Programme Analyst, Maternal Health

Description

The Position: Programme Analyst – Maternal Health

The Programme Analyst is located in the UNFPA Country Office in Juba. This position serves as a critical bridge between national-level policy and sub-national implementation. The incumbent will provide technical and programmatic support to ensure the integration of Maternal Health and EmONC into both development and humanitarian streams across South Sudan. S/he will support the SRHR Specialist in managing the national portfolio, coordinating with the Ministry of Health (MOH) at the central level, and providing oversight to field hubs to ensure consistency in service delivery and reporting.

The Maternal Health Programme Analyst will report directly to the Programme Specialist SRHR - Head of unit under the overall oversight of the Deputy representative.

How you can make a difference:

The UNFPA Strategic Plan 2026–2029 serves as the organization’s final push to achieve the 2030 Agenda, centering its mission on four primary outcomes. It continues to prioritize the "three transformative results"—ending the unmet need for family planning, eliminating preventable maternal deaths, and stopping gender-based violence and harmful practices. A pivotal addition to this cycle is a fourth outcome focused on demographic resilience, which seeks to help nations navigate complex population shifts, such as aging and urbanization, while ensuring that individual rights and reproductive choices remain at the heart of national policies.

To accelerate progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the plan shifts toward a more integrated approach that bridges humanitarian, development, and peace efforts. By leveraging advanced data analytics and artificial intelligence, UNFPA aims to pinpoint and support those "furthest behind," directly contributing to SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 5 (Gender Equality). This strategic framework emphasizes sustainable financing and localized agility, ensuring that even in climate-vulnerable or conflict-affected regions, the global community remains on track to fulfill the promise of the 2030 goals.

Job Purpose:

According to the 2026 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan (HNRP), the number of people requiring humanitarian assistance in South Sudan has risen to approximately 10 million (about two-thirds of the population), up from 9.3 million in 2025. The Juba-based Programme Analyst plays a vital role in ensuring that the UNFPA response in Maternal Health and EmONC is coherent, well-funded, and technically sound. While the field offices handle localized crises, the Juba office provides the strategic "nerve center"—coordinating with the National Ministry of Health, leading national-level Technical Working Groups, and ensuring that sub-national streams (states and counties) are adequately resourced and aligned with national standards.

Responsibilities:

The Programme Analyst will be responsible for: 

A. National Strategic Leadership & Stream Management

• Ensure that sub-national Maternal Health/EmONC streams (at the State level) are vertically aligned with the National SRHR Strategic Plan and the 2026 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan (HNRP).
• Represent UNFPA in the National SRH Technical Working Group and Health Cluster meetings in Juba to influence national health policies, ensuring they remain focused on Maternal and Newborn Health (MNH) services and reproductive-rights centered and inclusive of marginalized groups.
• Serve as the Juba-based technical focal point for specialized Maternal Health/EmONC areas (e.g., EmONC, Midwifery, Family Planning), providing remote and on-site guidance to field hubs to maintain service quality standards.

B. Humanitarian - Development - Peace Nexus in collaboration with the SRHR Unit and the Humanitarian and Field Offices teams: 

• Develop Maternal Health/EmONC programming specifically for long-term IDPs and returnees from the Sudan crisis that shifts from "tent-based" services to integrated facility-based care that serves both displaced and host communities.
• Ensure that Maternal Health/EmONC sub-national streams (resource allocation and facility locations) do not inadvertently exacerbate inter-communal tensions; apply a "Do No Harm" lens to all IP work plans.
• Oversee programs that utilize Maternal Health education as a tool for youth engagement, providing life skills that offer alternatives to cattle raiding or sub-national violence.
• In collaboration with relevant teams, contribute to the "flood-proofing" of Maternal and Newborn Health (MNH) services by identifying high-risk clinics and supporting IPs in prepositioning supplies before the rainy seasons.

C. Implementing Partner (IP) Management & Oversight

• Manage the Maternal Health portfolio of Implementing Partners (NGOs and Government) by reviewing Work Plans, monitoring financial burn rates, and ensuring programmatic targets are met according to the 2026-2029 Strategic Plan.
• Conduct regular IP performance reviews and "spot checks" (in coordination with the Operations/Audit unit) to ensure all IP expenditures and activities adhere to UNFPA’s Harmonized Approach to Cash Transfers (HACT) framework.
• Identify systemic gaps across the IP network and organize Juba-based or regional training sessions to improve IP reporting quality, data management, and clinical standards.

D. Resource Mobilization & Strategic Partnerships

• Lead the drafting of high-quality, evidence-based concept notes and funding proposals for donors (e.g., World Bank, USAID, EU, and private foundations) to bridge the $1.5 billion funding gap identified in the 2026 appeal.
• Support the SRHR Specialist and Deputy Representative in donor missions, preparing briefings, factsheets, and "human-interest" stories that demonstrate the impact of UNFPA’s work on the ground.
• Actively seek opportunities for multi-sectoral financing that integrates SRH with Peacebuilding and Climate Resilience initiatives, aligning with the “Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus.”

E. Data-Driven Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E)

• Analyze nationwide Maternal Health and EmONC data to identify emerging "hotspots" (e.g., areas with spikes in maternal mortality or cholera-impacted regions) and recommend urgent programmatic pivots.
• Support integrated field missions to assess results achieved by UNFPA in the field in collaboration with other colleagues and units. 

F. 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: 

Advanced university degree in, public health, medical sciences, sexual reproductive health and rights or another related field social science discipline is required.

Knowledge and Experience: 

• Two years progressively responsible professional work experience in SRH and GBV programming and implementation. 
• Field experience in emergency programme planning, management or evaluation. Experience working through Implementing Partners and Government is an asset. 
• Relevant UN, government or international NGO experience is an asset, preferably in a complex, volatile, humanitarian context. 
• Experience in planning and facilitating training and other capacity-building initiatives especially in Minimum Initial Services Package for RH, Emergency Obstetric Care and related areas.
• High resilience and coping with stress abilities. Capability of delivering results on time, even under stress.

Languages: 

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

Required Competencies:

Values:

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

     Core Competencies: 

• Achieving 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 Competencies:

• Conceptual innovation in the provision of technical expertise
• Leveraging the resources of national governments and partners/building strategic alliances and partnerships 
• Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise

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. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. 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.

Disclaimer:

Selection and appointment may be subject to background and reference checks, medical clearance, visa issuance and other administrative requirements. 

UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process and does not concern itself with information on applicants' bank accounts. 

Applicants for positions in the international Professional and higher categories, who hold permanent resident status in a country other than their country of nationality, may be required to renounce such status upon their appointment.