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Temporary Appointment (364 days) - Zonal Polio/EPI Coordinator, P3, Garowe - Somalia, Post #104204

Garoowe

  • Organization: UNICEF - United Nations Children’s Fund
  • Location: Garoowe
  • Grade: Mid level - P-3, International Professional - Internationally recruited position
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Public Health and Health Service
    • Meteorology, Geology and Geography
    • Malaria, Tuberculosis and other infectious diseases
    • Managerial positions
  • Closing Date: Closed

Under the overall technical guidance of the Health Manager –Team Lead (Polio) and in coordination with Health Specialist, Puntland, lead UNICEF’s support Routine Immunization & accelerated disease control initiatives like immunization campaigns.

UNICEF works in 190 countries and territories to protect the rights of every child. UNICEF has spent 70 years working to improve the lives of children and their families. Defending children's rights throughout their lives requires a global presence, aiming to produce results and understand their effects. UNICEF believes all children have a right to survive, thrive and fulfill their potential – to the benefit of a better world.

Somalia has made some strides toward the eradication of polio. In 2013 a total number of 192 cases were confirmed in Somalia, however in 2014 only 5 cases have been confirmed. Communication for Development which is the UNICEF mandate contributed largely to the positive outbreak response.

The progress made in Somalia towards eradication of polio requires to be sustained and furthermore there is a need to strengthen routine immunisation which is the first pillar of the World Health Organization strategy to end polio. The response to the polio outbreak has limited the attention given to routine immunisation leaving coverage in Somalia at 47%.

The Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) Endgame Strategic Plan emphasizes the need for polio to strength routine immunisation through the use of polio staff, related GPEI capacities and experience to contribute directly to the improvement of routine immunisation.

Within the Global Polio Eradication Initiative and immunization programmes, UNICEF is leading efforts to coordinate evidence-based, intensive social mobilization and communication activities for immunization (Campaigns & Routine), tailoring them to reach the target population with a focus on under-served and mobile populations.  Technical advisory group has recommended that in addition to Polio, the Surge staff gives 50% of their time to routine immunization strengthening. In this context, and given the increased expectations for communication results from donors and partners to ensure the effective response to the outbreak there is a need to enhance the organization’s technical capacities and skills both at internal and national counterparts’ levels.

The Health section of the UNICEF Somalia Office seeks to recruit a highly qualified polio/routine immunization professional for 364 days period to support the Ministry of Health immunization initiatives to further strengthen the immunization, cold chain & communication to effectively support immunization efforts. 


For every child, a future

 

How can you make a difference?

Under the overall technical guidance of the Health Manager –Team Lead (Polio) and in coordination with Health Specialist, Puntland, lead UNICEF’s support Routine Immunization & accelerated disease control initiatives like immunization campaigns.

Summary of functions:

  • Coordinate internally on EPI Strengthening & Polio Eradication efforts and EPI within UNICEF (EPI, Health, C4D, Supply staff) and follow-up on pending actions and provide support as needed.
  • Coordinate closely with the MOH, WHO and other partners and attend all polio related meetings and represent UNICEF on the polio eradication response and Routine EPI activities and accelerated disease control initiatives whilst providing feedback to all relevant staff.
  • In close collaboration with MOH, WHO and others partners, provide technical assistance & capacity building of zonal colleagues & frontline workers in developing clear, evidence based, budgeted, implementation plan, and aid its supervision, monitoring and evaluation.
  • Support UNICEF’s efforts in intensification of activities to implement the Strategic Outbreak preparedness & Response Plan and EPI Plan including GAVI HSS2 implementation monitoring & grants management. UNICEF requires additional support to coordinate all the various streams of work and efforts in close collaboration with the MOH, WHO and partners.
  • Develop logistic plans and ensure vaccines and related supplies are dispatched on time to the immunization points and funds are dispatched on time to the implementing partners after verification of deliverables.
  • Provide monthly (or more often as requested) a report on the cold chain system and vaccine stocks & wastage to include cold-chain, OPV vaccines availabilities and requirements in each district for upcoming polio campaigns and routine EPI vaccines & programme logistics.
  • Gather, consolidate information on polio activities, Routine Immunization & Supplementary immunization activities from the regions & districts; summarize and analyze available data to help guide the program, identify priorities and communicate with Nairobi.
  • Develop, Maintain and updated a comprehensive budget of UNICEF’s components in the program, make a close follow-up of its utilization by partners and liquidation of DCTs & utilization of supplies. Oversee various modalities of agreements with partners & implementing agencies to ensure deliverables, compliance to program & budget guidelines and monitoring results.
  • Develop briefings for the Chief of Field Officer/Section to flag urgent matters pertaining to polio and routine immunization activities which will require his/her support and intervention to address any bottlenecks facing the programme
  • Conduct monitoring visits/third party monitoring for inaccessible districts, addressing bottlenecks that are identified.
  • Assist in strengthening routine immunization in hard-to-reach or under-served areas where polio campaigns and routine immunization programmes are challenging to implement. This includes addressing inequities for underserved populations like nomads & IDPs.
  • Managing and leading the Immunization/Cold chain & Social mobilization field workers, consultants and UNICEF staff (C4D specialists/officers, cold chain/Immunization staff, programme staff & STOP team members)

 

To qualify as a/an [champion or advocate] for every child you will have…

  • An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in Public Health, Social Sciences, Development Planning, Statistics or related field.
    *A first University Degree in a relevant field combined with 2 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree.
  • A minimum of [5] five years of relevant professional experience in EPI or child health or public health programs.
  • Familiarity with the principles and current approaches to polio eradication in polio endemic or outbreak countries & Routine immunization.
  • Experience supporting public health projects with a maternal and child health focus. Specific prior experience in analysis of social data as part of polio or immunization campaigns desirable.
  • Excellent coordination, organizational and time management skills and strong attention to detail.
  • Ability to manage partnerships and relationships with people.
  • Excellent writing and communications skills in English is required.
  • Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset.
  • Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

Our core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified candidates from all backgrounds to apply.

 

This vacancy is now closed.
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