Health System Specialist Implementation of 2017 GAVI Alliance Business Plan in WCAR countries, P-4

In June 2014 the Gavi Board approved the new Gavi Alliance strategy (Gavi 4.0) for the period 2016-2020. The new Gavi strategy increases the focus of the Alliance on strengthening immunization systems -while still recognizing that strong immunization systems are an integral part of strong health systems. Since its adoption, the Gavi Secretariat, WHO, UNICEF and other partners have been engaged in a process aimed at defining the implications of the new strategy, as well as its practical roll-out. Gavi 4.0 focuses on strengthening immunization systems, with a particular attention and funding towards the most deprived. In addition, Gavi has increased attention to immunization sustainability for those countries transitioning from Gavi support. 4.0 has introduced a new Country Engagement Framework (CEF) placing more focus on the implementation of programs. An upfront step, which takes place at the time when a country develops its national strategy or multi-year immunization plan, has been designed to encourage in-country discussions and work across national and regional partners regarding how best to channel Gavi support to achieve more equitable and sustainable immunization coverage.

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.

Purpose of the Position

The Health Specialist reports to the Chief of Section Health/Nutrition/CSD for general guidance and supervision. The Specialist is responsible for managing, implementing, monitoring, evaluating and reporting of the health (gender, maternal, neonatal, child survival/development) program/s within the country program and providing technical guidance and operational support throughout the programming process to facilitate the achievement of concrete and sustainable results according to plans, allocation, results based-management approaches and methodology (RBM) and organizational Strategic Plans and goals, standards of performance and accountability framework.

In June 2014 the Gavi Board approved the new Gavi Alliance strategy (Gavi 4.0) for the period 2016-2020.  The new Gavi strategy increases the focus of the Alliance on strengthening immunization systems -while still recognizing that strong immunization systems are an integral part of strong health systems. Since its adoption, the Gavi Secretariat, WHO, UNICEF and other partners have been engaged in a process aimed at defining the implications of the new strategy, as well as its practical roll-out. Gavi 4.0 focuses on strengthening immunization systems, with a particular attention and funding towards the most deprived. In addition, Gavi has increased attention to immunization sustainability for those countries transitioning from Gavi support.

4.0 has introduced a new Country Engagement Framework (CEF) placing more focus on the implementation of programs. An upfront step, which takes place at the time when a country develops its national strategy or multi-year immunization plan, has been designed to encourage in-country discussions and work across national and regional partners regarding how best to channel Gavi support to achieve more equitable and sustainable immunization coverage.

At regional level, Gavi Alliance has implemented consultative bodies such as Sub Regional Working Groups (SRWGs) since its inception. With the development of the Gavi 4.0 Strategic Plan for the period 2016 – 2020, the principles of technical and financial assistance have been renewed or newly introduced on the historical basis of the SRWG. Concerning Gavi Alliance supported activities, Alliance members would like the SRWG to play a key role in the mechanism for coordinating and monitoring partners’ activities financed by the Alliance. Doing so, they will need to be revitalized, strengthened and properly resourced. The RTWG is chaired by WHO and UNICEF on a biennial alternating basis. Since January 2017, UNICEF WCARO is assuming the presidency of the renewed WCA SRWG and will keep this position for two years.

UNICEF, as a founding member of the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI) works with governments and their partners to ensure that adequately funded health systems can deliver essential services, including lifesaving vaccines to all persons, and particularly to children and women. UNICEF’s approach to HSS and health financing explicitly focus on the most marginalized women and children, as both an ethical and practical priority. UNICEF Approach to HSS also focuses on the need for, and complementarity of, interventions at the national and sub-national levels and the centrality of district-level management to the overall performance of a national health system. Although in the past WHO was leading very much GAVI supported HSS activities, UNICEF has been increasingly involved both in the development of the plan/proposal as well as its implementation since 2015. The 2016-2020 GAVI business plan gives additional responsibility in terms of Health system strengthening and Health financing and UNICEF regional office will need to increase its capacities to deliver UNICEF 2017 expected results.

The objective of the TA is to support UNICEF WCARO Health section to provide high quality technical assistance in health systems strengthening and health financing to support implementation of GAVI related activities.

1. Major Duties/Responsibilities

    Contribute to the planning and monitoring of country transition processes from Gavi support

1. Participate in High level joint missions to strategic countries (high burden countries) to increase domestic investment to health sector.
2. Participate in the Gavi portfolio joint review such as the Joint Appraisals.
3. Support countries in their phasing or transitioning to Country Engagement Framework (CEF) approach and submission of new requests for health systems strengthening (HSS) support.  Provide technical support to countries that are reprogramming the existing HSS grants;
4. Provide support to three countries that have launched the transition process from Gavi support. 
5. Support the organization of workshops for the  Sub-Regional Working Group on Immunization, Monitor & report on implementation of the Group’s plan of action & countries progress towards GVAP & SDG goals (SRWG secretariat)

6. Develop regional capacity to use immunization (and other sectors) financial tracking tool to sharping financial BNA.

    
   Key Expected Results

1. UNICEF Regional office and country office in GAVI eligible Countries receive state of the art technical assistance in Health systems strengthening and  Health financing
2. New Evidence on Health systems strengthening and Health financing are generated through case studies and financial bottleneck analysis and disseminated.
3. UNICEF is represented and contributes in strategic partnership promoted by the Alliance on Health system and Health financing
4. GAVI HSS proposals reflect UNICEF corporate priorities for improving Service delivery and management for most marginalized women and children
5. Improved coordination and progress tracking toward GVAP targets through leadership role of the Sub-Regional Working Group on Immunization
6. Qualifications of Successful Candidate

• Education:

  Advanced university degree in public health, health financing or related field or working experience proving technical expertise in health system and health financing.

• Work Experience:

A minimum of 8 years of experience in health system and/or Health financing at Country and international level

• Languages:

Fluency in both French and English is required. Please note that working knowledge of English is required for all assignments.

1. Competencies of Successful Candidate

• 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.