Maternal Health & Health Systems Strengthening Adviser (P5) – Dakar

About the role

The Regional Maternal Health and Health Systems Strengthening Adviser provides senior technical and programmatic leadership for UNFPA’s work on maternal and newborn health, SRHR and health‑systems strengthening across West and Central Africa. Based in the UNFPA West and Central Africa Regional Office in Dakar, the adviser supports evidence‑based policy and programme development to accelerate progress toward UNFPA’s strategic outcomes.

Key responsibilities

• Lead the design, implementation and monitoring of regional strategies to reduce preventable maternal deaths.
• Provide technical guidance to country offices on maternal and newborn health, SRHR and health‑systems integration.
• Coordinate with UNFPA’s technical and programme staff to ensure coherent, evidence‑based interventions.
• Advise senior UNFPA leadership on policy trends, financing mechanisms and best practices.
• Represent UNFPA in regional forums, partnerships and high‑level meetings.

Required profile

• Advanced university degree in public health, medicine, health systems or a related field.
• Extensive experience (minimum 10 years) in maternal and newborn health, SRHR and health‑systems strengthening, preferably in an international or UN context.
• Proven track record of providing strategic technical advice at senior levels.
• Strong understanding of UNFPA’s strategic framework, SDGs and regional development agendas.

Required skills

• Strategic planning and policy analysis.
• Program design and evaluation for health interventions.
• Stakeholder engagement and partnership development.
• Leadership and team coordination across multiple countries.

What we offer

• Opportunity to influence health outcomes for millions of women and newborns in West and Central Africa.
• Collaborative work environment within a leading UN agency.
• Professional development and exposure to high‑level regional decision‑making.