Health Specialist (MNCH), NOC, Kabul, Afghanistan

Contract

This is a NO-3 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-3 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!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NfKnkSSLNcg

How can you make a difference?

Under the general guidance of the Primary Health care Specialist, the MNCH Specialist is accountable for providing technical support for the implementation of the MNCH Plan. This includes technical support, managing, implementation, coordination, integration, evidence generation, monitoring, and supervision. This encompasses both direct program work with Government, civil society partners, contractors as well as linkages and support to UNICEF teams working on health, nutrition, child protection, gender, water, and sanitation.

Key function, accountabilities and related duties/tasks

1. Support to programme development and planning

• In coordination with MNCH team members, contribute to updating the annual workplan and reporting, technical meetings with HQ, ROSA, UNICEF zonal offices and UN agencies.
• Plan and formulate any other additional necessary documents, guidance notes, templates, as well as convene internal focus group discussions instrumental towards finalizing/updating the MNCH strategic plan and activities.
• Ensure the MNCH plan, activities and implementation modality are aligned with UNICEF’s internal procedures and policies, regulatory frameworks as well as the model UN approach.

2. Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results

• Monitor UNICEF implementing partners compliance with the MNCH plan.
• Participate in all MNCH meetings, if possible with other team members.
• Provide technical support to the project and result-based monitoring and evaluation activities.
• In coordination with other MNCH team members, contribute to regular reports on implementation of MNCH planned activities

3. Technical and operational support to programme implementation

• Identify challenges, opportunities, priorities and needs for the development and implementation of the MNCH programme.
• Provide technical support during MNCH planned activities implementation at national and subnational levels
• Support development of MNCH related guidance and tools, when applicable to support MNCH programme management implementation.
• Develop MNCH proposals and donor reports. Review proposals documents (health and other section) to ensure MNCH well incorporated (if applicable), and they are in harmony with the health section progamme strategic direction.
• Participate in health and other development partners including UN agencies technical and coordination meetings and discussion.

4. Networking and partnership building

• Build and sustain effective close working partnerships with health sector government counterparts, national stakeholders, as well as global partners, allies, donors, and academia. Through active networking, advocacy and effective communication, build capacity and exchange knowledge and expertise to facilitate the achievement of programme goals on child rights, social justice and equity

• Prepare communication and information materials for CO programme advocacy to promote awareness, establish partnerships/alliances, and support fund raising for health programmes (maternal, neonatal and child survival and development).

• Participate and/or represent UNICEF in appropriate inter-agency (UNCT) discussions and planning on health-related issues to collaborate with inter-agency partners/colleagues on UNDAF planning and preparation of health programmes/projects, ensuring organizational position, interests and priorities are fully considered and integrated in the UNDAF process in development planning and agenda setting.

5. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

• Take stock of lessons learned from previous programs and projects, global, regional and national best practices, and current UNICEF and WB principles guidelines and procedures to ensure MNCH technical documents remain up to date and current.
• Capture lessons learned, experiences and case studies from MNCH activities implementation to inform capacity development trainings as well as address gaps and refine the procedures.
• Contribute to capacity building activities for UNICEF staff and partners where applicable through Development of Guidance, Training Materials and Delivery of Face-to-Face Training
• Closely provide assistance and deliver capacity building training to the field teams to close knowledge/skill gaps and minimize the likelihood of risks to happen to sub projects.
• Carry out training on HIIs, iCCM, IMNCI, EmONC, RMC, KMC, ENC, CBNC, and others.

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

• An advanced university degree in Public Health or MNCH or relevant similar field is required. *A first University Degree in a relevant field combined with 2 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree.
• A minimum of five (5) years of technical experience in the design, implementation and preferably monitoring of MNCH and management plans is required.
• Good writing and communication skills, including public speaking and presentations is preferred.
• Experience working with UNICEF or another UN agency is an asset.
• Familiarity with emergency response is an asset.
• Willingness to extensively travel to provinces in Afghanistan is required.
• 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, 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 (8) Nurtures, Leads and Manages People

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 promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, 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.

Remarks:

UNICEF’s active commitment towards diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable female candidates are encouraged to apply.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments are also subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Government employees that 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.