Temporary Appointment: Maternal, Neonatal & Child Health Specialist, P-3,Ndjamena, Chad (364 days)

If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world's leading children's rights organization would like to hear from you. For 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children's survival, protection and development. The world's largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments.

JOB TITLE       : Maternal, Neonatal & Child Health Specialist, P-3

WORK TYPE     : Temporary Appointment Staff

REPORTS TO : Health Manager P4

LOCATION      :  Ndjamena, CHAD

If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for every child, the world's leading children's rights organization would like to hear from you. For 70 years, across 190 countries and territories, UNICEF defends the rights of every child. To learn more about UNICEF, visit www.unicef.org.

What we do. For every child, Deliver.

COUNTRY CONTEXT

Chad is one of the poorest countries in Africa and in the world, with 61.9% of the population below the income poverty line and 55% of its population living on less than one dollar a day – it was ranked 185th out of 188 countries in the 2015 UNDP Human Development Index.

Chad is a landlocked country located in Central Africa with a population of around 13 million with an annual average growth rate of 3.6%, which is one of the highest in the world. Infant and child mortality rates are very high with 72 and 133 deaths per 1,000 live births respectively; and the maternal mortality rate is also unacceptably high at 860 deaths per 100,000 live births with only 24% of deliveries are assisted by qualified health staffs.

The main direct causes of mortality in under-five children in Chad include malaria, pneumonia, neonatal causes and diarrhoea, while malnutrition, micronutrient deficiencies and low exclusive breastfeeding practices are underlying causes of the deaths. Additionally, 1.6% of population between 15-45 years are HIV positive. Several programme/initiatives are being supported by UNICEF (Global Funds, MUSKOKA, GAVI etc. in order to achieve the SDG # 2 & 3 in a context marked by limited technical and management capacity of implementing partners.

How can you make a difference? For every child, a better future.

PURPOSE OF THE JOB

Maternal, Neonatal & Child Health Specialist is responsible for the development, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation and administration of the Maternal, Neonatal & Child Health programme within the country programme. Accountable for effective technical and programme support to facilitate the application and adaptation of UNICEF policies and strategies to achieve strategic priorities and objectives and expansion of UNICEF assisted Maternal, Neonatal & Child Health interventions, including the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals agenda.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES and DUTIES & TASKS 

The incumbent may be assigned the primary, shared, or contributory accountabilities for all or part of the following areas of major duties and key end-results.

1.  Timely sectoral analysis, input and support contribute to the Situation Analysis and its periodic update for effective project planning, development and management.

Contributes to the preparation of the Situation Analysis by compiling, analysing and evaluating information and providing the technical input and support to Maternal, Neonatal & Child Health interventions and its periodic update. Prepares sectoral input to all relevant Country Programme related documents. Contributes to the consultation and coordination with key partners at all levels.

2. Quality technical contributions are made to the development and implementation of Integrated Maternal, Neonatal & Child Health strategies and approaches through participation and collaboration with internal and external partnership.

• Works with other UNICEF sectors, particularly Nutrition, HIV/AIDS, WASH and programme communication to ensure integration of the Maternal, Neonatal & Child Health programme   with other sectors. Contributes to build on intersectoral experience and establish partnerships to promote innovative approaches to address immediate and underlying determinants of maternal, new-born and child health, recognizing that Maternal, Neonatal & Child Health outcomes are not the results of action in the health sector alone.
• Participates with UNICEF, Government, non-government organizations (NGOs) and other partners in the development of strategies and approaches relating to Maternal, Neonatal & Child Health.  Monitors status to ensure achievement of strategic results in line with agreed Annual and Country Programme objectives and adopts corrective action to meet programme/project objectives.
• Contributes to the identification and introduction of new approaches, methods and practices in project management for improving programme delivery with emphasis on sustainability of intervention and community participation.

3. Work plan and objectives are strategically established, implementation support is effectively provided, and planned results are timely delivered through application of technical expertise.

• As functional leader of the Maternal, Neonatal & Child Health group, exercises technical and programme management leadership for the development and implementation of the results-based sectoral work plan and objectives as well as for administration and monitoring of sectoral project activities, consistent with the defined project strategic priorities and approaches.
• Ensures objectives and targets are timely achieved, through full coordination between activities and collaboration with implementing partners, by providing guidance and support to staff of Maternal, Neonatal & Child Health.

4. Project implementation progress is monitored and evaluated for adjustment, acceleration and improvement of program delivery and sustainability.

• Undertakes field visits to monitor programmes, as well as participates in periodic programme reviews with government counterparts and other partners. Identifies necessary action for programme adjustments. Provides technical advice and support to government officials and implementing partners in the planning and management of the Maternal, Neonatal & Child Health interventions and ensures their sustainability. Support maintenance of information system for monitoring gender sex aggregated data.

5. Technical support is provided to government and NGOs at various stages of the project implementation, monitoring and evaluation, including capacity building of government personnel and beneficiaries. 

• Provides technical support to government and NGOs in the planning, development, implementation, and evaluation stages of the programmes/projects.
• Identifies training needs; designs and conducts training and orientation activities for government personnel and beneficiaries and other relevant partners, for the purpose of capacity building, sustainability of programme/projects and expansion of coverage of services.

6. The capacities of Country Office staff are strengthened through effective capacity building support in the development, implementation and management of the Maternal, Neonatal & Child Health programme.

• Designs and implement a staff training/development programme to upgrade the capacity of the Country Office staff with regard to competencies for technical requirements as well as for the programme development, implementation and management of Maternal, Neonatal & Child Health programme. Conducts 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.

7. UNICEF and Government accountability is ensured for supply and non-supply assistance and disbursement of programme funds for Maternal, Neonatal & Child Health.

• Coordinating with Operations and Supply staff on supply and non-supply assistance activities, ensures UNICEF, Government partner and all 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. Submits financial status reports to management in compliance with the regulations and guidelines.

8. Effective working relationships with internal and external counterparts are kept maintained for advocacy, technical coordination, information sharing and knowledge networking.

• Coordinates activities and exchanges information and knowledge with other programmes to contribute to achievement of overall country programme objectives. Builds up 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 for Maternal, Neonatal & Child Health; 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 related SDGs goals.
• Facilitates 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, and to exchange information on programme/project development and implementation. Facilitates exchange of knowledge, information, experience and lessons learned.

9. Relevant and strategic information is kept available to support the Maternal, Neonatal & Child Health Programme by the effective implementation of an integrated monitoring system.

• In collaboration with monitoring and evaluation and program communication colleagues, conducts     accurate and timely monitoring and data collection, and supports an integrated monitoring system, in consultation with all relevant stakeholders. 
• 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 to programme performance monitoring.
• Provides assistance for evaluation exercises, programme mid-term review, annual sector review and preview meetings with Government counterparts and all other relevant partners. Analyses and evaluates monitoring data, ensures achievement of objectives and proposes corrective measures as appropriate.

10. Required programme/project reports are timely prepared in compliance with the established guidelines and procedures.

• Contributes to the timely preparation of annual sector status reports and shares information with relevant partners as required in compliance with the established guidelines and procedures. Participates in the preparation of all programme reports for management, Board, donors, budget reviews, programme analysis, and annual reports.

11. Emergency preparedness is maintained, and in emergencies, emergency responses with effective coordination are provided.

• Supports emergency preparedness plan relating to Maternal, Neonatal & Child Health.  In case of emergency, assists in monitoring and assessing the nature and extent of the emergency in the assigned area, as required. Provides assistance to the Country Office in identifying where support is required. In line with the Core Commitments for Children (CCCs) in Humanitarian Action, strengthens partnerships with the Health and Nutrition humanitarian actors’ within the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC).

12. Other assigned duties and responsibilities are effectively accomplished.

• Assumes any other duties and responsibilities assigned as appropriate to the purpose of this post, and delivers the results as required.

Why we would like you to join us? For every child, Hope.

QUALIFICATION and COMPETENCIES

1.         Education

• Medical Doctor with advanced university degree in Public Health or other relevant disciplines. 

2.         Work Experience

• Five years of professional work experience at the national and international levels in planning, programming, implementation monitoring and evaluation of technical cooperation programmes related to Maternal, Neonatal & Child Health. Professional work experience in a managerial position, or a technical expert position in child survival & development, health and nutrition care.
• Developing country work experience
• Background/familiarity with Emergency.

3.   Language Proficiency 

• Fluency in French and in English

Competencies of Successful Candidate

1. Core Values

• Commitment
• Diversity and inclusion
• Integrity

2. Core Competencies

• Communication (II)
• Working with people (II)
• Drive for results (II)

3. Functional Competencies

• Leading and supervising (I)
• Formulating strategies and concepts (II)
• Analyzing (III)
• Relating and networking (II)
• Deciding and Initiating action (II)
• Applying technical expertise (III)

To view our competency framework, please click here.

Remarks

* The successful candidate for this emergency recruitment MUST be available to commence work within 31 days of receiving an offer.

* Please note that Ndjamena is a non-family duty station.

Employment is conditional upon receipt of medical clearance, any clearance required, the grant of a visa, and completion of any other pre-employment criteria that UNICEF may establish. Candidates may not be further considered or offers of employment may be withdrawn if these conditions are unlikely to be met before the date for commencement of service