Health Specialist, P-3, Temporary Position, #00137600, 364 days, Kabul, Afghanistan

How can you make a difference?

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programmes, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

Job organizational context

Afghanistan’s health system continues to rely on externally funded service delivery mechanisms to sustain essential health services, particularly through primary health care (PHC) platforms. The International Financing Institutions (IFIs)-supported health programme contributes to the delivery of the Basic Package of Health Services (BPHS) and Essential Package of Hospital Services (EPHS), with a strong emphasis on performance, quality, and accountability.

Within this framework, the Health Specialist (P-3) will support the effective implementation, monitoring, and optimization of PHC service delivery, ensuring robust Quantified, Quality Metric (QQM) under Quality of Care (QoC) improvements, and Performance-Based Financing/Pay-for-Performance (P4P) mechanisms. This role also ensures strong financial tracking, donor reporting, and evidence-based programme reviews.

The Health Specialist will coordinate the implementation of Afghanistan’s IFI- supported health projects and/or any successor health project. This includes coordinating with the Ministry of Public Health in facilitating and managing a national coordination mechanism for the ongoing health service delivery project, clarifying roles and responsibilities among the Ministry of Health, health service providers under your UNICEF project contractual agreement, and other development partners who will implement the proposed activities.

Purpose for the job

The Health Specialist reports to the Health Manager for general guidance and supervision. S/He is responsible for supporting the Health Manager in managing IFI projects and leading the management, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and reporting of the BPHS/EPHS project. S/He provides 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), organizational Strategic Plans and goals, standards of performance, and accountability framework, with a focus on:

• Strengthening PHC systems, including referral hospitals, and service quality
• Oversight of the implementing partners/service providers
• Ensuring effective QQM and QoC implementation
• Managing P4P mechanisms and performance monitoring
• Overseeing financial tracking, budget utilization, and reporting
• Supporting donor engagement and accountability

Summary of key functions/accountabilities

• Programme development and planning
• Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results
• Advisory services and technical support
• Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

Minimum requirements

• Demonstrated experience coordinating and implementing large, multi-partner health programmes with ministries of health, UN agencies, and international donors is required.
• Experience working in a developing country is required.
• Proven experience in:
• Technical expertise in PHC and health systems
• Results-based management and accountability
• Strong coordination and partnership skills
• Problem-solving and adaptive management

Monitoring Evaluation and Reporting skills, Experience in Financial Tracking, Donor Coordination and Partnership Skills, Compliance Oversight expertise, Programme Management experience

Desirables

• Languages: Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language.
• Experience in Health-systems strengthening, Certification, Primary health-care, Maternal, Newborn and Child health (MNCH) is an asset.
• Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization is considered an asset.
• 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…

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 candidates 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.

The conditions of a temporary assignment, including relocation entitlements, will depend on the status of the staff member’s original appointment and may be limited in accordance with applicable UNICEF policies, procedures, and practices in force.

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.

Eligible staff members on fixed-term, continuing or permanent contracts applying to IP TA positions in a duty station designated as L2/L3, may be able to retain a lien and their fixed-term entitlements, subject to approval by their Head of Office. The conditions of the temporary assignment will vary depending on the status of their post and relocation entitlements may be limited as per the relevant policies.

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.