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, Health

This position is located in the Programmes section of the Djibouti country office. The child survival and development (CSD) programme which is composed of the health, nutrition and WASH sectors, is a critical component of Djibouti’s new country programme (2018-22) which includes a particular focus on the first 1,000 days of a child’s life. The Chief, CSD will be accountable for leading the CSD team in working towards the country programme result focusing on the increased utilization of health, nutrition, HIV and WASH services and the adoption of healthy and hygienic behaviours by families. Integrated programming between the health, nutrition and WASH sectors, including an emphasis on a cross-sectoral set of key family practices, will be crucial to achieving this result. Given increased levels of funding and international attention to the nutrition situation in Djibouti, the nutrition sector will play a particularly prominent role in the programme over the next five years. For this reason, it is expected that the incumbent will have experience in managing nutrition programmes.

How can you make a difference?

1. Managerial leadership
2. Program development and planning
3. Program management, monitoring and delivery of results
4. Advisory services and technical support
5. Advocacy, networking and partnership building
6. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

 

1. Managerial leadership

• Establish the annual work plan with the Health, Nutrition and WASH teams; set priorities/targets and performance measurement for an integrated child survival programme. Monitor work progress and ensure results are achieved according to schedule and performance standards.
• Ensure that programmatic synergies are established between the Health, Nutrition and WASH programmes with a particular focus on the first 1,000 days of the life of a child;
• Establish clear individual performance objectives, goals and timelines; and provide timely guidance to enable the team to perform their duties responsibly and efficiently. Plan and ensure timely performance management and assessment of the Team.
• Supervise team members by providing them with clear objectives and goals, direction and guidance to enable them to perform their duties responsibly, effectively and efficiently.

2.Program development and planning

• Plan and provide technical and operational guidance to the preparation/design and conduct/update of situation analysis to establish a comprehensive/updated strategic plan for development, design and management of health, nutrition and WASH-related programs. Keep abreast of development trends to enhance program management, efficiency and delivery.
• Prepare, coordinate and supervise the formulation/design of health, nutrition and WASH program recommendations and related documentations as a component of the Country Program establishing clear program goals, objectives, strategies and results based on results-based planning terminology and methodology (RBM).
• Evaluate program recommendation to ensure alignment of the health, nutrition and WASH programs with the overall UNICEF’s Strategic Plans and Country Program and coherence/integration with UN Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF), regional strategies and national priorities, plans and competencies.
• Consult and collaborate with internal and external colleagues and partners to provide technical and operational support on program planning, management and implementation and to ensure integration, coherence and harmonization of programs/projects with other UNICEF sectors throughout all stages of programming processes.

3. Program management, monitoring and delivery of results

•  Plan and/or collaborate with internal and external partners to establish monitoring benchmarks, performance indicators and other UNICEF/UN system indicators and measurement to assess/strengthen performance accountability, coherence and delivery of concrete and sustainable results in health programs.
• Participate in monitoring and evaluation exercises, program reviews and annual reviews with government and other counterparts to assess progress and to determine required action/interventions to achieve results.
• Prepare/assess monitoring and evaluation reports to identify gaps, strengths/weaknesses in program and management, identify lessons learned and use knowledge gained for development planning and timely intervention to achieve goals.
• Actively monitor programs/projects to assess progress, identify bottlenecks and potential problems and take timely decisions to resolve issues and/or refer to relevant officials for timely resolution.
• Plan, monitor and certify disbursements and control the optimum/appropriate use of program resources (financial, administrative and other assets) confirming compliance with organizational rules, regulations/procedures, standards of accountability and integrity and donor commitments, and ensuring timely reporting and liquidation of resources.
• Prepare mandated and key program/project reports for donors and other partners to keep them informed of program progress.

4. Advisory services and technical support

• Collaborate/consult with key government officials, NGO partners, UN system partners and other country office partners/donors on policies, strategies and best practices and approaches on child survival-related issues to support program development planning, management, implementation and delivery of results.
• Participate in program strategic discussions/planning to provide technical advice/contribute policy discussions and agenda setting to promote health, nutrition and WASH issues especially in the areas of gender, emergency preparedness and maternal, neonatal and child survival and development.
• Prepare policy papers, briefs and other strategic program materials for management use, information and/or consideration.
• Participate in emergency preparedness initiatives program development and contingency planning and/or to respond to emergencies in country or where designated.

5. Advocacy, networking and partnership building

• Build and strengthen strategic partnerships with health, nutrition and WASH sector government counterparts, national stakeholders and global partners/allies/donors/academia through active networking, advocacy and effective communication to build capacity, exchange knowledge/expertise and/or promote cooperation and alliances to achieve program goals on children rights and social justice/equity.
• Prepare communication and information materials to highlight program goals, achievements and/or needs to promote awareness, establish partnership/alliances and support fund raising for CSD programs (maternal, neonatal and child survival and development; nutrition; water and sanitation).
• Participate and/or represent UNICEF in appropriate inter-agency (UNCT) discussions and planning on health and related issues to ensure organizational position, interests and priorities are fully considered and integrated in the UNDAF process in development planning and agenda setting. Collaborate with inter-agency partners/colleagues UNDAF planning and preparation of CSD programs/projects.

6. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

• Promote critical thinking and innovative approaches and good practices for sustainable health programs/projects initiatives.
• Keep abreast, research, benchmark and implement best and cutting edge practices in health management and information systems. Institutionalize and share best practices and knowledge learned.
• Contribute to the development policies and procedures and introduce innovation and best practices to ensure optimum efficiency and efficacy of sustainable programs and projects.
• Organize, plan and/or implement capacity building initiatives to enhance the competencies of clients/stakeholders to promote sustainable results on health related programs/projects.

IV. Impact of Results

The efficiency and efficacy of program preparation planning and implementation of health, nutrition and WASH programs/projects and contributes to the delivery of concrete and sustainable results that directly impact the improvement of the health of the most marginalized and vulnerable women and children in the country, and this in turn contributes to maintaining/enhancing the credibility and ability of UNICEF to continue to provide program services to protect the rights of children, promote greater social equality to enable children to survive, develop and reach their full potential in society.

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

Education: An Advanced University Degree in nutrition, nutritional epidemiology, public health, global/international health and nutrition, health/nutrition research, policy and/or management, or other health related science field is required.

Experience : A minimum of 8 years of professional experience in nutrition or public health planning and management, research and/or in relevant areas of maternal, newborn and child nutrition health care at the international level some of which preferably in a developing country is required. Experience in cross-sectoral management of CSD programmes is an asset.  Relevant experience in health/nutrition program/project development and management in any UN system agency or organization is an asset

Language Requirements: Fluency in English and French is required.  Knowledge of another official UN language or a local language is an asset

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

• Builds and maintains partnerships (Level
• Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness (Level 2)
• Drive to achieve results for impact (level 2)
• Innovates and embraces change (Level 2)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (Level 2)
• Thinks and acts strategically (Level 3)
• Works collaboratively with others (Level 2)
• Nurtures, leads and manages people (Level 2) 

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

Click here to learn more about UNICEF’s values and competencies.

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 be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. 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.

Remarks:

– Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.