Background:
Super Typhoon Rai (Category 5) made its first landfall in the Philippines in the province of Surigao del Norte on 16 December 2021, bringing about maximum sustained winds of 195 kph and gustiness of 260 kph, making eight more succeeding landfalls and leaving a trail of devastation in different provinces mostly in the Visayas and Mindanao regions. Super Typhoon Rai is the strongest storm to hit Mindanao in 10 years and the 3rd ever strongest recorded storm in the Northern Hemisphere. According to the Humanitarian Needs and Priorities (HNP) report launched by the Philippine Government and the United Nations on 24 December 2021, the major highlights of the super typhoon’s impact are the following:
- 16 million people affected across 6 regions
- 652,000 displaced people, of whom 444,000 are in evacuation centers while 240,000 are outside evacuation centers
- 177 deaths to date
- Most impacted provinces include Agusan del Norte, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Leyte and Southern Leyte. On 20 December 2021, the Government of the Philippines declared a state of calamity in Regions IV-B, VI, VII, VIII, X (Northern Mindanao) and XIII for a period of one year.
The Position:
Under the overall technical supervision of the International Sexual and Reproductive Health in Emergencies Specialist, and in coordination with the IM Analyst, he/she is primarily responsible for coordinating and monitoring the Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) interventions for the Reproductive Health Coordinating Team in affected DOH Regional Health Offices and Provincial Health Offices to ensure the continuity of reproductive health services in the province, including maternal health, family planning, and HIV/STI services post Typhoon Odette.
Job Purpose:
The SRH Coordinator will be the Focal Point for coordination, implementation, monitoring and reporting on all SRH humanitarian interventions in the affected region, ensuring the continued availability of life-saving services, as well as mitigation of social and economic impact of the typhoon.
Under the framework of the Minimum Initial Services Package (MISP), the incumbent helps promote Sexual and Reproductive Health programming (SRH) and SRH services in crises and post crises situations. S/he also facilitates the procurement and delivery of emergency medical supplies and equipment; orients on SRH related issues (including reproductive, maternal and new-born health, family planning information and services, STIs and HIV prevention, care and treatment, and care for survivors of violence).
S/he also assists in establishing relevant partnerships with other humanitarian stakeholders, NGOs, donors and government counterparts. S/he will work closely with the focal points in government, implementing partners, development partners and civil society to ensure continuity of RH services in the province. When the situation stabilizes, the incumbent guides on the establishment of comprehensive SRH services.
The SRH Analyst will support implementation of activities, as well as monitor and report on progress.
The technical and coordination work expected from the Provincial Coordinator shall primarily be in line with the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health (RPRH) Law, Philippine Mental Health Law, Magna Carta for Women, the Department of Health’s (DOH) and the DOH Guidelines on the implementation of the MISP for SRH in Emergencies.
Main Duties and responsibilities
MISP Rollout and Programme Implementation
- Conduct/Lead rapid assessment/s of SRH needs of the affected population
- Ensure an effective programming response that provides quality and respectful SRH (including ASRH) with integration of GBV and MHPSS into SRH for affected populations
- Oversee distribution of emergency RH kits, equipment and medical supplies as well as dignity kits, 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 UNFPA implementing partners through to resumption of comprehensive SRH services
- Support the operation and functionality of, and co lead the RHCT at the Provincial Regional and RegionalProvincial Level as required
- Assume the role of SRH coordinator and co-lead of the RHCT at the Provincial, and where appropriate, at the Regional level
- Coordinate SRH response partners and collect 3Ws, work with SRH IM to analyse and share mapping and gap analysis with the national level Health Cluster, and other clusters and relevant government agencies
- Ensure standardization of SRH partner response activities and messaging, and advocate for integration and streamlining of SRH into the Humanitarian Needs and Priorities document and other UN and government assessments and resource mobilization efforts
Partnerships
- Coordinate the building of partnerships with regional and local government units, non-government organizations, civil society, communities, inter-faith groups, co-UN agencies, development partners and the private sector in promoting full implementation of the RPRH Law and MISP in the field.
- Contribute in identifying and coordinating potential resource mobilization initiatives and opportunities to further widen and diversify UNFPA’s investments on SRHR in the field.
- Ensure SRH partner representation in Sub Cluster reporting to OCHA and government entities
Reporting
- Monitor SRH assistance provided by UNFPA through implementing partners to crisis affected populations, in particular IDPs/returnees, and ensure adequate SRH requirements are being met.
- Conduct monitoring visits, and ensure a systematic approach for tracking coverage of targeted populations by UNFPA assistance in humanitarian settings.
- Work closely with the UN partners, regional counterparts (DOH), operations team and logistician regarding order to be placed and maintenance of the SRH commodities and supplies of dignity kits
- Prepare regular progress reports and document lessons learned and challenges and share with UNFPA regional offices, UNFPA Humanitarian Response Branch, SROs, and other units as may be necessary.
- Ensure timely reporting of SRH Working Group data to OCHA sitrep, and 3Ws to the Health Cluster as required.
- Perform other duties as may be assigned by the Country Representative.
Qualifications and Experience Education:
- Advanced degree in health sciences or public health or any other relevant field of study OR Bachelor’s degree in the fields mentioned above combined with two (2) years of relevant professional experience working in public health.
Knowledge and Experience:
- Two years working experience in public health
- Previous work experience on Sexual and Reproductive Health
- Previous humanitarian work experience
- Work experience on maternal health services, including networking with maternal health providers is a distinct advantage.
Languages:
- Fluency in Filipino and English
Required Competencies:
Values:
- Exemplifying integrity
- Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system
- Embracing cultural diversity
- Embracing change
Competencies:
- Achieving results,
- Being accountable,
- Developing and applying professional expertise/business acumen,
- Thinking analytically and strategically,
- Working in teams/managing ourselves and our relationships,
- Communicating for impact
Functional Competencies:
- Conceptual innovation in the provision of technical expertise;
- Leveraging the resources of national governments and partners;
- Building strategic alliances and partnerships;
- Adaptation/application of knowledge in different contexts;
- Job knowledge/technical expertise; and Requested by Supervisor
