Immunization Specialist, P-4, Temporary Appointment – Kinshasa, DR Congo

UNICEF/DRC is looking for an experienced and dedicated Immunization Specialist at P4 level based in Kinshasa for a period of 364 days.
If you’re a committed individual, a creative professional and passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world’s leading children’s rights organization would like to hear from you.

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for personal and professional development that will help them develop a fulfilling career while delivering on a rewarding mission. We pride ourselves on a culture that helps staff thrive, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit  our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, health.

In DRC, 734,000 children have never been in contact with vaccination services. This places the country third in the WHO African Region for the highest number of zero-dose children, and sixth worldwide. This high number of zero-dose children is spread across the 26 provinces of the DRC, the most important of which are: Tshuapa (92%), Tanganyika (91%), Maniema (89%), Mongala (83%). Several factors have been identified by the various surveys as being at the root of these missed vaccination opportunities in these different provinces, notably the advent of Covid-19 in 2019, the displacement of populations in certain provinces following the proliferation of national and foreign armed groups, as well as inter-ethnic conflicts preventing them from requesting vaccination at a well-known vaccination point, natural obstacles preventing access to a part of the population located in small islands or in rivers that are difficult to reach, and the neglect of certain categories of the population living in shantytowns or peri-urban districts in certain large cities. In addition, some data show that 30% of mothers or guardians of children attending health establishments did not have a vaccination card (ECV 2021); 15% of mothers and caregivers are unaware of the need to return for the 2nd and 3rd doses; this proportion falls to 5% according to ECV 2021; 14% of mothers and caregivers lack confidence in immunization services according to ECV 2020, although this indicator is expected to improve to 4% by 2022. 

According to the targets set by the catch-up plan, the DRC intends to reach at least 70% of missed children by the end of 2025.  The first phase of this catch-up plan will target children who were not or insufficiently vaccinated during the acute crisis of the pandemic a COVID19 (from 2019 to 2022).

Visit UNICEF- Democratic Republic of Congo to learn more!

How can you make a difference?

As Immunization Specialist leading the big catch up (BCU), 

• Supports and advises the DRC Senior Immunization Manager in the development of policies, strategies, programs and systems for UNICEF’s overall immunization program related in zero dose approach, including routine immunization, responding to outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases and accelerating the implementation of the COVID 19 immunization plan. He/She is responsible for providing technical leadership, management guidance, program support and capacity building to the immunization team across the country, in close coordination with other key sectors such as Supply, C4D, WASH.
• Supports the immunization unit of the DRC health section in the application, adaptation and realization of UNICEF’s global, regional and national objectives, policies and strategies within the framework of the immunization program in the country, particularly in the catch-up plan.
• Provides management guidance, oversight, knowledge management, policy development, strategy articulation, situation assessment, harmonization of program strategies, capacity building, monitoring and evaluation support, representation, networking and strategic partnership building to UNICEF immunization programs (EPI).
• Ensure the full implementation of UNICEF’s health responsibilities, in the context of UNICEF’s CPD and as part of the roll-out of COVID 19 immunization in line with the NDVP, through an integrated, multi-sectoral and evidence-based approach.
• Provides support for approaches to integrating the catch-up of zero-dose children into other health interventions (immunization mass campaigns as measles, COVID-19, Polio, Yellow fever or with other sectors. The aim is to boost routine immunization coverage.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here:  ToR_Immunization Specialist, P-4, TA, Kinshasa DRCongo.pdf

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Education: 

• An advanced university degree (master’s or higher) in Medicine, Public Health, Pediatric Health, Global/International Health, Health Policy and Management, Family Health, Socio-medical Sciences, Health Education, Epidemiology, or other fields relevant to immunization.
• A first University Degree in relevant field combined with 2 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree

Work Experience: 

• A minimum of eight years of progressively responsible professional work experience in all aspects of program management, and/or advisory capacity, in the technical area or program sector resulting in recognized expertise in the technical area related to immunization and child survival & health care of which at least 3-4 years in developing countries.
• Extensive experience in immunization programs especially in strengthening routine immunization including in a developing country context
• Previous work experience in a UN context an asset.
• Thorough knowledge and understanding of immunization-related issues with a specific focus on strategies to reach out to and actively engage populations who are socially, politically and economically marginalized from accessing routine immunization services.
• Demonstrated capacity of successfully supporting country immunization programs.
• Training skills and experience presenting in conferences/large meetings. Experience in policy development, advocacy and financial/program management.

Language Requirements:

Fluency in French and good command of English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, 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 is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

We offer a wide range of measures to include a more diverse workforce, such as paid parental leave, time off for breastfeeding purposes, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

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. UNICEF is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will 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.

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 a en(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’s active commitment to diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable female candidates 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.

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.