L’Unicef recherche un chef santé et nutrition, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

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, a Champion!

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.

 

How can you make a difference?

The Chief Health & Nutrition GJP is to be used in a Country Office (CO) where the Representative is at the D1 level and the Health and Nutrition Programme is a component of the Country Programme (or UNDAF). The Chief Health and Nutrition reports to the Deputy Representative.

Under the supervision of the Deputy Representative, the incumbent is responsible for the overall management and administration in the development, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the Health & Nutrition programme in the context of child survival and development 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 Health, Nutrition & HIV/AIDS medical interventions, including the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals.

As Head of the Health & Nutritional group, leads, manages, develops and enables a competent team of professionals and support staff to achieve the strategic goals and objectives of the Health, Nutrition and HIV medical programme component.

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 such as interrelated areas of maternal, new-born, HIV, and child health and nutrition.

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

 

Summary of key functions/accountabilities :

Timely and quality sectoral analysis, inputs, support and coordination contribute to the Situation Analysis, its periodic update, and all programme documents to formulate effective Health & Nutrition goals, strategy, and project planning and development :

• Leads and provides technical supports to ensure the timely preparation and completion of the relevant components (e.g., Health, Nutrition, HIV/AIDS) of the Situational Analysis and its periodic update through accurate monitoring and analysis and timely preparation and finalization of sectoral inputs.  Ensures effective project, sectoral or inter-sectoral planning, development and management. Conducts regular consultations and coordinates with key partners at all levels ;
• Formulates sectoral programme goals, objectives, and strategies. Supervises preparation of the sectoral inputs to the Country Programme Document and related documents, ensuring coherence of the sectoral programme with National priorities and policies and with United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF); and coordinates with other major players in Health and Nutrition including the World Bank, WHO, UNFPA and other UN Agencies – to accelerate progress in achieving the Millennium Development Goals 1, 4, 5 and 6.

Integrated Health & Nutrition strategies, methodologies and innovative approaches are developed and implemented based on results-based approach and Human Rights framework by broad participation and collaboration with internal and external partnership :

• As a member of the management team, ensures the integration of the sectoral programme with other UNICEF sectors in all stages of the programming process. Maintains close working relationships with other UNICEF sectors, particularly Health, Nutrition, Child Survival & Development (CSD), HIV/AIDS, WASH, Education, Child protection, and programme communication to ensure integration of the Health & Nutrition programme with other sectors ;
• Takes the lead in the formulation and development of Health & Nutrition goals, strategies and approaches for the UNICEF plan of cooperation. Builds on intersectoral experience and establishes partnerships to promote innovative approaches to address immediate and underlying determinants of maternal, newborn and child health and nutrition, recognizing that health and nutrition outcomes are not the results of action in the health and nutrition sectors alone ;
• Participates with UNICEF, government, donors and other partners in the development of integrated strategies, methodologies and identification of innovative approaches for improving programme delivery, with emphasis on advocacy, community participation and social mobilization based on the Human Rights framework and cross sector approach to Programming and Community Capacity Development ;
• Exploits efficiently the strategic partnerships as well as selective partnerships on specific issues with global funds, multilateral and bilateral agencies and development banks and enhance relations with the private sector in order to: formulate common advocacy position, propose new financing mechanisms, and influence investment decisions such as on goods most needed by poor families and new supply solutions ;
• Monitors latest Health & Nutrition developments at the international, regional and national levels; identifies/develops new methodologies and approaches for managing and improving programme effectiveness and efficiency of delivery; and expands collaboration with allies, focussing on developing partnership frameworks which address specific needs and have potential to leverage resources and scale up programmes ;
• Facilitates and promotes active and participatory partnerships with key stakeholders (Government, other UN agencies, NGOs, bilateral agencies, donors and national and international academic institutions) for collaboration at various stages of Health & Nutrition programme design and implementation.

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 : Provides technical support to government and non-government organizations at the national and provincial levels in the planning, development and implementation stages of the programmes/projects. Plans, organizes and conducts training and orientation activities for government personnel and beneficiaries and other relevant partners, for the purpose of institutional capacity building and expansion of coverage of services.

Monitoring and evaluation of programme performance is properly undertaken for adjustment, acceleration and improvement of program delivery ;

• In collaboration with other colleagues, establishes effective information and reporting systems to monitor and evaluate the impact of the Health & Nutrition programme and achievement of targeted goals ;
• Undertakes field visits to monitor and evaluate project implementation. Participates in quarterly and annual reviews and planning meeting on the country programme to assess and evaluate programme effectiveness, identifying problems and adopting remedial measures to accelerate/improve programme delivery with government partners and key stakeholders. Support maintenance of information system for monitoring gender/sex disaggregated data.

Work plan and objectives are effectively established, performance is managed, and planned results are timely delivered through exercise of strong programme management leadership ;

• As head of the Health & Nutrition group, the incumbent takes primary responsibility for the development of the results-based sectoral work plan as well as for managerial oversight and implementation of sectoral project activity, consistent with the defined project strategies and approaches. Establishes partnership frameworks that pool competencies and resources ;
• Ensures that objectives and targets are timely met and achieved, by providing advice, guidance oversight, coordination, and support to professional and support staff.

The capacities of Country Office staff are strengthened through effective capacity building programme in the development, implementation and management of Health & Nutrition programme : Plans and organizes a staff training/development programme with Regional and HQ Advisers to upgrade the capacity of UNICEF Country Office staff enabling them to progressively engage in and lead in the programme development, implementation and management of the Health & Nutrition programme.  Oversees relevant orientation, workshop, training and staff learning/development activities, including relying on technical partnership with collaborating agencies to provide state –of the –art -technical information to staff.

UNICEF and Government accountability is ensured for supply and non-supply assistance and disbursement of programme funds for the sector :

• Coordinates with Operations and Supply staff on supply and non-supply assistance activities ensuring UNICEF and Government and implementing partners accountability. Certifies disbursements of funds, ensuring those activities are within established plans of action and programme budget allotments; and to orientate and train Government and UNICEF implementing partners in UNICEF supply and non-supply policies and procedures.  Monitors the overall allocation and disbursement of programme funds, making sure that funds are properly coordinated, monitored and liquidated. Takes appropriate actions to optimize use of programme funds ;
• Ensures programme efficiency and delivery through a rigorous and transparent approach to programme planning, monitoring and evaluation. Submits financial status reports to management in compliance with the regulations and guidelines.

Effective partnership and collaboration are achieved and maintained in the advancement of advocacy, technical cooperation, programme coordination, information sharing and knowledge networking :

• Makes a substantive contribution to technical cooperation, programme coordination and advocacy in the areas of Health & Nutrition, ensuring knowledge networking and experience sharing with other programmes for identification of new strategies and approaches to improve delivery of programme results and promote effective advocacy ;
• Participates in establishing effective monitoring, knowledge database/network and reporting systems to ensure the availability of current and accurate programme information/data, and contributes to the development of communication materials and strategies to support advocacy and community participation; and to widen partnership with all stakeholder at national, regional , district, community and household levels as well as with funding partners including the private sector in order to accelerate achievement of Health and Nutrition related MDGs goals ;
• Maintains close working relationships and forges partnership and collaboration with external counterparts, including those of the UN and national partners, in order to improve the ability to collect and disseminate relevant data, exchange information on programme/project development and implementation. Ensures exchange of knowledge, information, experience and lessons learned.

The most relevant and strategic information is provided to support the Health & Nutrition Programme by the effective implementation of integrated programme monitoring system :

• In collaboration with monitoring and evaluation and program communication colleagues, conducts accurate and timely monitoring and data collection, and supports an integrated programme monitoring system, in consultation with all relevant stakeholders ;
• Provides technical support to ensure that a set of programme performance indicators is identified and adjusted as necessary. Coordinates with partners to ensure that monitoring systems are properly designed, and that data collection and analysis from field visits are coordinated and standardised across programmes to feed into programme performance monitoring ;
• Participates in major evaluation exercises, programme mid-term review, annual sector review and preview meetings with Government counterparts and all other relevant partners. Analyses and evaluates data to ensure achievement of objectives and recommends corrective measures as appropriate ;
• Drawing on monitoring and analysis of key program performance and management indicators, provides expert input to management reports, including relevant sections of the annual reports. Provides technical advice to programme staff, government counterparts and other partners on planning and management of integrated monitoring and evaluation as appropriate.

 All required programme reports are timely prepared in compliance with the established guidelines and procedures : Oversees and ensures the timely preparation of annual sector status reports in compliance with the established guidelines and procedures.  Makes technical contributions to the preparation of all programme reports for management, Board, donors, budget reviews, programme analysis, annual reports, and provides guidance and assistance in programme related reporting; and shares the information with relevant partners as required.

 Emergency preparedness is maintained and emergency responses with effective coordination are provided : Collaborates in forming emergency preparedness plan relevant to Health & Nutrition. In case of emergency, participates in monitoring and assessing the nature and extent of the emergency in the assigned area. Coordinates and provides assistance to the Country Office in identifying where support is required in terms of immediate response as well as long-term strategy and plan. In line with the Core Commitments for Children (CCCs) in Humanitarian Action, strengthens partnerships with the Health and Nutrition humanitarian actors s within the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC).

 

To be qualified as a champion for every Child, you must….

• Have an advanced university degree is required in one of the following fields : Public Health and Nutrition (preferably with specialized training in public health and nutrition planning, health and nutrition education, health care system management, HIV/AIDS prevention, immunization, or epidemiology), Child Development, Social Development, Community Development, or other relevant disciplines ;
• Have 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 relevant to child survival, health & nutrition care. Professional work experience in a managerial position, or a technical expert position in health, nutrition, and child survival & health care ;
• Have developing country work experience ;
• Have background/familiarity with Emergency ;
• Be fluent in French and English. Knowledge of a local language is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS).

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply

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 also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. 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 :

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.