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
In spite of its vast physical size and limitless natural resources, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is one of the poorest countries in the world, ranking 176th out of 188 countries in the 2015 human development report. Child poverty is widespread, particularly in conflict-affected and hard-to reach areas. According to a recent UNICEF study, 80 percent of children aged zero to 15 years old experience at least two major child rights deprivations. Despite sustained growth in recent years, the size of DRC’s economy remains far too small to provide enough government revenue to meet the basic needs of the population, children in particular. Since 2016, political instability, the persistence of conflicts in Eastern DRC and a sharp fall in global commodity prices have been aggravating factors.
DRC is one of the over 190 countries and territories around the World where UNICEF works to overcome the obstacles that poverty, violence, disease and discrimination place in a child’s path.
How can you make a difference to UNICEF in DRC?
The UNICEF DRC Office is looking to recruit to the post of Chief Health (P-5) to be based in the Kinshasa office. The Chief Health is responsible for the development, design, planning, implementation and management of the programme of Child Survival within the Country Programme and administering a programme budget totaling more than USD 60 million per annum. As head of section, directs a significant group of professional and support staff to develop and administer the Child Survival Programme throughout DRC, with a view to integrating gender equality across all aspects of the country programme.
The Chief Health Contributes to create synergy partnerships which reinforce other organizations – including other UN Agencies – SDGs strategic directions in areas where UNICEF has primary responsibility or comparative advantage such as interrelated areas of maternal, newborn, and child health.
Expected Key Results :
Your Specific Responsibilities, Duties, and Tasks :
- Supervises the activities leading to the completion of the Situation Analysis for the Child Survival programme, and its periodic update. Formulates Child survival programme goals and objectives and develops strategies. Supervises preparation of the Child survival inputs to the Country Programme Document and related documents, such as the Country Programme Management Plan/IB, and Country Programme Action Plan, Annual Work Plan, etc. ;
- Provides leadership, guidance, and direction for programme management and evaluation of the Child Survival programme through periodic meetings, individually and in groups, with the various Child Survival team members Head of sub-offices and out-post health/nutrition staff. Ensures exchanges of information, experience, identifies new strategies and courses of action to accelerate/improve delivery of services and achieve programme requirements and objectives ;
- As head of a large section, responsible for the overall development and establishment of a national and provincial work plans, monitoring compliance, and providing support and guidance to ensure objectives are met. This entails identification of internal human resource requirements, training and performance planning and monitoring ;
- As part of the senior management team, ensures the integration of the Child Survival programme with other sectors in all stages of the programming process, (i.e., the Situation Analysis, CPR, programme strategy, planning, monitoring and evaluation, and courses of action for achievement of programme objectives) ;
- Interacts with the government and other partners, NGO’s, UN and bilateral agencies in the different stages of programme implementation, to follow up on the implementation of recommendations and agreements. Provides technical support, orientation and guidance to government officials, technicians, partners and heads of sub-offices on appropriate technical and institutional capacity-building measures, to achieve programme goals and expand coverage of services ;
- In coordination and collaboration with other professional colleagues, establishes and develops effective information and reporting systems to monitor and evaluate the impact of the programme and the achievement of targeted goals. Ensures the development of effective communication materials and strategies to support advocacy and social mobilization efforts ;
- Monitors developments at the international, regional and provincial levels; develops methodologies and new approaches for improving programme effectiveness. Participates in programme workshops and consultations at the regional and country levels to exchange knowledge, ideas, and approaches ;
- Conducts field assessment visits for evaluating programme effectiveness, identifying problems and instituting remedial measures. Provide technical assistance and managerial support to support sub-offices for the implementation of provincial child survival programme ;
- Monitors the overall planning and disbursement of programme funds for the Child Survival ensuring they are properly administered, liquidated and utilized in accordance with the Plan of Action and the programme budget allotment ;
- Prepares and submits timely progress/status reports required for management, Board, donors, budget reviews, programme monitoring and evaluation, annual reports, etc.
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
- Advanced degree in Social Sciences or a related technical field and Master degree in Public Health. 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 progressively, responsible professional work experience at the national and international levels in programme planning and management in a related field, with emphasis on strategic planning ;
- Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset ;
- Fluency in French and English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) 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 functional competencies required for this post are…
- Leading and Supervising [ III ] ;
- Formulating Strategies and Concepts [ III ] ;
- Analyzing [ III] ;
- Relating and Networking [ III ] ;
- Deciding and Initiating Action [ III ] ;
- Persuading and Influencing [ II ].
In addition to the required functional competencies listed above, the following are the functional competencies specified by Health Section, PD, NYHQ.
• Decisiveness [ II ] • Tact [ II ] • Flexibility [ III ]
• Group Facilitation [ III ] • Managing stress [ III ]
• Planning, setting standard and monitoring work [ III ]
View our competency framework at : UNICEF_Competencies.pdf
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 :
- Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service ;
- Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.