RE-ADVERTISMENT: Health Officer (, NoB level) - open to Montenegro nationals only

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UNICEF - United Nations Children's Fund

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Application deadline 3 years ago: Sunday 24 Jan 2021 at 22:55 UTC

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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.

I. Organizational Context and Purpose for the job

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

Purpose for the job: The Health Officer provides professional technical assistance and support for programme/project design, planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and administration of programme/project activities of the EU-funded Action “Strengthening health system resilience and response to the COVID-19 pandemic and epidemiological risks”, including data analysis, progress reporting, knowledge networking and capacity building, in support of achievement of planned objectives of the project and the work plan, aligned with Health programme goals and strategies.

The aforementioned Action has two results, as follows - (Result 1) Public health system and relevant partners have enhanced capacity to implement an effective and coordinated communication and community engagement strategy to respond to COVID-19 and mitigate its impact on families, children and youth, and vulnerable groups, and (Result 2) Public health system has increased technical capacity and improved vaccine management system to ensure continuity of immunization services and increase immunization coverage. The Health Officer is contributing to Result 1 and leading the implementation of Result 2.

II. Key function, accountabilities and related duties/tasks

Under the direct supervision of Early Childhood Development Officer, the incumbent will be responsible for following:

SUMMARY OF KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES and DUTIES & TASKS:

1. Work plan and objectives are effectively established, and planned results are delivered in a timely manner through technical support and coordination in consultation with all relevant partners. 2. Effective and efficient implementation of the Action “Strengthening health system resilience and response to the COVID-19 pandemic and epidemiological risks”, monitoring for adjustment and improvement of program delivery and sustainability. 3. Technical assistance is provided to the development and implementation of integrated health strategies and approaches through participation and collaboration with internal and external partners. 4. Transparency is ensured for supply and non-supply assistance and disbursement of programme funds for health. 5. Up-to-date programme information is kept available and reports, data analysis and documentation are prepared and shared in a timely manner with relevant stakeholders as required to support the Early Childhood Development programme through situation analysis, sectoral input and reporting. Gender and sex-disaggregated data and inputs provided relevant to the Early Childhood Development programme. 6. Effective partnerships and working relationships are maintained for advocacy, technical coordination, information sharing and knowledge networking. 7. Emergency preparedness is maintained, and in emergencies, emergency responses with effective coordination are provided and in line with the Core Commitments for Children (CCCs) in Humanitarian Action, partnerships with the Health and Nutrition humanitarian actors strengthened within the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC). 8. Other assigned duties and responsibilities are effectively accomplished.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES and DUTIES & TASKS

Within the delegated authority and under the given organizational set-up, the incumbent may be assigned the primary, shared, or contributory accountabilities for all or part of the following areas of major duties and key end-results.

1. Work plan and objectives are effectively established, and planned results are timely delivered through technical support and coordination in consultation with all relevant partners.

  • Assists in the development of the sectoral work plan and technical decisions as well as for administration, implementation and monitoring of sectoral project activities.
  • Analyses data and information, and drafts progress reports; drafts changes in project work plans, as required.
  • Monitors to ensure objectives and targets are timely met and achieved, through effective coordination and collaboration, by participating in a teamwork of professional and support staff.
  • Assists in the planning and organizing training/development activities to upgrade the capacity of the Country Office staff as well as government and NGOs in the programme development, implementation and management of the Health programme with a specific focus on immunization and COVID-19 response.
  • Assists in identifying training needs and conducts relevant orientation, workshop, training and learning/development activities for the staff as well as for government personnel and beneficiaries, in collaboration with knowledge institutions.

2. Effective and efficient implementation of the Action “Strengthening health system resilience and response to the COVID-19 pandemic and epidemiological risks”, monitoring for adjustment and improvement of program delivery and sustainability.

  • Coordinates timely (i.e. as per Action Timetable) implementation, including monitoring UNICEF inputs, local conditions and resources, flow of supply and non-supply assistance, and status of the Action “Strengthening health system resilience and response to the COVID-19 pandemic and epidemiological risks” to build on project efficiency and effectiveness.
  • Supports the Communication for Development Officer in the implementation of Component/Result 1 of the Action on effective and coordinated risk communication and community engagement to respond to COVID-19 and mitigate its impact on families, children and youth, and vulnerable groups. Leads the implementation of Component/Result 2 on strengthening public health and vaccine management system to ensure continuity of immunization services and increase immunization coverage.
  • Assists in identification and selection of international and national technical expertise, supplies and equipment for this Action.
  • Follows up on delivery of cash assistance and liquidation of advances and proper planning, delivery and use of supply component of the project.
  • Ensures that activities are in accordance with plans of action.
  • Records information on utilization of resources and distribution of supplies.
  • Participates in the field visits to UNICEF project sites for monitoring project activities and local conditions and follows up with local government counterparts and other partners on project implementation.
  • Assists in identifying necessary action for programme adjustments, acceleration, improvement and sustainability.
  • Assists government counterparts and other partners in the planning and management of the Action.
  • Reports to supervisor and/or Head of Office the outcome of programme monitoring and review meetings with Government counterparts and all other relevant partners.
  • Drafts changes in programme work plans as required.
  • Ensures that donor recognition and visibility requirements are adhered to in all communications and visibility activities, including by UNICEF partners contributing to this Action, in coordination and collaboration with Communications staff.

3. Technical assistance is provided to the development and implementation of integrated health strategies and approaches through participation and collaboration with internal and external partners.

  • Provides technical assistance in the integration of the Health programme with other sectors in collaboration with other UNICEF sectors, particularly Early Childhood Development, and programme communication.
  • Contributes to build on intersectoral experience and establish partnerships to promote innovative approaches to address immediate and underlying determinants of maternal, newborn and child health, and public health, with a specific focus on immunization and the health system response to COVID-19, recognizing that health outcomes are not the results of action in the health sector alone.
  • Assists in the design, planning, and monitoring of the Action.
  • Supports the improvement of programme delivery with emphasis on sustainability of interventions and community participation based on a Human Rights framework and cross sector approach to programming and Community Capacity Development.

4. Transparency is ensured for supply and non-supply assistance and disbursement of programme funds for health.

  • Coordinating with Operations and Supply staff on supply and non-supply assistance activities, ensures UNICEF and Government partner and all implementing partners accountability.
  • Liaises with local authorities to ensure timely submission of financial requests and reports.
  • Monitors disbursements of funds, ensuring those activities are within established plans of action and programme budget allotments; and to orientate and train Government and UNICEF implementing partners in UNICEF supply and non-supply policies and procedures.
  • Drafts financial status reports for management as required.

5. Up to date programme information is kept available and reports, data analysis and documentation prepared and shared in a timely manner with relevant stakeholders as required to support the Early Childhood Development programme through situation analysis, sectoral input and reporting.

  • Gender and sex-disaggregated data and inputs provided relevant to the Early Childhood Development programme.
  • In consultation with monitoring and evaluation colleagues, conducts accurate and timely monitoring and data collection, and supports an integrated monitoring system, in consultation with all relevant stakeholders.
  • Assists with partners to ensure that monitoring systems are properly designed, and that data collection and analysis from field visits are coordinated and standardized across programmes to feed into to programme performance monitoring.
  • Analyses monitoring data and provides feed-forward or recommends adjustment as appropriate to ensure achievement of programme objectives.
  • Assists in the timely preparation of annual progress report and final report for the European Union in compliance with the established guidelines and procedures, as well as in the preparation of Action implementation updates every two months including prior to the Action Steering Committee sessions.
  • Assists in the drafting and preparation of programme reports for management, Steering Committee of the Action, donor (European Union), budget reviews, programme analysis, and annual reports, as required.
  • Assists the preparation and periodic update of the Situation Analysis by compiling health data, analyzing and evaluating relevant information and providing the technical input in a timely and accurate manner.
  • Drafts chapters, prepares statistical data reports, and assists with preparation of sectoral input to the programme documents as required. Contributes to the consultation and coordination with key partners at all levels.

6. Effective partnership and working relationships are maintained for advocacy, technical coordination, information sharing and knowledge networking.

  • Exchanges information and knowledge with other programmes to contribute to achievement of overall country programme objectives.
  • Assists in establishing effective monitoring, knowledge database/network and reporting systems to ensure the availability of current and accurate Action and programme information/data, and contributes to the development of communication materials and strategies to support advocacy and community participation for health with a special focus on COVID-19 and immunization; and to widen partnerships with all stakeholder at national, regional, district, community and household levels as well as with funding partners, including the private sector, in order to accelerate achievement of Health related SDG goals.
  • Keeps close contacts with external counterparts, including those of the UN and national partners, in order to improve the ability to collect and disseminate relevant data, exchange information on programme/project development and implementation.
  • Shares knowledge, information, experience and lessons learned.

7. Emergency preparedness is maintained, and in emergencies, emergency responses with effective coordination are provided and in line with the Core Commitments for Children (CCCs) in Humanitarian Action, partnerships with the Health and Nutrition humanitarian actors strengthened within the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC).

  • Assists in the implementation of emergency preparedness plan relating to Health.
  • In case of emergency, assists in monitoring and assessing the nature and extent of the emergency in the assigned area. Provides assistance to the Country Office as required.
  • In line with the Core Commitments for Children (CCCs) in Humanitarian Action, strengthens partnerships with the Health and Nutrition humanitarian actors within the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC).
    1. Other assigned duties and responsibilities are effectively accomplished. Performs any other duties and responsibilities assigned as appropriate to the purpose of this post and delivers the results as required.

III. Impact of Results

The efficiency and effectiveness of support provided by the Health Officer to programme preparation, planning and implementation facilitates the delivery of concrete and sustainable results that directly impact the improvement of the health of the most marginalized and vulnerable women and children in the country. This in turn contributes to maintaining and enhancing the credibility and ability of UNICEF to continue to provide programme services to protect the rights of children, and to promote greater social equality to enable them to survive, develop and reach their full potential in society.

Specifically, the efficiency and effectiveness of support provided by the Health Officer to the implementation of the Action “Strengthening health system resilience and response to the COVID-19 pandemic and epidemiological risks”, contributes to achieving the Specific Objective of the Action, as follows: “Inhabitants of Montenegro particularly children and vulnerable groups, benefit from strengthened public health system through improved risk communication and community engagement on COVID-19 and improved immunisation services. This will in turn lead to the achievement of the Overall Objective of the Action, as follows “Inhabitants of Montenegro, particularly children and vulnerable groups, benefit from improved protection from COVID-19 epidemic as well from vaccine preventable diseases”.

IV. Competencies and level of proficiency required (based on UNICEF Professional Competency Profiles)

Core Values

• Care • Respect • Integrity • Trust • Accountability

Core Competencies

• Nurtures, Leads and Manages People (1) • Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (2) • Works Collaboratively with others (2) • Builds and Maintains Partnerships (2) • Innovates and Embraces Change (2) • Thinks and Acts Strategically (2) • Drives to achieve impactful results (2) • Manages ambiguity and complexity (2)

Functional Competencies

• Analyzing (2) • Applying Technical Expertise (2) • Learning and Researching (2) • Planning and Organizing (2)

V. Recruitment Qualifications

Education:

- University degree in Public Health and Nutrition, Child Development, Water Sanitation, Social Policy, Social Development, Community Development, or other relevant disciplines while an advanced university degree in Epidemiology, Pediatric Health, Family Health, Health Research, Global/International Health, Health Policy and/or another relevant technical field will be a distinct advantage.

Work Experience:

- A minimum of two years of professional work experience in planning, programming, implementation monitoring and evaluation of health programmes with specific reference to immunization.

- Professional work experience in a programme management function or a technical expert capacity in child survival & health care with specific reference to immunization.

- Experience with risk communication and community engagement will be considered as an asset.

- Field work experience.

Language Requirements: - Fluency in Montenegrin and English.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities to apply.

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

Added 3 years ago - Updated 2 years ago - Source: unicef.org