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, health

Background

The launch of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015 has called for a rethink of strategies to achieve the SDG targets in West and Central Africa, a region faced with considerable challenges related to the weak governance and leadership, lack of accountability, political instability, insecurity, weak health systems, poor harmonization of efforts among key actors, urbanization, and demographic transition to mention. Between 1990 and 2015, under-five mortality, stunting and open defecation reduced by 50%, 24% and 18 % respectively. These achievements fell short of the MDG targets, primarily due to low coverage of high impact interventions in the first 28 days of life and for children aged 1 to 59 months. In particular, immunization coverage has stagnated slightly below 80% in the West and Central African region since 2009. Many countries in the region still have large numbers of unvaccinated or under-vaccinated children. As a consequence, some of these countries are confronted with recurrent vaccine preventable diseases outbreaks which are disrupting existing health care delivery services and diverting scarce human and financial resources.

The SDGs have set targets more ambitious than those of the MDGs and the region and its key partners such as UNICEF cannot continue doing the same things and expected to achieve different results. In addition, in the vast majority of countries in the region, UNICEF’s financial contribution remains below 10% and should be used strategically in ways that can influence and leverage other funding available in countries to support child survival and development programs.

The Health Section within UNICEF WCARO (West and Central Africa Regional Office) has initiated a process of rethinking the strategic role and programmatic priorities of UNICEF in the SDG era to remain a credible voice for children and a relevant partner to the governments, development partners, donors and civil society organizations engaged in the operationalization of the national commitment to the SDGs. In doing so the Health Section has identified 4 specific key results for children. The first one “By 2021, Children, especially those who are marginalized and those living in humanitarian conditions, have access to immunization services” reflect the importance that the WCARO is now giving to Immunization services. This key result has been selected has one of the major priorities by 19 countries in the region.

How can you make a difference

PURPOSE

Under the supervision of Senior Immunization Specialist, the post of Immunization Specialist (KRC1) will primarily provide overall coordination of KRC#1 agenda and Gavi processes. Staff member will lead, coordinate and monitor the implementation of countries KRC#1 roadmap focusing on coordination of technical support, knowledge management, progress tracking and follow up of regional and country level activities related to the KRC-1 agenda.

The staff member will also, in collaboration with the UNICEF WCARO other health units (HSS, Neonatal and child health units) support planning, provision and follow up actions of technical support including Joint appraisals, TCA and other programme reviews.

SUMMARY OF KEY FUNCTIONS

Technical support and policy work

1. Position KRC#1 coordination as a bridge between regional and country levels
2. Position KRC#1 coordination as a platform to improve information and tools sharing in support to country level efforts to advance the KRC-1 agenda in West and Central Africa;
3. Support dissemination, revision and facilitate feedback from countries and region on implementation of KRC#1 roadmaps and overall immunization tools, directives and policies
4. Position KRC#1 agenda (immunization) as an accelerator to achieving key results for children in West and Central Africa (WCA) using national, regional and global events as platforms;
5. Support and guide implementation of key strategic and programmatic shifts to address persisting bottlenecks, take stock of lessons learnt in advancing the immunization, and the broader child survival, agenda.

Coordination

1. Facilitating planning, implementation and the follow up of KRC#1 country budgeted roadmaps that builds on existing country plans such as: Complete Multi-Year Plans, EPI annual operational plans, GAVI/HSS plans and Cold Chain Optimization Plans.
2. Support the development and operationalization of multi-sectoral accountability frameworks and mechanisms for all levels (national, regional, district) and for key actors including ministers (health, finance, interior, decentralization, education, protection), program managers, partners, civil society and CBOs
3. Centralize KRC#1 country dashboards at regional level for analyzing and correctives actions,
4. Follow up immunization recommendations agreed during the RMTs,
5. Ensure priority countries are well prepared and technically supported to implement KRC#1 roadmap
6. Support initiatives and promote better coordination and normative consistency.

Management of the regional KRC#1 coordination

1. Support advocacy conducted by the UNICEF CO with governments to allocate appropriate sustainable funding for immunization,
2. Provide strategic and technical leadership on Immunization through CO by using immunization-plus to achieve key results for children,

Progress tracking and knowledge management

1. Monitor implementation of the KRC#1 deliverables/milestones including by using progress tracking tools and preparing quarterly reports on KRC#1 activities to be shared with countries and at the global level. This includes establishing and maintaining an information and indicator database on progress in implementing regional response and national programmes.
2. Coordinate the monitoring of GAVI PEF reporting requirements within the region (e.g. TCA milestones, PEF Functions, ...), identify bottlenecks and solutions for the implementation.
3. Support the documentation of common successes, challenges, constraints and opportunities in strengthening national immunization programmes,
4. Position the coordination of KRC#1 agenda as a platform for the exchange of information, lessons learned and experiences between countries related to immunization.

       Other Duties

1. Contribute to the development of the WCARO annual work plans, monitor its implementation and provide support to ensure expected results are obtained
2. Participate in the preparation of all reports related to immunization required by management, the Board and donors
3. Participate in budget reviews, programme analysis and annual report.

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

Education

Advanced university degree in Public health, social sciences and related technical field.

Work Experience:

• A minimum of eight (8) years of progressively responsible professional work  experience at the national and international levels in immunization programme management,monitoring and evaluation, in a related field.
• working with others and coordination.
• Experience in managing complex partnerships including coordinating and organizing with and between a large group of United Nations Agencies, donors and partners.
• Experience in programming around Immunization and health systems strengthening including good understanding of health systems in resource limited settings.
• Experience in establishing standards and evaluating programme performance, and reviewing and analyzing a variety of technical review comments on projects, and

  recommending appropriate actions;

• Experience in preparing and presenting clear and concise oral and written communications; preparing a variety of narrative documents including scientific publications;
• Experience working with the United Nations, particularly UNICEF and other key partners involved in Immunization

Languages

• Fluency in both French and English is required.

For every Child, you demonstrate fair chance

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

The functional competencies required for this post are:

 Technical competencies:

• Ability to manage, coordinate and organize KRC#1 agenda
• Ability to centralize, analyze and organize data
• Ability to express clearly and concisely, ideas and concepts in written and oral form
• Computer skills including an excellent knowledge of Excel, PowerPoint, and Publishing

http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

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.

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.