Health Specialist, Public Health in Emergencies (PHiE), P4 at UNICEF

UNICEF is prioritizing the delivery of an integrated Nutrition/Health/WASH in the priority counties/sub-counties. UNICEF seeks 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 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. 

UNICEF Kenya seeks an experienced Public Health in Emergencies to support the overall management and coordination of UNICEF Kenya’s health response to the current drought emergency response (L-2).

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 and work relationships

• The Public Health in Emergency (PHiE) Specialist, P4, will work under the overall supervision of the Chief of the Health section, with close working collaboration with the KCO Emergency Drought Response unit, including the Nutrition and WASH sections.

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 8 years of progressively responsible experience in planning and implementing health emergency programmes with either the UN, IO, and/or NGO.
• Experience in working for UNICEF in Health Emergency will be considered a strong asset.
• Fluency in English (verbal and written).

Deadline: 11 Aug 2022