International Individual Consultant: Technical Specialist - Maternal Health Care

The Position:

The consultancy is a time-bound assignment to assist in scaling up high-impact interventions and strengthening health systems in FSM. The goal is to bridge service gaps and secure equitable, lifesaving maternal health care services, directly supporting UNFPA PSRO’s commitment to the 2030 Agenda.

The International Consultant will be based in the UNFPA Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) country office in Pohnpei. S/He will report directly to the Chief of Health & Technical Advisor SRHR at the UNFPA Pacific Sub-Regional Office (PSRO), under the overall guidance of the Deputy Director, with support from the Assistant Representative at the UNFPA FSM Country Office. As a key member of the SRHR team, the Consultant will provide integrated programmatic and technical support, utilizing a health systems strengthening approach central to UNFPA’s global strategy

How you can make a difference:

UNFPA is the lead United Nations agency dedicated to ensuring that every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe, and every young person’s potential is fulfilled. Operating in the Pacific for over 30 years through its Pacific Sub-regional Office (PSRO) in Suva and field presence in 9 Pacific Island countries (PICs), UNFPA serves as the sole intergovernmental agency substantively dedicated to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). The organization’s regional strategy is articulated through its 7th Multi-Country Programme (MCP7) for 2023–2027, which covers 14 Pacific Island Countries (PICT), including Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, RMI, FSM, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Vanuatu, Nauru, Niue, Tokelau, Tuvalu, and Palau. 

The UNFPA Pacific’s MCP7 programme aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework 2023–2027 and contributes to UNFPA’s global Strategic Plan (2026–2029) by assisting Member States in achieving three transformative results: ending preventable maternal deaths, ending the unmet need for family planning, and ending gender-based violence and harmful practices. Central to UNFPA’s mission is a partnership-based approach, working closely with national governments to expand local capacities and secure sustainable, rights-based responses to SRHR across the Pacific. The SRHR landscape of FSM is marked by geographic dispersion and urgent health trends that demand focused intervention. FSM reports a sharp spike in maternal deaths reaching 334 per 100,000 live births in 2024,1 alongside a skilled birth attendance rate of 85%2 . While the country grapples with a 33% prevalence rate of violence against women and girls, it simultaneously faces critical gaps in service readiness. Currently, only 37% facilities are cervical cancer screening ready, 23% of health facilities are antenatal care (ANC) and postnatal care (PNC) service ready; while only 20% of all health facilities providing deliveries are ready to provide for vaginal deliveries.3 These indicators are further complicated by high STI prevalence, such as chlamydia rates of 16% among the population4 , signalling a critical need for integrated health system strengthening.

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

UNFPA is seeking candidates that transform, inspire and deliver high impact and sustained results; we need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them and who commit to deliver excellence in programme results.

Job Purpose:

The purpose of this consultancy is to provide technical expertise, implementation, and management support for the project: " Strengthening maternal health care services in the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM)". As part of the UNFPA Pacific SRHR team, the consultant will drive results in FSM, focusing on maternal health system strengthening, including maternal and perinatal surveillance and response (MPDSR); HPV DNA screening; integration of GBV prevention services; postpartum family planning and basic emergency obstetric and newborn care (EmONC).

The consultancy is a time-bound assignment to assist in scaling up high-impact interventions and strengthening health systems in FSM. The goal is to bridge service gaps and secure equitable, lifesaving maternal health care services, directly supporting UNFPA PSRO’s commitment to the 2030 Agenda.

You would be responsible for:

Technical Implementation and Capacity Building 

•  Provide technical support for the development of MPDSR guidelines and the establishment of Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance and Response (MPDSR) across the 4 states 
• Facilitate capacity building for healthcare providers in Basic EmONC, Postpartum Family Planning (PPFP), health sector response to GBV, Cervical cancer HPV screening, and other maternal health initiatives. 
• Provide technical support for the development of the Cervical Cancer HPV DNA guideline and policy. 
•  Lead the coordination of Implementing Partners, government departments, and experts to ensure quality control of workplan implementation. 
• Oversee the availability of essential maternal, newborn, and GBV supplies and lead the establishment of a maternity waiting home in Pohnpei.

Advocacy and Knowledge Management 

• Provide technical support for health sector coordination meetings and contribute to UN systems coordination
• Support the development and production of high-quality maternal health care advocacy and communication materials (leaflets, newsletters, technical briefs) to promote the visibility of UNFPA’s work.

Monitoring, Reporting, and Evaluation 

• Monitor programme implementation and track progress, including through field visits to assess impact and compliance with results-based performance indicators. 
•  Support programme evaluation through review meetings and evaluation missions as required, to assess programme achievement, and recommend corrective actions. Undertake results-based reporting and specifically develop 6-monthly and annual donor reports for the project.

Qualifications and Experience: 

Education:  

• Master’s degree in public health, Medicine, Nursing, Midwifery, Sociology, Anthropology, Health Economics, Health Systems, or other related disciplines.

Knowledge and Experience: 

• At least 5 years of increasingly professional experience in public health, programme management, and development relevant to sexual and reproductive health and rights.  Demonstrated experience in maternal and newborn health, including EmONC, MPDSR or other maternal health initiatives, is an advantage. 
• Experience in Health Systems Strengthening, Health reform, and Health Sector review is an asset.
• Experience and capacity in the development and delivery of health training modules to government, NGO, and community-level participants. 
• Knowledge and practical experience in sexual reproductive health and rights programming in humanitarian settings are assets. 
• Knowledge and understanding of the quality of care, specifically client rights issues, is desired. 
• Familiarity with UN/UNFPA’s mandate, policies and procedures, and experience in programme and/or technical assistance with the UN System and other international development organizations is an asset. 
•  A strong track record of technical expertise and proven ability to produce demonstrable results is required. 

Skills 

• Good communication and advocacy skills 
•  Proactive, good emotional intelligence 
• Excellent written English language skills 
•  Excellent drafting skills and ability to write reports. 
• Ability to organize and plan work following the established timeframes. 
• Field experience is an asset; knowledge of the Pacific region is desired.

Languages: 

• Excellent written and spoken English.

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,

Compensation and Benefits:

Payment will be on a monthly schedule upon satisfactory delivery of associated deliverables and with acceptable quality by the UNFPA Representative, upon submission of Certificate of Payment and Monthly Accomplishment Report

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.