting
• Oversee the quality of the COs' implemented of CSE and ASRH service interventions.
• Promote UNFPA's priorities and rights-based approaches on CSE and YFHS by situating them in national plans and Country specific priorities.

D. Perform any other tasks as assigned by relevant ESARO advisers.

Qualifications and Experience Required:

Education:

• Advanced university degree in Social Science, Public Health, or other related disciplines.

Knowledge and Experience:

• Minimum 7 years of relevant progressive professional experience in Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights programming with at least four years of professional experience in technical assistance and capacity-building support in linking Comprehensive Sexuality Education and Sexual Reproductive Health Services and Rights in Africa is required.
• Familiarity with the UN Common System at the field and international level is an asset.
• Extensive experience in operations research in ASRHR, combined with applying behavioural economics is an added advantage.
• Strong presentation, communication, and writing skills in English are required.

Languages:

Fluency in English is required; knowledge of other official UN languages, preferably French is desirable.

United Nations Population Fund