Immunization Officer, NO-2, Caracas, Venezuela

Entry Medical & Health Programme & Policy

Contract

This is a NO-2 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-2 contracts.

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

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For every child, vaccines

The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (commonly referred to as Venezuela) is a country on the northern coast of South America. It has a territorial extension of 916,445 km2 (353,841 sq. mi), and its population was estimated at 28.5 million in 2019. For years, Venezuela has been facing a socio-political and economic situation that negatively impacted its social, economic and health indicators.

Since 2016, due to affordability problems, Venezuela has reduced its Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) to an essential minimum. It now only focuses on diseases most prone to vaccine-preventable epidemics. This means that pneumococcal conjugate, rotavirus, and influenza vaccinations have been discontinued and are now out of the schedule.

Vaccine coverage since 2015 has been getting worse. This increases the risk of infectious disease outbreaks. For example, third dose of pentavalent vaccine coverage dropped from 87 per cent in 2015 to 56 per cent in 2022, with more severe gaps in hard-to-reach areas such as in the Delta Amacuro and Amazonas states, where coverage can be as low as 25 per cent. National measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine coverage was 92 per cent in 2015, but only 68 per cent in 2022; polio vaccine coverage, bOPV, was 87 per cent in 2015 and 50 per cent in 2022, while inactivated polio virus (IPV) coverage was 68 per cent in 2016 and 59 per cent in 2022. The reduction in vaccination coverage is remarkable, reaching a suboptimal coverage of all vaccines in 2020 and 2022. Coverage equal to or greater than 95 per cent was not achieved with any vaccine increasing the breach between the immunity and the risk of preventable diseases outbreaks already under control or eliminated such as yellow fever, MMR, and polio.

Vaccines are one of the most successful and cost-effective health investments in history with wider benefits that accrue across a lifetime.

To give every child a healthy childhood, UNICEF supports the routine immunisation programme, vaccination campaigns and cold chain strengthening in Venezuela. UNICEF also provides technical support to the Expanded Immunisation Programme authorities to reach children and pregnant women in hard-to-reach areas and helps to strengthen the cold chain for safe storage of vaccines and raise awareness among fathers, mothers, and caregivers about the importance of complying with the application of regular vaccinations for their children.

Vaccination is the best option for preventing illness in children.

How can you make a difference?

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES and DUTIES & TASKS

1. Accurate, complete and up-to-date programme/project management information is available for effective budget preparation, programme/project design, implementation, management and evaluation.

Ensures the availability of accurate, complete and up-to-date information required for effective Immunization programme and project design, implementation, management, monitoring and evaluation. Drafts sound Immunization programme budgets for review by the supervisor, ensuring accuracy and appropriateness of data and coding. Drafts updated project status reports.

Assembles and provides updated data and information on national immunization programme and on financial/administrative status for monitoring, analysis and analysis. Analyses the programme status and recommends appropriate adjustments as necessary.

2. Project efficiency, effectiveness and vaccination coverage are enhanced through effective implementation follow-on.

Enhances project efficiency and effectiveness through implementation follow-on, including monitoring UNICEF inputs, local conditions and resources, flow of supply and non-supply assistance and Immunization project status.

Undertakes field visits to districts and sub-districts for monitoring and supervision of project activities and to improve immunization coverage. Supervises the implementation of the routine EPI activities and the work of the Polio Officer, district field assistants, etc. as required.

Prepares reports on the results of the field visits and progress of vaccination coverage.

3. Progress reports and project work plans are timely prepared, and effective technical support is provided in the drafting of donor, annual and other reports/project documentation related to EPI.

Analyses collected data and information and prepare progress reports; drafts changes in Immunization project work plans and in identification of required supplies and equipment. Drafts sections of donor, annual and other project documentation related to EPI, ensuring accuracy and consistency with established rules, regulations and plans of action.

4. Appropriateness and completeness of financial and supply documentation as well as adherence to established allotments are ensured.

Monitors flow of supply and non-supply assistance to local authorities. Records supply and non-supply inventory and quarterly update on cold chain equipment, distribution and utilization.

Ensures the appropriateness of financial, administrative and supply documentation; verifies that Immunization project expenditures are within allotments and that data is consistent with the project information and database (e.g., FLS, ProMS). Follows up on queries or initiate corrective action on discrepancies.

5. The capacities of Country Office staff and team work are strengthened through effective capacity building activities in the development, implementation and management of the Immunization Programme.

Supports a staff training/development programme to upgrade the capacity of the Country Office staff in the programme development, implementation and management of the Immunization Programme. Conducts relevant orientation, workshop, team work facilitation and staff learning/development activities: ensures that vaccination teams (acceleration) are properly trained on the various aspect of EPI; uses the appropriate training guidelines; participates in the Mid level management training of vaccinators, cold chain managers, mid-level managers; participates in training activities and micro-planning workshops; participates in the training of district field assistants for community sensitization and awareness seminars.

6. Knowledge sharing with donors and media is promoted.

Compiles Immunization project implementation training and orientation materials, and shares useful and appropriate information to promote knowledge sharing with donors and media.

7. Effective communication, networking and collaboration are achieved with internal and external partners.

Ensures the effective communication, networking and working relationships are developed and maintained.

• Collaborates with Operations staff to implement internal controls systems and resolve day-to-day issues or discrepancies in financial or supply management.

• Teams with local government counterparts to exchange detail information on Immunization project implementation and status as well as movement and distribution of supplies. Provides technical support in the planning of district EPI micro-plan. Recommends courses of action to supervisor, as necessary.

• Arranges field visits to project sites for government and other partner, providing necessary information for briefing on the project. Participates in the study of the project status and evaluation as required.

• Collaborates with members of the development community, including NGOs, UN and bilateral agencies in the exchange of information relating to Immunization sector.

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

Minimum requirements:

• Education: University degree in one of the disciplines relevant to the following areas: Social Sciences, Medicine, Health, Public Health, Family Health, Child Development, Nursing, Engineer, or a field relevant to international development assistance in Immunization and Child Survival & Health Care. Background/familiarity with Emergency
• Work Experience: Two years of relevant professional work experience. Experience working in the UN or other international development organization (for IP). Field work experience (for NO). Experience in knowledge management. Training and experience in social welfare, or Immunization/health care. Experience working with immunization or cold chain projects is an asset. Evidence of experience strengthening EPI is consider an asset.
• Language Requirements: Fluency in Spanish is required. Minimum intermediate level of English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian) or a local language (indigenous) is an asset.

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

The 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

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

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 measures to include a more diverse workforce, such as paid parental leave, time off for breastfeeding purposes, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). 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 promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will 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.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

All selected candidates will 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. UNICEF only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/”

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions 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.

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

This position is only applicable for national personnel. All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.

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Added 14 hours ago - Updated 4 hours ago - Source: unicef.org