Closing Date: 28 February 2013
UNICEF Nigeria, United Nations House
Plot 617/618, Central Area District, Abuja
Tel: (234-9) 416-8600, (234-9) 461-8505, Fax: (234-9) 461-8578
Purpose of the Position

Under the overall guidance of the Representative, you will manage the overall Health component of the Nigeria country programme. You will undertake specific high level technical roles in representing UNICEF in senior-level planning meetings. You will be accountable for the development, design, planning, budgeting, implementation and management of the Health programme. As head of a large section, you will lead and supervise a group of professional and support staff to develop and administer the sectoral and/or inter-sectoral programmes.

Key Expected Results

1. Data-driven and results-based management Lead timely, regular data-driven situational analyses (including epidemiological, equity focused, gender equality and emergency assessments) to support Monitoring for Results Provide in-country leadership in data-driven prioritization and implementation of pro-equity Health strategies and interventions; Provide technical, operational and resource mobilisation guidance and support to government and non-government partners; Champion results-based management; Monitor developments at the international, regional and decentralized levels; Conduct bottleneck analysis to understand the Health needs of vulnerable, excluded or marginalized groups.

2. Upstream activities Provide in-country leadership on Health policies, including advocacy in equity focus, gender equality, emergency preparedness and response, with a particular focus on maternal, neonatal and child Survival; Play an active role in broader Health sector discussions such as Primary Health Care reforms, Sector-wide Approaches (Swaps), Poverty Reduction Strategies etc; Advocate for and leverage resources for scaling-up and replication of effective maternal, neonatal and child Survival and Welfare interventions; Provide technical leadership in the Health sector components of UNDAF and other UN harmonisation processes; In line with Paris Declaration commitments and the new aid modalities, ensure that the Health sector component and budget of the country programme is fully aligned with national priorities and plans.

3. Downstream activities Provide in-country technical and operational leadership and guidance on scaling-up key maternal, neonatal and child Survival interventions; Support the development, implementation and financing of detailed sectoral work-plans and budgets for scaling-up of maternal, neonatal and child Survival interventions; Ensure UNICEF country and field offices’ readiness to deliver on the Health-related CCCs; Collaborate with Programme Communication Officer to ensure development of effective communication strategies to support community-based approaches and social mobilization efforts; Conduct field visits to monitor programmes and conduct periodic programme reviews with Government counterparts, Field Offices and other partners with particular emphasis on under-served populations; Document and disseminate lessons learned and successful practices of scaling-up maternal, neonatal and child Survival interventions. Share good practices in equity focused and gender equality programming.

4. Monitoring, evaluation and reporting Collaborate with Monitoring and Evaluation section to timely, efficiently, rigorously and transparently monitor, evaluate and report on Health program effectiveness, equity, results, and impact; Ensure programme, sectoral and/or inter-sectoral efficiency and delivery through a rigorous and transparent approach to evaluation; Participate in major evaluation exercises, programme reviews, fiscal audits, and annual sector review meetings with government and other counterparts; Provide support to, and participate in, national, participatory monitoring and evaluation activities in the Health sector, including for PRS, UNDAF, SWAP, etc; Support the preparation of the annual Health sector status reports; Ensure corrective action is undertaken to address bottlenecks identified during evaluation exercises; Submit transparent and timely reporting to donors and other partners.

5. Accountability Ensure UNICEF, government and non-government staff understand and comply with UNICEF’s financial rules including emergency fast-track procedures; In close collaboration with Operations and Supply staff, regularly monitor and report on use of supplies and other resources donated to the government and non-government partners; Certify disbursements of funds; Collaborate with the Operations Section and Government authorities to establish and maintain sound internal controls supportive of Health programme or sectoral planning and implementation, to coordinate financial and supply management requirements as well as to ensure accountability; Monitor and submit financial status reports to management in compliance with the regulations and guidelines; Ensure corrective action is undertaken to address bottlenecks identified during the above monitoring.

6. Knowledge management Document and disseminate lessons learned, especially on scaling up successful practices; Develop and implement country-specific national and sub-national capacity building strategies; Explore areas and opportunities for staff development, including training and opportunities for cross fertilization with UNICEF staff from other country programmes; Provide technical leadership and coordination of relevant operational research, thus contributing to the knowledge base in MNCH.

7. Rights-based programmes through Results-Based Approach Ensure UNICEF, government and non-government staff understand and apply right-based approaches to programming and humanitarian principles; Promote the quality of rights-based Health programmes through the formulation of equity-focused programme goals and strategies and approaches, using results-based planning and budgeting methodologies and terminology. Bring coherence, synergy and added value to sectoral or programme management processes using a results-based management approach to planning and design, budgeting, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.

8. Promotion of UNICEF’s global goals Coordinate with UNICEF Regional Advisers and HQ Officers to ensure country and field offices strategies are aligned with global and regional strategies; Actively engage in national and international policy dialogue in the Health sector. Effectively communicate on and advocate for the promotion of UNICEF’s global goals; Collaborate with Communication Officer to ensure development of effective communication materials and strategies to support advocacy and fundraising efforts; Leverage the strength of UNICEF mission, goals and programmes; Reinforce partnerships to further UNICEF global goals;

9. Partnerships and leveraging resources Maintain close working relationships with other UNICEF sectors, particularly nutrition, HIV and WASH, and programme communication to ensure coordination and alignment of the Health programme with other sectors; Establish active and participatory partnerships with key Health sector stakeholders (Government, WHO, other UN agencies, NGOs, bilateral agencies, donors and national and international academic institutions) and interact with them at different stages of Health programme design and implementation; Liaise with UNICEF NatComs and other donors as appropriate, to secure programme funding; Provide technical support and guidance on appropriate technical, financial and institutional capacity building capacities to achieve Health programme goals; Utilise the partnerships with stakeholders to leverage resources for Health, particularly Child Survival.

Qualifications of Successful Candidate

Advanced degree in one of the disciplines relevant to the following areas: Health Policy and Management, Health Sector Development, Medicine with Public Health specialization, Public Health, Pediatrics Health, Health or Development Economics, , Global/International Health, Health Policy and Management, Environmental Health Sciences, Family Health, Socio-medical Sciences, or Epidemiology, Thirteen years of relevant professional work experience.

Field work experience.
* Experience in management of technical support in health related emergency and humanitarian preparedness. * Experience in programme/project management and budgeting, and UNICEF policies and strategy to address conflicts, natural disasters, and recovery. * Experience in knowledge management, gender mainstreaming or a field relevant to international development assistance in Health. * Experience working in the UN or other international development organization an asset. Background/familiarity with Emergency. * Fluency in English and a second UN working language. * A good knowledge of local working language of the duty station an asset.

Competencies of Successful Candidate
* Has highest-level communication skills, including engaging and informative formal public speaking. * Creates and encourages a climate of team-working and collaboration in a multi-cultural environment. * Consistently achieves high-level results, managing and delivering projects on-time and on-budget. * Has high-level leadership and supervisory skills; provides others with a clear direction; motivates and empowers others; * recruits staff of a high caliber; provides staff with development opportunities and coaching. * Sets, develops and revises organizational strategy and develops clear visions of the organization’s future potential. * Analyzes and integrates diverse and complex quantitative and qualitative data from a wide range of sources. * Quickly builds rapport with individuals and groups. * Actively nurtures good relationships with people across all organizational levels and boundaries, and with government leaders and stakeholders. * Identifies urgent and potentially risky decisions and acts on them promptly; initiates and generates organization-wide activities. * Negotiates effectively by exploring a range of possibilities.

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.

How to apply;
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