Unicef Maternal and Newborn Technical Advisor Kenyan Job

United Nations Children’s Fund
Kenya Country Office

Maternal and Newborn Technical Advisor - NO-C

Consultant: Special Service Agreement (SSA)
Duration – 12 Months
Date of Issue: 09 March, 2012
Closing Date: 15 March, 2012

Applications are hereby invited from suitably qualified candidates to fill the above Temporary Position in the Programme Section, UNICEF Kenya Office.

Purpose of the Post: The consultant will work under the guidance of the Chief of Health.
UNICEF Kenya, as one of the key partner in addressing Maternal and Newborn health has been working with the government and other development partners in providing strategic support including:

• Maternal and Neonatal Death Review (MNDR): Strong and integrated MNDR system has shown to elevate the maternal and new-born agenda at all levels by providing forum for: documentation of incidents; consolidation of data/information for action at source and up to the national level; and improving health worker’s knowledge base through a feedback mechanism impacting on theory and practice at all levels;
• Output Based Assurance (OBA): Cost incurred by mothers for health facility supported delivery has been one of the barriers to low coverage of skilled delivery across the board and particularly in the arid areas of the country. Introduction of OBA, i.e paying the health facilities for the deliveries attended has significantly improved the coverage of facility based deliveries by reducing financial burden at household level and improving availability of basic supplies and skills at the facility level;
• Community Health Strategy (CHS): The MoPHS identified the CHS as one of its cross-cutting flagship program with the potential to strengthen the health system links to the community structure impacting on improving demand for access to quality health care and also to develop health behaviour and practices at individual, household and community levels; and
• Support integration of HIV into Reproductive Health (RH) Services: Within the new Kenya National Strategic Action plan III, Emphasis has been placed in mobilization and coordination of partners to support integrated approach targeting the elimination of MTCT of HIV and AIDS and Paediatric Care and Treatment. These approaches require systematic integration of HIV and AIDS programs into the wider RH activities.

Considering the high level and technically complex nature of the MNH coordination requirement in UNICEF Kenya Country Office, the Health Section has proposed converting the existing approved NOC MNH position to International Professional (IP) position at L-4 level. Once approval for the proposed position is granted during the mid-term review process, the position will be advertised and filled.

In the meantime, as part of streamlining its program support to Maternal and New-born Health (MNH), the Health section with the support of external consultant has reviewed its 2011 achievements and the plans for 2012/13. Major lesson from the exercise was that, the health team had been working in many important areas and hence overstretched with too many activities rather than investing in key strategic areas. This is felt diluting the potential value of its support to the government and undermining its visibilities. The MNH consultant will therefore focus on key tasks outlined below.

The consultant will be responsible for carrying out the following tasks:

• Provide leadership facilitating MOH and partners’ efforts to effectively institutionalize MNDR system at all levels of the health service delivery;
• Coordinate the development of Reproductive Health coasted Business Plan to guide resource mobilization and allocation processes;
• Assist RH Unit of the MoPHS to conduct national annual review of MNH implementation agreed as the Nakuru MNH Plan of Action;
• Support the UNICEF assisted model Community Health Strategy focus areas to integrate implementation of MNH activates with Community Health Workers performance;
• Develop concept notes/proposals to support resource mobilization activities of UNICEF Kenya Country Office.
• Represent UNICEF at the national RH Technical Working Group and Interagency Coordinating Committee forums; and
• Provide regular reports and program update on MNH activities

The process of completing the above tasks involves:

• Review key documents including the Maternal and Newborn Road Map, the Nakuru MNH plan of action, the UN plan of action on Maternal Health (H4), Harmonization of Reproductive Health in Kenya (review undertaken by major donors in Kenya), Evaluation of OBA scheme by UNICEF, and the UNICEF KCO rolling work plan related to MNH;
• Undertake regular consultative meetings with RH Unit of the MOH at national level and provinces and districts where model Community Health Strategy is being supported;
• Review the work done by UNICEF and MOPHS on MNDR and support the development of comprehensive national plan to institutionalize the system within the national HMIS;
• Provide TA to the RH Unit of the MoPHS to undertake key program review, planning and monitoring of RH activities;

Deliverables

The consultant is expected to deliver the following:

• Comprehensive document showing the architect of institutionalizing MDR into the existing health management information system agreed by government and partners;
• Quarterly MDR national and provincial report with feedback mechanism to provinces, districts and health facilities
• Bi-annual activity report on the implementation of High Impact MNH activities and national MNH joint supervisory support visit reports;
• Monthly summary report of key activities including: i) MNH High Impact Interventions implementation; ii) RH related donor coordination; and iii) Integration of MNH activities into Community Strategy.

Experience and Qualifications

Degree in Medicine (Gynaecology) and a post graduate degree in Public Health. At least ten years of relevant experience at international level with extensive experience in providing advisory services to

Core Competencies (Required) :

• Technical Knowledge/ Leadership
• Networking
• Planning, setting standards and monitoring work

Interested and suitable candidates should ensure that they forward their applications along with their curricula vitae, (internal candidates should attach copies of their last two Performance Evaluation Reports), to;

The Human Resources Specialist
UNICEF Kenya Country Office

Email address: kenyahrvacancies@unicef.org

Please indicate Reference No. “KCO/SSA/PROG/HLTH/2012/002” in the email subject.

Interested candidates should also complete the Personal History (P11) form, which can be downloaded from the UNICEF Kenya website (http://www.unicef.org/kenya).

“Qualified Female Candidates Are Encouraged To Apply”