ABOUT THE COMPANY:

UNICEF was created with a distinct purpose in mind: to work with others to overcome the obstacles that poverty, violence, disease and discrimination place in a child’s path. We advocate for measures to give children the best start in life, because proper care at the youngest age forms the strongest foundation for a person’s future

JOB SUMMARY

Under the supervision of the Associate Director for Immunization, you will guide UNICEF’s Regional and Country Offices on sustainable immunization financing policies and practices within the overall health financing agenda.

You will support key global health initiatives aimed at increasing sustainable financing towards immunization and broader Primary Health Care and Maternal, Newborn, Child, and Adolescent Health (MNCAH) objectives.

As the Senior Advisor Health, you will provide strategic guidance and technical support to government officials and UNICEF Country Offices to update and utilize costed immunization plans within broader health sector development plans and oversee efforts to map financial bottlenecks and propose solutions to improve equity and effective coverage in countries with financing challenges.

Your work will involve collaboration with other HQ teams and sections, regional and country offices, UN Agencies, Gavi Alliance partners, development banks, and bilateral agencies.

Serving as the Organization’s top Advisor for sustainable immunization financing, you will generate dialogue within UNICEF and the international community, and develop partnerships with governments, alliances, and development agencies. This position is critical for achieving UNICEF’s long-term immunization goals.

Requirements

An Advanced University degree or higher in health economics, public health, health management or other relevant fields is required.

Work Experience:

A minimum of 10 years of solid work experience in the field of health economics, health management and health system at national, regional and/or international levels, including in a low- or middle-income country context is required.

Desirables/Assets:

• Recognized expertise and experience in working with immunization programs as well as broader primary health care programmes.
• Thorough knowledge and understanding of Immunization related issues, particularly financing.
• Experience in cost analysis, policy analysis, health systems analysis, and monitoring and evaluation.
• Proven communication skills and proven record of interaction with the donor community and country governments
• Track record of peer-reviewed publications on health economics and health system with a focus on immunization and/or primary health care.

Language Requirements:

Fluency in English is required.

Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

Responsibilities

In this role, the incumbent will be at the forefront of enhancing immunization services through improved planning and budgeting, optimal fund allocation, and better alignment of external financial support.

You will provide critical support and coordination on immunization economics and systems strengthening to UNICEF’s regional and country offices.

Your responsibilities will include coordinating the development of National Immunization Strategies, calculating costs, aligning these with Ministry of Health budgets, and mapping financing sources. You will also supervise studies and implementation research to document country-specific lessons and evidence for key initiatives. This includes estimating costs and financial sustainability of interventions to reach zero-dose communities, evaluating the cost-effectiveness of new vaccine introductions, addressing programmatic issues related to expanding vaccination across the life course, and analyzing the links between vaccine stock-outs and public financial management.

As a representative of UNICEF, you will articulate and advocate for the organization’s positions at global meetings, establishing UNICEF as a leader in the international health financing arena for immunization and primary health care.

You will build and maintain strong organizational links with counterparts in WHO, Gavi, World Bank, BMGF, CDC, USAID, GPEI, and other key partners.

Actively participating in immunization partnerships concerned with systems, economics, and financing, you will represent UNICEF at policy and strategic planning meetings with senior government officials and multilateral and bilateral agencies. Additionally, you will collaborate closely with partners and country and regional offices to coordinate political mobilization strategies, empowering governments, increasing ownership, and ensuring sustainable financing for immunization and primary health care.

More details on this role can be found in  83990_P5 SrAdviser_ImmFin updated_2024 for VA.docx

REQUIRED EDUCATION: Postgraduate Degree

EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS: 120