Stretch Assignment: Juba, South Sudan (Onsite)
Title: Health Specialist
Level: P-3– we encourage staff from all levels with the relevant experience to apply
Reports to: Senior Programme Specialist
Duration: 3 months
Section: Health Section, Juba, South Sudan
Location: Juba, South Sudan
Dates/Duration: 1 February to 30 April 2025
Eligibility: All Fixed-Term, Permanent or continuing appointment UNICEF staff members currently working in UNICEF worldwide.
Background
Purpose of the Position
Duration
This stretch assignment will be for a period of three (3) months.
Key expected results
PURPOSE:
Under the guidance of the Senior Programme Specialist P5, the successful candidate will support, accountable for programme, planning, design, implementation, and administration of Global Fund project within a major programme, in accordance with the Country Programme
Recommendation and Country Programme Management Plan, focussed on achievement of UNICEF's Priorities.
MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES AND TASKS:
1. Effective knowledge management and systems developed and utilized to strengthen area/country programme management.
2. Situation Analysis prepared/updated, critical programme intervention points/measures identified, and programme work plans/recommendations/reports prepared.
3. Programme funds optimally used.
4. Programme monitoring and evaluations effectively conducted to improve programme performance, and programme status report timely prepared. Gender/sex disaggregated data and inputs relevant to country programme provided as integral part of programming.
5. Rights based and results based programming approach fully incorporated into all phases of programme and projects processes.
6. Commitment and institutional capacities of the national and local partners effectively gained and established.
7. Rights perspective and advocacy at the national, community and family levels incorporated in policy analysis for establishing and elevating UNICEF’s credibility in national and international policy debates.
8. Effective partnership and collaboration achieved and maintained for advocacy, technical cooperation, programme development/management/coordination, information sharing and networking.
KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES and DUTIES & TASKS
Within the delegated authority and under the given organizational set-up, the incumbent may be assigned the primarily, shared, or contributory accountabilities for all or part of the following areas of major duties and key end-results.
1. Knowledge Management for Programmes
Ensure that area/country programmes are strengthened by knowledge management through data collection and analysis, complete and accurate reporting as well as participation in the Programme Knowledge Network system of "lessons learned" and other corporate-level databases.
Participate in information exchange through donor and media visits as well as in the development of training and orientation materials.
2. Programme Development and Management
Contribute to the preparation of the Situation Analysis for programme development. Administer a consistent and transparent monitoring system, providing accurate analysis of country level socio-political-economic trends and their implications for ongoing programmes and projects. Support preparation of programme work plans as required. Responsible for preparation of program recommendations for inclusion in formal programme documentation, and new approaches, methods and practices.
3. Optimum Use of Programme Funds
Assist in fast-tracking programme work plans and monitors progress and compliance. Help to manage allocation and disbursement of programme funds, ensuring that funds are properly coordinated, monitored and liquidated. Takes appropriate actions to optimize use of programme funds. Ensure programme efficiency and delivery through transparent approach to programme planning, monitoring and evaluation.
4. Programme Monitoring and Evaluations
Undertakes field visits to monitor and assess programme implementation and decides on required corrective action.
Carry out a rigorous and transparent approach to evaluation and participate the major programme evaluation exercises in consultation with the Chief of Health, the Operations Officer, the Programme Officers and others to improve efficiency and quality of programme delivery.
Participate in sector review meetings with government counterparts.
Ensure the timely preparation of quarterly programme status reports – Pulse checks and Programme Update/Disbursement Request.
5. Rights-Based and Results-Based Programme Management Approach
Assure the quality of child rights-based programmes through consistent and effective planning, design, implementation, monitoring and/or evaluation of programmes and projects. Bring coherence, synergy and added value to the programming planning and design processes using a results-based management approach to programme design.
Ensure viable recommendations on project implementation to management, alternative approaches, and optimal utilization of resources in line with donor conditionality that contribute effectively to the fulfilment of the rights of children and women, and recommendations on new programme initiatives and management issues to ensure achievement of stated objectives.
6. National and Local Capacity Building/Sustainability
Provide the National Malaria Control Programme with technical supports and guidance to plan and organize training programmes for the purpose of capacity building and programme sustainability.
Ensure the building or reinforcing of the commitment and institutional capacities of the national and local partners starting with taking a strategic approach to the identification of these partners and partnerships.
7. Partnership, Coordination and Collaboration
Develop partnerships and collaboration with internal and external counterparts, including those of the UN and national partners, in order to improve the ability to collect and disseminate development data and information, exchange information on programme/project status and implementation and movement/distribution of supplies. Establish and maintain linkage to the Regional and HQ Malaria advisers to ensure the availability of current and accurate programme quality.
Collaborate with the Operations Section to establish and maintain pogramme delivery.
Plans, develops and implements sectoral programme(s) by collaborating with the government and other partners. Provide leadership in provision of technical advice, negotiation, advocacy and promotion of area/country level goals, leading to agreement on practicable and priority actions to be supported by UNICEF programme and country level cooperation.
Minimum Qualifications and Competencies
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An advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required: public health/nutrition, pediatric health, family health, health research, global/international health, health policy and/or management, environmental health sciences, biostatistics, socio-medical, health education, epidemiology, or another relevant technical field.
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A minimum of five years of professional experience in one or more of the following areas is required: public health/nutrition planning and management, maternal and neonatal health care, or health emergency/humanitarian preparedness
- Experience working in a developing country is considered as an asset.
- Background/familiarity with emergency is considered as an asset.
- Language Proficiency
- Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset
Funding arrangement
This is a temporary development opportunity and there will be no changes to the staff member’s status (position number, level, etc.).
All interested staff members should obtain approval from the supervisor and the Head of Office from the releasing office. Copies of the last two PERs, CV/profile, and cover letter are required. The releasing office is expected to continue payment of salary and regular emoluments.
Candidates considered potentially well matched for this surge assignment may be contacted for interview. Supervisors may also be contacted for references. Selection of candidates will be subject to discussion and agreement with Management, with a view to securing the best interest of both the organization and staff.
The selected candidate would not change current post or grade level and no additional payments will be made other than those related to travel (economy class only) and DSA at 100% of the prevailing UN rate, if staying in UNDSS approved hotel or 50% if staying in a UNICEF guesthouse.
