International Consultancy - Senior Public Health Expert in Uzbekistan

The incumbent reports directly to the Deputy Representative, and shall work closely with the Representative, Social Policy, Communications, and M&E sections.

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.

Background

UNICEF has a long-standing partnership with the Government of Uzbekistan in the health sector. Currently, the programme is focused on health system strengthening; health policy and financing; and community-based healthcare, including the management of significant GAVI funding allocated to Uzbekistan. UNICEF has also been discussing with the Government major evidence-generation exercises, one of which is the first nation-wide nutrition survey.

Following Presidential elections at the end of last year, Uzbekistan is currently undergoing major reforms. The Government’s Action Strategy 2017 – 2021 envisions significant changes in the health sector, including “further reform of health care, especially primary care, ambulance and emergency medical aid with the aim of improvement of accessibility and quality of healthcare and social services to the population, ensuring healthy lifestyle of the population, and strengthening the material-technical base of medical institutions; further implementation of comprehensive measures to strengthen family, maternal and child health, ensuring greater access of mothers and children to quality health care, providing them with specialized and high-tech health care, reduction of infant and child mortality; further development and improvement of medical and social assistance to pensioners, persons with disabilities, single elderly people and other vulnerable groups to ensure their full-fledged life; further development of the pharmaceutical industry and improving the security of the population and health care with affordable, high-quality medicines and medical products, implementation of measures to prevent unjustified growth of prices on them; reduction of morbidity indicators in the population and increase of the life expectancy.”

Current political changes as well as recent visits of the UN High Commissioner on Human Rights and the UN Secretary-General have also opened up new opportunities for a stronger and more systematic engagement between UNICEF and the Government of Uzbekistan on policy reforms in general.

While recruitment for the recently vacated post of Chief of Health is ongoing, the office intends to engage the services of a senior public health expert to gain a better understanding of the impact of the current reform processes on the situation of children, identify entry points for leveraging results for children, advocate with and provide high level policy advice to the Government and other development partners in the current reform process as it pertains to mother and child health; and provide some general technical oversight over UNICEF’s ongoing health programme.

Tasks and Deliverables   

1. Review the Government’s ongoing and planned health sector reforms and prepare an internal UNICEF position paper that proposes key entry points and advocacy positions for the organization taking into account emerging opportunities in the country, corporate UNICEF positions on health issues as well as the directions outlined in the Country Programme Action Plan between UNICEF and the Government of Uzbekistan.
2. Lead the UNICEF policy dialogue with Government and other development partners in the area of health sector reform. Advocate UNICEF’s position ensuring that due attention is paid to the situation of children in the ongoing reform process and provide high level policy advice to the Government during the reform process. Conceptualize new UNICEF interventions in support of these processes and obtain the support of the Government and other development partners.
3. Cooperate closely with the UNICEF health team and provide strategic technical oversight and guidance to the implementation of the ongoing UNICEF health programme, including the planned nutrition survey and other activities as relevant, to ensure consistency with and relevance to the policy advice provided on the ongoing health sector reforms.

Management and Supervision

The incumbent reports directly to the Deputy Representative, and shall work closely with the Representative, Social Policy, Communications, and M&E sections.

Duration and Duty Station

Starting 1 August 2017 (or earlier) for three months with a possible extension for an additional three months. The position is based in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

• University degree in public health and health systems, health policy and management or a directly-related technical field(s) is required.
• Minimum 8 years of professional experience at the international level in public health system reform, policy, planning and management focused on maternal and child health is required, some of which should be in a Middle Income Country preferably in the CEE/CIS region.
• Relevant experience of working in public health within the UN System or other international development organization is an asset.
• Fluency in English (written & verbal) is required.
• Working knowledge of Russian is an asset.

Competencies of Successful Candidate

To view our competency framework, please click here. 

Please indicate your ability, availability and daily/monthly rate (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference above (including travel and daily subsistence allowance, if applicable).  Applications submitted without a daily/monthly rate will not be considered.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organisation.