Community Health Specialist

Volunteering Medical & Health Finance & Economy

Overview

Support the design, implementation and monitoring of Community Health interventions.

You have:

• Minimum 2-3 years of professional experience
• Experience working in child health programs linked to the first 1,000 days is a strong asset
• Knowledge of the Cameroonian health system context is desirable
• Experience of working with UNICEF is an asset
• Programme planning, monitoring and reporting skills
• Ability to work closely with communities, frontline workers, and government counterparts
• Strong communication, teamwork, and problem-solving skills

Contract

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UNICEF – the United Nations Children’s Fund – created in 1946, is one of the worlds most trusted and respected organizations and the leading organization for children. Since 1975, UNICEF has worked for the children of Cameroon to accelerate the realization of child rights for all children including the most deprived and vulnerable. Working closely with the Government of Cameroon, civil society, the private sector and communities, UNICEF Cameroon Country Office aims to sustain results achieved for children to date, and strive to further improve policies, national institutions and programmes, for the well-being of every child in Cameroon, in line with Cameroon's National Development Strategy 2030 towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Our programmes focus on improving the lives of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged children in the country, irrespective of their nationality, gender, religion or background. Our main pillars include: Child Protection; Education; Water, Sanitation & Hygiene; HIV and Health; Nutrition; Social Policy; Social am Behaviour Change; Adolescent development and Gender; and Operations.

Background on Health UNICEF Cameroon in its efforts to strengthen Primary Health care and the Health System has supported the implementation of the community health strategy to bring healthcare services closer to the population and improve access to essential services. The 2021–2025 National Community Health Strategic Plan led to significant progress, including increased number of trained community health workers, community Health data introduced into DHIS2 with reports being produced, but it also faced key challenges such as the effective management of community health data at all levels of the health pyramid, the management of community health commodities, the limited funding, the institutionalization of community health that need to be strengthened. In response to persistent health needs and emerging challenges, the country is preparing a new community strategic plan for 2026–2030 to strengthen community-level health actions. Furthermore, the Maternal, Newborn, Child Health (MNCH) remain a central priority of the UNICEF - Government of Cameroon Country Programme. Despite progress, Cameroon continues to face challenges related to high maternal and neonatal mortality, coverages of key high impact MNCH interventions still below 80% due to the persistence of preventable childhood illnesses, limited access to quality MNCH care, continuity of care between health facilities and communities-particularly during the first 1,000 days, low skills and competences of health human resource. Strengthening Primary Health Care (PHC) and community health platforms is essential to deliver integrated, high-impact interventions along the continuum of care, all supported by the Social and Behaviour Change interventions. UNICEF Cameroon therefore seeks to recruit a National UN Volunteer Community Health Specialist to support the design, implementation and monitoring of integrated Community Health and MNCH interventions with a strong focus on the first 1,000 days, embedded within PHC.

Under the supervision of the MNCH-HSS Specialist, the National UN Volunteer Community Health Specialist will undertake the following responsibilities:

a) Technical and Programmatic Support.

Community Health - Primary Health care

• The main focus will be to strengthen the digitalisation of the community health information system in which UNICEF is engaged since 2025 in the Child Friendly Municipalities and beyond.
• Contribute to the development of the new 2026–2030 National Community Health Strategic Plan
• Support capacity building, supervision and coaching of community health workers with focus on digital reporting, analysis and use of DHIS2 data
• Support the planning, implementation of community-based interventions in collaboration with Government Partners including Municipalities
• Work closely with SBC to contribute to community engagement strategies address-ing socio-cultural barriers that affect care-seeking and early childhood practices
• Work closely with other sections in the Child Friendly Municipalities initiatives with a focus in the first 1,000 days priorities.

MNCH

The main focus will be monitoring the implementation of the integrated package of high impact MNCH interventions: - Support first-line health facilities to effectively deliver high-impact MNCH interventions during the first 1,000 days as part of the essential PHC service package focused on KMC at Facility and community levels and iCCM. - Contribute to quality-of-care initiatives focusing on maternal, newborn and child health services. - Contribute to the setting up of an effective and functional referral system focused MNCH

b) Monitoring, Evaluation and Knowledge Management

• Participate in joint field monitoring missions
• Support collection, analysis and use of community health and MNCH data
• Contribute to progress reports, donor reports and program reviews with clear visi-bility on first 1,000 days results.
• Document best practices, innovations and lessons learned related to community-based and PHC integrated interventions.

c) Support the coordination and collaboration with other sections/units, govern-ment and other partners to strengthen multi-sectoral programming.

• Support coordination with other government, UN agencies, NGOs, and community partners through communication and stakeholder mapping.
• Assist in organizing and documenting multi sectoral coordination meetings and follow up actions.
• Contribute to information sharing, joint planning, and monitoring of collaborative community health initiatives, mostly for Child Friendly Communities

d) Any other related tasks may be required or assigned by the supervisor.

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to integrate the UN Volunteers programme mandate within their assignment and promote voluntary action through engagement with communities in the course of their work. As such, UN Volunteers should dedicate a part of their working time to some of the following suggested activities: • Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by read-ing relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for in-stance in events that mark International Volunteer Day); • Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country; • Provide annual and end of assignment self- reports on UN Volunteer actions, results and opportunities.
• Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publica-tions/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.; • Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly-arrived UN Volunteers; • Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.

Results/expected outputs:

As an active UNICEF team member, efficient, timely, responsive, client-friendly and high-quality support rendered to UNICEF and its beneficiaries in the accomplishment of her/his functions, including:

Community Health & Primary Health Care

• Improved digitalization and use of the community health information system, including increased reporting and data use through DHIS2. • National Community Health Strategic Plan (2026–2030) developed, • Enhanced capacity of community health workers to plan, implement, and report on community based interventions. • Strengthened community engagement approaches addressing socio cultural barriers to care seeking and early childhood practices. • The number of functional Child Friendly Municipality is increased and performance measured periodically, focus laid on the first 1,000 days.

MNCH

• Improved monitoring of the integrated package of high impact MNCH interventions, with clear focus on the first 1,000 days. • Strengthened delivery and quality of iCCM services at first line health facilities and communities as part of essential PHC. • Improved continuity of care and functional referral systems for maternal, newborn, and child health services. Monitoring, Evaluation & Knowledge Management • Timely and high quality community health and MNCH data collected, analyzed, and used for decision making. • Clear visibility of first 1,000 days results in progress reports, donor reports, and program reviews. • Best practices, innovations, and lessons learned from integrated community based and PHC interventions documented and shared. • Final report on Monitoring and evaluation activities; regular dissemination of findings, exchange and shared experiences, lessons learned, best practices, innovation and contribution to the preparation of reports to donors. • Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) perspective is systematically applied, integrated, and documented in all activities throughout the assignment.

Coordination & Multi sectoral Programming

• Stronger coordination and collaboration with government, UN agencies, NGOs, and community partners. • Well documented and actionable multi sectoral coordination meetings with effective follow up. • Improved alignment, joint planning, and monitoring of multi sectoral community health initiatives.

Professionalism: demonstrated understanding of operations relevant to UNICEF; technical capabilities or knowledge relevant or transferrable to UNICEF procedures and rules; discretion, political sensitivity, diplomacy and tact to deal with clients; ability to apply good judgement; ability to liaise and coordinate with a range of different actors, especially in senior positions; where appropriate, high degree of autonomy, personal initiative and ability to take ownership; resourcefulness and willingness to accept wide responsibilities and ability to work independently under established procedures; ability to manage information objectively, accurately and confidentially; responsive and client-oriented; • Integrity: demonstrate the values and ethical standards of the UN and UNICEF in daily activities and behaviours while acting without consideration of personal gains; resist undue political pressure in decision-making; stand by decisions that are in the organization’s interest even if they are unpopular; take prompt action in cases of unprofessional or unethical behaviour; does not abuse power or authority. • Teamwork and respect for diversity: ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; excellent interpersonal skills; ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and harmonious working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, mixed-gender environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity; sensitivity and adaptability to culture, gender, religion, nationality and age; commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of UN operations; ability to achieve common goals and provide guidance or training to colleagues; • Commitment to continuous learning: initiative and willingness to learn new skills and stay abreast of new developments in area of expertise; ability to adapt to changes in work environment. • Planning and organizing effective organizational and problem-solving skills and ability to manage a large volume of work in an efficient and timely manner; ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor (own) work; ability to work under pressure, with conflicting deadlines, and to handle multiple concurrent projects/activities. • Communication: proven interpersonal skills; good spoken and written communication skills, including ability to prepare clear and concise reports; ability to conduct presentations, articulate options and positions concisely; ability to make and defend recommendations; ability to communicate and empathize with staff (including national staff), military personnel, volunteers, counterparts and local interlocutors coming from very diverse backgrounds; capacity to transfer information and knowledge to a wide range of different target groups; • Flexibility: adaptability and ability to live and work in potentially hazardous and remote conditions, involving physical hardship and little comfort; to operate independently in austere environments for protracted periods; willingness to travel within the area of operations and to transfer to other duty stations within the area of operations as necessary; • Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance; and commitment towards UNICEF’s mission and vision, as well as to the UN Core Values.

• Minimum 2-3 years of professional experience • Experience working in child health programs linked to the first 1,000 days, is a strong asset. • Knowledge of the Cameroonian health system context is desirable. • Experience of working with UNICEF is an asset

Key Competencies • Programme planning, monitoring and reporting skills. • Ability to work closely with communities, frontline workers, and government counterparts. • Strong communication, teamwork, and problem-solving skills.

The UN Volunteer - Community Health and MNCAH Specialist will be based in Yaoundé, and the position will be primarily office-based, with the possibility of partial remote work in accordance with the organization’s internal policy. A stable internet connection is generally available, although variations in quality may be observed depending on location and time periods. Occasional travel to other regions or intervention areas may be required. Such travel may involve more basic living conditions (limited connectivity, simple accommodation), but will be managed in line with the organization’s logistical and security policies. The organization will implement appropriate measures to ensure the well-being, safety, and health of staff, in accordance with its internal procedures. Staff members will be required to comply with local regulations, security guidelines, and internal policies related to conduct, digital security, and data protection

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Potential interview questions

Added 17 days ago - Updated 10 days ago - Source: unv.org