Health Officer (NOB) at UNICEF

 The Health Officer reports to the Health Specialist, under the overall guidance of the Chief Field Office Bauchi Field Office, for supervision. The Health Officer supports professional technical, operational and administrative assistance throughout the programming process for the Health Programme within the field office, from development planning to delivery of results, by preparing, executing, managing, and implementing a variety of technical and administrative programme tasks to facilitate programme development, implementation, programme progress monitoring, and evaluating and reporting of results.

Key responsibilities:

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

1. Support to Programme development and planning.
2. Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results.
3. Technical and operational support to Programme implementation
4. Networking and partnership building
5. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

Support to Programme development and planning.

• Conduct and update the situation analysis for the development, design and management of health-related programmes. Research and report on development trends (e.g. political social, economic, health) for higher management use to enhance Programme management, efficiency and delivery of results.
• Contribute to the development and establishment of sectoral Programme goals, objectives, strategies, and results-based planning through analysis of health needs and areas for intervention and submission of recommendations for priority and goal setting.
• Provide technical and operational support throughout all stages of programming processes by executing and administering a variety of technical Programme transactions, preparing materials and documentation, and complying with organizational processes and management systems, to support Programme planning, results-based planning (RBM), and monitoring and evaluation of results.
• Support the development and/or domestication of national health strategies, State Strategic Health Development Plans for primary health care, reproductive maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health (RMNCAH), and immunization.
• Prepare required documentation and materials to facilitate the Programme review and approval process.

Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results.

• Work closely and collaboratively with colleagues and partners to discuss operational and implementation issues, provide solutions, recommendations, and/or to alert appropriate officials and stakeholders for higher-level intervention and decisions. Keep record of reports and assessments for easy reference and to capture and institutionalize lessons learned.
• Support the development of program workplans, State Annual Operational Plans (AOPs), Immunization plans (REW Microplans) guidelines and operational tools.
• Participate in monitoring and evaluation exercises, Programme reviews and annual sectoral reviews with government and other counterparts to assess programmes and to report on required action/interventions at the higher level of Programme management.
• Participate in health data management ensuring regular update and granular data analyses using Health Management Information System (DHIS2) and Community Health Information System, and program monitoring exercises, including Integrated Monitoring and Supportive Supervision (IMSS) for PHC programs.
• Monitor and report on the use of sectoral Programme resources (financial, administrative and other assets), and verify compliance with approved allocation and goals, organizational rules, regulations, procedures, as well as donor commitments, standards of accountability, and integrity. Report on issues identified to ensure timely resolution by management and stakeholders. Follow up on unresolved issues to ensure resolution.
• Prepare regular and mandated sectoral programme/project reports for management, donors and partners to keep them informed of programme progress.

Technical and operational support to Programme implementation.

• Support capacity building exercises including development and application of training materials, tools and guidelines for PHC, RMNCAH+N, Routine Immunization, immunization campaigns and other related interventions.
• Participate in collaborative implementation of convergence, and Child Survival and Development (CSD) interventions with other UNICEF sections – WASH, Nutrition, SBC, Child Protection, and Social Policy.
• Contribute to the implementation of RMNCAH+N interventions, including Routine Immunization, outreach, polio and non-polio supplementary immunization campaigns, including integrated COVID and RI exercises.
• Conduct regular Programme field visits and surveys and share information with partners and stakeholders to assess progress and provide technical support and/or refer to relevant officials for resolution. Report on critical issues, bottlenecks and potential problems for timely action to achieve results.
• Provide technical and operational support to government counterparts, NGO partners, UN system partners, and other country office partners/donors on the application and understanding of UNICEF policies, strategies, processes, and best practices on health-related issues to support Programme implementation, operations and delivery of results.

Networking and partnership building.

• Build and sustain effective close working partnerships with health sector government counterparts and national stakeholders through active sharing of information and knowledge to enhance Programme implementation and build the capacity of stakeholders to deliver concrete and sustainable results.
• Draft communication and information materials for CO Programme advocacy to promote awareness, establish partnerships/alliances, and support fundraising for health programmes.
• Participate in appropriate inter-agency (UNCT) on health programmes to collaborate with inter-agency partners/colleagues on UNDAF operational planning and preparation of health programmes/projects and to integrate and harmonize UNICEF’s position and strategies with the UNDAF development and planning process.
• Research information on potential donors and prepare resource mobilization materials and briefs for fundraising and partnership development purposes.

Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building.

• Identify, capture, synthesize, and share lessons learned for knowledge development and to build the capacity of stakeholders.
• Apply innovative approaches and promote good practices to support the implementation and delivery of concrete and sustainable Programme results.
• Assist with oversight of research and ensure results are available for use in knowledge products.
• Participate as a resource person in capacity-building initiatives to enhance the competencies of clients and stakeholders.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have

Education:

• A university degree in one of the following fields is required: public health/nutrition, pediatric health, family health, health research, global/international health, health policy and/or management, environmental health sciences, biostatistics, socio-medical, health education, epidemiology, or another relevant technical field.

Experience:

• A minimum of two years of professional experience in one or more of the following areas is required: public health/nutrition planning and management, maternal and neonatal health care, or health emergency/humanitarian preparedness.
• Experience working in a developing country is considered as an asset.
• Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization is considered as an asset.