Midwifery Specialist, Cameroon

Organization: UN Population Fund

Country: CameroonClosing date: 09 Jan 2014

We are pleased to announce the following vacancy:

VACANCY NO.: Job ID 2375

CLOSING DATE: 9 January 2014 5:00 p.m. New York time

POST TITLE: Midwifery Specialist

CATEGORY: ICS-10 (P-3)*

POST TYPE: Non-rotational

POST NUMBER: New

DUTY STATION: Yaounde, Cameroon

DURATION: One year (renewable)

ORGANIZATIONAL UNIT:

Cameroon Country Office/Western and Central Africa Regional Office

BACKGROUND:

Between 1998 and 2011, the maternal mortality ratio has increased from 430 to 782 deaths per 100,000 live births in Cameroon, while neonatal mortality has stagnated around 31 deaths per 1,000 live births. To a large extent, this lack of progress is due to the low availability of health personnel with adequate obstetric skills. In the 2011 report on the 'State of World's Midwifery', Cameroon has been ranked among the countries with the most severe severest shortages of midwives. This shortage results from the 1987 closure of Cameroon's obstetric nursing schools . The remaining health staff has not been able to fill the gap that was left behind and meet the obstetric needs of Cameroon's growing population. To reverse this trend, the Government of Cameroon has launched a new and ambitious training program for midwives in 2011 with support from UNFPA, GIZ and WHO. Currently, a total of 700 students are enrolled in 10 midwifery schools. The technical, logistical and financial challenges related to training, recruiting and deploying Cameroon's future midwives are considerable. That is why the H4+ agencies (within the framework of a Swedish funded programme to reduce maternal and child mortality) have jointly decided to support the Government of Cameroon in its efforts to strengthen the institutional framework for training, recruiting and deploying midwives. The recruitment of a Midwifery Specialist is part of this joint support.

ORGANIZATIONAL SETTING:

Under the general guidance of the UNFPA Representative and under the direct supervision of the Ministry of Health's Director of Human Resources, where the incumbent will be based, the Midwifery Specialist (MS) will contribute proactively and on demand to the coordination, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of national efforts to train, recruit and deploy midwives.

MAJOR DUTIES AND REPONSIBILITIES

Where training, recruitment, deployment and retention of midwives is concerned, the MS will support the Ministry of Health's Department for Human Resources and its partners (incl. UNFPA) in developing and revising their respective annual work plans. Additionally, the MS will support the implementation of these work plans, as well as the development of corresponding progress reports. Within the framework of these annual work plans, the MS will contribute to the Ministry's efforts to strengthen institutional capacity at all levels (i.e.: centrally, regionally and also in training institutes) with the aim of:

1) Strengthening the training of midwives so that it meets the international standards as defined by the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM);

2) Establishing an accreditation system for the midwifery schools;

3) Developing, implementing and maintaining a regulatory framework with regard to the roles, responsibilities, recruitment, deployment, employment, careers and status of midwives in the health system;

4) Establishing a system of continuous training (and licensing) for midwives;

5) Establishing a continuous training system to enhance the obstetric skills of physicians, nurses and medical aides;

6) Promoting alignment and harmonization of stakeholder efforts with regard to training, recruitment, deployment and retention of midwives;

7) Enhancing the capacity of the National Midwifery Association to engage in efforts to improve education and employment related regulation for midwives;

8) Mobilizing additional resources for training, recruitment, deployment and retention of midwives;

9) Performing other duties as requested.

ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Licensed Midwife or nurse midwife with a master's degree in public health or a related field.
• At least 5 years of clinical experience as a Midwife or Nurse-Midwife.
• At least 4 years of experience in teaching midwives, preferably in both a school and a clinical setting.
• Hands on experience in project management and the provision of technical support.
• Previous experience working in a developing country is an asset.
• Computer Skills: Computer literacy (good knowledge of MS Office)
• Fluency in French (both written and spoken) is required. In addition proficiency in English will be a great asset.

Required Competencies:

Core Competencies:

• Values: Integrity / Commitment to the mandate of UNFPA knowledge sharing / continuous learning, valuing diversity.
• Relationship management: teamwork, communication of information and ideas, conflict management and self-management.
• Working with people: Empowerment / Development / Performance Management
• Personal Leadership and Effectiveness: Strategic and analytical skills, results orientation / Commitment to excellence, appropriate and transparent decision- making.

Functional Competencies:

• Advocacy/Promotion of policy reform
• Development and management of Results Based Programs
• Innovation and promotion of new approaches
• Mobilization of resources from government and national partners / promote strategic alliances and partners

UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, teamwork, respect for diversity, integrity and a healthy balance of work and life. We are committed to maintaining our balanced gender distribution and therefore encourage women to apply.

We offer an attractive remuneration package commensurate with the level of the position. The package includes a competitive salary plus housing allowance, home leave, health insurance and other benefits.

How to apply:

UNFPA has established an electronic application management system. This allows applicants to create a candidate profile, which can be updated regularly and submitted for more than one vacancy. Download the Step by Step Guide to Applying in the E-Recruit System of UNFPA at https://erecruit.partneragencies.org/erecruit.html

Please print out the Guide for your reference during the registration and application process.

Notice: There is no application, processing or other fee at any stage of the application process. UNFPA does not solicit or screen for information in respect of HIV or AIDS and does not discriminate on the basis of HIV/AIDS status.

Notice to applicants: In accordance with the rules of the United Nations, persons applying to posts in the international Professional category, who hold permanent resident status in a country other than their country of nationality, are required to renounce such status upon their appointment. Exceptions to this rule are very limited and can be made only for: (a) stateless persons; (b) newly appointed staff members who have applied for citizenship by naturalization, when such citizenship will be granted imminently; (c) acting staff members in the General Service and related categories with permanent residency status, on promotion to the Professional category; (d) staff members appointed under a temporary appointment. Please understand that UNFPA is not in a position to provide advice on or assistance in applying for any citizenship.