Programme Specialist, Maternal and Newborn Health Thematic Trust Fund Governance and Project Management, SRHRB, Programme Division (PD), Nairobi, Kenya, P3

The Position:

The Programme Specialist, Maternal and Newborn Health Thematic Trust Fund Governance and Project Management, is based in the Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Branch (SRHRB) of the Programme Division (PD) in Nairobi, Kenya. The incumbent will support the UNFPA Maternal and Newborn Health Fund *MNH Fund) and aligned funding under Start with Her: UNFPA Strategy for Reproductive, Maternal and Newborn Health and Well-Being 2025–2030. The Maternal and Newborn Health Fund is UNFPA’s flagship programme to improve maternal and newborn health and well-being, providing catalytic support to ensure that every woman, adolescent girl and newborn has equitable and accountable access to quality sexual, reproductive, maternal and newborn health and rights. At global level, the maternal and newborn health team manages a diverse portfolio of programmes, manages key strategic partnerships and provides technical support and advice to UNFPA regional and country offices. This directly contributes to the outcomes identified in UNFPA’s Strategic Plan (2026-2029) on accelerating progress to reduce preventable maternal deaths.

How you can make a difference:

UNFPA is the lead United Nations agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is intended, every childbirth is safe, and every young person's potential is fulfilled. The UNFPA Strategic Plan for 2026-2029 articulates the organization’s response to a complex global environment, providing a roadmap for resilience and renewal. It is designed to accelerate the implementation of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. This mandate is pursued through a focus on four interconnected outcomes: ending the unmet need for family planning; ending preventable maternal deaths; ending gender-based violence and harmful practices; and adapting to demographic change through evidence and rights-based policies.

In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff who embody these international norms and standards and will defend them courageously and with full conviction.

UNFPA is seeking candidates who transform, inspire, and deliver high-impact sustained results, ensuring effective external relations, communications, partnership-building and resource mobilization in a rapidly changing development and funding landscape. We need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them, and who commit to delivering excellence in programme results

Job Purpose:

Under the overall supervision of the MNH team lead, the incumbent will be responsible for managing the governance norms and procedures for the Maternal and Newborn Health Fund, support coordination of the Fund annual work planning and review, ensure adherence to programming guidance and eligibility within the fund, as well as ensuring effective external communications with key fund stakeholders. The incumbent will also provide project management to other key aligned funded programmes to ensure coherence, and provide technical support in alignment with fund priorities.

You would be responsible for:

MNH Fund management

- Act as secretariat for the MNH Fund core fund team including finance, monitoring and evaluation, and communications.

- Coordinate the annual work planning process for regional and country offices, including six-month review.

- Coordinate the development of standard operating procedures and programmatic guidance for the fund.

- Lead programme monitoring including expenditure review and reprogramming requirements.

- Support onboarding of new team members on the MNH Fund standard operating procedures.

MNH Fund Advisory Board (AB) and governance norms and procedures

- Coordinate preparation for Advisory Board meetings, including the development of meeting agendas, slide decks, background documents and facilitation guides.

- Ensure SC and subcommittee meeting reports are drafted, reviewed and disseminated according to required schedules.

- Coordinate the organization of onboarding and “refresher” webinars for AB members/subcommittee members who are new to the Fund and/or interested in learning more about the programme.

- Convene the cross divisional working group to implement the joint resource mobilization roadmap including private sector and civil society branch and public funding and financing branch to ensure a coherent corporate resource mobilization strategy for the MNH Fund.

- Support the implementation of a partner engagement strategy to facilitate informed decision-making by members.

- Review and refine the Fund’s Governance ToRs in response to evolving programme needs and in line with partner feedback.

- Maintain a system to track data requests and action items emerging from governance meetings, develop notes for the record and circulate within 2 weeks of the meeting.

- Plan and manage the implementation of the MNH Fund Governance Calendar. Ensure that governance meetings, including Advisory Board meetings and ad-hoc meetings, and related activities are well-timed throughout the year in line with business needs and team capacity.

Communications

- Ensure effective, strategic communication on governance processes and decision-making related to the MNH Fund, in collaboration with technical and partnership leads.

- Coordinate and contribute to the preparation of briefing notes, statements and talking points; prepare background papers and presentation content.

- Work with technical leads and external partners to develop and update a suite of high-quality communications products that clearly explain the MNH Fund, including its programme model, structure, value proposition and results.

- Maintain a central repository of key messages related to the MNH Fund, ensuring core messages remain consistent while enabling tailored communication for specific audiences, including donors, government partners, and internal stakeholders.

- Ensure that the internet and extranet platforms on the MNH Fund are regularly updated.

- Contribute to internal and external communications efforts that promote transparency, engagement and partner confidence in the governance of the MNH Fund.

Technical support

- Contribute to relevant technical portfolios within scope of the MNH Fund (midwifery, maternal health commodities, emergency obstetric and newborn care, maternal morbidities and SRH/MNH integration among others).

- Provide technical support to country offices in alignment with key programming priorities.

Grant and project management support

- Provide operational support for managing the implementation of Start with Her aligned funded programmes and projects, and other related grants management activities.

- Support the engagement of the MNH team lead in grant-related project activities, e.g. maintain a calendar of grant activities and deliverables in collaboration with regional and HQ focal points.

- Support the preparation of materials for grant-related meetings and communication efforts.

- Perform any other duties that may be required.

Qualifications and Experience:

Education:

- Advanced university degree in management, international relations, medicine, public health, economics, social science, social work or other related fields.

Knowledge and Experience:

- At least 5 years of relevant experience in maternal health, sexual and reproductive health integration, international development, public health or other related areas.

- Demonstrated ability to translate complex technical content into clear, accessible messages for diverse audiences, including donors, policymakers, and technical partners.

- Demonstrated experience in project management, programme management, financial planning and follow-up.

Languages:

- Fluency in English; knowledge of other official UN languages is an asset.

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,

Functional Competencies:

- Accountability and results-based management

- Advocacy/advancing a policy-oriented agenda

- Innovation and marketing of new approaches

- Job knowledge/technical expertise

- Generating, managing and promoting the use of knowledge and information.

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.