Chief HIV/AIDS at UNICEF

Purpose of the Position

Under the overall guidance of the Deputy Representative, accountable for the development, design, planning, implementation and management of the HIV/AIDS programme within the country programme; accountable for ensuring that all aspects of the HIV/AIDS programme promote gender equality, with an emphasis on gender disaggregation and gender disparity identification to guide policies, programmes, monitoring and evaluation.

Directs, leads and manages a group of professional and support staff to develop, manage and administer the sectoral or inter-sectoral project/programme, with a view to the gender mainstreaming across all aspects of the country programme. Coordinates internally and externally UNICEF's engagement in HIV and AIDS.

Key Expected Results

1. Timely sectoral analysis, input, support and collaboration to the Situation Analysis, with consistent integration of sex-disaggregated data, and its periodic update made for effective project planning, development and management.

2. Technical leadership and coordination provided for key HIV/AIDS programme/projects and documents, reports, plan of action, and targeted training/learning programmes, including advocacy in gender equality, ensuring promotion of effective knowledge management.

3. Quality of rights-based HIV/AIDS projects /programmes effectively promoted, and coherence, synergy and value added to project management process through results-based management.

4. Sectoral work plan and activities formulated, implemented and monitored, ensuring alignment with the defined project strategies and approaches and integration with gender mainstreaming across sectors.

5. Project delivery, evaluation and reporting carried out efficiently, rigorously and transparently in compliance with the established guidelines and procedures.

6. UNICEF's global goals effectively promoted through advocacy and policy dialogue in the HIV/AIDS sector, focusing on the contributions of gender equality in achieving these goals.

7. Proper and timely UNICEF and Government accountability ensured regarding supply and non-supply assistance as well as disbursement of programme funds for the HIV/AIDS sector.

8. Effective communication and networking achieved through partnership and collaboration, sharing UNICEF's position on gender equality as useful.

Key Accountabilities and Duties & Tasks

1. Project Planning, Development and Management.

• Enhance effective project, sectoral or inter-sectoral planning, development and management by leading, guiding, coordinating and supporting the timely completion of the Situational Analysis and its periodic update through accurate and complete monitoring and analysis, and the timely preparation or finalization of sectoral input.

2. Knowledge Management.

• Further promote knowledge management by drafting or finalizing sectoral documents and reports such as the Country Programme Recommendation and Plans of Action as well as through orientation and training programmes targeted to Government authorities. Ensure exchange of knowledge, information, experience or lessons learned, highlighting gender disparities and interventions to achieve gender equality; provides solid technical recommendations on major programme directions and on introduction of new initiatives in the country.

3. Rights-Based Projects through Results-Based Approach.

• Promote the quality of rights-based HIV/AIDS projects and programmes, especially those that increase equality with a life-cycle and a right-based approach, by participating in the formulation of programme/project goals, strategies and approaches. Bring coherence, synergy and added value to sectoral or project management processes using a gender-sensitive results-based management approach to planning and design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.

4. Sectoral Work Plan Development, Implementation, and Monitoring.

• Takes primary responsibility for the development of the sectoral work plan and technical decisions as well as for project management, implementation and monitoring of assigned project/sectoral activity, in compliance with the defined project strategies and approaches, with an emphasis on promoting a shared understanding and approach to reducing gender inequalities and achieving gender mainstreaming.

5. Project Delivery, Evaluation and Reporting.

• Ensure project, sectoral or inter-sectoral efficiency and delivery through a rigorous and transparent approach to evaluation. Participation in major evaluation exercises, programme reviews and annual sector review meetings with government counterparts. Ensure the preparation of annual HIV/AIDS sector status reports, ensuring that quantitative and qualitative lessons learned in gender disparities in HIV/AIDS are included as a standard feature.

6. Promotion of UNICEF's Global Goals

• Promote the organization goals of UNICEF through advocacy and policy dialogue through active engagement in communication, networking and participation at every opportunity inside and outside UNICEF, leveraging the strength of UNICEF mission, goals and programmes.

7. UNICEF and Government Accountability.

• Coordinates with Operations and Supply staff on supply and non-supply assistance activities ensuring proper and timely UNICEF and Government accountability.  Certifies disbursements of funds, monitors and submits financial status reports to management in compliance with the regulations and guidelines.

8. Communication, Collaboration, Networking and Partnership.

• Ensure exchange of information, experience, identify new strategies and courses of action to accelerate/improve delivery of services and achieve HIV/AIDS programme requirements and objectives. Conduct field visits to monitor programmes and conduct periodic programme reviews with Government counterparts and other partners.
• Collaborate with Communication and Programme Communication groups to ensure development of effective communication materials and strategies to support advocacy and social mobilization efforts.
• Overall coordination with Regional Advisers and HQ Officers. Collaborate with other Project or Programme Officers to ensure the integration of the project/sectoral programme with other sectors, ensuring that interventions to reduce gender inequalities are mainstreamed across the sectors.
• Collaborate with the Operations and Supply Sections and Government authorities to establish and maintain sound internal controls supportive of HIV/AIDS project or sectoral planning and implementation, to coordinate financial and supply management requirements as well as to ensure accountability.
• Interact with Government and other partners, NGOs, UN and bilateral agencies in the different stages of HIV/AIDS programme/project implementation to follow up on agreements and recommendations. Provide technical support and guidance on appropriate technical, financial and institutional capacity building measures to achieve HIV/AIDS programme goals.

Qualifications of Successful Candidate

• An Advanced University Degree in public health, pediatric health, family health, health research, global/international health, health policy and/or management, environmental health sciences, biostatistics, socio-medical, health education, epidemiology or other health related sciences is required*.
• A minimum of 8 years of professional experience in public HIV/AIDS planning and management and/or in relevant areas of health care, health emergency/humanitarian preparedness, at the international level some of which preferably in a developing country is required. Relevant experience in HIV/AIDS programme/project development and management in any UN system agency or organization is an asset.
• Background/familiarity with emergency operations and staff security.
• Fluency in English is required.  Knowledge of another official UN language or a local language is an asset

Competencies of Successful Candidate

Core Values 

• Commitment
• Diversity and Inclusion
• Integrity

Core competencies

• Communication - Level II
• Working with People - Level II
• Drive for Results - Level II

Functional Competencies

• Leading and Supervising - Level I
• Formulating Strategies and Concepts - Level II
• Analyzing - Level III
• Relating and Networking - Level II
• Deciding and Initiating Action - Level II
• Applying Technical Expertise - Level III

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 to become a part of our organisation.