The maternal and child health status in Kosovo are considered the poorest in the region and the public health institutions in Kosovo are still fragile. The professional capacity of health service professionals needs further improvement and there is low population awareness and knowledge about adequate home care management, children’s physical and cognitive development and general reproductive health.
Under the leadership of the Ministry of Health, UNFPA, UNICEF and WHO jointly developed a comprehensive Programme on improving women’s and children’s health in Kosovo, building upon achievements of a previous joint programme which has been implemented from 2007 to 2011.
The joint programme will adopt a three-track approach in improving women’s and children’s health:
Impact 1: Improved governance for the health care system in Kosovo
Impact 2: Improved maternal and child health
Impact 3: Increased empowerment of women and children and raised awareness on maternal and child health
In this context, UNFPA, as the Lead Agency and Administrative Agent of the joint programme, recruits a professional, with an in-depth knowledge of the Kosovo health system, who will lead the coordination of the joint programme. The Programme Coordinator will be located in the Ministry of Health / MCRH Office and will ensure effective partnership and coordination among participating UN Organizations and the Mother, Child and Reproductive Health Office in the Ministry of Health.
While the PC will be responsible to coordinate the joint programme, each Participating UN Organization will be responsible for specific programme outputs and activities agreed upon in the annual work plans, in accordance with their respective regulations, rules, directives and procedures and based on their mandate and technical capacity.
Under direct supervision of the UNFPA Head of Office, the Programme Coordinator will be responsible for the effective and efficient coordination of all programme activities and resources (human, financial, physical, etc.) in order to meet expected results. He/She ensures proper consolidation of reports and follow-up on implementation of the decisions of the Joint Programme Steering Committee, and chairs the Programme Management Unit consisting of dedicated programme staff of the Participating UN Organizations and the Mother, Child and Reproductive Health Officer of the Ministry of Health.

The Programme Coordinator is responsible to facilitate and support the effective cooperation of the participating UN Organizations with Government counterparts, experts, the donor and civil society to ensure programme implementation and address emerging issues.

- Ensures effective and efficient coordination and implementation of programme activities in order to meet expected results.
- Closely cooperates, supports and provides technical assistance to the Mother, Child and Reproductive Health Officer in the Ministry of Health
- Supports the the MoH / MCRH Officer during the implementation and monitoring of the Strategy for Mother, Child and Reproductive Health, and supports the MCRH Officer to coordinate with other stakeholders and partners in the area of maternal, child and reproductive health.
- Provides technical assistance to the MCRH officer in the development of strategic action and policy documents to improve.
- Supports the MCRH Office in strengthening data management, analyzing the MCRH situation, monitoring, evaluation and evidence based planning
- Facilitates development of joint annual work plans, M&E framework and budgets based on expected year-end outputs, and compiles substantive narrative and financial progress reports in close coordination with the participating UN agencies.
- In collaboration with the MCRH Officer, UN agencies, NGO-s and other partners, ensures close monitoring of activities and leads the implementation of the M&E framework
- Analyzes and reports on programme progress in terms of achieving results, and monitors programme expenditures and disbursements to ensure delivery is in line with approved project budget and to realize targeted delivery levels, keeping a joint implementation matrix up-to-date, using existing monitoring and evaluation tools and introducing new mechanisms and systems.
- Coordinates, motivates and chairs the meetings of the Programme Management Unit, including UNFPA, UNICEF and WHO programme staff, and of Technical Working Groups, if needed.
- Provides feedback to the Programme Steering Committee on the progress made by the participating UN Agencies, and compiles consolidated quarterly progress reports to be submitted to the Programme Steering Committee.
- Ensures the convening of minimum bi-annual Programme Steering Committee meetings and ensures follow-up on decisions and recommendations.
- Upon request, supports communication and consultation of Participating UN Organizations with the MoH, donor, the implementing agencies and the UN Development Coordinator.
- Ensures synergies, avoids overlaps in programme implementation and cooperates with UN agencies working in the same area, while ensuring that the implementation of programme activities is in line with the MoH priorities.
- Promotes knowledge sharing and building among partners and stakeholders; helps create and document knowledge improving the quality of programme design and implementation by analyzing programmes, newly developed strategies, approaches and ongoing experience for the documentation of lessons learned and best practices, which he/she shares with management for use in knowledge sharing and planning future strategies.
- Identifies constraints and resource deficiencies in the joint programme implementation and recommends corrective action.
- Provides briefs and inputs for policy dialogue, technical assistance coordination and development frameworks, constantly analyzing the political, social and economic environment relevant to woman and child health, and identifies opportunities for effective an efficient assistance and intervention.
- Expedites and coordinates project implementation establishing collaborative relationships with executing agencies, experts and other UN agencies facilitating timely and efficient delivery of project inputs and addressing training needs of project personnel.
- Ensures quality and timely delivery of the programme’s products according to corporate rules, regulations and procedures.
- Prepares and communicates relevant documentation for evidence-based advocacy. Maintains a functioning network of contacts in the media and civil society to support advocacy efforts and takes opportunities for advocating for the Joint Programme and the implementing agencies, ensuring wide dissemination and visibility of programme achievements.
- Perform other duties as assigned by the Programme Steering Committee and/or the UNFPA Head of Office

 

Internal contacts/partners:
- Members of the Joint Programme Steering Committee
- UNFPA  Head of office
- Members of the Joint Programme Management Unit
- UNFPA National Programme Officer, Deputy Representative
- UNFPA Admin/Finance Associate
- UNFPA Logistics Assistant/Driver for administrative and logistical facilitation of operations.
- UNFPA Programme Analyst
- UNFPA Programme Assistant

 

Main External contact/partners:
- Ministry of Health, Mother, Child and Reproductive Health officer 
- UNICEF, WHO staff
- Office of the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg
- Professional associations
- Technical working groups
- Implementing partners, NGOs
- Other relevant public institutions

 

i) Core Competencies:  
- Values Innovation and marketing of new approaches
- Strong team work and inter-personal skills, supporting an enabling and productive work environment, working collaboratively with colleagues to allow the achievement of common goals and shared objectives. Actively seeks resolution of disagreements and supports the decisions of the team.
- Strong analytical, drafting and communication skills.
- Communicates clearly and effectively. Delivers oral and written information in a timely, effective and easily understood manner. Participates in meetings and group discussions actively listening and sharing information.
- Demonstrates strong personal leadership and effectiveness, striving to achieve high personal standard of excellence and makes timely and appropriate decisions taking into consideration various and complex issues and takes responsibility for the impact of decisions.
- Takes responsibility for personal learning and career development and actively seeks opportunities to learn through formal and informal means. Learns from others inside and outside the organization adopting best practices created by others. Actively produces and disseminates new knowledge.
- Thinks strategically, using appropriate analytical tools and logic to gather, define and analyze information, situations and problems and draws logical conclusions from data. Demonstrates an ability to set clear and appropriate priorities focusing on tasks and activities that have a strategic impact on results. Anticipates and meets information needs of the team and other stakeholders.
- Manages conflict and personal reactions by remaining calm, composed and patient even when under stress or during a crisis and avoids engaging in unproductive conflict.
- Acts in accordance with UN values and holds himself/herself accountable for actions taken. Demonstrates personal commitment to the implementing UN agencies’ mandates and to the organizational vision.
- Values diversity, demonstrating an international outlook, appreciates differences in values and learns from cultural diversity. Takes actions appropriate to the religious and cultural context and shows respect, tact and consideration for cultural differences. Observes and inquires to understand the perspectives of others and continually examines his/her own biases and behaviors.

 
ii) Functional competencies:
- Results-based programme development and management skills - achieving results through programme design and innovative resourcing strategies
- Building strategic alliances and partnerships - leveraging the resources of national governments and partners
- Innovation and marketing of new approaches – fostering innovation in others
- Effective advocacy skills
- Job knowledge / technical expertise
- Organizational awareness

- Advanced University Degree (Master’s Degree or equivalent) in Health or social sciences; Public Health, Health management, Strategic Planning or other Reproductive Health related fields.

 

- At least 3 years of increasingly responsible and relevant post-Master’s professional experience related to international development at the national or international level in relevant field, and/or managing and coordinating staff and operational systems, preferably in complex programmes in the public or private sector, in the domain of public health, mother, child and reproductive health, or other related fields.
- Substantive knowledge, practical experience and proven track record in promoting women’s and children’s health.
- Experience in monitoring and evaluation of social development programs would be an asset.
- Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, Outlook, etc.), in handling web-based management systems, and advanced knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages

 

- Fluency in in both oral and written English and Albanian.
- Proficiency in oral and written Serbo-Croatian and/or Romani is considered as an advantage.