Chief Child Survival and Development, P5, Fixed Term, Post #104640, Cairo, Egypt

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, hope.

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programs, 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 favoritism. 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 fulfill 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 aims to be the leading advocate for children, enabled by a cohort of networked, strategic, innovative, and effective advocates who deliver change for children in every part of the world.   

How can you make a difference?

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 – MDGs strategic directions in areas where UNICEF has primary responsibility or comparative advantage. The Chief reports to the Deputy Representative, Programme who is at the level of P5.

Key functions/accountabilities:

Timely and quality sectoral analysis, input, support and coordination are ensured to contribute to the Situation Analysis, its periodic update, and all programme documents, in relation to Health & Nutrition, ECD, WASH and climate change programme,  in partnerships with key stakeholders and with contribution of knowledge institutions.

Integrated strategies, methodologies and new approaches for each of Health & Nutrition, ECD, WASH and climate change are developed and implemented based on results-based approach within Human Rights framework. Partnerships with global funds, multilateral and bilateral agencies and development banks, as well as relations with the private sector enhanced and exploited efficiently.

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, and  through back-up partnerships with relevant specialists organizations as appropriate.

Monitoring and evaluation of programme performance 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.

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.

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 CSD programme.

UNICEF, Government and implementing partners accountability is ensured for supply and non-supply assistance and disbursement of programme funds for the sector.

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

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

Emergency preparedness is maintained, and in emergencies, emergency responses with effective coordination are provided; and in line with the Core Commitments for Children (CCCs) in Humanitarian Action, partnerships with the relevant humanitarian actors strengthened within the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC).

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.

Ten years of professional work experience at the national and international levels in planning, programming, implementation monitoring and evaluation of health and nutrition programmes, WASH including those relevant to child survival & early development. Experience in climate change programme will an added advantage. Professional work experience in a managerial position, or a technical expert position in health, nutrition, and child survival & health care.

WASH, Developing country work experience.

Background/familiarity with Emergency

Fluency in English and Arabic is required.

Selection Criteria:

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

Public Health & Nutrition, Health & Nutrition Emergency Preparedness, Educational Interventions in Health & Nutritional Care, WASH, Early Childhood development and climate change

Knowledge of the global commitment on aid effectiveness.

Good Knowledge of global health issues, specifically relating to children and women, and the current trends, methods and approaches.

Knowledge of Policies and strategy to address national and global health issues.

Emergency programme policies, goals, strategies and approaches.

For every Child, you demonstrate the following……

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: https://uni.cf/UNICEFValues

Core Competencies: Nurtures, Leads and Manages People, Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness, Works Collaboratively with others, Builds and Maintains Partnerships, Innovates and Embraces Change, Thinks and Acts Strategically, drive to achieve impactful results, Manages ambiguity and complexity.

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. 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 (Male and Female candidates) 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 are also 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.

“UNICEF only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/”.

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.