Health Specialist – P3  

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.

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For every child, every right…

The UNICEF Malawi Country Programme (2024-2028) works through a One-UN approach based on the new United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSCDF) Strategic Priorities. 2024-2028).  All four strategic priorities of the UNSCDF2024-2028 hold significance to UNICEF and the priorities identified for children: i) Economic Development, ii) Governance, iii) Human Capital Development, and iv) Climate Change. UNICEF co-leads the further elaboration and results in developing the Human Capital Development strategic priority. The intent of the UNICEF CPD 2024-2028 is fully aligned with these priorities, which are also directly linked to the pillars of Malawi Vision 2063, and the Malawi Implementation Plan (MIP, 2030). To this extent, UNICEF’s strategy for the CPD includes Child Survival and Development (Health, Nutrition and WASH), Education, Learning and Child Protection, Social Policy (Social Protection and Public Finance for Children), Gender Equality, Inclusion, and Innovation within a robust evidence-informed environment. These are focus areas under the Human Capital Development Enabler of the MIP (2030). The Country Programme envisages the progressive fulfilment of the rights to survival, development, education, protection and participation of all children, including adolescents, especially the most vulnerable and those at risk of being left behind, in an inclusive, resilient and protective environment. Besides Malawi’s 2063 vision and 2021–2030 implementation plan (MIP), the African Union’s Agenda 2063; UNICEF’s Strategic Plan, Gender Action Plan III, Innovation Strategy; and the SDGs. The country programme includes child survival and development, learning, skills development and protection, and social policy. All components are supported by the programme and operational effectiveness and efficiency imperatives. Risk-informed programming across the humanitarian and development nexus in all three outcome areas will strengthen disaster preparedness, enhance climate adaptation/mitigation and response, and increase the resilience capacity of institutions, communities, and young people. Programming aligns with UNICEF Core Commitments for Children in Humanitarian Action and the Inter-Agency Standing Committee’s Transformative Agenda.

Community Health & EPI are the backbone of UNICEF support to the health program in Malawi and enjoys a strong relationship with MoH which will place you in a pivotal position to achieve results if you can foster strong relations with Government.

You will head the portfolio that will be key to reducing child mortality and morbidity in Malawi in addition to mitigating risk for vaccine preventable disease outbreaks.

How can you make a difference?

The Malawi Country Office offers an exciting and rewarding career opportunity for you to join our dynamic  Health & HIV team, more specifically the EPI unit, where you will also be responsible for assisting the community health and immunization programme from development planning through to results delivery by developing, executing, supervising, and implementing a wide range of technical and administrative programme duties. In your role, you will be under the overall guidance and supervision of Chief of Health & HIV.

This position  therefore offers a unique and significant opportunity for a qualified,  motivated and committed individual  to profoundly impact and influence child mortality and morbidity outcomes. By excelling in this role, you will  contribute to the overall achievement of transformative results for children by delivering on the following key responsibility areas, but not limited to: 

1. Collaborate with relevant partners to develop work plans that support of the implementation of the Ministry of Health’s Community Health Strategy, addressing national priorities and ensuring alignment with other relevant work plans.
2. Facilitate emergency preparedness for vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks at all levels.
3. Provide oversight of and timely reporting to the Government and partners,  particularly GAVI, on progress on immunization activities in Malawi. Ensure accurate, complete, and up to date programme management information is available to inform effective programme design, budget preparation, implementation, management, and monitoring and reporting.
4. Deliver effective support for community based Integrated Management of Neonatal and Childhood Illness(IMNCI) activity implementation, ensuring planned results are achieved within stipulated timelines.
5. Strengthen accountability mechanisms for UNICEF, Government and implementing partners in managing supply and non-supply assistance to support Community Health and IMNCI initiatives.
6. Ensure timely preparation and sharing of required programme/project reports with relevant stakeholders in compliance with the established guidelines and procedures.

You are encouraged to download the detailed GJD Health Specialist Level 3.doc in order to view the full role and its requirements.

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

 The following minimum requirements:

 Education:

• Advanced university degree in Public Health, Pediatric Health, Child Development, Child Health, Nutrition, Epidemiology, Public Administration, Social Policy, Social Development, Community Development, or other relevant disciplines. 

Experience:

• A minimum of  five years of professional work experience at the national and international levels in planning, programming, implementation monitoring, and evaluation of Health/Immunization programmes is required.
• Experience in managing a team of professional staff and external consultants  is required.
• Experience in managing communicable disease outbreaks is considered as a strong asset.
• Experience in an interdisciplinary approach in strategic immunization initiatives and monitoring immunization programme is essential.
• Experience and proficiency in proposals, reports development, research reports, and strategic notes articulation is required.
• Experience working in a developing country is considered as a strong asset.
• Background and/or familiarity with emergency is considered as an asset.

Technical knowledge and skills:

• Knowledge, skills, and experience in community capacity building is an asset.
• Knowledge of UN and/or UNICEF’s work in humanitarian action is highly desirable.

Language:

• Fluency in English , both strong verbal and written skills, is required.

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: https://uni.cf/UNICEFValues

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 and (8) Nurtures, leads and manages people.

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

The position is not considered an elevated risk role. However, UNICEF reserves the right to conduct further vetting/assessment within the scope of child safeguarding as appropriate.

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 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 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.

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 (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 candidates from Latin America and Caribbean, Middle East and North Africa region are encouraged to apply.

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

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. 

Visa residence requirements: For National Officer (NO) positions, internal candidates eligible to legally reside and work in a country, independently of UNICEF appointment, are eligible to apply i.e.: UNICEF shall not facilitate the issuance of a visa and working authorization for candidates under consideration for positions at the national officer and general service category.

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.

To effectively contribute to the delivery of results for the children of Malawi, the UNICEF Malawi Country Office operates within a dynamic and results-oriented setting. We foster an environment characterized by creativity, innovation, collaboration, teamwork, a commitment to professional growth, and a safe workspace. Consequently, we are actively searching for individuals who are driven to enact tangible change and dedicated to serving Malawi’s children with resourcefulness, resilience, agility, and a commitment to professional excellence.

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