HIV/AIDS Specialist, NOC, Johannesburg, South Africa (364 days) (For South African Nationals Only) (Internal vacancy open for UNICEF staff 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.

For every child,

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child and adolescent, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programmes, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children, adolescents and families, translates this commitment to rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children and adolescents have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child or adolescent 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.

How can you make a difference?

The overall purpose of this TA is to support the ESARO HIV section to execute its core responsibilities of technical assistance, quality oversight, strengthening partnerships, activity management, strengthening strategic information and knowledge management, and ensuring strategic HIV programming in the region.

The primary responsibilities of the HIV specialist include: 1. Support the management of the joint 2gether 4 SRHR; 2. Strengthen M&E mechanisms and data use to enhance HIV-related results for children and adolescents.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the Senior HIV Specialist with regular guidance from the Regional HIV Advisor, the HIV Specialist will provide, through remote support and in-country missions : 1) support to programme development, planning, management, monitoring and delivery of results; 2) technical and operational support to programme implementation, and capacity building; 3) innovation, knowledge management, communication, and partnerships; and 4) strengthen M&E mechanisms at regional and country level:

1. Support to programme development, planning, management, monitoring and delivery of results

• Support the development and management of regional level activities under the 2gether 4 SRHR programme, including in PMTCT and adolescent SRHR/ HIV interventions.
• Provide guidance and support country offices to strengthen performance under the 2gether 4 SRHR programme.
• Monitor the overall programme and financial implementation of the 2gether 4 SRHR programme at regional and country levels.
• Coordinate development and ensure that all 2gether 4SRHR programme workplans, budgets, reports and other donor and administrative agent requirements are completed and submitted in a timely and high-quality manner.

2. Technical and operational support to programme implementation, and capacity building

• Provide high quality technical assistance to country offices (COs) as requested, with priority given to the implementation, M&E of the 2gether 4 SRHR programme.
• Review and provide high-quality technical inputs on regional and country documentation, including but not limited to reports, concept notes, guidelines, technical proposals, briefs, human interest stories and other.
• Identify and assist in capacity development initiatives for CO staff, regional and country level counterparts, particularly aiming to strengthen the implementation of the 2gether 4 SRHR programme and domestication of various global and regional policies, guidelines and other strategic documents.
• Organize, conduct and document regular coordination calls with COs.

3. Strengthen M&E mechanisms and HIV data use at regional and country levels.

• Support the HIV section monitoring and evaluation exercises, reviews, and mid-year and annual reviews with regional and national partners to assess progress and to determine required action/interventions to achieve 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, especially with relation to the 2gether 4 SRHR programme.
• As part of the M&E working group, support M&E interventions under the 2gether 4 SRHR programme; conduct regular monitoring and periodic reviews of the 2gether 4 SRHR programme in collaboration with CO staff, regional and country partners. Identify problems and propose remedial action/s and or/ propose alternative courses of action for strengthening the programme implementation.

4. Innovation, knowledge management, communication and partnerships

• Keep abreast, research, benchmark and implement best and cutting-edge practices in integrated HIV programming for children and adolescents and HIV/AIDS data, information systems.
• Facilitate development, exchange and sharing of experiences, lessons learned, promising practices using innovative methods for programme staff and other UNICEF partners.
• Support the communications specialist and the 2gether 4SRHR Communication Task Force, to implement of the programme communication strategy through the development and implementation of regional and country level communication workplans.
• Participate and/ or represent UNICEF in the Regional Interagency Working Group (RIWG) and related events as requested, including the M&E working group and the Communication Task Force meetings and activities.
• Contribute to internal coordination within the section and with other relevant sections to ensure smooth implementation of the 2gether 4SRHR programme.

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

Education:

An Advanced University Degree in public health, family planning, health research, global/ international health, health policy and management, epidemiology and other related discipline is required.

Experience:

A minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible professional work experience in public health, HIV and /or sexual and reproductive health is required. Relevant experience in programme communication, M&E and data management is an asset. Experience in both development and humanitarian contexts is an added advantage.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency (both verbal and written) in English is required.
• Knowledge of a second UN and/or local working language of the duty station is an asset.

Travel:

• Willingness and ability to travel within the region up to 25% of the time.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA)

Core Competencies

• Builds and maintains partnerships
• Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness
• Drive to achieve results for impact
• Innovates and embraces change
• Manages ambiguity and complexity
• Thinks and acts strategically
• Works collaboratively with others

View our competencies at

http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

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.