Details
Mission and objectives
The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) is an innovative joint venture of the United Nations family which brings together the efforts and resources of 11 UN system organizations to unite the world against AIDS.
UNAIDS’ mission is to lead and inspire the world in achieving universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support. UNAIDS fulfils its mission by:
- Uniting the efforts of the United Nations system, civil society, national governments, the private sector, global institutions and people living with and most affected by HIV;
- Speaking out in solidarity with the people most affected by HIV in defence of human dignity, human rights and gender equality;
- Mobilizing political, technical, scientific and financial resources and holding ourselves and others accountable for results;
- Empowering agents of change with strategic information and evidence to influence and ensure that resources are targeted where they deliver the greatest impact and bring about a prevention revolution; and
- Supporting inclusive country leadership for sustainable responses that are integral to and integrated with national health and development efforts.
UNAIDS’ mission is to lead and inspire the world in achieving universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support. UNAIDS fulfils its mission by:
- Uniting the efforts of the United Nations system, civil society, national governments, the private sector, global institutions and people living with and most affected by HIV;
- Speaking out in solidarity with the people most affected by HIV in defence of human dignity, human rights and gender equality;
- Mobilizing political, technical, scientific and financial resources and holding ourselves and others accountable for results;
- Empowering agents of change with strategic information and evidence to influence and ensure that resources are targeted where they deliver the greatest impact and bring about a prevention revolution; and
- Supporting inclusive country leadership for sustainable responses that are integral to and integrated with national health and development efforts.
Context
Kenya’s HIV response is at a critical juncture. While the country has achieved significant reductions in AIDS related deaths and new HIV infections, sustaining and accelerating these gains requires navigating complex health system reforms, strengthening domestic financing, and intensifying integrated HIV prevention particularly for populations disproportionately affected by HIV, including key populations and adolescent girls and young women facing the triple threat of HIV, adolescent pregnancy, and sexual and gender based violence.
Ongoing Universal Health Coverage reforms, including the transition to the Social Health In-surance Fund (SHIF) and the Afya Ya Jamii community health reforms, present both opportunities and risks for the integration, continuity, and financing of HIV prevention and treatment services at national and county levels. At the same time, Kenya’s leadership in global AIDS governance as Chair of the UNAIDS Programme Coordinating Board in 2024 and Rapporteur in 2026 places additional demands on policy engagement, strategic positioning, and partnership coordination.
The UN Volunteer Specialist will be embedded within the UNAIDS Kenya Country Office, working under the supervision of the UNAIDS Representative and Multi Country Director and in close collaboration with government counterparts, UN agencies, development partners, civil society, and community stakeholders. The assignment will support national and county level efforts on HIV prevention, health systems strengthening, policy advocacy, and sustainable financing, while contributing to donor coordination and regional knowledge exchange.
This assignment offers a unique opportunity to contribute high impact technical expertise at a pivotal moment in Kenya’s HIV and health systems transition, supporting an integrated, prevention oriented, and sustainably financed HIV response while strengthening partnerships and advancing progress toward ending AIDS as a public health threat.
Ongoing Universal Health Coverage reforms, including the transition to the Social Health In-surance Fund (SHIF) and the Afya Ya Jamii community health reforms, present both opportunities and risks for the integration, continuity, and financing of HIV prevention and treatment services at national and county levels. At the same time, Kenya’s leadership in global AIDS governance as Chair of the UNAIDS Programme Coordinating Board in 2024 and Rapporteur in 2026 places additional demands on policy engagement, strategic positioning, and partnership coordination.
The UN Volunteer Specialist will be embedded within the UNAIDS Kenya Country Office, working under the supervision of the UNAIDS Representative and Multi Country Director and in close collaboration with government counterparts, UN agencies, development partners, civil society, and community stakeholders. The assignment will support national and county level efforts on HIV prevention, health systems strengthening, policy advocacy, and sustainable financing, while contributing to donor coordination and regional knowledge exchange.
This assignment offers a unique opportunity to contribute high impact technical expertise at a pivotal moment in Kenya’s HIV and health systems transition, supporting an integrated, prevention oriented, and sustainably financed HIV response while strengthening partnerships and advancing progress toward ending AIDS as a public health threat.
Task description
Under the direct supervision of UNAIDS Multi Country Director or his delegated representative, the International UN Volunteer Specialist will undertake the following tasks:
• Provides technical advice on HIV prevention and service integration particularly for key populations, and adolescent girls and young women within Kenya's primary health care framework and SHIF benefit package
• Coordinates UNAIDS's engagement with the Ministry of Health, National Syndemic Disease Control Council, National AIDS and STI control Programme (NASCOP) and other key stakeholders on policy alignment and implementation to advance health system reforms, HIV service continuity, and equitable access.
• Strengthen HIV prevention strategies, including combination prevention approaches (biomedical, behavioural, and structural), with a focus on populations and locations disproportionately affected by HIV, and support the integration of HIV prevention with-in broader SRH, mental health, and community health programmes including in humanitarian and emergency settings.
• Contribute to strategic planning and sustainable financing efforts, including the development of strategic documents, investment cases, policy briefs, advocacy materials and statutory or programme reports related to domestic financing, transition readiness and sustainability of the HIV response.
• Support community-led and community health strategies, including interventions addressing the triple threat of HIV, sexual and gender-based violence, and adolescent pregnancies.
• Contribute to the inclusion of HIV in emergency preparedness and response plans, assessments, and humanitarian appeals and support the development of strategies and reports to ensure HIV-related risks, vulnerabilities, and responses are adequately reflected in humanitarian action.
• Support the use of digital health and data innovations to improve service uptake and programme effectiveness.
• Collaborate with the National Programmes and other UNAIDS colleagues to support capacity building initiatives at National, County and community levels, strengthening the skills of health care workers, communities and civil society partners on HIV programme planning, implementation, and management
• Support partnership coordination with development partners contributing to UNAIDS's technical representation and engagement in forums such as the Global Fund, the United States Government (USG), DPHK and other relevant coordination platforms.
• Supports monitoring, evaluation and learning including tracking of programme performance against National Targets and the Global AIDS Strategy 2026-2031 indicators, promoting the use of strategic information for planning, accountability, and course correction.
• Facilitates knowledge management and South-South learning, promoting documentation and exchange of best practices between Kenya and other countries in the region on HIV prevention, PHC integration and health financing reforms.
During the first month of the assignment, the UN Volunteer will work closely with his/her direct supervisor to finalize an agreed-upon work plan. The work plan should outline key objectives and activities and include regular check ins with the supervisor to review progress and receive performance
• Provides technical advice on HIV prevention and service integration particularly for key populations, and adolescent girls and young women within Kenya's primary health care framework and SHIF benefit package
• Coordinates UNAIDS's engagement with the Ministry of Health, National Syndemic Disease Control Council, National AIDS and STI control Programme (NASCOP) and other key stakeholders on policy alignment and implementation to advance health system reforms, HIV service continuity, and equitable access.
• Strengthen HIV prevention strategies, including combination prevention approaches (biomedical, behavioural, and structural), with a focus on populations and locations disproportionately affected by HIV, and support the integration of HIV prevention with-in broader SRH, mental health, and community health programmes including in humanitarian and emergency settings.
• Contribute to strategic planning and sustainable financing efforts, including the development of strategic documents, investment cases, policy briefs, advocacy materials and statutory or programme reports related to domestic financing, transition readiness and sustainability of the HIV response.
• Support community-led and community health strategies, including interventions addressing the triple threat of HIV, sexual and gender-based violence, and adolescent pregnancies.
• Contribute to the inclusion of HIV in emergency preparedness and response plans, assessments, and humanitarian appeals and support the development of strategies and reports to ensure HIV-related risks, vulnerabilities, and responses are adequately reflected in humanitarian action.
• Support the use of digital health and data innovations to improve service uptake and programme effectiveness.
• Collaborate with the National Programmes and other UNAIDS colleagues to support capacity building initiatives at National, County and community levels, strengthening the skills of health care workers, communities and civil society partners on HIV programme planning, implementation, and management
• Support partnership coordination with development partners contributing to UNAIDS's technical representation and engagement in forums such as the Global Fund, the United States Government (USG), DPHK and other relevant coordination platforms.
• Supports monitoring, evaluation and learning including tracking of programme performance against National Targets and the Global AIDS Strategy 2026-2031 indicators, promoting the use of strategic information for planning, accountability, and course correction.
• Facilitates knowledge management and South-South learning, promoting documentation and exchange of best practices between Kenya and other countries in the region on HIV prevention, PHC integration and health financing reforms.
During the first month of the assignment, the UN Volunteer will work closely with his/her direct supervisor to finalize an agreed-upon work plan. The work plan should outline key objectives and activities and include regular check ins with the supervisor to review progress and receive performance
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