Immunization Officer, NOB, Bissau, Guinea Bissau # 122308 (Temporary Appointment) (only for nationals of Guinea Bissau)

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 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, a hero

1. Background & Justification

Guinea-Bissau implemented three round of Covid-19 vaccination campaign it planned to continue with one round per quarter. Recently, the country also experienced two outbreaks (Poliomyelitis and Measles) which need to be handled through nationwide vaccination campaign. All these issues have mobilized the human resources previously assigned to support routine immunization. To mitigate risks of weakening the support that UNICEF has provided to the routine immunization due to various challenge that country is facing at same time, UNICEF Guinea-Bissau needs to urgently address overwhelming need for additional technical support that the E Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) to meet the critical deadlines and further strengthen the immunization service. The staff member will work towards ensuring UNICEF provides supports to EPI campaign planning and implementation, monitoring of EPI programme/project activities, including capacity building.

2. Purpose of the Job

Provide technical assistance to the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) to apply latest guidance, tools and methods to strengthen the country’s immunization system.

3. Key Results

Evaluates and analyses the progress of immunization activities, including developing various technical reports and documentation

1. EPI coverage and bottleneck identified, and corrective measures developed as a response plan.
2. The monthly report reflects the activities conducted, progress made, constraints faced and recommendations for way forward.
3. Various documents such as CCEOP applications and submissions to GAVI and donors developed or reviewed on time

Monitors and coordinates the implementation of planned activities, campaigns, and field action

1. Planning of 2023 routine and supplementary immunization activities planned and validated with partners
2. Innovative linkages for multisectoral action linked to EPI developed and implemented.
3. Acceleration of the implementation of Urban Immunization Strategy to reduce zero dose children and achieve AMP and national targets of routine immunization coverage

4. Develop and roll-out of tools for strengthening subnational EPI Plus approach to RMNCAH and Nut planning management and monitoring at the national and subnational level

   4. Main responsibilities and duties and tasks

Coordination and management support of the UNICEF EPI programme

1. Support to effectively coordinate and monitor the routine EPI program and in the preparation work for the development of the national EPI Strategy
2. Contribute to the coordination of immunization-related technical and financial planning at the national and subnational level, including the coordination of communication and visibility activities with internal and external health and communication partners.
3. Provide support immunization managers at national and regional level, including coordination of capacity building and system strengthening for effective vaccines management and capacity building of field operators
4. Support the acceleration of the urban immunization strategy to reduce the number of zero dose children and the monitoring of EPI programme implementation strength at the national level.
5. Prepare reports and presentations on the national immunization programme to the EPI and health sector partners and draft EPI proposals and donor reports.
6. Build the capacity of counterparts in the preparation of the national annual vaccine forecasts, and supply logistics requirements and recommending corrective measures based on evidence-based gaps analysis, in collaboration with UNICEF managed consultants for EPI Programmes.
7. Organize and conduct vaccine related trainings and supervision of vaccination centres for quality assurance.
8. Assist with UNICEF cross-sectoral initiatives linked with EPI (Birth Registration, Vit A supplementation, ODF)

Monitors and coordinates the implementation of planned activities, campaigns, and field action

1. Contribute to EPI team’s equity and vaccine coverage analyses and microplanning for the second round of Periodic Intensification of Routine Immunization and Men-A campaign.
2. Support subnational PHC planning that will be using the EPI Plus approach in line with Reach Every Child approach to achieve the national targets of routine immunization and RMNCAH and nutrition coverage targets.
3. Support updating and dissemination of EPI program guidelines and tools at the national and operational levels.

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

Education

University degree in one of the disciplines relevant to the following areas: Social Sciences, Medicine, Health, Public Health, Family Health, Child Development, Nursing, or a field relevant to international development assistance in Immunization and Child Survival & Health Care.

Work Experience

Two year of relevant professional work experience. Experience working in the UN or other national/international development organization, experience in knowledge management. Training and experience in social welfare, or Immunization/ health care. Background/familiarity with Emergency.

Language Proficiency

Fluency in Portuguese and English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

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: https://uni.cf/UNICEFValues

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.

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:

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

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. 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 a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

TA_Immunization_NOB_ Adv.docx