UNICEF Health Specialist (MCNH) Job Re-Advertisement (Lodwar)

United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)

Kenya Country Office

Vacancy Announcement: “KCO/HLTH/2014 - 082”

Re-Advertisement

Duty Station: Lodwar

Health Specialist (MCNH), NO-C, Post#90644

Type of Contract: Fixed Term

Date of Issue: 05 December 2014

Applications are hereby invited from suitably qualified candidates to fill the above Fixed Term position Lodwar Filed Office of UNICEF Kenya Country Office (KCO).

Purpose of the Post:  Under the supervision of the Chief Field Office, the MNCH Specialist and the overall guidance of the Health Specialist MNH the incumbent will manage the UNICEF support to the county government and its partners to implement policy, strengthen capacities required for the provision of MNCH services, within the framework of the devolved system of governance.  

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

Support MNCH coordination at the sub-national level: 

• Under the guidance of the head of the Field office and the Health specialists in Nairobi, participate and support in relevant county coordination meetings, document decisions made, and update the overall project work-plan accordingly. Relay any resulting management decisions to colleagues in the Nairobi Office;
• Keep abreast of public health developments in the county that could have an impact on the MNCH Program (positive or negative) and proactively propose how to respond to these developments;
• Working closely with the M&E team under his/her supervision, ensure that relevant and accurate information is available for partners as needed.

Oversee financial disbursements and supply requisitions:

• Working closely with the Programme Assistant, supply and finance divisions, and national office staff, review and initiate MOH and partner requests for cash transfers and reports on fund utilization from the county;
• Update the MNH Specialist regularly on fund utilization status. Based on needs assessments, and with assistance from the supply division, support the county level to prepare supply requisitions and monitor delivery;
• While the Assurance Officer and supply Unit colleagues will conduct end-user monitoring of supplies, the MNCH Officer should also monitor the placement and use of UNICEF-purchased supplies in the region.
• Ensure related UNICEF and collaborating partners staff comply with UNICEF’s financial rules including emergency fast-track procedures;
• In close collaboration with Operations and Supply staff, regularly monitor and report on use of related supplies and other resources donated to the government and non-government partners;
• Collaborate with the Operations Section and Government authorities to maintain sound internal controls, supportive of specific health interventions as well as to ensure accountability.

Maintain MNCH work-plan: Based on regular reports received from the Assurance Officer and M&E Team, and on feedback obtained directly from the field and partners, maintain the overall project work-plan and proactively propose solutions to delays or other implementation challenges. 

Work closely with field staff and MOH colleagues to prepare county-specific work-plans and suitable budgets, and regularly track progress through both reports received from colleagues and direct field visits. 

The officer will be expected to document and disseminate lessons learned while implementing country-specific capacity building activities. 

Additionally, in the region he or she will apply his/her technical expertise to;

• Ensure UNICEF, government and non-government staff apply right-based approaches to programming and humanitarian principles;
• Promote the quality of rights-based Health programmes through the formulation of programme goals and strategies and approaches.

Partnerships and leveraging resources

• Maintain close working relationships with other related UNICEF sectors, particularly nutrition, HIV, WASH, and programme communication;
• Coordinate with related UNICEF national Health specialists to ensure strategies are aligned with national, regional and global strategies;
• Establish active and participatory partnerships with related Health sector stakeholders (Government, WHO, other UN agencies, NGOs and bilateral agencies) and interact with them at different stages of Health programme design and implementation and identify opportunities for leveraging resources to be brought to the attention of MNH Specialist in Nairobi;
• Participate in inter-sectoral collaboration (Child Health and Community Health Services with other programme colleagues for the systematic delivery of an integrated package of MNCH services.

Generate progress reports and support donor visits: Under his/her supervision, the M&E and PHO will be responsible for generating draft progress reports every six months. 

The MNCH Officer will be responsible for reviewing and finalizing these reports, based on his or her direct knowledge of the overall situation at national and county levels, and his or her relationship with the donor agencies. 

The MNCH officer shall also oversee all donor visits to the field, through close collaboration with others in the field office.

Required Qualifications: Advanced University degree in one of the disciplines relevant to the following areas: Public Health, Medicine, Health Research, International Health, Health Policy and Management or a field relevant to international development assistance in Health.

Experience:

• At least five years progressive experience in public health or related field with focus on maternal and child survival and development programs.  
• Experience working with National and Regional government will be an asset

Language: Good knowledge of English language and knowledge of the working language of the duty station.

Competencies
 

i) Core Values (Required)

• Commitment
• Diversity and Inclusion   
• Integrity

ii) Core Competencies (Required)

• Communication [Level II]
• Working with People [Level II] 
• Drive for Results [Level II]

iii) Functional Competencies (Required)

• Leading and Supervising [Level I]         
• Formulating Strategies and Concepts [Level II]
• Analysing [Level III] 
• Relating and Networking [Level II]
• Deciding and Initiating Action [Level II]    
• Applying Technical Expertise [Level III]

Interested and suitable candidates should ensure they forward their applications along with their P11, curriculum vitae, P11 (CLICK HERE to download) (internal candidates should attach copies of their last two Performance Evaluation Reports), to:   

The Human Resources Manager
UNICEF Kenya Country Office
Email address: kenyahrvacancies@unicef.org

Please indicate Reference No. “KCO/HLTH/2014 - 082” in the email subject.

Closing Date: 18 December 2014

“Qualified female candidates are encouraged to apply”
 

Zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse  
 

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