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The health specialist will provide UNICEF’s support for polio and immunisation in general in linkage with PHC and overall child survival agenda. The Immunisation Specialist is accountable for contributing to the planning, implementation,monitoring of the polio programme and the Somalia Polio Emergency Action Plan (SEAP) and Global Polio emergency procedures and its integration with immunisation programme and in in the context of GPEI and IA2030, Gavi 6.0 objective and the country plan to address zero dose agenda.
The Health Specialist will work with in-country and partners and Centre of Excellence (CoE) and HQ, GPEI partners, regional working group and donors to plan for and implement polio eradication strategies in Somalia, integrated with immunisation, plan and implement tailored immunisation strategies aiming to address immunisation gap in Somalia particularly in South Central Somalia as consequential geography for polio as per GPEI classification, introduce new vaccines, MNTE activities and other HSS strengthening interventions in collaboration with other programmes such as PEI (Polio Eradication Initiative) activities, Maternal and Child Health, Nutrition and WASH components to achieve the organisation's objective
of providing immunisation services in an equitable manner to control VPDs, integrating COVID-19 Vaccination into routine immunisation and PHC and stopping Polio transmission.
The Health specialist will support UNICEF Somalia CO to deliver on its accountabilities on the polio programme including planning, implementation and monitoring on strategic interventions in SEAP with the aim to achieve interruption of all remaining cVDPV2 transmission in Somalia by sustaining gains and closing population immunity gaps; further boost and maintain the population immunity against type 2 poliovirus, focusing on the key transmission areas with particular emphasis on South and Central Somalia; consistently reach high-risk and persistently missed populations, including inaccessible and security-compromised communities, zero-dose children, IDPs, mobile and nomadic populations, urban slum residents, and cross-border groups; integration of polio vaccine delivery with other live saving interventions or other
outbreak responses (e.g. Measles) in line with the Polio Eradication Strategy 2022-2026; and strengthen coordination,accountability, and cross-border collaboration, ensuring a unified, synchronized response across all consequential geographies
KEY END-RESULTS
2. Quality contributions are made to the development and implementation of the Immunisation strategies and approaches including those targeting zero dose children and integration of COVID-19 vaccine through participation and collaboration with internal and external partnership.
3. Work plan and objectives are strategically established, technical support is effectively provided, and planned results are timely delivered through exercise of strong technical leadership to promote coverage and equity of immunisation services.
4. Project implementation progress is monitored and evaluated for adjustment, acceleration and improvement of program delivery and sustainability.
5. Technical support is provided to government and NGOs at all stages of the programme cooperation, including capacity building of government personnel and beneficiaries.
6. The capacities of Country Office staff are strengthened through effective capacity building programme in the development, implementation and management of the Immunisation programme.
7. UNICEF and Government accountability is ensured for supply and non-supply assistance and disbursement of programme funds for the sector.
8. Effective partnership and collaboration achieved and maintained for advocacy, technical cooperation, programme coordination, information sharing and knowledge networking.
9. The most relevant and strategic information is provided to support the Immunisation Programme by the effective implementation of integrated child survival monitoring system.
10. Emergency preparedness is maintained (including for outbreaks of vaccine preventable disease), emergency/outbreak responses with effective coordination are developed.
11. UNIICEF procedures and measures are applied and closely monitored with regard to Post Distribution Aid Diversion (PDAD)
12. Programmatic visits are planned and implemented to monitor implementing partners, NGOs supporting immunisation interventions.
13. All required programme reports are timely prepared in compliance with the established guidelines and procedures.
14. Emergency preparedness is maintained, and in emergencies, emergency responses with
effective coordination are provided.
15. Other assigned duties and responsibilities are effectively performed.
Minimum requirements
Minimum 2 years’ experience at a country office level with demonstrated experience working TWG, GPEI and Gavi partnership.
At least 3-4 years of work experience in emergency countries and other developing countries.
Solid experience in developing Polio emergency plans, development of Gavi Full Portfolio Planning (FPP), budgeting for Gavi applications, development of vaccine portfolio optimisation and prioritisation (VPOP) and Cash prioritisation for Gavi 6.0 strategy.
Demonstrated leadership and solid experience in development of new vaccine introduction plans
Experience in immunization subnational level data analytics, data quality improvement plans
Desirables
- Language: Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language
- Somalia emergency experience
- Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts.
For every Child, you demonstrate...
UNICEF competencies required for this post are…
(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness
(3) Drive to achieve results for impact
(4) Innovates and embraces change
(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity
(6) Thinks and acts strategically
(7) Works collaboratively with others
UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.
UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.
UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.
Remarks:
As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.
UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable female are encouraged to apply.
Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.
UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants' bank account information.
Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.
Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF's Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.
All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.