Open Positions at UNICEF

How can you make a difference? 

• The Health Specialist reports to the Chief of Health and Nutrition for guidance and general supervision.
• The Health Specialist supports the development and preparation of the health programme and is responsible for managing, implementing, monitoring, evaluating, and reporting the programme progress of a sector of the health programme (e.g. health system strengthening especially on strengthening primary health care system, maternal, neonatal, child survival/development) within the country programme.
• The Health 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 approaches and methodology (RBM), organizational Strategic Plans and goals, standards of performance, and accountability framework.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

• Support to programme development and planning
• Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results
• Technical and operational support to programme implementation
• Networking and partnership building
• Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

Support to programme development and planning

• Support and contribute to the preparation, design and updating of the situation analysis for the sector(s) to establish a strategic plan for development, design and management of health-related programmes. Keep abreast of development trends to enhance programme management, efficiency and delivery.
• Participate in strategic programme discussions on the planning of health programmes. Formulate, design and prepare a sector of the health programme proposal, ensuring alignment with UNICEF’s Strategic Plan, the Country Programme, as well as coherence/integration with the UN Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF), regional strategies, and national priorities, plans and competencies.
• Establish specific programme goals, objectives, strategies, and implementation plans based on results-based planning terminology and methodology (RBM). Prepare required documentations for programme review and approval.
• Work closely and collaboratively with colleagues and partners to discuss strategies and methodologies, and to determine national priorities and competencies to ensure the achievement of concrete and sustainable results.
• Provide technical and operational support throughout all stages of programming processes to ensure integration, coherence and harmonization of programmes/projects with other UNICEF sectors and achievement of results as planned and allocated.

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 measurements to assess and strengthen performance accountability, coherence and delivery of concrete and sustainable results for the assigned sector in health programmes.
• Participate in monitoring and evaluation exercises, programme reviews and annual sectoral reviews with the government and other counterparts to assess progress and to determine required action/interventions to achieve results.
• Prepare and assess monitoring and evaluation reports to identify gaps, strengths and/or weaknesses in programme 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, potential problems and take timely decisions to resolve issues and/or refer to relevant officials for timely resolution.
• Monitor and verify the optimum and appropriate use of sectoral programme resources (financial, administrative and other assets) confirming compliance with organizational rules, regulations/procedures and donor commitments, standards of accountability and integrity, ensuring timely reporting and liquidation of resources.
• Prepare regular and mandated programme/project reports for management, donors and partners to keep them informed of programme progress.

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 the interpretation, application and understanding of UNICEF policies, strategies, processes, and best practices and approaches on health-related issues to support programme development planning, management, implementation and delivery of results.
• Participate in discussions with national partners, clients and stakeholders to promote health and development issues, especially in the areas of gender, emergency preparedness, maternal and neonatal health, and child survival and development.
• Draft policy papers, briefs and other strategic programme materials for management use, information and consideration.
• Participate in emergency preparedness initiatives for programme development, contingency planning and/or to respond to emergencies in country or where designated.

Networking and partnership building

• Build and sustain effective close working partnerships with health sector government counterparts, national stakeholders, as well as global partners, allies, donors, and academia. Through active networking, advocacy and effective communication, build capacity and exchange knowledge and expertise to facilitate the achievement of programme goals on child rights, social justice and equity.
• Prepare communication and information materials for CO programme advocacy to promote awareness, establish partnerships/alliances, and support fund raising for health programmes (maternal, neonatal and child survival and development).
• Participate and/or represent UNICEF in appropriate inter-agency (UNCT) discussions and planning on health-related issues to collaborate with inter-agency partners/colleagues on UNDAF planning and preparation of health programmes/projects, ensuring organizational position, interests and priorities are fully considered and integrated in the UNDAF process in development planning and agenda setting.

Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

• Apply and introduce innovative approaches and good practices to build the capacity of partners and stakeholders, and to support the implementation and delivery of concrete and sustainable programme results.
• Keep abreast and conduct research to provide evidence for implementation of best and cutting-edge practices in health.
• Assess, institutionalize and share best practices and knowledge learned.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of policies and procedures to ensure optimum efficiency and efficacy of sustainable programmes and projects.
• Organize and implement capacity building initiatives to enhance the competencies of stakeholders to promote sustainable results on health related programmes/projects.

Impact of Results

• The efficiency and efficacy of support provided by the Health Specialist to programme preparation, planning and implementation facilitates the delivery of concrete and sustainable results that directly impact the improvement of the health of the most marginalized and vulnerable women and children in the country.
• This in turn contributes to maintaining and enhancing the credibility and ability of UNICEF to continue to provide programme services to protect the rights of children, and to promote greater social equality to enable them to survive, develop and reach their full potential in society.

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

Minimum requirements:

• Education: An advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required: public health, pediatric health, family health, health research, global/international health, health policy and/or management, socio-medical, health education, epidemiology, or another relevant technical field.
• Experience: A minimum of five years of professional experience in one or more of the following areas is required: public health planning and management, health system strengthening, maternal and neonatal health care, or health emergency/humanitarian preparedness.
• Experience working with national and subnational level government of South Africa is considered as an asset.

Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization is considered as an asset.

• Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of a local language is an asset.

Desirables:

• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency. 

go to method of application »

How can you make a difference? 

PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT

• Under the supervision of the SBC Manager, and the Chief of Health and Nutrition, the consultant will provide technical support on community engagement and social and behaviour change strategies and approaches to the National Department of Health, 
• Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape Provincial Departments of Health, and selected district health teams, to strengthen the EPI programme, and develop tailored strategies to reach zero dose and under immunised children. This will entail working in close consultation with UNICEF, national, provincial and district health staff, and relevant partners.

The objectives of the support to national, provincial and district DoH are to:

• Strengthen capacity to advocate for immunization as an entry point for integrated primary care.
• Support DoH to mobilise and equip community and faith leaders to champion immunisation, and integrated child health services.
• Strengthen and assess capacity of health promotion/ outreach teams to develop tailored strategies to reach zero dose children.
• Strengthen collaboration and information sharing and improve communication materials to promote immunisation.
• Monitor, evaluate and document.

The Assignment activities fall under Output 1.2, and 8.8 of the Annual Workplan, relating to strengthening the health system’s capacity to delivery integrated MNCH services and SBC interventions.

SCOPE OF WORK

Support national and provincial DoH in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal to advocate for immunization as an entry point for integrated primary care.

• Develop an advocacy strategy and plan, aligned with the national zero dose plan, to demonstrate the benefit of using the immunisation programme as a point of entry for integrated child health services, and mobilise leadership support.
• Develop an advocacy briefing pack with relevant background and calls to action, including a short presentation.
• Support convening an advocacy event to champion routine immunization and strengthen support for all elements of the EPI programme, including health promotion and community engagement.

Support provincial and district DoH in City of Johannesburg, City of Tshwane, Ekurhuleni and Ethekwini to mobilize and equip community and faith leaders to champion immunization, and integrated child health services.

• Support district teams to convene and engage faith-based and community leaders around the urgent need for plans to reach zero dose and under-immunized children with immunization and essential services, and to address any questions or concerns.
• Support the development of district faith and community leader action plans, with clear objectives and calls to action.
• Develop and/or collate and adapt existing materials into a resource pack for community and faith-based leaders, to sustain support and equip them to build trust in and promote the benefits of immunization and child health services.

Strengthen and assess capacity of health promotion/ outreach teams in City of Johannesburg, City of Tshwane, Ekurhuleni and eThekwini to develop tailored strategies to reach zero dose children.

• Support District teams to report on tailored strategies and activities implemented, and identify challenges and needs, e.g. in engaging un-reached communities.
• Support development of a social and community listening strategy for immunization and vaccine hesitancy, and implementing tools, e.g., to collect community feedback, to strengthen systematic monitoring of community conversations and rumors, and use of insights to guide planning.
• Provide continuing education e.g., through updates on new social and behavioural data, on district/sub district health promotion and outreach teams role in Risk Communication and Community Engagement during outbreak responses, and tools to applying the Journey to Health framework.
• Support UNICEF’s role in the National RCCE TWG, to facilitate up to date communication on outbreaks such as mpox, and strengthening of outbreak responses, including community engagement, accountability social listening and community feedback.
• Develop and administer short capacity assessment tool to gauge effectiveness of UNICEF support.

Strengthen collaboration and information sharing between Districts and Sub-Districts, and improve communication materials to promote immunization.

• Review existing mechanisms for information sharing across district, provincial and national teams to identify gaps and needs.
• Strengthen/ establish a cross cutting online platform for collaboration (e.g., Internet of Good Things) to serve as a repository of relevant information and capacity building tools and forum for interaction.
• Compile repository and review existing communication materials on routine immunization, un and under vaccinated children.
• Identify gaps and requirements and develop a brief on new materials required to be co-created and produced (audience, format, language etc.) to address barriers and encourage uptake.

Monitor, evaluate and document.

• Attend inception and regular UNICEF project meetings; provide workplan, update reports – including on any RCCE TWG activities, and recommendations on implementation at National, Provincial and District levels.
• Identify report human interest stories (anecdotal evidence that can illustrate change), and secure permission for these to be documented by UNICEF’s communication team.

Tasks and deliverables

Support national and provincial DoH in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal to advocate for and raise the profile of immunization as an entry point for integrated primary care - deadline 30 November 2024 (payment 20% of the total fee)

• National immunisation advocacy strategy and plan.
• Immunisation advocacy briefing pack.
• National/provincial immunisation advocacy event and report.

Support provincial and district DoH in City of Johannesburg, City of Tshwane, Ekurhuleni, and eThekwini to mobilize and equip community and faith leaders to champion immunization, and integrated child health services - deadline 31 March 2025 (payment 20% of the total fee)

• Four district community and faith leader advocacy meetings and report.
• Four district Community/ faith leader action plans with messages and calls to actions.
• Community/faith leader resource pack.

Strengthen and assess capacity of health promotion/ outreach teams in City of Johannesburg, City of Tshwane, Ekurhuleni, and eThekwini to develop tailored strategies to reach zero dose children - deadline 30 April 2025 (payment 25% of the total fee)

• UNICEF District Reporting template timeously completed by four districts.
• Social and Community Listening Strategy and tools for immunisation developed.
• Two educational presentations compiled and presented.
• Capacity assessment tool developed and administered.
• Report on support to UNICEF’s role in RCCE TWG provided, including meetings, liaising with ESAR RCCE, and technical support provided.

Strengthen collaboration and information sharing between Districts and Sub-Districts and improve communication materials to promote immunization - deadline 30 November 2024 (payment 15% of the total fee)

• Report on existing mechanisms of communication and collaboration.
• Online platform and repository for collaboration established/strengthened.
• Review of existing communication materials to promote immunisation and gaps.
• Brief on new SBCC materials required.

Monitor, evaluate and document - Bi-weekly (as agreed) and final by 31 May 2025 (payment 20% of the total fee)

• Inception meeting report, with workplan and timeline, within 2 weeks of signature/meeting.
• Summary minutes and action points of bi-weekly (tbc) project meetings recorded, including feedback from mentoring, lessons learned, human interest stories, and RCCE activities.
• Final project report providing overview of activities, compendium of tools etc developed, photos, agenda, registers, and other evidence of meetings convened, as well as recommendations to sustain system of developing tailored strategies to reach vulnerable populations with essential child health services.

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

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in social and behavioural science, sociology, public health, anthropology, psychology, communication, development, education, or another relevant technical field
• A minimum of 10 years of proven experience and expertise in providing technical support for community engagement and social and behaviour change interventions in South Africa
• Previous experience in supporting the National Department of Health’s Expanded Programme on Immunisation is an advantage
• Previous experience with Journey to Health framework, human-centred design processes, or Behavioural and Social Drivers (BeSD) model is an advantage, as well as experience with emergency response to disease outbreak
• References of previous similar work done are required
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset
• Fluency in English is required
• Knowledge of another local language is an asset

Specialized skills and/or training if needed:

• Facilitation
• Participatory processes
• Capacity building