HIV/AIDS Specialist (first and second decade, NO -3, Mbabane, Eswatini, open to Eswatini nationals only

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.

Eswatini’s HIV prevalence rate is the highest in the world with stark gender disparities. In 2018, more than 90 per cent of new HIV infections among adolescents 10–19 years of age were among girls. Of new HIV infections, 31 per cent occurred among 15-24 young girls and young women. Adolescents also have lower testing, treatment and viral-suppression rates than older age groups. The COVID-19 emergency has limited access to healthcare services and reduce testing and access to treatment. Adolescents continue to engage in risky sexual behaviour, as evidenced by the decline in both condom use (from 69.6 per cent to 61.8 per cent in girls, and 94.8 per cent to 74.7 per cent in boys between 2014 and 2017) and in comprehensive knowledge on prevention of HIV infection. HIV testing rates among children 10–14 years of age are also low (42 per cent girls, 30 per cent boys). Although maternal antiretroviral coverage is good, the rate of new infections among children remains unacceptably high.[1] The HIV Aids Specialist will work across UNICEF sections to: - 1. To provide technical guidance and operational support to government counterparts, NGO partners, UN system partners and other country office partners/donors on PMTCT and Paediatric AIDS - 2. To provide technical guidance to government counterpart, NGO partners and UN system to ensure effective, integrated gender- and adolescent-responsive systems are established for HIV prevention among adolescents and young people.

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programmes, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

UNICEF’s HIV response for children must ensure that neither age, poverty, gender inequality, nor social exclusion determine access to life saving HIV prevention, treatment and care. UNICEF and its partners’ responses ensure all children are born free of HIV, and remain HIV-free for the first two decades of life, from birth through adolescence. It means that all children living with HIV have access to the treatment, care and support they need to remain alive and healthy. This is UNICEF’s vision of an AIDS-free generation starting with children. Ending AIDS among children is vital to ending the AIDS epidemic as a public health threat by 2030 – the overarching goal of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) of which UNICEF is a cofounding partner.

Job organizational context: The HIV/AIDS Specialist GJP is to be used in a Country Office (CO) where the HIV Programme is a major or key component of the Country Programme (or UNDAF). The Specialist reports to the Chief, Youth and Adolescent Development (Level 4).

Purpose for the job: The Specialist reports to the Chief for guidance and general supervision. The Specialist supports the development and preparation of the HIV programmes/projects and is responsible for managing, implementing, monitoring, evaluating and reporting of progress HIV programmes/projects (and/or sector/s of).

The Specialist provides technical guidance and management support throughout the programming processes to facilitate the administration and achievement of concrete and sustainable results according to plans, allocation, results based-management approaches and methodology (RBM) and UNICEF’s Strategic Plans, standards of performance and accountability framework.

Key function, accountabilities and related duties/tasks

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

1. Support to programmes/projects development and planning 2. Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results 3. Technical and operational support to programme implementation 4. Networking and partnership building 5. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building 1. Support to programme/project development and planning  Contribute to/support the preparation/design and conduct/update of situation analysis and assessments on HIV related issues to ensure that comprehensive, relevant and evidence-based data are collected to guide country office HIV programming, monitoring and delivery of programme/project services.  Participate in strategic programme discussion to provide input and operational support to the development of an integrated HIV programmes/projects (within the country and/or UNDAF programmes). Formulate, design and prepare HIV (and/or sector/s of) programmes/projects proposal, ensuring alignment with the overall UNICEF’s Strategic Plans and Country Programme and coherence/integration with UN Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF), regional strategies and national priorities, plans and competencies.  Establish specific goals, objectives and strategies and implementation plans using results-based planning terminology and methodology (RBM).  Prepare HIV programme documentation for Country Office Programme recommendation ensuring alignment with the overall UNICEF’s Strategic Plans, regional strategies and national priorities, plans and competencies.  Work closely and collaboratively with internal and external colleagues and partners to provide technical and operational support to programme planning, management and implementation and to ensure synergy, integration, coherence and harmonization of HIV programmes/projects within the country programme, donors’ development strategies/policies, country level national priorities/competencies and UN system development interventions/initiatives.

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 measurement to assess/strengthen performance accountability, coherence and delivery of concrete and sustainable results for the assigned sector/s in HIV programmes.  Participate in monitoring and evaluation exercises, programme reviews and annual reviews with government and other counterparts to assess progress and to determine required action/interventions to achieve results.  Prepare/assess monitoring and evaluation reports to identify gaps, strengths/weaknesses in programme and 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 and potential problems and take timely decisions to resolve issues and/or refer to relevant officials for timely resolution.  Monitor and verify the optimum/appropriate use of sector/s programme resources (financial, administrative and other assets) confirming compliance with organizational rules, regulations/procedures and donor commitments, standards of accountability and integrity and ensuring timely reporting and liquidation of resources.  Prepare regular/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 UNICEF policies, strategies, processes and best practices and approaches on HIV related issues to support programme development planning, management, implementation and delivery of results.  Participate in programme strategic discussions/planning to contribute to policy discussions and agenda setting to promote HIV interventions especially in the areas of gender inequality, social inclusion, human rights and humanitarian situations to ensure that at risks and vulnerable population are fully covered in times of greatest needs.  Draft policy papers, briefs and other strategic programme materials for management use, information and/or consideration.

4. Networking and partnership building

• Build and sustain effective close working partnerships with relevant sector government counterparts, national stakeholders and global partners/allies/donors/academia through active networking and advocacy to exchange knowledge/expertise, leverage resources/action, build alliances and engage participation of communities in programme design, delivery and demand creation. • Prepare communication and information materials for CO programme advocacy to promote awareness, establish partnership/alliances and enhance resource mobilization for UNICEF HIV programmes/projects.  Participate and/or represent UNICEF in appropriate inter-agency (UNCT) discussions and planning on HIV and related issues to collaborate with inter-agency partners/colleagues on UNDAF planning and preparation of HIV 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

 Apply/introduce innovative approaches and good practice to build the capacity of partners and stakeholders and to support the implementation and delivery of concrete and sustainable programme results. • Keep abreast, research, benchmark and implement best and cutting edge practices in HIV management and information systems. Institutionalize and share best practices and knowledge learned. • Organize and implement capacity building initiatives to enhance the competencies of clients/stakeholders to promote sustainable results in HIV related programmes/projects.

Impact of Results

The effective planning and formulation of HIV programmes/projects and the achievement of sustainable results (outcomes), contribute to accelerating UNICEF and national development efforts to eliminate new HIV infections among children and to provide life-saving protection, care and support to children and their families affected by AIDS that in turn contribute to achieving UNICEF’s vision, commitment and goal to an AIDS-free generation that starts with children and the “Three Zeros” – zero new infection, zero deaths and zero discrimination.

V. UNICEF values and competency Required

i) Core Values

• Care • Respect • Integrity • Trust • Accountability

ii) Core Competencies (For Staff without Supervisory Responsibilities) *

 Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (1)  Works Collaboratively with others (1)  Builds and Maintains Partnerships (1)  Innovates and Embraces Change (1)  Thinks and Acts Strategically (1)  Drive to achieve impactful results (1)  Manages ambiguity and complexity (1)

*The 7 core competencies are applicable to all employees. However, the competency Nurtures, Leads and Managers people is only applicable to staff who supervise others.

Recruitment Qualifications

Education: An Advanced University Degree in public health, pediatric health, family health, health research, global/international health, health policy and/or management, environmental health sciences, biostatistics, socio-medical, health education, epidemiology or other health related sciences is required. Experience: A minimum of 5 years of professional experience in public HIV/AIDS planning and management and/or in relevant areas of health care, health emergency/humanitarian preparedness, at the international level some of which preferably in a developing country is required. Relevant experience in HIV/AIDS programme/project development and management in any UN system agency or organization is 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.

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:

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