Position Title: SRH Programme Specialist
Receiving Agency: UNFPA
P Level: P3
Location: Bunia, DRC
Duration: 3 months
Language: French and English

Background:
Following the emergence of suspected Ebola Virus Disease cases in Ituri province, the Public Health Emergency Operations Centre (PHEOC) transitioned to response mode on May 14, 2026. The Ministry of Public Health, Hygiene and Social Welfare declared an official epidemic the following day, identifying the Bundibugyo ebolavirus (BVD) strain—a variant for which no vaccine currently exists. With Uganda simultaneously declaring an outbreak, the WHO Director-General designated the situation a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) on May 17, 2026. Collaborative epidemiological surveillance is now active alongside Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Central African Republic, and South Sudan.
An increase in the epidemiological outlook is occurring as the virus spreads through regions already burdened by a multifaceted humanitarian crisis. Chronic insecurity, exacerbated by armed groups like CODECO and the ADF, severely limits access to vulnerable communities. Furthermore, massive displacement—including over 1.9 million IDPs in Ituri—coupled with urban migration and mining operations in high-impact zones, continues to complicate the response environment.
Frontline health personnel, particularly midwives and nurses, face extreme exposure risks, with women bearing a disproportionate impact. Fear of infection is deterring pregnant and lactating women from seeking professional care, threatening a surge in maternal deaths similar to the 2014-2016 crisis in West Africa. Consequently, UNFPA is prioritizing the sustained delivery of critical SRH and GBV services to help prevent avoidable illness and deaths, protect the rights and dignity of affected populations, and address the disproportionate impact of the outbreak on women and girls. Under the established Ebola response plan, UNFPA leads the PSEA pillar while supporting IPC, risk communication and community engagement. To effectively execute this mandate, the Country Office requires an immediate expansion of its SRH capacity in the field. Role Description:

Under the overall guidance of the UNFPA Senior Management Team (SMT)—comprising the Representative, Deputy Representative, and International Operations Manager—and SRH output lead for UNFPA country programme in the DRC - under the direct authority of the Head of the Decentralized Office in the East, the incumbent works under the technical supervision of the SRH Specialist and the overall coordination of the Humanitarian Coordinator, while responding directly to the coordination frameworks established by the Public Health/Infectious Diseases Management Specialist based in Bunia. Operating within the framework of the Minimum Initial Services Package (MISP) and UNFPA’s Priority Emergency Response Interventions (PERI), the incumbent promotes and scales up Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) programming and services in outbreak-affected areas, ensuring robust linkages to the Country Office's overall programming.

Responsibilities include facilitating the rapid procurement and delivery of emergency medical supplies and equipment, including Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), and providing orientation on critical SRH issues such as reproductive, maternal, and newborn health, family planning information and services, STI and HIV prevention, care, and treatment, and care for survivors of violence. Furthermore, the incumbent ensures the strict integration of SRH with Gender-Based Violence (GBV) mitigation, Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS), Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA), and Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP) interventions.

The role is also vital in establishing strategic partnerships with humanitarian stakeholders, NGOs, donors, and government counterparts, eventually guiding the transition toward comprehensive SRH services as the situation stabilizes. Finally, within the current context of resource restructuring, the incumbent will be responsible for establishing and leading the coordination of the SRH Working Group in parts of North Kivu that are not under the control of the de facto authorities, safeguarding the continuity of principled health and protection lifelines.


MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
The SRH Coordinator will ensure continuity, safety, and adaptation of the Minimum Initial Service Package (MISP) for SRH in the context of an active Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak, while minimizing infection risks for patients, communities, and health workers.
The role will prioritize:

• Embedding SRH within the Ebola response coordination architecture (multi-pillar system)
• Maintaining life-saving SRH services with reduced transmission risk
• Ensuring strict infection prevention and control (IPC) alignment across all SRH services
• Reducing unnecessary physical contact points through rationalized service delivery and referral pathways
• Protecting health staff and implementing partners through safe systems of work, and exposure minimization

MISP Rollout and Programme Implementation (in Ebola context):

• Conduct/lead rapid SRH needs assessment/s with EVD risk stratification, including identification of:

• High-risk service delivery points (facilities, outreach, community-based services)
• Interruptions in EmONC, FP, GBV clinical care, and STI management due to EVD controls

• Integrate SRH indicators into theMultisector Initial Rapid Assessments (MIRA) and other assessment tools, ensuring inclusion of:
  • IPC capacity and triage functionality
  • Referral safety pathways for suspected EVD cases
  • Service continuity constraints linked to outbreak control measures, and community fears and stigmatisation.
• Co-lead with national partners the RH technical working group under the Health Cluster that has been established for the response, ensuring formal linkage with the Ebola Incident Management System (IMS) / 8-pillar coordination structure.
• Act as technical focal point ensuring SRH is systematically integrated into:
  • Infection prevention and control pillar
  • Case management and referral systems
  • Community engagement and risk communication pillars
• Oversee (in collaboration with the Logistics/Procurement officer) procurement of emergency RH kits, equipment and medical supplies as well as dignity kits; quantify needs in collaboration with national programme of reproductive health's provincial arm and develop a distribution plan to meet the needs of implementing partners other identified NGOs for RH services, monitor distribution and ensure utilization reporting.
• Based on MISP projection and rapid assessment findings, implement the MISP (Minimum Initial Service Package) through RH working group implementing partners, as well as the CMR Task force/working group.
• Oversee the adaptation of MISP implementation to ensure:
  • Continuity of EmONC, post-rape care, FP, STI management and MHPSS
  • Strict application of screening, isolation/referral protocols for suspected EVD cases (NB: referral handled by the Ebola team, not by UNFPA od partners)
  • Ensuring all supported facilities and mobile team  have minimum IPC standards for SRH service delivery and safe waste management and decontamination procedures aligned with Ebola protocols
• Oversee (with the M&E officer) the monitoring of MISP and PERI implementation, as well as ensure coordination with the GBV programming and interventions.
• Explore other opportunities and entry points to deliver SRH services for specific at risk vulnerable groups affected by the crisis,
• Initiate and coordinate training sessions on, EVD,  the MISP  and IPC for SRH service providers (including obstetric IPC and PPE use), ensuring training is practical, facility-based, and minimizes large gatherings, favoring cascade or on-site mentoring approaches  SRH,  SRH in emergencies (for health care providers, community services officers, security personnel, IDP population, host population, etc.).
• Assist in adapting protocols for selected areas in programme coordination (such as Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (EmONC) including strict balancing of maternal survival needs with aggressive infection prevention. Protocols emphasize minimizing healthcare worker exposure while providing optimized supportive care, , syndromic case management of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), MHPSS, referral for EmONC, midwifery, medical response to survivors of rape, counselling and family planning services, etc.), as well as linkages to PSEA mechanism;
• Support COs to strengthen the implementation of MISP  and PERI priorities and to assess progress towards achievement with technical tools and approaches, and to accelerate implementation of activities funded through CERF,  UNFPA Emergency Response Fund, and others.
• Provide inputs for SitReps and other communication products, as required.
• Ensure an effective response that integrates SRH (including ASRH), GBV, PSEA, AAP and data interventions.

Partnership:

• Ensure SRH needs are addressed within the Health cluster (if cluster approach is activated in the emergency context), other multisector coordination mechanisms and within OCHA/HCT Situation Reports.
• Anchor UNFPA’s field-level emergency response on the ground in Beni, ensuring that localized health, protection, and operational developments are systematically fed back to the centralized 8-pillar Ebola response architecture in Bunia.
• Maintain working relationships and share relevant information with the Health Cluster.
• Establish strong linkages between existing SRH and GBV programmes with regard to the health sector response for survivors of sexual violence.
• Serve as the primary field-level operational link for Ebola/SRH response in Beni to ensure that priorities, resource needs, and access constraints on the ground are accurately represented within the strategic decision-making pillars in Bunia.
• Collaborate with ETC'S management organisations  to clarify adapted protocols toca for pregnant women or women in labor who have Ebola

Resource Mobilization:

• Assist CO in developing proposals and fund raising for SRH programming.

Monitoring and Evaluation:

• Monitor SRH services provided by UNFPA through implementing partners to crisis affected populations.
• Conduct monitoring visits, if requested and applicable.
• Maintain a database on SRH commodities, including EPP supplies and share information. with relevant coordinating UN agencies, and other partners.
• Monitor frequently the utilization of SRH services and recommend strategies for safe service continuity.

Capacity Development:

• Provide coaching to newly recruited staff and consultants, where appropriate.
• Coach and build capacity of staff members and staff of implementing partners responding to humanitarian/emergency crises, as needed.
• Support capacity building for health care providers notably midwives in EmONC and EVD surveillance, Obstetric IPC, FP and safe and post abortal care.

Any Other Duties:

• Perform any other duties as required by the Representative and/or management at the CO, RO, and/or HQ.

Qualifications and Skills Required:

• An advanced University degree in Medical sciences or public health, or equivalent qualifications;
• 5 or more years working experience in the field of reproductive health, preferably in the UN system or INGO;
• Ability to work in a team with a good spirit of collaboration and to withstand pressure,
• Experience in coordination and implementation of Minimum Initial Service Package (MISP) for Reproductive Health;
• Experience in epidemics is an advantage;
• Humanitarian experience and international experience are of added advantage;
• Fluency in oral and written French and English; working knowledge of other UN languages a plus.