Health Officer

Contract

This is a UNV National Specialist contract. This kind of contract is known as National UN Volunteer. It is normally only for nationals. More about UNV National Specialist contracts.

UNICEF has been working in Bangladesh since 1952. Bangladesh, a country in South Asia, hosts a population of 160 million: 40 percent of which are children. UNICEF focuses on children, provides support to facing challenges in this developing, but densely populated nation. We reach out to communities in all 64 districts, through our field offices covering eight administrative divisions of Bangladesh. UNICEF plans align with the Government of Bangladesh, our biggest partner, as it advances the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals. It is also aligned to the UNICEF Strategic Plan, specifically Goal Area 1 and contributes to the UNSDCF outcome. UNICEF collaborates with government ministries, non-government organizations, UN agencies and a wide range of donors to achieve the long term-goal of current Country Programme “By 2026, all children, adolescents and women with a focus on the most vulnerable have equitable access to and use quality, high impact health services and adopt appropriate healthy life practices”.

To achieve the ambitious SDG target of reducing the maternal mortality below 70 per 100,000 live births and neonatal mortality to 12 or below per thousand live births by 2030, the Government of Bangladesh and its developmental partners has been strengthening collaborative efforts to reach the SDG3 (Sustainable development goal 3) in health with a strong focus to universal coverage with quality health care and facility-based services. UNICEF Bangladesh supports the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and other organizations like BSMMU in term of quality management care in health facilities particularly for care and treatment of pregnant women, newborn and children.

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of Health Specialist, Newborn & Child Health or his/her designated mandated representative(s), the UNV Health Officer will :

• Contribute to Health Programs of UNICEF in implementation of quality maternal and newborn health interventions including – tracking the implementation, indicators, quality standards, budget planning and expenditure, health management information systems etc.

• Support in Designing and piloting of an evidence-based comprehensive pediatric NCD service delivery model for children and adolescents through government primary health care systems in collaboration with NCDC-DGHS and other implementing partners

• Support in implementation of Quality Improvement (QI) system approach with specific interventions like functioning of national, divisional and district QI Committee in collaboration with national entity like DGHS and QIS-HEU

• Support DGHS for the implementation of Maternal Perinatal Death Surveillance and Response (MPDSR) interventions including development of systemic data analysis for effective planning by local health managers

• Support in implementation of Quality Improvement (QI) interventions like PDCA and 5S in UNICEF supported health facilities in collaboration with DGHS, and NIPSOM through regular on-the-sight monitoring and regular tracking of the various indicators and resources including budgeting etc.

• Support DGHS for the effective implementation, evidence generation and scale up of the Reaching Every Mother Every Newborn (REMN) intervention through regular on-the-sight monitoring, capacity development and regular tracking of the various indicators

• Support in implementation of periodic assessment of maternal and newborn interventions in health facilities for SOP, guideline, and quality standards maintenance through periodic visit of professionals and national managers like RRT and QI standards assessment in collaboration with DGHS, HEU, BSMMU- NKC, OGSB and BNF

• Support documentation of Programme success, evidence generation, innovation and dissemination for maternal and newborn health

• Support different implementing partners like DGHS, NIPSOM, BSMMU, Icddrb etc. for developing periodic plan, budget, report and statement of expenditure maintaining UNICEF financial rules and regulations

• Support in development of donor proposals, donor reports, concept note and strategy notes in Health System Strengthening including maternal and newborn Health Care.

• Internal and external coordination with other Sections of UNICEF, meetings with donors, DGHS and stakeholders.

• Desk review for the available literatures on upcoming maternal and newborn health. Develop different analytical presentations and dashboards for the donors, government and other stakeholders as required

• Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) perspective is systematically applied, integrated and documented in all activities throughout the assignment

• Any other related tasks as may be required or assigned by the supervisor.

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are required to:- Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance 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 reports on UN Volunteer actions, results and opportunities using UNV’s Volunteer Reporting Application- Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/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:

• Documentation, event completion, report preparation and action points follow up of the health programs and internal and external coordination meetings with donors, stakeholders or internal meetings with other sections.

• The capacities of the health system are strengthened in terms of planning, financing, implementation and monitoring-evaluation to ensure equitable access to quality health services for the target populations, including in health emergencies.

• The development of capacity through coaching, mentoring and formal on-the-job training, when working with (including supervising) national staff or (non-) governmental counter-parts, including Implementing Partners (IPs);

• Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) perspective is systematically applied, integrated and documented in all activities throughout the assignment

• A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for peace and development during the assignment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in and capacities developed.

• Integrity Accountability • Adaptability and Flexibility • Commitment and Motivation • Commitment to Continuous Learning • Working with teams • Communication • Integrity • Judgement and Decision-making • Planning and Organizing • Professionalism • Respect for Diversity

:-

o Public health, programme & finance management, or other relevant programmes at the national and/or international level, working experience with public sector will be an asset.

o Excellent oral and written skills; excellent drafting, formulation, reporting skills;

o Accuracy and professionalism in document production and editing

o Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners and government, including grassroots community members, religious and youth organizations, and authorities at different levels; familiarity with tools and approaches of communications for development

o Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various MS Office applications (Excel, Word, PPT etc.) and email/internet;

o Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel.

o Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines.

Dhaka is located in central Bangladesh along the Buriganga River. Not only is it the capital city, but it is also the largest in the country. It is the centre of political, cultural, and economic life in Bangladesh. The official language is Bengali, while English is the working language of UN Agencies. In recent decades, Dhaka has seen the modernization of services, communications, and public works. The city is attracting large foreign investments and greater volumes of commerce and trade. It is also experiencing an increasing influx of people from across the nation; this has reportedly made Dhaka one of the fastest-growing cities in the world. Good English-speaking medical, dental services, and educational centres are available for internationals.

Dhaka is connected to other cities by rail, road, and by air and internationals can move easily from one city to another. Dhaka has venerable green spaces, including many gardens and parks, historical places, and nice restaurants. The weather is tropical - hot and very humid during the summer monsoon season (April-September) and drier and cooler in the winter (October-March).

Historically, Bangladesh has been a safe country for internationals so far. While Dhaka is not categorized as a hardship station, the volunteer should be prepared for limitations in freedom of movement on foot, by public transport, and to certain locations.