Consultancy: Support to Neonatal Alliance Secretariat, LAC Region

Contract

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UNICEF promotes the rights and welfare of all children and adolescents in everything we do. Together with our allies, we work in 190 countries and territories to transform this commitment into practical actions that benefit all children, especially focusing our efforts on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded, worldwide.

The UNICEF Latin America and Caribbean Regional Office is based in in Panama, operating in 36 territories, including 24 country offices.

For every child, health

UNICEF works to put the rights and well-being of the most disadvantaged children at the heart of the social, political, and economic agenda, in line with our equity focus, working across our organization and with our partners in government, civil society and the private sector to support shifts in public policy, fuel social engagement, and increase investment for children.

The LAC Neonatal Alliance is the regional organism to promote evidence-based, high-impact interventions for Newborn health; synergize all efforts of all newborn health partners in the region; and increase effectiveness through collaboration so that policies and actions allow more newborn to survive and thrive.

To achieve that mission, the Alliance leverages members’ expertise and resources to coordinate efforts. Two key pillars being: - Strengthening of partnerships at the regional and country levels on issues related to neonatal health and, - Connecting professionals with the tools, expertise, and resources they need to advance their work.

In line with Every Newborn, Strategy for Every Woman Action Plans and to support technical expertise sharing and implementations of policies aimed at improving the lives of the most vulnerable groups within newborn health. The present TOR aim at strengthening the secretariat to better assist regional and national Neonatal Alliances in their role of capacity building of newborn health specialists throughout the region and globally, share and disseminate, knowledge, research and relevant information.

For more information about UNICEF and its work: www.unicef.org/lac.

**How can you make a difference?

Purpose of the Assignment**

Under the overall guidance of the Maternal & Child Health [MCNH] Specialist, the consultant will manage the secretariat of the neonatal alliance providing technical and logistical support to the steering committee (SC) and the interface between the SC and the national neonatal alliances (5 at this time).

Specific tasks

1. Maintain the LAC Alliance contact list 2. Establish regular contacts with the country neonatal alliances representatives 3. Lead the establishment of new neonatal alliances in LAC region 4. Support the monthly (virtual) meetings of the Executive Committee by planning and organizing the meetings, and making reports 5. Work with country alliances to identify strategies and areas of need for capacity building and surveys as well as success stories and experiences to exchange with other alliances 6. Support knowledge management through the organization of webinars and other virtual exchanges with national alliances and other regional alliance members 7. Elaborate the minutes of the Steering Committee meetings 8. Draft regular eg quarterly email communications from Executive Committee Secretariat to the regional alliance members. 9. Elaborate messages and communications channels -in coordination with the EC- to maintain informed the members of national alliances 10. Represent the Regional Neonatal Alliance as non-voting member within Every Women -Every Child (EWEC)-LAC Executive Management Committee and as full member of EWEC-TWG 11. Improve the communication inside and outside LAC Alliance 12. Establish new contact with relevant regional and global organizations

Expected Results

1. Strengthen the technical and operational capacity of country alliances to promote the delivery of evidence-based interventions to reduce newborn death and disability. 2. Strengthen the LAC Neonatal Alliance to promote increased interactivity and efficient interventions. 3. Support planning activities of the Executive Committee 4. Ensure newborn health in prioritized in EWEC/LAC activities and products

Supervision: The consultant will work under the direct supervision of the Maternal & Child Health [MCNH] Specialist, in close collaboration with the Executive Committee of the Regional Neonatal Alliance.

Workplace: The consultant will work remotely, home-based and will use his/her own resources and equipment.

Travel: If travel is needed, it will be coordinated between the consultant and the supervisor, and will be covered by UNICEF as per policy.

How to apply: Applications should be submitted online and should include completed online application, resume, cover letter and financial proposal. Qualified candidates are requested to submit daily and monthly fees in their proposal.

To qualify as a champion for every child you will have…

- University degree in social science, public health or related areas. - A minimum of 8 years management of networks, programme and projects. Work experience with Newborn, Adolescent, Women Health and Sexual and Reproductive Health is an advantage. Experience of working with UN agencies mainly PAHO and UNICEF is highly desirable. A good understanding of health policies and standards and advocating for newborn and sexual and reproductive rights will be considered an asset. - Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset. - Fluency in English and Spanish is required. Knowledge of French and/or Portuguese is an asset. - Technical knowledge: Professional technical knowledge and expertise in Results Framework, Program and Network Management Extensive knowledge of health program in the LAC Region in the areas of children rights, newborn health, adolescent and maternal health. - Other desired skills and attributes: Demonstrated excellent skills in negotiating with partners like Ministries of Health, NGO’s and Multilateral Organizations. Demonstrated ability to manage approaches focused on human rights, gender, generational and intercultural approaches. Ability to work efficiently under tight deadlines and results oriented. Ability to clearly defined objectives and plan activities with experience in program and project management, monitoring and evaluation. Demonstrated experience with teamwork.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

Click here to learn more about UNICEF’s values and competencies.

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.

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:

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.