Background
Liberia has an unacceptably high maternal mortality ratio of 742/100,000 live births.
The current contraceptive prevalence rate for modern contraception is 24%, and the unmet need for family planning is at 33%, according to the 2019/2020 Demographic Health Survey. Challenges with the quality of maternal care, including Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care at the point of service delivery, result from a multifaceted gap in the provision of preventive and curative services for reproductive health care.
Social and cultural norms, myths, and misconceptions affect attitudes and practices at the community level. Sexual debut is early (15 years) among adolescent girls compared to boys (17%). The adolescent pregnancy rate is approximately 30% and has remained the same over the past 2 to 3 decades. The recent population and housing census reports that approximately 10% of adolescent girls aged 10 -14 have begun childbearing. This proportion increases to 30% by age 19 years. The high adolescent pregnancy rate may be fueled by an early sexual debut at 16 years for nearly 50% of adolescent girls and an unclear public health law, social-cultural norms, and limited prioritization of responsive contraception services. Approximately 45% of sexually active unmarried women have an unmet need for family planning.
Gradual progress towards domestic financing for reproductive health is worth commending in recent years. Notwithstanding, financing for maternal health and family planning remains heavily donor-reliant. There is an integrated supply chain system with good progress made in inventory management and distribution. However, challenges with weak inventory management at the subnational level significantly impact commodity stockout as a contributing factor to accessing quality care.
Purpose of consultancy:
The overall objective of this Consultancy is to provide strategic advice and technical support to the Deputy Minister of Health on sexual and reproductive health (SRH) matters.
Duration: One Year with the Possibility of Extension
Required Qualifications
The Consultant must meet the following criteria:
- Advanced degree in public health, medicine, or a related field
- A seasoned Public Health Specialist with 7 to 10 years of experience,
- An OBGYN Specialist with years of experience in Family planning policy and guideline document management over 5 to 7 years,
- Excellent writing and organizational skills in workshop facilitation,
- Excellent analytical skills and a high capacity to synthesize information,
- A thorough knowledge of the United Nations system in general and UNFPA in particular would be an asset,
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills,
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team and
- Fluency in English.
How to Apply
Applicants can submit their application with a current CV detailing relevant qualifications and experience to the following email addresses: mulumba@unfpa.org and neblett@unfpa.org.
The deadline for application is 17 January 2025.
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Notice: UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. UNFPA is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNFPA does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for the next phase of the selection process.