UNFPA is the lead UN agency dedicated to ensuring that every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe, and young people can reach their full potential. It expands opportunities for women and young people to lead healthy, productive lives by supporting access to reproductive health and youth-friendly HIV prevention services through strong national policies, strategies, and guidelines. UNFPA also champions high-quality, disaggregated data to inform policy and planning. Its programs strengthen responses to gender-based violence and empower women, particularly in rural areas. Since its founding in 1969, maternal mortality rates have been halved, families are healthier, and young people are more connected and empowered than ever.

Rwanda has made significant progress in advancing high-quality and competency-based midwifery education. Sustained investments in the midwifery workforce have contributed to a substantial reduction in the Maternal Mortality Ratio, from 1,071 per 100,000 live births in 2000 to 149 in 2025. To consolidate these gains and address remaining workforce gaps, the Government of Rwanda is implementing the Health Sector 4x4 Strategy, approved by Cabinet in 2023, which aims to quadruple the health workforce within four years, with a strong focus on increasing the number of competent midwives. As one of six Global Midwifery Accelerator Champion Countries, Rwanda is establishing a Regional Midwifery Hub within the Ministry of Health to serve 23 countries in Eastern and Southern Africa. The Hub will promote South–South collaboration, innovation, leadership, and knowledge exchange to accelerate midwifery transformation across the region. The Midwifery Senior Expert will serve as the principal focal point for the midwifery profession within the Ministry of Health, ensuring that profession-specific priorities are integrated into national health strategies and policies. The assignment will focus on strengthening midwifery governance, harmonizing regulatory frameworks, and establishing and coordinating the Eastern and Southern African region Midwifery Hub to enhance the quality, leadership, and sustainability of the midwifery profession

Under the overall direction of the UNFPA Representative and direct supervision of the Programme Specialist, SRHR and Head of unit, the Midwifery Senior Expert will coordinate and implement targeted, evidence-based activities using the SMART Advocacy approach (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bound) to contribute to tangible policy and advocacy outcomes. She/he will also coordinate the midwifery hub to be established and run within the Ministry of Health. Specific responsibilities include:

Policy, Leadership and Governance:
● Provide strategic leadership for midwifery within government, ensuring the profession’s priorities are addressed in national health policies and strategies.
● Lead high-level policy dialogues and regulatory harmonization efforts to recognize midwifery as an autonomous profession.
● Lead the Midwifery Sub Technical Working group.
● Review and adapt Midwifery Models of Care (MMoC) to the Rwandan context aligned with MMoC implementation guidance, ensuring they are operationally viable.
● Expand and mobilize national and regional advocacy coalitions, uniting influential midwives and high-level policymakers through structured, high-impact engagement.
● Facilitate the update of legal frameworks and scopes of practice to allow for professional autonomy and cross-border mobility.
● Lead and facilitate the implementation of SMART advocacy objectives, ensuring consistent progress and strategic alignment throughout the project lifecycle.
Education, Innovation and Digital Learning
● Ensure the new harmonized Competency-based National Midwifery Curriculum, which is aligned with ICM standards, is monitored and evaluated for implementation. Facilitate national adoption and regular revisions of the curriculum, including promoting knowledge sharing among universities both within Rwanda and regionally.
● Support faculty development material and training in line with the new harmonized National Midwifery Curricula.
● Spearhead efforts to integrate the new and innovative maternal and newborn health (MNH) priorities and initiatives into national health strategies.
● Support the development of a comprehensive retention strategy and clear career paths for mid-wives in both clinical practice, academia and other career paths.
● Identify practical entry points to scale up the SimBegin simulation training across national and regional training platforms and for in-service capacity building.
● Foster innovations in midwifery education and practices and monitor their utilization nationally and regionally.
● Design and facilitate South-South knowledge exchange platforms to enable the sharing of advocacy strategies, knowledge, and best practices.
Strategic Financing and Evidence (Pillar 3)
● Work with national and regional midwifery associations and universities to conduct and disseminate research related to SRHR and other midwifery practice and impacts. Ensure that the regional hub disseminates relevant and current evidence from this research.
● Coordinate the development of evidence-based "Midwifery Investment Cases" to advocate for dedicated domestic budget lines.
● Shape advocacy messages informed by cost-effectiveness and political economy analysis to support regulatory change.
● Partner with relevant stakeholders (including the private sector) to ensure the financial sustainability of the Midwifery hub.