UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.
Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.
And we never give up.
For every child, health
The West and Central African Region is home to 11% of children globally and bears the highest burden of maternal and newborn deaths. The focus of the UNICEF Regional Office Health and HIV section is to strengthening primary health care, especially community health systems, immunization services and quality of care for mothers, adolescents and children using evidence based approaches, innovations and digital technology.
How can you make a difference?
Under the direct supervision of the Regional Advisor for Health, the Senior Health Specialist (Maternal newborn, child and adolescent health/HIV-AIDS) is responsible for leading and managing all stages of health programmes, projects and initiatives on maternal, newborn, child, adolescent and community health, including HIV. This means developing a strategic vision based on evidence, advocacy, leveraging and coordinating partners, policy guidance, strategic planning and providing technical oversight to UNICEF country offices in the region. The position is responsible for developing, implementing and monitoring workplans, fund management as per UNICEF’s result-based management (RBM) and standards of performance and accountability framework. She/He will supervise a team of professionals working on MNCAH and HIV and provide strong leadership in leveraging and sustaining national partnerships on MNCAH and HIV in the context of renewed Alma Ata and institutionalization of community health towards the Sustainable Development Goals. He/she will be coordinating with other sections of WCARO for synergies in Nutrition, WASH, Education, Child Protection, SBC, Supply, Social Policy, Emergencies, Partnerships and PMR & Evaluation, and maintaining strong strategic partnerships such as BMGF, Global Fund (GF), Harmonizing for Health in Africa (HHA), Muskoka, Africa CDC, the Regional Inter-Agency Task team (IATT), JURTA, bi-lateral, multi-lateral, West Africa Health Organization (WAHO), Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), research institutions, academic and Civil Society Organizations.
Key function, accountabilities and related duties/tasks
Strategic representation, coordination and partnerships
Represent UNICEF West and Central Africa Regional Office (WCARO) in relevant meetings, events and fora at global, regional and national levels on MNCAH and HIV to ensure UNICEF priorities and perspectives are strategically represented.
Establish, strengthen and maintain high level contacts and active collaboration with globally and regionally active partners to coordinate activities and leverage technical and financial resources MNCAH and HIV-AIDS. This includes mobilizing resources, including from the World Bank, USAID, GF, PMI and Gates Foundation at the regional level, as appropriate.
As part of the regional team, strategically contribute to the Health and HIV section’s efforts to promoting synergies, programmatic linkages and broader convergence of MNCAH and HIV-AIDS into nutrition, Immunization, SBC, HIV and AIDS, WASH, child protection, gender and other relevant programme areas through relevant coordination platforms and mechanisms, exchange of information, meetings, documentation and dissemination of best practices.
Build and sustain effective close working partnerships with relevant global, regional and country-level structures working in maternal, newborn, child & adolescent health and HIV.
Contribute to resource leveraging UN agencies, bilateral cooperation agencies, regional and sub-regional partners such as AU, ECOWAS, ECCAS, national Governments, Civil Society and Non-Governmental Organizations, and promotes the implementation of policies, programmes, strategies to advance maternal, newborn, child & adolescent health and HIV/AIDS.
Support to programmes/projects development, planning and management
Advise and support the Regional Advisor for Health country offices and government counterpart on strategy, policy, and advocacy in relation to MNCAH and HIV-AIDS programs.
Lead the provision of strategic, policy and programming guidance and support to UNICEF Country Offices in their engagement with governments and other collaborating partners in defining priorities, formulating policies, strategies, methodologies, and identification of new approaches for advancing the child and community health agenda in the context of the SDGs, including in humanitarian context.
Coordinate support to countries for the development and implementation of strong monitoring and evaluation components for high-impact interventions for child and community health. This includes guidance and technical support for capacity development and establishment of systems for Real-Time Monitoring (RTM) including at the community, facility and district levels.
Lead the provision of guidance and coordination to enable UNICEF country offices to prepare MNCAH and HIV-AIDS related funding proposals that are of high technical quality, and provide inputs to regional and global resource leveraging efforts as required.
3. Technical and operational support to programme implementation
Support and provides technical guidance to Country offices in their engagement with government and other partners in the development of PHC and community health/HIV-AIDS policies, strategies, and operational plans, and programs on social protection, care and support response for children affected by HIV and AIDS. Promotes approaches which improve referral and linkages with facility-based services and strengthen quality of care.
Provide technical support to operationalize and support the roll out of FHT in WCAR>
Review, monitors and evaluates the institutionalization of community systems including community-based HIV-AIDS programmes in collaboration with Government and other partners and advocates for resources to be mobilized to support these programmes.
Undertake field visits and surveys in order to monitor and evaluate programme implementation. Identifies problems and proposes remedial action. Identify or decide on alternative courses of action to accelerate/improve programme delivery and ensure capacity building and programme sustainability.
Provide guidance and direction in the implementation of innovative approaches to ensure greater coverage and quality associated with delivery of services related to PHC and community health/HIV-AIDS programs for children and their families.
4. Programme quality assurance and monitoring of results
Participate in inter-sectoral collaboration with other sectors in the Regional Office, particularly Immunization, Nutrition, WASH, Education, Child Protection, Social Protection and Emergencies with the focus on Key Results for Children.
Work Closely with WHO, WAHO, UNFPA, USAID, UNAIDS, UNWOMEN, ECCAS, The Global Funds, USAID, AU, BMGF, GAVI, JURTA, NGOs and other key partners in the development of new strategies and approaches to strengthen health systems within the broader context of MNCAH and HIV/AIDS.
Represent WCARO in meetings with senior government officials as well as multi-lateral and bi-lateral agencies, to advocate and promote UNICEF programme goals and objectives, and communicate with major partners on organizational priorities related to MNCAH and HIV-AIDS programs.
5. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building
Conceptualize, develops, and disseminates regional technical analyses, reports and publications by compiling and scrutinizing information, tabulating and analysing data, and presenting findings and results.
Provide guidance in exchange and dissemination of information, including organization of country-to-country exchange of experience, webinars, consultations, peer-reviewed articles on relevant topics on MNCAH and HIV-AIDS programs particularly with regard to generating new evidence, sharing lessons learned and monitoring progress.
Contribute to the development/documentation of innovative approaches implemented, best practices and lessons learned.
6. Management /Supervision and Monitoring
Provide guidance, leadership and support to staff under her/his supervision and evaluate performance for achievement of established goals and objectives.
Submit periodic progress reports to supervisor and senior management.
Provide guidance and oversight to the child and community health team for development and monitoring of the annual work plan with clear deliverables.
Oversee Management and Monitoring of the Unit budget. Ensure the timely reporting and accounting of all programme transactions.
Carry out any other duties that may be assigned by the Regional Health Adviser and Regional Office from time to time.
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have:
Education:
Advanced University Degree in public health, international development, social science, medicine, or related technical fields.
Experience:
A minimum of 10 years of professional experience in public health programme planning and management at national and/or international levels, preferably in a developing country, is required.
Relevant experience in MNCAH, including HIV
Other skills and attributes:
Current knowledge of MNCAH and HIV/AIDS policies and international standards
Current knowledge of development and technology in the related field.
Proven ability to conceptualize, develop, plan, and manage programs and transfer knowledge and skills.
Good analytical, negotiating, communication and advocacy skills.
Ability to work in an international or multicultural environment.
Knowledge of computer management and applications.
Language Requirements:
Fluency in French and English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language or a local language is an asset
For every Child, you demonstrate:
UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, Sustainability (CRITAS).
The UNICEF competencies required for this post are:
Nurtures, Leads and Manages People (2)
Builds and maintains partnerships (2)
Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness (2)
Drive to achieve results for impact (2)
Innovates and embraces change (2)
Manages ambiguity and complexity (2)
Thinks and acts strategically (2)
Works collaboratively with others (2)
To view our competency framework, please visit here.
UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.
UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.
Remarks:
Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.
The selected candidate is expected to be based and to work from Dakar, Senegal, the duty station.
Deadline: 27 Feb 2023 Greenwich Standard Time
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