UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, Health

How can you make a difference?

Organizational Context and Purpose for the job
The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programmes, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favouritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic, and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education, and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfil their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

UNICEF’s mandate is to promote/improve adolescents’ health, well-being, development, and participation ensuring that neither age, poverty, gender inequality, nor social exclusion determine access to Adolescent Sexual, Reproductive Health (ASRH) services, including life-saving HIV prevention, treatment, and care. UNICEF is also mandated to ensure that countries progress towards the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV. This is aligned with UNICEF’s vision of an AIDS-free generation starting with their 1st decade of life. Furthermore, UNICEF aims to address other key adolescent development-related challenges, including mental health and to create and support opportunities for adolescent participation and engagement so that adolescents can participate in decisions and processes that concern them.

Strategic Office context:

The overall vision of UNICEF Botswana’s country programme is to ensure that children’s and adolescents’ rights to survival, development, protection and participation, particularly of the most vulnerable, are realized through access to quality gender-responsive social services and the adoption of healthy and protective behaviours, and by promoting active participation. The proposed programme is fully aligned with Botswana’s 11th National Development Plan (NDP), Botswana Vision 2036 and the draft UNICEF Strategic Plan (2022–2025). The programme is aligned with and derives from the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF), particularly the outcomes focusing on gender equality (outcome 1), quality social services and social protection (outcome 2) and transparency and access to justice (outcome 5).
The Country Programme is guided by a theory of change that is based on investing in two critical windows of opportunity in the life cycle of the child: childhood (0–9 years) and adolescence/youth (10–24 years), with equitable social policy as a programming area that cuts across the life cycle. Therefore, the country programme has three programme components: (i) First Decade: Young child survival, development and learning (0–9 years); (ii) Second Decade: Adolescent and young people’s well-being, learning and participation (10–24 years); and (iii) Social policy. The position of the Adolescent Development and HIV Specialist contributes primarily to the second pillar but is also expected to contribute to the first pillar (elimination of mother to child transmission) and work closely with social policy.
The adolescent development and HIV component of the programme aimed at building government’s capacity to expand programmes to address health challenges faced by the adolescents, like adolescent pregnancies, Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) including HIV, mental health, access to adolescent-friendly sexual and reproductive health services, including by promoting their participation in the design of these services. The position is also accountable for ensuring alignment between the adolescent development portfolio on the one hand, and efforts to end violence being led by the child protection programme as well as interventions to support employability and entrepreneurship led by the education programme, all of which are supervised and report to the Deputy Representative.

Purpose for the job:

The Adolescent Development (HIV) Specialist, NOC reports to the Deputy Representative (P-4) for guidance and general supervision. The Specialist supports conceptualisation, design, development and preparation of the Adolescent Development and HIV programmes and is responsible for managing, implementing, monitoring, evaluating, and reporting of the progresses and achievements of the programmes.

The Adolescent Development (HIV) Specialist provides technical guidance and management support throughout the programming processes to facilitate the administration and achievement of concrete and sustainable results according to plans, allocation, results-based management (RBM) approaches and methodology and UNICEF’s Strategic Plans, standards of performance and accountability framework.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

1. Support to programmes/projects development and planning
2. Programme management, monitoring, and delivery of results
3. Technical and operational support to programme implementation
4. Networking and partnership building
5. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

Key function, accountabilities, and related duties/tasks
1. Support to programme/project development and planning
• Contribute to/support the preparation/design and conduct/update of situation analysis and assessments on adolescent development and HIV related issues to ensure that comprehensive, relevant, and evidence-based data are collected to guide country office on adolescent development and HIV programming, monitoring, and delivery of programme/project services.
• Participate in strategic programme discussion to provide input and operational support to the development of an integrated adolescent development and HIV programme (within the country programme). Formulate, design, and prepare adolescent development and HIV programmes/projects proposal, ensuring alignment with the overall UNICEF’s Strategic Plans and Country Programme and coherence/integration with UNSDCF, regional strategies and national priorities, plans and competencies.
• Establish specific goals, objectives and strategies and implementation plans using results-based planning terminology and methodology (RBM).
• Prepare adolescent development and HIV programme documentation for Country Office Programme recommendation ensuring alignment with the overall UNICEF’s Strategic Plans, regional strategies, and national priorities, plans and competencies.
• Work closely and collaboratively with internal and external colleagues and partners to provide technical and operational support to programme planning, management, and implementation and to ensure synergy, integration, coherence, and harmonization of HIV programmes/projects within the country programme, donors’ development strategies/policies, country level national priorities/competencies and UN system development interventions/initiatives.

2. Programme management, monitoring, and delivery of results

• Plan and/or collaborate with internal and external partners to establish monitoring benchmarks, performance indicators and other UNICEF/UN system indicators and measurement to assess/strengthen performance accountability, coherence, and delivery of concrete and sustainable results for the assigned sector/s in adolescent development and HIV programmes.
• Participate in monitoring and evaluation exercises, programme reviews and annual reviews with government and other counterparts to assess progress and to determine required action/interventions to achieve results.
• Prepare/assess monitoring and evaluation reports to identify gaps, strengths/weaknesses in programme and management, identify lessons learned and use knowledge gained for development planning and timely intervention to achieve goals.
• Actively monitor programmes/projects through field visits, surveys and/or exchange of information with partners/stakeholders to assess progress, identify bottlenecks and potential problems and take timely decisions to resolve issues and/or refer to relevant officials for timely resolution.
• Monitor and verify the optimum/appropriate use of sector/s programme resources (financial, administrative, and other assets) confirming compliance with organizational rules, regulations/procedures and donor commitments, standards of accountability and integrity and ensuring timely reporting and liquidation of resources.
• Prepare regular/mandated programme/project reports for management, donors, and partners to keep them informed of programme progress.

3. Technical and operational support to programme implementation

• Provide technical guidance and operational support to government counterparts, NGO partners, UN system partners and other country office partners/donors on UNICEF policies, strategies, processes and best practices and approaches on HIV related issues to support programme development planning, management, implementation, and delivery of results.
• Participate in programme strategic discussions/planning to contribute to policy discussions and agenda setting to promote adolescent development and HIV interventions especially in the areas of gender inequality, social inclusion, human rights, and humanitarian situations to ensure that at risks and vulnerable population are fully covered in times of greatest needs.
• Draft policy papers, briefs and other strategic programme materials for management use, information and/or consideration.

4. Networking and partnership building

• Build and sustain effective close working partnerships with relevant sector government counterparts, national stakeholders and global partners/allies/donors/academia through active networking and advocacy to exchange knowledge/expertise, leverage resources/action, build alliances and engage participation of communities in programme design, delivery, and demand creation.
• Prepare communication and information materials for CO programme advocacy to promote awareness, establish partnership/alliances and enhance resource mobilization for UNICEF adolescent development and HIV programmes/projects.
• Participate and/or represent UNICEF in appropriate inter-agency (UNCT) discussions and planning on HIV and related issues to collaborate with inter-agency partners/colleagues on UNDAF planning and preparation of adolescent development and HIV programmes/projects ensuring organizational position, interests and priorities are fully considered and integrated in the UNSDCF process in development planning and agenda setting.

5. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

• Apply/introduce innovative approaches and good practice to build the capacity of partners and stakeholders and to support the implementation and delivery of concrete and sustainable programme results.
• Keep abreast, research, benchmark and implement best and cutting-edge practices in adolescent development and HIV management and information systems. Institutionalize and share best practices and knowledge learned.
• Organize and implement capacity building initiatives to enhance the competencies of clients/stakeholders to promote sustainable results in adolescent development and HIV related programmes/projects.

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

Recruitment Qualifications

Education: An Advanced University Degree in public health, paediatric health, family and/or community health, health research, global/international health, health policy and/or development studies, social science or related fields is required.

*A completion of first year University Degree in a relevant field combined with 2 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree.

Experience: A minimum of 5 years of professional experience in public health and HIV/AIDS programme planning and management and/or in relevant areas of public health. Relevant experience in Health and HIV/AIDS programme/project development and management in any UN system agency, government or civil society organization is a requirement. Relevant experience is also required in designing, implementing, and monitoring adolescent development and participation programmes.

Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of 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

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.

During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: competency framework here.

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 benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.
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 promote the protection and safeguarding of all children.

Remarks:

UNICEF’s active commitment towards diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable candidates from diversity background are encouraged to apply.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments are also subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (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 cancelled.

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.

Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government 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.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.