UN National Volunteers, Immediate Start - (midwives -15 posts)

UN VOLUNTEER DESCRIPTION OF ASSIGNMENT

Preamble:

The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme is the UN organization that promotes volunteerism to support peace and development worldwide. Volunteerism can transform the pace and nature of development and it benefits both society at large and the individual volunteer. UNV contributes to peace and development by advocating for volunteerism globally, encouraging partners to integrate volunteerism into development programming, and mobilizing volunteers.

In most cultures volunteerism is deeply embedded in long-established, ancient traditions of sharing and support within the communities. In this context, UN Volunteers take part in various forms of volunteerism and play a role in development and peace together with co-workers, host agencies and local communities.

In all assignments, UN Volunteers promote volunteerism through their action and conduct. Engaging in volunteer activity can effectively and positively enrich their understanding of local and social realities, as well as create a bridge between themselves and the people in their host community. This will make the time they spend as UN Volunteers even more rewarding and productive.

1. UNV Assignment Title: Midwife (15 posts)

2. Type of Assignment: National UN Volunteer

3. Duration: One year (renewable, based on satisfactory performance and availability of funding)

4. Location, Country: Various states/ locations in South Sudan: Juba, Yei, Kajo-keji, Maridi, Yambio, Nimule, Torit, Wau, Aweil, Rumbek, Kuajok, Bentiu, Malakal and Bor

5. Expected Starting Date: Immediate

6. Brief Project Description:

7.1. The overall objective of the project ‘Deploying midwives in South Sudan’ is to increase the number of pregnant women who have access to high quality midwifery services in South Sudan so as to contribute to the goal of reducing maternal mortality and morbidity in the country.

7.2 UNFPA is working together with partners particularly the Ministry of Health, Republic of South Sudan, State Ministries of Health and UNDP/ UNV programme to deploy young graduate midwives within the various hospitals, Primary Health Care Centres and Units in all 10 states of South Sudan. This project is aimed at improving skilled attendance at birth by developing a sustainable midwifery workforce through the placement of midwives in public health care system in South Sudan. .

7. Host Agency/Host Institute: UNFPA South Sudan

8. Organizational Context:

9.1. UNFPA South Sudan Country Office has implemented for three years the deploying midwives project. With funding from the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada (DFATD), 30 International United Nations Volunteer (UNV) midwives were deployed at Teaching, State, County hospitals, and Primary Health Care Centres across all ten (10) states of South Sudan.

9.2. As a fully-fledged and established office, UNFPA in South Sudan has provided technical and financial support towards comprehensive reproductive health services to the Government of South Sudan, especially in strengthening and improving midwifery services.

9.3. UNFPA South Sudan will have overall responsibility for project implementation and co-ordination in collaboration with the national MoH and State MoH. 1 national UN Volunteer will be deployed with two international volunteer midwives at sites across the country.

9. Type of Assignment Place: Assignment without family

12. Description of tasks:

Under the oversight of the Deputy Representative and direct supervision of and working with the UNFPA International Midwifery Specialist (Administration, Regulations and Planning) and state based counterparts including state Ministries of Health and health facility managers and the international UN Volunteer mid-wife, the National UN Volunteer Midwife will assume the following responsibilities.

1. Provision of clinical midwifery and gender sensitive reproductive health service delivery and care

The midwife ensures that gender considerations are part of the core professional midwifery practice in the unit and performs the following functions:

• Diagnoses, monitors and examines women during pregnancy; developing, assessing and evaluating individual midwifery care plans.

• Provides antenatal care, including screening tests, counseling and advice before and after screening;

• Identifies high risk pregnancies and makes referrals to appropriate members within the multidisciplinary health facility team; Providing direct services including conduct of safe deliveries and basic emergency obstetric and new born care (EmONC)

• Arranges and provides parenting and health education for the woman, her partner and family members; encouraging participation of family members in the birth to support the mother and enhance both mother/ baby bonding and family relationships generally; Offering support and advice following events such as miscarriage, termination, stillbirth, neonatal abnormality and neonatal death;

• Supervises and assists mothers in labour, monitoring the condition of the mother and fetus, using knowledge of drugs and pain management;

• Gives support and advice on daily care of the baby, including breast feeding, bathing and making up feeds; Providing advice on a safe and timely transfer home;

• Provides care for victims of gender based violence including clinical management of rape

• Provides advice and counseling on birth spacing (Family planning) methods and options to the client and her family. Liaising with agencies and other health and social care professionals to ensure continuity of care; Consults with and makes recommendations to members of the multidisciplinary team concerning health needs of the clients.

• Supports Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT) of HIV services including providing HIV counseling and testing services;

• Supports and provides comprehensive reproductive health services particularly for youth and other vulnerable groups including internally displaced persons, refugees and returnees

2. Capacity building, clinical mentoring, and reporting

The midwife ensures that the following tasks are accomplished:

• Assists and supports implementation of clinical and administrative policies and procedures;

• Conducts assessments of students; participates in faculty meetings for clinical mentors and precursors

• Provides mentorship and clinical instruction to students in the clinical area; Supervision and mentoring of traditional birth attendants, other health care workers and community midwives, providing training in EmONC signal functions – neonatal resuscitation, management of pre-eclampsia, active management of third stage of labour and many others.

• Participates in ward rounds and continuing education sessions in the clinical area;

• Works with hospital administration to strengthen work place policies and systems to ensure coverage of facility at nights and evenings

• Provides support, capacity building and training to strengthen the nursing and midwifery profession

• Facilitates team meetings and create a forum for learning; Participate in reproductive health meetings at the state level and support the State DG in compiling reports on RH and midwifery services

• Provides capacity building for the management of midwifery and maternal health services including establishing systems for management of reproductive health commodities, supplies, sterilization of equipment and supplies and maintenance of hygiene, documenting and reporting on RH services

• Completes all required documentation and reporting on expected project results and outputs; Engages in professional development

3. Administrative and Professional Responsibilities

Under the guidance of the international midwife, the national midwife:

• Participates with international midwives in the development of work plans and to contribute to strengthening policies and guidelines for improved health service delivery in the unit

• Participates in multi-disciplinary meetings and takes on supervision of work shifts as necessary; implement policies and standards; and make recommendations to hospital authorities on policies, standards and norms as necessary;

• Discusses biweekly situational reports to the administrative management on the needs of the clinical unit; Assists in the requisition, safe storage and administration of drugs and supplies including the maintenance of equipment and all relevant inventories

• Provides regular feedback on clinical performance and practice; identifies staff development needs and presents the information to appropriate personnel for onward planning of professional advancement in best practice.

• Support and participate in national and state association meetings and activities; Helps to promote professional ethics and conduct. Maintains and promotes standards of midwifery care in collaboration with partners

• Support management in preparation of staff work schedule, reporting and record keeping

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to:

• Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day);

• Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country; network and build relationships with local organizations, groups or individuals, and support and/or participate in local volunteering initiatives; reflect on the type and quality of voluntary action that they are undertaking, including participation in ongoing reflection activities;

• Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.; initiate and/or participate in local volunteer groups, including assisting them in submitting stories and experiences to the World Volunteer Web site;

• Promote or advise local groups on the use of online volunteering, or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible;

• Encourage, mobilize and support co-workers, fellow UN Volunteers and members of the local community to play an active part in peace and development activities on a voluntary basis;

• Discuss with supervisors how volunteerism for peace and development can be mainstreamed in the assignment and integrate activities promoting volunteerism for peace and development into work plans;

• Assist with the UNV “buddy programme” for newly arriving Volunteers.

13. Results/Expected Outputs:

By the end of project period (March 2017), all national UN Volunteer midwives are expected to have contributed to the following results aggregated from across all 10 states of South Sudan:

• Women provided with quality ante natal services at facilities across all 10 states

• An increase in health facilities providing antenatal services

• Increased access to family planning services

• Increase in health facilities providing family planning services

• Increased access to HIV and STI counselling and testing services

• Increase in health facilities providing both HIV and STI counselling services

• An increase number of babies provided with neonatal care

• An increase in newborns in distress resuscitated

• Women provided with care and counselling related to gender based violence and clinical management of rape,

• An increase in health facilities providing women with care and counselling related to gender-based violence in targeted health facilities

• An increase in the number of women served at labour and delivery units

• An increase in women with complications of pregnancy and labour referred to targeted facilities

• Women with complications of pregnancy and labour reach facility. treated and served

• 100% targeted health facilities where IUNV midwives are based have clear job descriptions for midwives and midwifery service providers

• 100% targeted health facilities where IUNV midwives are based submitting reports using appropriate maternity registers and case notes

• Midwifery and nursing students mentored and instructed on clinical practice related to midwifery and maternal health

• Health workers mentored and instructed on RH and EmONC

• Health workers and midwifery students mentored and instructed on gender-sensitivity and the provision of gender-responsive midwifery services

• Health workers and midwifery students mentored and instructed on proper waste disposal, hand washing and management of water resources

13. Profile Requirements:

1. Qualifications, skills, experience:

The incumbent must be a dynamic, multi-functional person, who supports UNFPA with professionalism, dedication and client orientation. The following qualifications are required:

Education

• Recently qualified midwife with a Diploma or Enrolled certificate in Midwifery and a passion to contribute and practice midwifery

• Fluency in English and basic Arabic

Experience and Knowledge

• Must be from the state to which he/ she will be assigned

• Should have demonstrated good behaviour throughout training

• Knowledgeable in computer and in other communication technologies

• Fluency in English language; knowledge of Arabic language is an added advantage.

Skills and Philosophical Orientation

• Belief in and commitment to gender equality.

• Belief in and commitment to human rights.

• Diplomacy and assertiveness; the ability to respectfully and carefully confront and discuss sensitive issues with a wide range of actors, groups, and individuals.

• Sensitivity to and respect for a range of cultural beliefs.

• Have affinity with or interest in humanitarian relief, post-conflict situations, volunteerism as a mechanism for durable development, and the UN System.

b) Competencies and values:

• Integrity and professionalism: demonstrated expertise in area of specialty and ability to apply good judgment: high degree of autonomy, personal initiative and ability to take ownership; willingness to accept wide responsibilities and ability to work independently under established procedures in a politically sensitive environment, while exercising discretion, impartiality and neutrality; ability to manage information objectively, accurately and confidentially; responsive and client-oriented;

• Accountability: mature and responsible; ability to operate in compliance with organizational rules and regulations;

• Commitment to continuous learning: initiative and willingness to learn new skills and stay abreast of new developments in area of expertise; ability to adapt to changes in work environment;

• Planning and organizing: effective organizational and problem-solving skills and ability to manage a large volume of work in an efficient and timely manner; ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor (own) work; ability to work under pressure, with conflicting deadlines, and to handle multiple concurrent projects/activities;

• Teamwork and respect for diversity: ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and harmonious working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity and gender;

• Communication: proven interpersonal skills; good spoken and written communication skills, including ability to prepare clear and concise reports; ability to conduct presentations, articulate options and positions concisely; ability to make and defend recommendations; ability to communicate and empathize with staff (including national staff), military personnel, volunteers, counterparts and local interlocutors coming from very diverse backgrounds; ability to maintain composure and remain helpful towards the staff, but objective, without showing personal interest; capacity to transfer information and knowledge to a wide range of different target groups;

• Flexibility, adaptability, and ability and willingness to operate independently in austere, remote and potentially hazardous environments for protracted periods, involving physical hardship and little comfort, and including possible extensive travel within the area of operations; willingness to transfer to other duty stations within area of operations as may be necessary;

• Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance; and commitment towards the UN core values.

15. Living Conditions:

• The political context of South Sudan remains unpredictable following the 15 December 2013, armed violence that erupted in the capital city of Juba and has quickly spread through the country, affecting four of the country’s ten states, namely Jonglei, Upper Nile, Unity and Central Equatoria States. Since 15 December, over 1.5 million people have been displaced internally in South Sudan and over 500,000 have sought refuge in the neighbouring countries.

• There is basic infrastructure in the capital city Juba including several hotels that are approved by the UN for accommodation.

• Generally South Sudan is in Phase III security level but there is ongoing fighting in Malakal and Melut which has led these locations to be in security level V. There is a UN imposed curfew in Juba from 9:00pm to 6:00am due to security and crime issues:

• The widely used currency for business transaction is the South Sudan Pounds (SSP). However due to the exchange rate fluctuations, the SSP of recently has been considerably loosing value against the USD. The official exchange rate is currently at 3.1 SSP to the USD. Banking facilities are widely available but the use of bank credit and debit cards is limited.

• There are several mobile telephone companies including ZAIN, Vivacell, Gemtel& MTN providing services and sim cards can be easily bought with cash after registration by the Service provider. There are no fixed telephone lines in South Sudan/Juba.

• South Sudan electricity on the National grid is almost non-existent as it’s switched on once while. The Capital Juba is powered by individual household generators. Running water is dependent on water tankers that deliver water to households at a fee. UN regulations state that houses of staff members must have electricity and reimburses these costs where incurred outside the accommodation rental cost.

• UN personnel are provided medical services in the UN Agency clinic. Other medical services can be obtained at the UNMISS Level 3 hospital.

13. Conditions of Service

Contracts are issued for 12 months at a time (renewable depending on Mission mandate, operational necessity and satisfactory performance). Settling-In-Grant is provided if the duty station is different to the place of recruitment. Monthly Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA) is intended to cover housing, utilities, and normal cost-of-living expenses (US$890.00 per month). Life, health and permanent disability insurance is included, as well as annual leave, and resettlement allowance.

UNV will provide, together with the offer of assignment, a copy of the Conditions of Service, including Code of conduct, to the successful candidate.

Address your application to the below address or by e-mail:

UNDP South Sudan,

P.O. Box 410,

Ministries Road,

Juba, South Sudan

By email: to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.copying This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Indicating clearly the title of the position you are applying for.

Candidates should submit with their applications the following documents:

1- Cover Letter (letter of motivation or application letter);

2- Academic Certificate(s) and/or High School/Secondary Diploma; and

3. Curriculum Vitae

4. Copy of your South Sudanese ID

Deadline for applications: 12/06/2015

United Nations Volunteers is an equal opportunity programme which welcomes and encourages people from minorities, disadvantaged groups and women to apply.