The Position:

The Officer will be based at the MoH and will report directly to the MoH’s Head of the Health Workforce Department and the Head of the Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Unit at the UNFPA Country Office, with strategic guidance from the Deputy Representative and overall leadership from the UNFPA Country Representative. Further, the Officer will be in communication and collaboration with the Advocacy Specialist and Programme Specialist from the UNFPA HQ, SRHR Branch.

The consultant will be given a desk in the Ministry of Health, under the overall guidance and direct supervision of the Head of Health Workforce Department.

How you can make a difference:

UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person’s potential is fulfilled.  UNFPA’s strategic plan (2022-2025), reaffirms the relevance of the current strategic direction of UNFPA and focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and end gender-based violence and harmful practices. These results capture our strategic commitments on accelerating progress towards realizing the ICPD and SDGs in the Decade of Action leading up to 2030. Our strategic plan calls upon UN Member States, organizations and individuals to “build forward better”, while addressing the negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on women’s and girls’ access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, recover lost gains and realize our goals.

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 Chief Midwifery Officer will serve as the primary focal point for the midwifery profession within the Rwanda Ministry of Health (MoH). The role aims to elevate the quality, leadership, and sustainability of midwifery by ensuring that profession-specific priorities are embedded in national health strategies and policies. It will focus on strengthening midwifery governance, harmonizing regulatory frameworks, and establishing, coordinating, and overseeing the Midwifery Hub serving the Eastern and Southern Africa region.

The Officer will support the establishment of the regional Midwifery Hub by providing strategic leadership for midwifery within government and advancing faculty and midwifery student development through education, innovation, digital learning, strategic financing, and evidence generation.

You would be responsible for:

A. Policy, Leadership and Governance (Pillar 1)

• 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 SubTechnical 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.

B. Education, Innovation and Digital Learning (Pillar 2)

• 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 midwives 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.

C. 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.

Qualifications and Experience: 

Education:  

Master’s degree or PhD in Midwifery, with specialized knowledge and experience in the field of advocacy, policy, or education.

Knowledge and Experience: 

• At least 5 years of relevant experience in Midwifery advocacy and training, including a minimum of 2 years in clinical services as a Midwife and at least 2 years in a regional or international coordination role.
• Solid understanding of advocacy and policy engagement, including policy research, analysis and design, strategic planning, high-level representation, diplomacy, and public communication.
• Proven track record of working with the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) standards and assessment tools.
• Demonstrated experience in cross-border knowledge exchange and managing South-South cooperation frameworks.
• Demonstrated experience coordinating and implementing targeted, evidence-based advocacy initiatives, ideally using structured approaches such as SMART Advocacy.
• Proven experience advancing midwifery education, regulation, leadership, and practice, as well as financing and maternal and newborn health policies within the framework of universal health coverage.
• Experience working with government institutions, UN agencies, professional associations, NGOs, and civil society, with demonstrated success in building and sustaining national partnerships and advocacy coalitions.
• Strong drafting, analytical, and report-writing skills, with close attention to detail.
• Strong organizational, coordination, and time-management skills, with experience supporting and managing programmes or strategic initiatives.
• Proactive and self-motivated, with a strong commitment to strengthening midwifery and improving maternal and newborn health outcomes.
• Experience in concept note and proposal development.
• Experience in budget planning, implementation, and monitoring.
• Computer literacy and proficiency in Microsoft Office and digital collaboration tools are required.

Languages: 

• Fluency in English is required, and proficiency in French is highly recommended given the diversity of the 23 countries in the Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA) region. Knowledge of other UN working 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,

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.

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