National Consultant: Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) Program Officer, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Organizational Context

UNFPA is the lead UN agency dedicated to a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe, and every young person's potential is fulfilled. This role operates within the UNFPA Ethiopia Country Office, providing technical and administrative support to the Ministry of Health's Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health Lead Executive Office. The position contributes to advancing key health sector outcomes and institutional capacity.

Job Purpose

The Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) Program Officer provides strategic and technical support to the Ministry of Health, focusing on SRHR programs and integrating them into national development frameworks and humanitarian responses. The role advises on program formulation, evaluation, and joint initiatives, particularly within the Maternal, Family Planning, and Adolescent team. It facilitates nexus programming, linking humanitarian and development settings, and supports high-level platforms like the Joint Core Coordinating Committee and SRHR technical working groups. This consultancy aims to strengthen UNFPA's partnership with the Ministry of Health, advancing priority health outcomes and supporting key reform agendas.

Responsibilities

The SRHR Program Officer provides high-level strategic and technical assistance to the Ministry of Health (FMOH) for integrating SRHR into social development interventions across humanitarian and development contexts. Responsibilities include supporting the development and implementation of national RMNCAYH strategy documents, advising on SRHR debates in multi-sectoral contexts, and supporting SRHR programming within the Triple Nexus agenda. The role provides guidance to the Ethiopian Public Health Institute on MPDSR, Obstetric Fistula surveillance, and SRHR in humanitarian contexts. It facilitates SRHR Technical Working Groups and represents UNFPA in high-level engagements such as the JCCC and FP2030. The officer assists in policy synthesis, formulation, and knowledge management regarding SRHR trends. Contributions include designing SRHR and Population Policies, developing evidence-based policy papers, and promoting SRHR/population sensitization for SDG integration. Support is also provided for annual work plan development, fund release, and analysis of emerging issues at the MOH.

Work Experience

Requires two years of professional experience in Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (Maternal health, Family planning, Adolescent & Youth) in humanitarian and development contexts. Experience in program/project management, including multi-sector projects and proposal design, is necessary. Proven experience coordinating multi-disciplinary teams is essential. Experience with RMNCAY programs, the Ethiopian health sector, the Ministry of Health, and the UN system are assets.

Skills

Core competencies include achieving results, accountability, professional expertise, analytical and strategic thinking, teamwork, and communication. Functional skills involve advocacy, advancing policy agendas, building strategic alliances, delivering results-based programs, and internal/external communication.

Explore related opportunities