Overview
The Midwifery Senior Expert will serve as the principal focal point for the midwifery profession within the Ministry of Health, ensuring profession-specific priorities are integrated into national health strategies and policies. The assignment will focus on strengthening midwifery governance, harmonizing regulatory frameworks, and establishing and coordinating the Eastern and Southern African region Midwifery Hub.
Tasks Summary
- Provide strategic leadership for midwifery within government.
- Lead high-level policy dialogues and regulatory harmonization efforts.
- Lead the Midwifery Sub Technical Working group.
- Review and adapt Midwifery Models of Care (MMoC) to the Rwandan context.
- Expand and mobilize national and regional advocacy coalitions.
- Facilitate the update of legal frameworks and scopes of practice.
- Lead and facilitate the implementation of SMART advocacy objectives.
- Ensure the new harmonized Competency-based National Midwifery Curriculum is monitored and evaluated.
- Support faculty development material and training.
- Spearhead efforts to integrate new and innovative maternal and newborn health (MNH) priorities.
- Support the development of a comprehensive retention strategy and clear career paths for midwives.
- Identify practical entry points to scale up the SimBegin simulation training.
- Foster innovations in midwifery education and practices.
- Design and facilitate South-South knowledge exchange platforms.
- Work with national and regional midwifery associations and universities to conduct and disseminate research.
- Coordinate the development of evidence-based "Midwifery Investment Cases".
- Shape advocacy messages informed by cost-effectiveness and political economy analysis.
- Partner with relevant stakeholders to ensure the financial sustainability of the Midwifery hub.
Experience Requirements
- 15 years of relevant experience.
- Clinical experience as a qualified midwife, combined with proven expertise in midwifery advocacy, education, and training.
- Specialized knowledge and practical experience in advocacy, policy development, and education, including policy research and analysis, strategy formulation, diplomacy, high-level representation, and public communication.
- Demonstrated experience in designing, coordinating, and implementing targeted, evidence-based advocacy campaigns, preferably using structured approaches such as SMART Advocacy.
- Proven track record in advocating for midwifery education, practice, financing, and maternal and newborn health policies within the framework of universal health coverage.
- Experience working with UN agencies, government institutions, NGOs, and civil society organizations, including building and sustaining effective national advocacy coalitions.
- Strong drafting, analytical, and proposal-writing skills, with high attention to detail.
- Solid programme support and management experience, including planning, coordination, budget preparation, execution, and monitoring.
- Ability to leverage the resources of national governments and partners/ building strategic alliances and partnerships.
- Excellent organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to work independently and proactively.
- Strong commitment to midwifery issues and alignment with the UNFPA mandate.
- Computer literacy and proficiency in Microsoft Office and digital collaboration tools.
Qualification Requirements
• Master's degree in Midwifery, medical educator or nurse with midwifery experience will be considered.
