HIV/AIDS Specialist, NOC, Johannesburg, South Africa, (, 364 days) Open for South African 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.

For every child, Health

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.

UNICEF’s HIV response work to ensure all children are born free of HIV, remain HIV-free for the first two decades of life and that all children and adolescents living with HIV have access to the treatment, care and support they need to remain healthy. Ending AIDS among children and adolescents 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.

The HIV Specialist will support the development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the UNICEF component of the Together for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (2gether 4 SRHR Programme). The 2gether 4 SRHR Programme is a Joint United Nations (UN) Regional Programme, being implemented in Eastern and Southern Africa, that combines the unique expertise, experience and efforts of four UN agencies - UNAIDS, UNFPA, UNICEF and WHO. The Programme aims to advance progress in the region towards achieving the Goals and targets of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 3 and 5, that relate to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR).

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. Specifically, this TA will contribute to realizing planned results for the 2gether 4 SRHR programme.

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: 1) technical support to the 2gether 4 SRHR programme development, planning, implementation and delivery of results; 2) operational support to programme implementation, and capacity building; 3) strengthen M&E mechanisms at regional and country levels; 4) support programme communication and coordination.

1. Technical support to 2gether 4 SRHR programme planning and implementation with capacity building for partners and country teams

• Support the development and implementation of regional level activities under the 2gether 4 SRHR programme, particularly in UNICEF’s priority areas of elimination of vertical transmission and adolescent SRHR.
• Review and provide high-quality technical inputs on regional and country documentation, including but not limited to reports, concept notes, guidelines, proposals, briefs, and others.
• Identify and assist in capacity development initiatives for country, 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.
• In collaboration with Humanitarian focal points, support strengthening the coordination between humanitarian and development actors under the 2gether 4 SRHR programme, including civil society, to be engaged in regional SRHR forums convened in partnership with the AUC and RECs.Support strengthening capacity and provide technical assistance to civil society to advocate for SRHR in emergencies and preparedness.
• Serve as the HIV Section’s focal point on disability.

1. Operational management support for the 2gether 4 SRHR programme

• Monitor and follow up on the overall financial implementation of the 2gether 4 SRHR programme at regional and country levels, including projects implemented under the Joint Strategic and Innovation Funding modalities.
• Monitor the overall programme implementation of the 2gether 4 SRHR programme at regional and country levels, including projects implemented under the Joint Strategic and Innovation Funding modalities.
• Support programme and financial reporting for the 2gether 4 SRHR programme
• Represent UNICEF on the 2gether 4 SRHR Regional Interagency Working Group (RIWG) and other events as requested.
• Contribute to internal coordination within the HIV section and with other relevant sections to ensure smooth implementation of the 2gether 4SRHR programme.

2. Strengthen M&E mechanisms at regional levels.

• As part of the 2gether 4 SRHR 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.
• 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.
• 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.

3. Communication and knowledge management

• Support the communications specialist/consultant 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 Communication Task Force, and other relevant meetings and activities.
• Support knowledge management for the 2gether 4 SRHR project, including review of products, support for document storage and easy access, and product dissemination.

Key expected results:

• High-quality inputs submitted in a timely manner for all required 2gether 4 SRHR plans, budgets, programmatic and financial reports, proposals and meetings.
• Partners supported in planning, managing and reporting of activities implemented under the 2gether 4SRHR programme; capacity of partners strengthened to manage, share experience, and report on integrated SRHR/HIV/SGB programming.
• The HIV section and the 2gether 4SRHR programme regular and planned M&E and communicatio interventions completed in a timely and high-quality manner.

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

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 candidates are encouraged to apply.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. 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 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.