Health Officer (Reproductive Health), NOB, Nairobi, Kenya Country Office, 9 months (with possible extension)

Contract

This is a NO-2 contract. This kind of contract is known as National Professional Officers. It is normally only for nationals. It's a staff contract. More about NO-2 contracts.

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

Health | UNICEF

How can you make a difference?

The Health Officer (Reproductive Health) reports to the Health Specialist (Maternal and Newborn Health), NOC for supervision. The Officer provides professional technical, operational, and administrative assistance throughout the programming process for the Health programme within the Country Programme with a focus on reproductive health, from development planning to delivery of results, preparing, executing, managing, and implementing a variety of technical and administrative program tasks to facilitate programme development, implementation, programme progress monitoring, evaluating and reporting of results.

1. Support to reproductive health programme development and planning

• Conduct/update situation analysis for the programme sector/s for development, design, and management of reproductive health-related programmes/projects. Research and report on development trends (e.g. political social, economic, reproductive health) for higher management use to enhance programme development planning, management, efficacy, and delivery of results.
• Contribute to the development/establishment of sectoral programme goals, objectives, and strategies and results-based planning through analysis of reproductive health needs and areas for intervention and submission of recommendations for priority and goal setting.
• Provide technical and operational support throughout all stages of reproductive health programming processes by executing/administering a variety of technical programme transactions, preparing materials/documentation, and complying with organizational processes and management systems, to support programme planning, results-based planning (RBM), and monitoring and evaluating results.
• Prepare required reproductive health documentation/materials to facilitate the programme review and approval process.

2. Reproductive health programme implementation, monitoring and delivery of results

• Work closely and collaboratively with internal and external colleagues and partners to discuss reproductive health operational and implementation issues, provide solutions, and recommendations, and/or alert appropriate officials and stakeholders for higher-level intervention and/or decision. Keep a record of reports and assessments for easy reference and/or to capture and institutionalize lessons learned.
• Participate in reproductive health monitoring and evaluation exercises, programme reviews, and annual reviews with government and other counterparts to assess programmes/projects and to report on required action/interventions at the higher level of programme management.
• Monitor and report on the use of sectoral reproductive health programme resources (financial, administrative, and other assets), verify compliance with approved allocation/goals, organizational rules, regulations/procedures and donor commitments, standards of accountability, and integrity. Report on issues identified to ensure timely resolution by management/stakeholders. Follow up on unresolved issues to ensure resolution.
• Prepare regular/mandated reproductive health programme/project reports for management, donors, and partners to keep them informed of programme progress.

3. Technical and operational support to reproductive health programme implementation

• Conduct regular programme field visits and surveys and/or exchange information with partners/stakeholders to assess progress and provide technical support, take appropriate action to resolve issues, and/or refer to relevant officials for resolution. Report on critical issues, bottlenecks, and potential problems for timely action to achieve results.
• Provide technical and operational support to government counterparts, NGO partners, UN system partners, and other country office partners/donors at national and sub-national levels (with a focus on the NE ASAL) on the application and understanding of UNICEF policies, strategies, processes and best practices on reproductive health-related issues to support reproductive health programme implementation, operations and delivery of results.

4. Networking and partnership building

• Build and sustain effective close working partnerships with relevant reproductive health government counterparts and stakeholders at national and sub-national levels (with a focus on the NE ASAL) through active sharing of information and knowledge to facilitate reproductive health programme implementation and build the capacity of stakeholders to achieve programme goals.
• Draft communication and information materials for CO programme advocacy to promote awareness, establish partnerships/alliances and enhance resource mobilization for UNICEF reproductive health programmes/projects.

5. Innovation, knowledge management, and capacity building

• Identify, capture, synthesize, and share lessons learned for knowledge development and to build the capacity of stakeholders.
• Apply innovative approaches and promote good practice to support the implementation and delivery of concrete and sustainable reproductive health programme results.
• Research, benchmark, and report on best and cutting-edge practices for reproductive health development planning of knowledge products and systems.
• Participate as a resource person in reproductive health capacity-building initiatives to enhance the competencies of clients/stakeholders.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• A University Degree in public health, pediatric health, family health, health research, global/international health, health policy and/or management, biostatistics, socio-medical, health education, epidemiology, or other health-related sciences is required.
• A minimum of 2 years of relevant professional experience in reproductive health planning and management and/or in relevant areas of health care, health/emergency preparedness at the international level, and/or in a developing country is required. Demonstrable experience working with government (preferably at the national and/or county level), development partners, and other stakeholders. Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization is considered as an asset. x`
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships (2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness (3) Drive to achieve results for impact (4) Innovates and embraces change (5) Manages ambiguity and complexity (6) Thinks and acts strategically (7) Works collaboratively with others.

During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: competency framework here.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. 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 is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children.

Remarks:

The contract duration is for an initial period of 9 months, with a possible extension, subject to satisfactory performance, availability of funds, and programmatic needs.

UNICEF’s active commitment towards diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children.

All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. 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.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

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