Programme Specialist, Strategic Information and Policy – UNFPA

Job Description

Job Description#

The Position:

The Strategic Information & Policy Specialist is located in the Country Office (CO) of UNFPA in Lilongwe and operates under the direct supervision of the Programme Specialist, Population & Development. The Specialist plays a pivotal role in shaping data-driven policies, guiding programmes, and providing strategic advice to ensure the successful implementation of UNFPA’s goals. S/He leads the data and research function as a key member of the Population Dynamics, Data, and M&E programme unit and collaborates with the CO’s operations/administrative support staff.

The Specialist, will provide overall leadership and technical support to the government, local development partners and implementing partners to ensure optimal programme implementation, effective use of resources, quality tracking of results, adequate coordination, advocacy for policy change and clear communication of UNFPA mandate, work and results in the country across humanitarian and development settings. S/He will facilitate and coordinate multi-sectoral, inter-agency coordination in a humanitarian emergency. In addition, the Specialist will focus on leveraging strategic information, data analytics, and policy advocacy to enhance the organization’s impact in areas such as sexual and reproductive health, gender equality, population dynamics, and youth empowerment. S/He provides support for various functions of the CO and maintains collaborative relationships with all staff and teams in the CO.

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 new strategic plan (2022-2025), focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and end gender-based violence and harmful practices. The transformational journey mapped out in the Strategic Plan leads to 2030 and the achievement of universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights. Emerging trends inform the plan, new and expanded priorities add to longstanding commitments, and “how we work” is changing.

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.

All staff of UNFPA Malawi will contribute towards achieving the objectives of 9th Country Programme Document (Malawi CPD [2024-2028]) which responds to the Malawi 2063 Vision and the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF), 2024-2028 among others and to accelerate progress towards the three UNFPA strategic plan outcomes.

Job Purpose:

The Strategic Information & Policy Specialist, analyses strategic information and the social and policy environment in-country, ensuring that all reports, updates, and progress information on UNFPA supported programmes and projects align with results-based management principles. S/He is responsible for collecting, analyzing and interpreting population trends, sexual and reproductive health, gender-based violence, youth development, and other key areas of UNFPA’s work. The Specialist works to integrate strategic data and broader programme strengthening with Malawi national policies; international policy frameworks and long-term development strategies, ensuring that UNFPA’s programmes are responsive, sustainable, and aligned with the organization’s strategic objectives.

S/He may oversee the work of Programme Analysts, consultants, advisors, and experts, while establishing and maintaining collaborative relationships with government counterparts, multilateral and bilateral donor agencies, and civil society. S/He will ensure the delivery of high-quality, consistent, and impactful programmes by integrating economic perspectives into health policies and initiatives, thereby advancing UNFPA’s strategic objectives and supporting national health goals. The Specialist will optimize the allocation of resources, enhance the cost-effectiveness, promote financial sustainability, create synergies, influence policies and improve consistency and effectiveness of UNFPA’s work in the country and overall impact of UNFPA’s work.

Responsibilities:

The Strategic Information & Policy Specialist will be responsible for:

A. Programme Management and Technical Support 

• In collaboration with Government counterparts, UN, CSOs and other partners, lead the design and implementation of UNFPA programmes in Malawi ensuring they are informed by strong data and aligned with UNFPA’s global and regional strategies. These should be aligned with Government priorities and UNFPA programmes, policies and procedures.
• Provide technical expertise and strategic leadership to programme teams to ensure that initiatives are implemented effectively and in line with both global best practices and local needs.
• Participate in strategic planning processes within UNFPA, ensuring that strong data is integrated into long-term plans and initiatives.
• Contribute to the design of UNFPA programmes by providing economic analysis that guides resource allocation, prioritization of interventions, and identification of cost-effective strategies.
• Lead on effective coordination programming in the country by being actively involved in key coordination meetings and platforms. This includes participating in relevant programme meetings, humanitarian meetings, including settlement coordination meetings etc.
• Provide high-level technical support to partners when needed, including supporting capacity building of district local governments and local partners including ministries of health and finance, to enhance their ability to analyze and use strategic data in decision-making.
• Assess implications of new policy developments and strategies on programme execution, and ensuring their integration.
• Develop and implement strategies to build the resilience of communities, with a focus on strengthening local capacities to manage and recover from disasters and conflicts.
• Explore and promote innovative economic approaches, such as the establishment of Development Investment Bonds (DIB) to health financing and program implementation, such as digital health solutions, that can enhance the reach and impact of UNFPA’s work.
• Support in the strengthening of Public-private partnerships, particularly with the private banks, insurance companies among others.
• Lead and provide technical guidance to the UN convergence areas that are relevant to the UNFPA’s mandate in the country and the region.
• Proactively participate in annual national budget rapid analysis which coordinates RCO

B. Monitoring, Evaluation and Knowledge Management for Policy Advocacy

• Oversee achievement of programme results by ensuring that monitoring and oversight mechanisms are established and implemented.
• Develop and implement frameworks for monitoring the economic impact of health programmes, ensuring that economic outcomes are tracked and evaluated alongside health outcomes. Additionally, ensure the creation and documentation of knowledge about current and emerging health programme trends and issues, by the programme team through the analysis of projects, strategies, approaches and ongoing experience for lessons learned, best practices, and uses this knowledge for information sharing and planning future strategies.
• Advocate for policy changes or reforms that advance the agenda of sexual and reproductive health, gender equality, and population dynamics. This may include working closely with governments, international bodies, and civil society organizations.
• Assess the cost-effectiveness of ongoing and completed health programmes, providing recommendations for improving efficiency and optimizing resource use.
• Develop fact sheets and policy briefs regarding the impact of financing of FP and other SRH/ GBV prevention and response programme
• Support CO in engagement with Government/ donors/ investors in promoting UNFPA’s approach change from “funding to financing” of projects and SRH, AY and Gender/ GBV programmes;
• Prepare detailed reports on the economic impact and outcomes of health interventions, resilience-building efforts, and the overall impact of UNFPA’s work in crisis contexts, ensuring that these reports are shared with donors, partners, and stakeholders.
• Ensure increased availability and use of technical information to improve data collection, analysis, and use; with special attention to recent developments in analysis of data from censuses, surveys, statistics, etc.
• Support district/local governments and implementing partners in the states to prepare and submit health programmes technical and financial reports in conformity with signed donor agreements and in accordance with UNFPA guidelines and standards.
• Actively participate in the evaluation and documentation of programme results in the states, best practices and lessons learned and effectively share these lessons learned in health economics with relevant partners, contributing to global knowledge in the field.
• Conduct regular field visits to follow up and monitor the technical quality and financial effectiveness and accountability of UNFPA-supported programmes in the region to ensure value for money.
• In collaboration with other UN system structures (UNRCO/UNICEF, etc. teams), support state/local governments to conduct quarterly and annual review meetings to address coordination, implementation and planning across development in the health sector.
• Support district local governments and implementing partners in the region to prepare and submit technical and financial reports on health programmes in conformity with signed donor agreements and in accordance with UNFPA guidelines and standards.
• Support the capacity building of district local governments and partners by organizing and conducting training sessions, workshops, and seminars on health economics, while providing technical support and training to UNFPA staff, government officials, and other stakeholders.
• Participate actively in appropriate UN coordination mechanisms (e.g. Joint UN Teams) and support and contribute to all joint programmes/activities among the UN agencies

C. Partnerships, Communications for Resource mobilization and Capacity Building 

• Establish and maintain mutually respectful relationships with strategic partners, development partners, UN agencies and implementing partners and other duty bearers in the country to facilitate timely and efficient delivery of programmes with a particular focus on advancing health economics within the context of sexual and reproductive health and broader health systems.
• Work with local and national stakeholders to improve their capacity to collect and use data, including strengthening national statistical systems.
• Lead the costing of health interventions, including SRH services, to support resource mobilization efforts and ensure that programs are financially sustainable.
• Collaborate with UNFPA programme teams, particularly those focused on SRH, gender, and population dynamics, to ensure that economic considerations are integrated into all aspects of programme design and implementation.
• Review the political, social and economic environment relevant to UNFPA programme activities in the country, and pursue opportunities for UNFPA assistance and intervention. This includes promoting UNFPA’s mandate areas in district development planning and budgeting processes and policies at regional and national level.
• Contribute to the CO’s advocacy, policy dialogue, and resource mobilization efforts by preparing key documentation and supporting materials (i.e. project summaries, financing guidelines, conference papers, speeches, donor profiles, and participating in donor meetings and public information events).
• Develop factsheets, briefing materials, infographics, and presentations for public information, advocacy and resource mobilization purposes.
• Facilitate the identification of resource gaps in the districts and humanitarian settings and provide technical input to the development of resource mobilization documents especially for health programmes.
• Prepare project proposals with relevant proposals with humanitarian and resilience components and share information about UNFPA tools for co-financing and funding.
• Build strong technical and programme multi-sectoral partnerships for advocacy for health programmes within the broader SRHR agenda through national institutions, networks, alliances and coalitions.
• Participate in global and regional discussions on health economics, representing UNFPA and contributing to the broader discourse on economic strategies for improving health outcomes.
• Monitor and keep updates on existing and potential partnerships. Follow through and ensure that recommendations and action points agreed to are addressed.
• Map and develop a database of health programmes actors and institutions in the country and provide support towards institutional and leadership development to strengthen and professionalize the sector in the country.
• Work with the CO communication team to publicize UNFPA’s work and achievements on health economy function, to disseminate UNFPA’s results in national media.
• Proactively contribute to humanitarian and resilience advocacy, partnership building and resource mobilization efforts of Country Office by preparing relevant documentation (i.e. project summaries, conference papers, speeches, donor profiles, and participating in donor meetings and public information events).
• Support accountability and visibility for UNFPA health programmes by maintaining donor relationships, providing regular updates on achievements and challenges, and ensuring transparency in resource use, all in alignment with donor agreements.
• Actively promote and support UN Reform/delivering as one initiative and the UN Area Coordination in the country to strengthen coordination, coherence and efficiency of the programmes.
• Manage assets that have been procured by the UNFPA and supplied to the implementing partners; ensuring that they are put to proper use.
• Provide leadership in demonstrating UNFPA’s work to partners to enhance goodwill and partnership.
• Directly supervise UNFPA Data Analysts, consultants, advisors, and experts working in the health economy function.
• Represent UNFPA at key humanitarian response and resilience events where required, with regard to UNFPA’s mandate, including field visits by government and donors, international days and policy formulation fora

D. General Support 

• Stand-in for other team members on selected functions as may be required.
• Carry out any other duties as may be required by UNFPA leadership.

Qualifications and Experience: 

Education: 

Master’s Degree in Public Health, Health Economics, Strategic Information Systems, or related discipline.

Knowledge and Experience: 

• At least 5 years of professional experience in the substantive area.
• Proven experience in a lead role in Strategic Information & Policy
• Demonstrated expertise in policy engagement within developing countries.
• Established global and regional professional networks related to shaping data-driven policies
• Demonstrated ability to engage effectively with national counterparts, academia and development partners.
• Experience in Project/Programme Management and Coordination.
• Prior experience of work in Malawi in the relevant fields of UNFPA mandate, including sexual & reproductive health and rights, youth/adolescents, gender and population dynamics in humanitarian and post conflict recovery setting is preferred.
• Experience in implementing legislation.
• Field experience is required.
• Demonstrated analytical, planning, and negotiation skills are required.
• A thorough understanding of the UN system in general, and especially UNFPA mandate, its policies and operations and current development topics and political issues in Malawi will be an added advantage.
• Demonstrated ability to work in and lead a team.
• Demonstrated excellent communication skills, in terms of both written and oral, are required.
• Proficiency in current office software applications and a good basic knowledge of finances, budgeting and reporting.

Languages: 

Fluency in oral and written English is required. Working knowledge of another UN Official Language, an asset.

Required Competencies:

Values:

• Exemplifying integrity.
• Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system.
• Embracing cultural diversity.
• Embracing change.

Core Competencies:

• Achieve results
• Being accountable
• Developing and applying professional expertise/ business acumen
• Thinking analytically and strategically
• Working in teams/ managing ourselves and our relationships
• Communicating for impact.

Functional Skill Set:

• Advocacy/Advancing a policy-oriented agenda
• Leveraging the resources of national governments and partners/ building strategic alliances and partnerships
• Internal and external communication and advocacy for results mobilization
• Delivering results-based programmes
• Resource mobilization and donor relations
• Advocacy & Lobbying
• Technical Understanding of the areas of work e.g. strategic information, shaping data-driven policies, data analysis, cost-effectiveness analysis, and economic evaluation of health interventions; research; health financing mechanisms; economic analysis etc.
• Programme & Project Management
• People Management and Leadership
• Cultural & contextual awareness
• Managing financial processes
• Proficiency in current office and software applications

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. 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.