Health Specialist, NO-C, Fixed Term, Lomé Togo

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, the right to health

A West African country located between Ghana and Benin, Togo has a coast on the Gulf of Guinea and a deep-water port recognized as a hub. From the coastal south to its northern border with Burkina Faso, Togolese territory takes the form of a corridor with an area of 56,785 km2. Togo is divided into five administrative regions (Savanes, Kara, Centrale, Plateaux and, Maritime), 39 prefectures and, 117 communes.

UNICEF supports the Togolese Government through a five-year Action Program aligned with the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) and the Country National Development Program (NDP). The current program (2019-2023) includes the following interrelated components: Child Survival, Education and Development, Child Protection, Social Inclusion, Program and, Operational Effectiveness. The Operational effectiveness includes various units: Human Resources, Finance & Accounts; Information and Communication Technologies, Supply & Logistics and, Administrative unit.

The Health specialist will manage and coordinate the implementation of Integrated Community Based system strengthening programme and assist in the delivery of results under close guidance and supervision of the chief of Child Survival Section. He will also supervise any temporary staff in his/her daily technical work.

How can you make a difference?

The Health Specialist provides technical guidance and management support throughout the design and delivery of Community based interventions aiming at strengthening community platforms, integrated multisectoral community based planning, delivery, monitoring and reporting mechanisms in support to the delivery of IMCI, iCCM, Child Friendly Community-Real Time Monitoring (CFC-RTM), community based HIV, maternal and new-born care, care for caregivers, and other sectoral activities delivered through integrated community platforms.

Key responsibilities and related duties/tasks

1. Support to programme development and planning

• Participate in strategic programme discussions on the planning of health programmes. Formulate, design and prepare a sector of the health programme proposal, ensuring alignment with UNICEF’s Strategic Plan, the Country Programme, as well as coherence/integration with the UN Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF), regional strategies, and national priorities, plans and competencies.
• Establish specific programme goals, objectives, strategies, and implementation plans based on results-based planning terminology and methodology (RBM). Prepare required documentations for programme review and approval.
• Support and contribute to the preparation, design and updating of the situation analysis for the sector(s) to establish a strategic plan for development, design, and management of health related programmes. Keep abreast of development trends to enhance programme management, efficiency, and delivery.
• Work closely and collaboratively with colleagues and partners to discuss strategies and methodologies, and to determine national priorities and competencies to ensure the achievement of concrete and sustainable results.

2. Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results

• Plan and/or collaborate with internal and external partners to establish monitoring benchmarks, performance indicators, and other UNICEF/UN system indicators and measurements to assess and strengthen performance accountability, coherence and delivery of concrete and sustainable results for strengthening community service delivery platforms, integrated multisectoral community based planning, delivery, monitoring and reporting mechanisms to support the community based RMNCH, HIV, WASH, C and CFC-RTM programmes
• Participate in monitoring and evaluation exercises, programme reviews and annual sectoral reviews with the government and other counterparts to assess progress and to determine required action/interventions to achieve results.
• Prepare and assess monitoring and evaluation reports to identify gaps, strengths and/or weaknesses in programme management, identify lessons learned and use knowledge gained for development planning and timely intervention to achieve goals.
• Actively monitor programmes/projects through field visits, surveys and/or exchange of information with partners/stakeholders to assess progress, identify bottlenecks, potential problems and take timely decisions to resolve issues and/or refer to relevant officials for timely resolution
• Monitor and verify the optimum and appropriate use of sectoral programme resources (financial, administrative and other assets) confirming compliance with organizational rules, regulations/procedures and donor commitments, standards of accountability and integrity, ensuring timely reporting and liquidation of resources.
• Prepare regular and mandated programme/project reports for management, donors and partners to keep them informed of programme progress.

3. Technical and operational support to programme implementation

• Provide technical guidance and operational support to government counterparts, NGO partners, UN system partners and other country office partners/donors on the interpretation, application and understanding of UNICEF policies, strategies, processes, and best practices and approaches on health-related issues to support programme development planning, management, implementation and delivery of results.
• Participate in discussions with national partners, clients and stakeholders to promote health and development issues, especially in the areas of maternal and neonatal health, and child survival and development specifically community health and Health system in support to community-based RMNCH, HIV, CFC-RTM, programs
• Draft policy papers, briefs and other strategic programme materials for management use, information and consideration.
• Participate in emergency preparedness initiatives for programme development, contingency planning and/or to respond to emergencies in country or where designated.

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 community health and nutrition system strengthening in support to scaling up and utilization of community based RMNCH, HIV, CFC-RTM, and servicesParticipate 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 lanning and agenda setting.

5. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

• Apply and introduce innovative approaches and good practices to build the capacity of partners and stakeholders, and to support the implementation and delivery of concrete and sustainable programme results.
• Keep abreast and conduct research to provide evidence for implementation of best and cutting-edge practices in health
• Assess, institutionalize, and share best practices and knowledge learned.
• Organize and implement capacity building initiatives to enhance the competencies of stakeholders to promote sustainable results on health programme specifically community health and nutrition system strengthening in support to scaling up community based RMNCH, HIV, Nutrition and ECD,
• Community health and nutrition system strengthening in support to the scale up and utilization of community based RMNCH, HIV, CFC-RTM programs and other related programmes and services.

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

An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in one of the following fields is required: public health/nutrition, pediatric health, family health, health research, global/international health, health policy and/or management, environmental health sciences, biostatistics, socio-medical, health education, epidemiology, or another relevant technical field.

A minimum of five years of professional experience in one or more of the following areas is required: public health/nutrition planning and management, maternal and neonatal health care, or health emergency/humanitarian preparedness.

Experience working in a developing country is considered as an asset.

Fluency in French and English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language or local language of the duty station is considered as an asset.

Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization is considered as an asset.

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.

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are...

Core Competencies

• Nutures,Leads and Manages People (1)
• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (2)
• Works Collaboratively with others (2)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (2)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (2)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (2)
• Drives to achieve impactful results (2)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (2)

Functional Competencies

• Analyzing(3)
• Deciding and Initiating action (2)

• Applying technical expertise (3)

  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 to become a part of the organization.

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:

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

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