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For every child, Health.
UNICEF Somalia | UNICEF Somalia
How can you make a difference?
PURPOSE OF THE JOB
As a key partner of immunisation and Global Polio Eradication Initiative, UNICEF has the mandate to provide technical assistance to the country through advocacy, coordination, planning implementation, and monitoring of immunisation programmes. The organisation relies on highly trained and experienced personnel of staff and consultants to meet this obligation.
The Health Specialist is accountable for professional leadership in and contribution to strengthening immunisation system in Somalia and the accountabilities in the new CPD including support on the development, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation and administration of the immunisation programme in conjunction with primary Health Care (PHC), child survival agenda, Maternal, Neonatal, Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH) within the country programme, to achieve the UNICEF's immunisation programme goals and objectives for the country.
The Health Specialist will provide support to field offices on strengthening routine immunisation programme, plan and implement quality response to the ongoing cVDPV2 outbreak and outbreaks of other vaccine preventable diseases. Specific focus and tailored attention will also be required on zero-dose agenda in the context of broader PHC.
The Health Specialist is also accountable for ensuring the UNICEF immunisation programme promotes gender equality, with an emphasis on gender disaggregation, gender disparity identification and gender mainstreaming.
KEY END-RESULTS
- Timely sectoral analysis, input, support and coordination contribute to the Situation Analysis with consistent integration of sex disaggregated data and its periodic update for effective project planning, development and management.
- Quality contributions are made to the development and implementation of the immunisation strategies and approaches through participation and collaboration with internal and external partners.
- Work plan and objectives are strategically established, technical support is effectively provided, and planned results are timely delivered through exercise of strong technical leadership.
- Project implementation progress is monitored and evaluated for adjustment, acceleration and improvement of program delivery and sustainability including gender/sex disaggregated data and inputs relevant to the Immunisation Programme provided. Ensures programmatic visits (PVs) are planned and implemented to monitor implementing partners, NGOs supporting immunisation interventions.
- Technical support is provided to government, implementing partners and NGOs at all stages of the programme cooperation, including capacity building of government personnel and partners.
- The capacities of Country Office and field offices staff are strengthened through effective capacity building programme in the development, implementation and management of the immunisation programme.
- UNICEF and Government accountability is ensured for supply and non-supply assistance, UNIICEF procedures and measures are applied and closely monitored with regard to Aid Diversion and programme monitoring and disbursement of programme funds for the sector.
- Effective partnership and collaboration achieved and maintained for advocacy, technical cooperation, programme coordination, information sharing and knowledge networking.
- The most relevant and strategic information is provided to support the immunisation Programme by the effective implementation of integrated Primary Health Care (PHC) systems.
- All required programme and donors’ reports are timely prepared in compliance with the established guidelines and procedures.
- Emergency preparedness is maintained for Public Health Emergencies and Health in Emergencies (HiE) and response with effective coordination is provided.
- Other assigned duties and responsibilities are effectively performed.
If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: 
JD - Health Specialist_NOC Level (CO) - Immunization Mogadishu-final.docx
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
Minimum requirements:
Education
• Advanced university degree in Public Health, Paediatric Health, Child Health, Epidemiology, with basic university academic qualification, preferably a medical doctor from a recognised academic institution.
• A first-level University degree with an additional two years of relevant professional experience will be accepted in lieu of an advanced degree not possessed.
Work Experience
• Minimum five years of professional work experience at the national and/or international levels in planning, programming, implementation monitoring and evaluation of health and immunisation programmes.
• Professional work experience in a technical expert position related to child survival & health care.
• At least two years of experience working at CO level with in-depth knowledge and demonstrated experience of delivering results through partnerships with Government and partners. Strong experience working at a national level supporting EPI working groups to develop and guide national level immunization strategies.
• Experience engaging with donors and partners such as Gavi, GPEI partners including experience in proposal development, reporting and demonstratable leadership in high level partner and donor engagements at regional (ESARO and EMRO).
• Strong work experience in planning and budgeting for Gavi and GPEI-supported activities with familiarity and understanding of donors budgeting tools.
• Strong communication Skills- Written and Verbal.
- Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required.
Desirables:
- Experience with UN and other NGOs/CSO/implementing partners in Somalia is an asset.
- Background/familiarity with humanitarian context and delivering results in emergency context in the field.
- Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language 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
The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…
(1) Builds and maintains partnerships
(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness
(3) Drive to achieve results for impact
(4) Innovates and embraces change
(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity
(6) Thinks and acts strategically
(7) Works collaboratively with others
Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.
UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.
UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.
UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.
UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.
Remarks:
As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.
UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable [Insert candidates from targeted underrepresented groups] are encouraged to apply.
Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.
UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.
Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF’s Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.
All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.
Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.
