Regional Health Specialist (Emergencies), P4 at UNICEF

How can you make a difference?

• Under the overall supervision of the Regional Health Adviser (RHA), the incumbent is responsible for leading the technical support and strategic direction on public health and health in humanitarian emergencies.

Key function, accountabilities, and related duties/tasks

Management and advisory support to the Regional Adviser

• Provide timely and pertinent advice to the Regional Adviser (RA) in establishing the public health emergency components of the annual work plan, determining priorities, targets and performance measurements. Coordinate work progress, monitoring and ensure results for public health emergency are achieved. according to schedule and performance standards, and report to the RA critical issues for timely action. Provide technical assistance and advice to colleagues in the section on programming and implementation and lead the technical work of the cross sectoral team on public health emergencies to enable UNICEF to achieve its performance objectives.

Programme development and planning

• Provide technical support and guidance for the preparation, design and updating of the public health emergency related elements of regional and country situation analysis to ensure comprehensive and current data informs and guides the development, design, and management of programmes. Provide support to country offices for the development of health components of humanitarian response plans, outbreak preparedness and response plans, HACs, other appeals, proposals and other emergency related documents.

Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results

• Plan and/or collaborate with internal and external partners to establish monitoring benchmarks, performance indicators, and other UNICEF/UN system indicators and measurements to assess and strengthen performance accountability, coherence, and delivery of concrete and sustainable results for the assigned sector in health programmes. Participate in monitoring and evaluation exercises, programme reviews and annual sectoral reviews with the government and other counterparts to assess progress and to determine required action/interventions to achieve results. Prepare and assess monitoring and evaluation reports to identify gaps, strengths and/or weaknesses in programme management, identify lessons learned and use knowledge gained for development planning and timely intervention to achieve goals. Prepare regular and mandated programme/project reports for management, donors, and partners to keep them informed of programme progress.

Advisory services and technical support

• Collaborate and consult with key government officials, NGO partners, UN agencies and other country office partners/donors on policies, strategies, best practices, and approaches on public health emergency-related issues to support programme development planning, management, implementation, and delivery of results. Participate in strategic programme discussions and planning to provide technical advice and contribute to policy discussions and agenda setting to promote health in the areas of emergency preparedness, response, and resilience. Prepare policy papers, briefs and other strategic programme materials on public health emergency prevention, preparedness and response for management use, information and/or consideration. Participate in emergency preparedness initiatives, contingency planning, and emergency response in country (surge) or where designated, including by monitoring and assessing emerging and ongoing public health threats. Coordinate and provide technical assistance to the 21 ESA region countries, identifying and addressing support needs, including in long term.

Advocacy, networking, and partnership building

• Build and sustain strategic partnerships with health sector, UN agencies, government counterparts, national stakeholders, global and regional entities (Africa CDC, Regional Economic Communities) and partners, allies, donors, and academia focusing on public health emergency prevention, preparedness and response through active networking, advocacy, and effective communication. Prepare communication and information materials for programme advocacy to promote awareness, establish partnerships/alliances, and support fund raising for health programmes in the context of humanitarian emergencies or public health emergencies. Participate and/or represent UNICEF in appropriate inter-agency discussions and planning on health-related issues to collaborate with inter-agency partners/colleagues on planning and preparation of health programmes/projects, ensuring organizational position, interests and priorities are fully considered and integrated.

Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

• Keep abreast, research, benchmark, and implement best and cutting-edge practices in public health emergency and humanitarian health. Institutionalize, document, including through peer reviewed journals, and share best practices and knowledge learned. Contribute to the development of approaches, strategies, policies, and procedures and introduce innovation and best practices to ensure optimum efficiency and efficacy of health emergency programmes. Lead, plan and implement capacity building initiatives to enhance the competencies of public health and cross sectoral health emergency country office staff, government, and other stakeholders to promote and deliver results on public health and humanitarian emergency related actions and programmes. Maintain the public health emergency rosters ensuring inclusion of subsection for national staff and external consultants with relevant skills and experience. Periodically review and update, including by publishing an expression of interest as required.

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

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in public health (MSc or PhD)
• A minimum of eight years of relevant professional experience in public health and humanitarian emergency preparedness and response and other areas in health.
• Experience working in a developing country in the African Region is essential.
• Experience should include coordination and strategic partnerships, risk assessments, planning, programming, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of public health emergency programs within epidemiology and disease control, expertise mainly in: epidemic prone diarrhoeal diseases, viral haemorrhagic diseases; vaccine preventable diseases. Knowledge of the International Health Regulations (IHR) 2005 framework and its implementation in member states.
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset.
• Experience working at the district level is an asset.
• Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization is considered is an asset
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of French or Portuguese (a working language in ESA countries) is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

• 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: UNICEF Values

UNICEF Competencies Required For This Post Are…

• Builds and maintains partnerships
• Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness
• Drive to achieve results for impact
• Innovates and embraces change
• Manages ambiguity and complexity
• Thinks and acts strategically
• Works collaboratively with others.