Chief Health and Nutrition, Position#118399, P-4, Fixed Term, Kigali-Rwanda

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child,  save lives.

UNICEF | for every child – YouTube

UNICEF Rwanda is based in Kigali. It is committed to realising the rights of all children to help them build a strong foundation and have the best chance of fulfilling their potential.
UNICEF Rwanda is currently midway through its Country Programme 2018-2023 and its goal is to improve the health, nutritional status, protection, education and wellbeing of children, focusing on those who are poor, vulnerable or at risk.
To ensure that every child in Rwanda survives and thrives, the Health and Nutrition programme will focus both on reducing maternal mortality, child morbidity and mortality, new HIV infections, and AIDS-related mortality among women and children, including adolescents, as well as on reducing malnutrition in children under 5 years and pregnant and lactating mothers.
The incumbent shall report to the Deputy Representative. The Health and Nutrition Chief will be expected to have the managerial expertise to lead and manage a large team to ensure that results are delivered in accordance with the vision set forward by the office.
To learn more about UNICEF work in Rwanda, please visit the country website https://unicef.sharepoint.com/sites/RWA/

How can you make a difference?

You will be 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.

You will be 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 head of the Health & Nutritional team, you will lead, manage, develop and enable a competent team of professional and support staff to achieve the strategic goals and objectives of the Health & Nutrition programme.
Join our team to be responsible for:
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.

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.

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.

Monitoring and evaluation of programme performance is properly undertaken for adjustment, acceleration and improvement of program delivery.

Work plan and objectives are effectively established, performance is managed, and planned results are timely delivered through exercise of strong programme management leadership.
Work plan and objectives are effectively established, performance is managed, and planned results are timely delivered through exercise of strong programme management leadership.

The capacities of Country Office staff are strengthened through effective capacity building programme in the development, implementation and management of Health & Nutrition programme.

UNICEF and Government accountability is ensured for supply and non-supply assistance and disbursement of programme funds for the sector.

Effective partnership and collaboration are achieved and maintained in the advancement of advocacy, technical cooperation, programme coordination, information sharing and knowledge networking.

The most relevant and strategic information is provided to support the Health & Nutrition Programme by the effective implementation of integrated programme monitoring system.

All required programme reports are timely prepared in compliance with the established guidelines and procedures.

Emergency preparedness is maintained and in emergencies, emergency responses with
effective coordination are provided.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• Advanced university degree in Public Health and Nutrition (preferably with specialized training in public health and nutrition planning, health and nutrition education, health care system management, HIV/AIDS prevention, immunization, or epidemiology), Child Development, Social Policy, Social Development, Community Development, or other relevant disciplines
  • Eight years of professional work experience at the national and international levels in planning, programming, implementation monitoring and evaluation of health and nutrition programmes relevant to child survival, health & nutrition care.
  • Developing country work experience
  • Proven experience in leading and supervising a team is required.
  • Ability to work upstream and downstream
  • Ability to mobilise and leverage funding is an asset
  • Fluency in English is required, French is an asset

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Transparency and Accountability and core competencies in the following areas:
• Nurtures, Leads and Manages People (2)
• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (3)
• Works Collaboratively with others (3)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (3)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (3)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (3)
• Drives to achieve impactful results (3)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (3)

Technical competencies must be demonstrated in the following areas:

• Expert knowledge of the technical areas of UNICEF programmes (e.g., PMTCT, HIV/AIDS,
• malaria, WASH, EPI)
• Expert technical leadership and knowledge of theories, principles and methods in the combination of a number of fields of the following:
Public Health & Nutrition, International Health & Nutrition, Public Health & Nutrition Policy and Management, Child-Neonatal and Maternal Health & Nutrition Care, Family and Community Health & Nutrition, Health & Nutrition System Management, Public Health & Nutrition Preparedness, Health & Nutrition Emergency Preparedness, Nutritional Epidemiology, Nutrition Research, Health & Nutrition Education, Health & Nutrition Promotion and Disease Prevention, Educational Interventions in Health & Nutritional Care.

Common Technical Knowledge Required

• Knowledge of theories and practices in:

• Child and Maternal Nutrition and Health
• Nutrition and Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
• Public Health and Nutrition
• Educational Interventions in Health and Nutrition Care
• Environmental Health and Nutrition
• Knowledge Management
• Computer software application, including word processing, spreadsheet and corporate

Remarks:

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. 

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. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. 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. 

This position is classified as “rotational” which means the incumbent is expected to rotate to another duty station upon completion of their tour of duty. 

In order to promote gender and geographical balance within international professional category, female candidates from industrial countries are encouraged to apply.