National Consultancy - Health Specialist, Public Health in Emergencies

Contract

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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.

TERMS OF REFERENCE

Title

Health Specialist – Public Health Emergencies

Reporting

Health Specialist NOC: Emergencies (if Nairobi based) Health Specialist (if GZO or LZO based).

Duration

6 months with an option for extension, subject to satisfactory performance and the availability of funding.

Location

1. Nairobi, Kenya, with frequent travel to affected ASAL counties. 2. Garissa, Kenya, with frequent travel to affected ASAL counties. 3. Lodwar, with frequent travel to affected ASAL counties

Background

Kenya is facing severe drought resulting from three consecutive failed rainy seasons. The poor performance of the October–December Short rains season and late start of the March – May Long Rain season has resulted in an estimated 3.1 million people being food insecure and in need of humanitarian assistance signalling a deterioration in food security compared to 2.8 million people that was identified in mid-short rains season assessment in December 2021. UNICEF has declared an L-2 Corporate Emergency in early April 2022 in response to the Horn of Africa Drought Emergency, including in Kenya. The SMART survey carried out over the January – March 2022 period show a marked deterioration as compared to previous years with Garissa and Mandera recording the highest GAM rates on record. Seven (7) counties namely Marsabit, Mandera, Wajir, Samburu, Isiolo, Baringo and Turkana) are in Alarm drought phase while Nine (9) counties-Garissa, Kilifi, Kitui, Kwale, Laikipia, Lamu, Meru (North), Nyeri (Kieni) and West Pokot are in Alert drought phase. The remaining six (6) counties-Kajiado, Narok, Makueni, Tharaka Nithiand Embu (Mbeere) and Tana River are in Normal drought phase. Following the cumulative impact of two (back then) consecutive poor rainy seasons with humanitarian needs rapidly rising in the Arid and Semi-Arad Lands (ASAL) region of Kenya, the President of Kenya, on 8 September 2021, has already declared of a national disaster. The Ministry of Interior is responsible for the overall coordination of the Government of Kenya’s drought response with the National Drought Management Authority (NDMA) leading the operational coordination of the drought response at the national level and across the 23 arid and semi-arid counties. UNICEF actively participates in interagency coordination mechanisms, including the Kenya Humanitarian Partnership Team (KHPT). The current response is aligned with the geographic and programmatic prioritisation of the KHPT targeting the most affected areas of the country. UNICEF provides technical and financial support to counties’ departments of Health and supports sector coordination and leadership. UNICEF works closely with WHO to support the coordination of the Health sector. With the shortage of funding for the drought response UNICEF is prioritizing the delivery of an integrated Nutrition/Health/WASH in the priority 1 counties/sub-counties. As more funding becomes available UNICEF will seek to increase the coverage of the response, whilst maintaining the quality of the programme delivery, as well as the scope of the response. UNICEF is also scaling up and improving the coverage of integrated nutrition/health/WASH outreach services in 7 counties (Turkana, Marsabit, Baringo, Mandera, Wajir, Tana River, Isiolo) with a package of life-saving health interventions to vulnerable children, women and men. An integrated package of life-saving health/nutrition services includes immunization, treatment of pneumonia, diarrhoea, health promotion/education, demonstration to community members participating in outreach services on household water treatment, nutrition screening and treatment, antenatal care and referral of complicated cases for specialized management in higher level health facilities, COVID-19 prevention and control messages.

Purpose

To support the management and coordination of UNICEF’s health response to the drought emergency in Kenya.

Main Responsibilities and Tasks

Lead UNICEF internal risk analysis for health drought emergency response needs in Kenya, identifying capacity gaps and developing a plan to rapidly address them.

• Provide technical support to UNICEF and partners including contributing to the development of/ or sharing relevant standards, protocols, guidelines and training materials for health drought emergency response including Social Behaviour Change materials. Support training as needed.

• Contribute to UNICEF’s and the continuous revision of Kenya Health sector response strategy, work adjustments of plans, including contingency plans with other sectors to ensure cross sectoral response programming.

• Support and monitor surveillance and disease prevention and control efforts for other epidemic prone diseases (Measles, Yellow Fever and others) within the population with WHO and Health Sector partners and other sections. Share information for internal communication and external coordination as needed.

• Support UNICEF’s response in Health (in coordination with Nutrition, WASH team members) as part of the overall oversight to health sector coordination mechanism. Represent UNICEF in the Health and other sector coordination meetings as needed.

• Conduct joint field monitoring visits with relevant health sector partners or as necessary.

• Oversee emergency supply chain including pre-positioning in coordination with UNICEF Supply/Logistics staff to provide essential kits, drugs and commodities for drought response efforts to government and NGO partners

• Support UNICEF information products related to the response including monthly situation reports.

• In close consultation with the M&E team, contribute to the office M&E mechanism, including performing results tracking with uniform updated information.

• Help draft funding appeals, donor reports and project proposals related to the response

Reporting/Remuneration

• The location of the consultancy is Nairobi, Garissa and/or Lodwar.
• The Consultant/s will work under the overall supervision of the UNICEF Health Specialist-Emergency if Nairobi based; Health Specialists in Garissa (if Garissa based) and/or Lodwar (if Lodwar based). .
• UNICEF will provide documents, as needed for the assignment by the consultant/s.
• Due to the nature of this support and an evolving program environment, deliverables will be based on a work plan developed and approved by the direct supervisor.
• Payment to the consultant/s will be on a monthly basis upon satisfactory completion of the tasks and deliverables, duly authorized by the Health Specialist-Emergency and HSS, who is the supervisor of the contract.

Minimum Qualifications and Competencies

• Advanced university degree in public health or related field with bachelor’s in health discipline (Medical Doctor, nursing or other relevant health discipline). Experience in epidemiology and disease control in emergency settings is desirable.
• A minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience in planning and implementing health emergency programmes with either the UN, IO, and/or NGO
• Fluency in English (verbal and written).
• A good understanding of the Health system context in Kenya.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

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

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should apply online using the button below. As part of their application, candidates should provide: 1. A cover letter that specifies how you meet the desired competencies, technical background and experience (no more than 2 pages) 2. A short CV (no more than 4 pages) 3. Interested candidates to indicate availability and monthly rate expressed in KSH to undertake the terms of reference. Applications submitted without a fee/ rate will not be considered. 4. 3 Referees.