Chief, Health & Nutrition, is responsible for the overall management and administration in the development, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the Health & Nutrition programme in the context of child survival and development within the country programme. Accountable for effective technical leadership, management guidance and programme support to facilitate the application and adaptation of UNICEF policies and strategies to achieve programme goals and expansion of UNICEF assisted Health & Nutrition interventions, including the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals. As Chief of Section, directs, leads, manages, develops and enables a competent team of professional and support staff to achieve the strategic goals and objectives of the Health & Nutrition programme.
Qualification:
Advanced university degree in Public Health and Nutrition (preferably with specialized training in health planning, health and nutrition education, health care system management, HIV/AIDS prevention, or epidemiology), Child Development, Social Policy, Social Development, Community Development, or other relevant disciplines.* Ten years of professional work experience at the national and international levels in planning, programming, implementation monitoring and evaluation of health and nutrition programmes including those relevant to child survival & development. Professional work experience in a managerial position, or a technical expert position in health, nutrition, and child survival & health care. Developing country work experience. Background/familiarity with Emergency. Fluency in English and another UN language.
*A first level university degree with a relevant combination of academic qualifications and experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Key Expected Results:
Timely and quality sectoral analysis, input, support and coordination contribute to the Situation Analysis, its periodic update, and all programme documents to formulate effective Health & Nutrition goals, strategy, and project planning and development.
Leads, guides and coordinates to ensure the timely preparation and completion of the relevant components (e.g., Health, Nutrition, WASH, HIV/AIDS) of the Situational Analysis and its periodic update through accurate monitoring and analysis, and timely preparation and finalization of sectoral input. Ensures effective project, sectoral or inter-sectoral planning, development and management. Establishes sectoral programme goals, objectives, and strategies. Supervises preparation of the sectoral inputs to the Country Programme Document and related documents, ensuring coherence of the sectoral programme with National priorities and policies and with United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF).
Integrated Health & Nutrition strategies, methodologies and innovative approaches are developed and implemented based on results-based approach and Human Rights framework by broad participation and collaboration with internal and external partnership. As part of the senior management team, ensures the integration of the sectoral programme with other UNICEF sectors in all stages of the programming process. Maintains close working relationships with other UNICEF sectors, particularly Health, Nutrition, Child Survival & Development (CSD), HIV/AIDS and WASH, and programme communication to ensure integration of the Health & Nutrition programme with other sectors. Provides leadership, guidance and direction for the formulation and development of Health & Nutrition goals, strategies and approaches for the UNICEF plan of cooperation. Participates with UNICEF, government, donors and other partners in the development of integrated strategies, methodologies and identification of innovative approaches for improving programme delivery, with emphasis on advocacy, community participation and social mobilization based on the Human Rights framework and cross sector approach to Programming and Community Capacity Development. Brings coherence, synergy and added value to sectoral or project management processes using a results-based management approach to planning and design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation. Monitors latest Health & Nutrition developments at the international, regional and national levels; identifies/develops new methodologies and approaches for managing and improving programme effectiveness and efficiency of delivery. Reviews and evaluates the technical, institutional and financial feasibility and constraints of programmes/ projects in coordination and collaboration with government and other partners. Establishes active and participatory partnerships with key stakeholders (Government, other UN agencies, NGOs, bilateral agencies, donors and national and international academic institutions) and works with them at various stages of Health & Nutrition programme design and implementation.
Technical support is provided to government and non-government organizations at all stages of the programme cooperation, including capacity building of government personnel and beneficiaries. Provides guidance and support to government and non-government organizations at the national and provincial levels in the planning, development and implementation stages of the programmes/projects. Plans, organizes and oversees training and orientation activities for government personnel and beneficiaries, for the purpose of institutional capacity building and expansion of coverage of services.
Monitoring and evaluation of programme performance is systematically undertaken for adjustment, acceleration and improvement of program delivery. In collaboration with other colleagues, establishes effective information and reporting systems to monitor and evaluate the impact of the Health & Nutrition programme and achievement of targeted goals. Monitor and evaluate project implementation in the field. Participates in major review and planning meetings on the country programme to assess and evaluate programme effectiveness, identifying problems and adopting remedial measures to accelerate/improve programme delivery.
Work plan and objectives are effectively established, performance is managed, and planned results are timely delivered through exercise of strong programme management leadership. As head of a large section, Chief Health & Nutrition takes primary responsibility for the development of the results-based sectoral work plan as well as for managerial oversight and implementation of sectoral project activity, consistent with the defined project strategies and approaches. Ensures that objectives and targets are timely met and achieved, by providing advice, guidance oversight, coordination, and support to professional and support staff.
The capacities of Country Office staff are strengthened through effective capacity building programme in the development, implementation and management of Health & Nutrition programme. Guides and coordinates a staff training/development programme with Regional and HQ Advisers to upgrade the capacity of UNICEF Country Office staff enabling them to progressively engage in and lead in the programme development, implementation and management of the Health & Nutrition programme. Oversees relevant orientation, workshop, training and staff learning/development activities.
UNICEF and Government accountability is ensured for supply and non-supply assistance and disbursement of programme funds for the sector. Coordinates with Operations and Supply staff on supply and non-supply assistance activities ensuring UNICEF and Government accountability. Approves disbursements of funds, ensuring those activities are within established plans of action and programme budget allotments. Monitors the overall allocation and disbursement of programme funds, making sure that funds are properly coordinated, monitored and liquidated. Takes appropriate actions to optimize use of programme funds. Ensures programme efficiency and delivery through a rigorous and transparent approach to programme planning, monitoring and evaluation. Submits financial status reports to management in compliance with the regulations and guidelines.
Effective partnership and collaboration are achieved and maintained in the advancement of advocacy, technical cooperation, programme coordination, information sharing and knowledge networking. Exercises leadership for technical cooperation, programme coordination and advocacy in the areas of Health & Nutrition, ensuring knowledge networking and experience sharing with other programmes for identification of new strategies and approaches to accelerate delivery of programme results and promote effective advocacy. Participates in establishing 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. Develops 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, exchange information on programme/project development and implementation. Ensures exchange of knowledge, information, experience and lessons learned.
The most relevant and strategic information is provided to support the Health & Nutrition Programme by the effective implementation of integrated programme monitoring system. In collaboration with monitoring and evaluation and program communication colleagues, conducts accurate and timely monitoring and data collection, and supports an integrated programme monitoring system.
Provides technical support to ensure that a set of programme performance indicators is identified and adjusted as necessary. 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. Participates in major evaluation exercises, programme mid-term review, annual sector review and preview meetings. Analyses and evaluates data to ensure achievement of objectives and recommends corrective measures as appropriate. Drawing on monitoring and analysis of key program performance and management indicators, provides expert input to management reports, including relevant sections of the annual reports. Provides technical advice to programme staff, government counterparts and other partners on planning and management of integrated monitoring and evaluation.All required programme reports are timely prepared in compliance with the established guidelines and procedures. Oversees and ensures the timely preparation of annual sector status reports in compliance with the established guidelines and procedures. Participates in the preparation of all programme reports for management, Board, donors, budget reviews, programme analysis, annual reports, and provides guidance and assistance in programme related reporting.
Emergency preparedness is maintained, and in emergencies, emergency responses with
effective coordination are provided. Collaborates in forming emergency preparedness plan relevant to Health & Nutrition. In case of emergency, participates in monitoring and assessing the nature and extent of the emergency in the assigned area. Coordinates and provides assistance to the Country Office in identifying where support is required in terms of immediate response as well as long-term strategy and plan.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.
Competencies:
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. If you want a challenging career while improving the lives of children around the world UNICEF, the leading children’s rights organization, would like to hear from you.
Visit us at www.unicef.org/about/employ to register in our new e-Recruitment system and apply to this and other vacancies, quoting E-VN-2011-001479. Applications must be received by 29 September 2011. Please note that only candidates who are under serious consideration will be contacted.
In the selection of its staff, UNICEF is committed to gender balance and diversity without distinction as to race, sex or religion, and without discrimination of persons with disabilities: well qualified candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
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