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…

The UNICEF Congo Brazzaville Country office is a small-medium UNICEF Country office. The 2020-2024 Country Programme, signed between UNICEF and the Government of Republic of Congo, aims to promote the delivery of an integrated package of quality services for children and promote the education and protection of adolescents, using the life-cycle approach and supporting the equity focus included in the 2030 Agenda, namely, to leave no child behind and help the most disadvantaged first, in the particular context of the Republic of Congo as a Low Middle Income Country.

To meet Programme strategies and results, the office will need committed and creative professionals who want to make a lasting difference for Congolese children.

How can you make a difference?

Purpose for the job:

The Chief, Child Survival and development, is responsible for the overall management and administration in the development, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the Child Survival and Development programme (maternal and neonatal health, child survival, nutrition, HIV/AIDS, WASH, ECD and adolescent health) within the country programme. Accountable for effective technical leadership, management guidance and programme support to facilitate the application and adaptation of UNICEF policies and strategies to achieve programme goals and expansion of UNICEF assisted Child Survival and Development interventions, including the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals.

As Chief of Section, directs, leads, manages, develops and enables a competent team of professional and support staff to achieve the strategic goals and objectives of the Child Survival and Development programme, with a view to integrating gender equality across all aspects of the country programme.

Contributes to create synergy partnerships which reinforce other organizations – including other UN Agencies – SDGs strategic directions in areas where UNICEF has primary responsibility or comparative advantage such as interrelated areas of maternal, new-born, and child health and nutrition.

Works closely, in Humanitarian Action, with the Child Survival and Development clusters within the inter-agency standing committee (IASC).

Key functions and accountabilities:

1. Timely and quality sectoral analysis, input, support and coordination contribute to the Situation Analysis, its periodic update, and all programme documents to formulate effective child survival and Development goals, strategy, and project planning and development, in partnerships with key stakeholders and with contribution of knowledge institutions.

2. Integrated child and survival and development strategies, methodologies and new approaches are developed and implemented based on results-based approach within Human Rights framework by broad participation and collaboration with internal and external partnership. Partnerships with global funds, multilateral and bilateral agencies and development banks, as well as relations with the private sector enhanced and exploited efficiently, in order to formulate common advocacy position and influence allocation of resources, as well as investment decisions on behalf of Health and Nutrition.

3. Technical support is provided to government and non-government organizations at all stages of the programme cooperation, including capacity building of government personnel and beneficiaries, including through back-up partnerships with child survival and development specialists’ organizations as appropriate.

4. Monitoring and evaluation of programme performance is properly undertaken for adjustment, acceleration, and improvement of program delivery, capitalizing on joint global monitoring and evaluation frameworks such as the Child Health Epidemiology Reference Group for child health and nutrition, and with WFP in the areas of food and nutrition.

5. Work plan and objectives are effectively established, performance is managed, and planned results are timely delivered through exercise of strong programme management leadership; partnership frameworks that pool competencies and resources developed.

6. The capacities of Country Office staff are strengthened through effective capacity building programme –  which also build on technical partnerships with collaborating agencies to provide state-of-the-art  technical information to staff – in the development, implementation and management of the Health & Nutrition programme.

7. UNICEF and Government and implementing partners accountability is ensured for supply and non-supply assistance and disbursement of programme funds for the sector; and Government counterparts and implementing partners are orientated and trained in UNICEF supply and non-supply assistance policies and procedures.

8. Effective partnership and collaboration are achieved and maintained for advocacy, technical cooperation, programme coordination, information sharing and knowledge networking.

9. The most relevant and strategic information is provided including in cooperation with knowledge institutions to support the Health & Nutrition Programme by the effective implementation of integrated programme monitoring system.

10. All required programme reports are timely prepared and shared with concerned partners in compliance with the established guidelines and procedures.

11. Emergency preparedness is maintained, and in emergencies, emergency responses with

effective coordination is provided; and in line with the Core Commitments for Children (CCCs) in Humanitarian Action, partnerships with the Health and Nutrition humanitarian actors strengthened within the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC).

12. Other assigned duties and responsibilities are effectively accomplished.

To qualify as a champion for every child you will have…

• Advanced university degree in Public Health and Nutrition (preferably with specialized training in health planning, health and nutrition education, health care system management, HIV/AIDS prevention, or epidemiology), Child Development, Social Policy, Social Development, Community Development, or other relevant disciplines.
• A minimum of eight years of professional work experience at the national and international levels in planning, programming, implementation monitoring and evaluation of health and nutrition programmes including those relevant to child survival & development. Professional work experience in a managerial position, or a technical expert position in health, nutrition, and child survival & health care.
• Experience working in a developing country is considered as an asset.
• Familiarity/background with emergency is considered as an asset.

• Fluency in both French and English is required. Knowledge of a local language is an asset.

 Female applications are highly recommended.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

Technical competencies

• Expert knowledge of the technical areas of UNICEF programmes

• Expert technical leadership and knowledge of theories, principles and methods in the combination of a diverse fields of the following:

• Public Health & Nutrition, International Health & Nutrition, Public Health & Nutrition Policy and Management, Family and Community Health & Nutrition, Public Health & Nutrition Preparedness, Health & Nutrition Emergency Preparedness.

• Nutritional Epidemiology, Nutrition Research, Biostatistics, Biochemistry, Sociomedical Sciences.

• Health & Nutrition Education, Health & Nutrition Promotion and Disease Prevention, Educational Interventions in Health & Nutritional Care; PMPCT, Pediatric AIDS, malaria, WASH.

• Knowledge of the global commitment on aid effectiveness, including the Paris Declaration     on Aid Effectiveness, the Accra Agenda for Action as well as knowledge of the Global Programme Partnerships (GPPs).

Core Values

• Care
• Respect
• Integrity
• Trust
• Accountability
• Sustainability

Core Competencies

• Nurtures, Leads and Manages People (2)
• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (2)
• Works Collaboratively with others (2)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (2)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (2)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (2)
• Drives to achieve impactful results (2)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (2)

During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework.

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: 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. All selected candidates will, therefore, 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.

Remarks:

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

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

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

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 may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). 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.