Organization: UN Children's Fund
Country: Democratic Republic of the Congo
Closing date:
19 Jan 2017If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world's leading children's rights organization would like to hear from you.
For 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children's survival, protection and development. The world's largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments.
Purpose of the Position
Under the general guidance of the Regional Chief HIV/AIDS, responsible for providing technical assistance to UNICEF Country Offices in implementing activities related to prevention of Mother To Child Transmission of HIV, Pediatric Care, and MNCH. With focus on the Central Africa sub-region, s/he will be part of the WCARO HIV/AIDS technical team providing leadership including expert advice, vision, oversight, knowledge management, articulating policies and strategies, situation appraisal, harmonization of program strategies, capacity building, support for monitoring and evaluation, representation, networking and strategic partnership. The Chief Child Survival in DRC Country Office will provide day-to-day guidance and supervision on the implementation of the goals and objectives set for this post.
Key Accountabilities and Duties & Tasks
1. Representation, Coordination and Partnerships:
Represent and advocate for UNICEF in meetings with high level and senior government officials, agencies, NGOs, and donors. Enhance UNICEF's technical leadership role by forging internal and external partnerships in the development of harmonized program interventions. Facilitate harmonization of regional and country strategies and approaches in the achievement of program goals with Country Representatives, Deputy Representatives and Specialists. Guide and support oil cross-cutting interventions, working with counterparts and team members to establish overall program plant and ensure coordination of activities, information and experience to achieve program objectives. Build strategic alliances with various international and regional partners, national associations, entrepreneurs, academics, religious organizations and NGOs. Establish institutional links with UN agencies and other relevant entities to improve the economics and systems of PMTCT, HIV pediatric Care, and MNCH, programming. Participate in inter-agency meetings and collaborate with UN country teams in support of the attainment of relevant goals. Ensure that UNICEF assumes its lead role on PMTCT and pediatric care as part of the joint UN programming approach2. Technical Assistance and Capacity Building:
Ensure timely and quality technical assistance and capacity development to the Country Office in support of their work in national policy, budgets and programs and to improve operational performance for PMTCT/Pediatrics and MNCH. Provide authoritative expertise in PMTCT/Pediatrics and MNCH which combines cutting edge substantive advice with operational and political perspectives that empower and position programs to be recognized as leaders in the field. In consultation with other COs in the region identify capacity gaps in MNCH, PMTCT and pediatric care programming and design program to upgrade the capacity of key counterpart staff, as well as UNICEF Country Office staff, in areas of expertise. Provide technical inputs for capacity development of UNICEF staff and, upon request, of their partners, in the integrated MNCH, PMTCT and pediatric care strategy planning and budgeting. Remain current in related fields including, HIV/AIDS, nutrition and WASH to ensure an integrated approach.3. Resources Mobilization and Leveraging:
Enhance the financial resources available for MNCH, PMTCT and pediatric care activities in the sub-region, by advising on leveraging with Governments and donors, supporting the Country Office on the preparation of project proposals and, in close consultation with PARMO, coordinating with sub-regional active donors.4. Knowledge Management and intellectual leadership:
Maintain technical expertise, including open knowledge sharing with RO/HQ Advisors and regional/national institutions. Serve as a focal point of technical expertise. Monitor developments in technical area, as well as political and social developments, at the national and sub-regional levels. Contribute to national and sub-regional MNCH, PMTCT and pediatric care knowledge by analyzing and disseminating available data and trends, to evaluate cost and impact on MDGs, capturing determinants of the trends and their implications for country programming. Synthesize best practices fromongoing programs/projects and disseminate through print, electronic media and through facilitation of exchange visits, study tours, workshops, and training. Document investment cases for leveraging resources for PMTCT, HTV pediatric care, and MNCH. Ensure an integrated approach towards PMTCT, HIV pediatric care, and MNCH related MDGs and other relevant global goals and targets.5. Program Oversight, Quality Assurance, and Monitoring and Evaluation:
Conduct regular quality checks on UNICEF programs to ensure alignment to the highest standards and provide constructive feedback for improvement as necessary. Combine cutting-edge technology and program innovation with operational and political perspectives that empower and position UNICEF's DRC programs in MNCH, PMTCT and pediatrics as a leader in the field. Support country program development, monitoring and evaluation. Provide the office with documentation and research related to MNCH, PMTCT and pediatric care. Strengthen capacity for planning and budgeting. Partner with the RO/HQ Advisors (including the Regional Monitoring and Evaluation Advisor and Country Monitoring and Evaluation Officers in the development and review of indicators and participatory approaches for program monitoring and evaluation, Ensure that current information about the situation of children and women in area of expertise, program performance and evaluation, the attainment of the MDGs, and best practices is available to the DRC Country Office.6. Emergency Preparedness and Response:
Ensure that adequate emergency preparedness measures in PMNCH/PMTCT/pediatric care are taken in the sub-region by the relevant country offices through the development and updating of country contingency plans and establishment of early warning mechanisms. Develop and maintain databases on country information crucial for the planning and implementation of emergency plans.Qualifications of Successful Candidate
Advanced university degree in one or more of the disciplines: Public Health, Public Health Administration, HIV/AIDS, Health Education, Medicine, Social Sciences or a field relevant to international development assistance in HIV/AIDS*. Training in gender that promote gender equality is an asset.Ten years of progressively responsible experience in managing public health programmes (programme formulation, planning, management and evaluation) in developing countries, preferably in Sub-Saharan Africa. Familiarity and experience with management of PMTCT, HIV pediatric care and MNCH programs is necessary,Background/familiarity with Emergency.Experience in monitoring gender disparities and in programme interventions that reduce these disparities is an asset.Fluency in English and French (written and verbal) is required.*A relevant first-level university degree (Bachelor's), in combination with 2 years of additional relevant work experience, may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Competencies of Successful Candidate
Core Values
CommitmentDiversity and InclusionIntegrityCore competencies
Communication-Level IIIWorking with People-Level IIIDrive for Results-Level IIIFunctional Competencies
Leading and Supervising-Level IIIFormulating Strategies and Concepts-Level IIIAnalyzing-Level IIIRelating and Networking-Level IIIDeciding and Initiating Action -Level IIIPersuading and influencing - Level IITo view our competency framework, please clickhere.
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 organization.
How to apply: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 organization. To apply, click on the following link http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/?job=502232