Job Offers at UNICEF

Purpose For the Job:

The government of Nigeria has renewed its commitment to achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and has adopted Primary Health Care as a key pillar in its strategy to meet UHC goals. The Health Specialist (System Strengthening) will support UNICEF Nigeria’s Health Section in implementing Sector Wide Approach (SWAp) policies and related health reforms, with a focus on enhancing access, equity, and the quality of healthcare services for children and vulnerable populations in Nigeria. This role will also contribute to creating a coordinated and sustainable healthcare system, ensuring that child and maternal health initiatives are integrated into broader national health reforms. Key responsibilities include providing technical support to government agencies on primary healthcare reforms at both the federal and sub-national levels.

The Health Specialist will also collaborate with key partners, including government ministries, UN agencies, international financial institutions, and other stakeholders, to ensure effective coordination in health system strengthening. Furthermore, the specialist will work closely with UNICEF Nigeria’s Social Policy section to assess, design, and implement health insurance schemes at the community and state levels.

Key function, accountabilities, and related duties/tasks:

 Programme development and planning:

• Plan and provide technical support and guidance for the preparation, design and updating of the situation analysis to establish a comprehensive and updated strategic plan for development, design, and management of health-related programmes. Keep abreast of development trends to enhance programme management, efficiency, and delivery.
• Prepare, coordinate and/or supervise the formulation of health programme recommendations and related documentations as a component of the Country Programme, establishing clear programme goals, objectives, strategies, and results-based planning terminology and methodology (RBM).
• Under the overall guidance of the Manager, Health System Strengthening (HSS/PHC) and Chief Health, provide technical, policy and programming support to Field Offices, Ministry of Health and other collaborating partners for ongoing reforms SWAp.
• Lead and manage country-level Global Fund grants, focusing on health system strengthening and digital health, collaborating with partners, government agencies, and other stakeholders.
• Ensure alignment of the sectoral programme with UNICEF’s Strategic Plans, Country Programme, UN Development Assistance Framework (UNDF), regional strategies as well as national priorities, plans and competencies.

Programme 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 measurements to assess and strengthen performance accountability, coherence and delivery of concrete and sustainable results for the assigned sector in health programmes.
• Participate in monitoring and evaluation exercises, programme reviews and annual sectoral reviews with the government and other counterparts to assess progress and to determine required action/interventions to achieve results.
• Prepare and assess monitoring and evaluation reports to identify gaps, strengths and/or weaknesses in programme management, identify lessons learned and use knowledge gained for development planning and timely intervention to achieve goals.
• Actively monitor programmes/projects through field visits, surveys and/or exchange of information with partners/stakeholders to assess progress, identify bottlenecks, potential problems and take timely decisions to resolve issues and/or refer to relevant officials for timely resolution.

Data-driven health financing and spending:

• Prepare timely health system, economic and financing analysis for PHC (including equity, cost effectiveness, and public health expenditure analysis) to empower UNICEF Nigeria with evidence for national dialogue in improving efficiency in health spending
• Support and guide UNICEF Nigeria on the analysis of health financing functions at subnational level with a focus on Immunization and Reproductive, Maternal, Neonatal, Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH) services without financial hardship
• Prepare data-driven situational analyses of health care financing in support of monitoring health sector performance, including general financing indicators, Sustainable Development Goals and UHC/PHC/Immunization/RMNCAH indicators.
• Lead the development of the SDG-3 investment case on PHC interventions including community level to reduce maternal mortality and improve child health outcomes, including expanding routine immunization and reducing zero-dose children.
• Undertake health sector budget analysis to inform UNICEF’s advocacy and technical assistance to federal and state Ministries of Finance, Budget and National Planning, and Ministry of Health and federal agencies.
• Work with Social Policy in the analysis and understanding of the underlying economic determinants of health to develop and implement policies and programmes that enhance health equity and integrate pro-poor, gender-responsive, and human rights-based approaches, including assessing the design and implementation of health insurance schemes.
• Facilitate the analysis of social and economic trends and health financing information with a focus on implications on fiscal space for PHC services, including immunization, and support engagement for policy dialogue and formulation.

4. Advocacy, networking, and partnership building:

• Build and sustain effective close working partnerships with health sector government counterparts, national stakeholders, as well as global partners, allies, donors, and academia for active networking, advocacy and effective communication to improve health planning, budgeting and financial flows at federal and sub-national level.
• Prepare communication and information materials to promote awareness, establish partnerships/alliances, and support national efforts on fundraising for health programmes (PHC and UHC including immunization)).
• Participate and/or represent UNICEF in appropriate inter-agency discussions and planning on health-related issues to collaborate with inter-agency partners/colleagues on PFM related discussions; and on UNSDCF planning and preparation of health financing programmes/projects.
• Support compelling use of finance data and evidence in advocacy materials and campaigns, including designing visually attractive infographics and data analysis on health planning, budgeting, and expenditures.
• Collaborate with WHO, World Bank, other UN agencies and implementing partners to support country-level technical assistance on public financing: costing, financial and fiscal space analysis, budgeting and design of financing mechanisms to benefit children and women
• Advocate, during strategic discussions with Ministries of Finance, Budget and National Planning, and Health and other key decision makers and stakeholders to influence agenda setting in favor of health and wellbeing of children, women and young people.

Minimum requirements:

• An advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required: public health, global/international health, health policy and/or management, health economics & financing, health research, environmental health sciences, biostatistics, socio-medical, health education, epidemiology, or another relevant technical field.
• A minimum of eight years of professional experience in one or more of the following areas is required: public health planning and management, public health programme implementation, health financing.
• Experience working in the continent and developing country is considered as an asset.
• Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization is considered as an asset.
• Fluency in English is required.
• Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset

go to method of application »

Purpose Of the Job:

Under the guidance of the Health Specialist HSS and the overall guidance of the HSS Manager, the Health Officer – Logistics Management supports professional technical, operational, and administrative assistance throughout the health programming process, from development planning to delivery of results, by preparing, executing, managing, and implementing a variety of technical and administrative programme tasks for effective delivery of essential medicines and supplies to facilitate attainment of UNICEF’s health program results in Nigeria.

The officer will also provide technical support to the logistics component of the overall health systems strengthening portfolio.

The health officer will provide a broad range of technical assistance to facilitate the achievement of concrete and sustainable results, according to plans, allocation, results based-management approaches (RBM), organizational strategic plans and goals, standards of performance, and accountability framework, in collaboration with the other UNICEF sections. The officer will support management collaboration with programmes in defining supply interventions to meet programmatic needs and achieve results for children, and provides technical and advisory support to governments, national systems and partners on supply chain management.

The Supply and Logistics officer provides technical and operational support as per the Country Office (CO) set-up and is responsible for managing the supply chains of the health section and country office, or elements of the supply chains of a larger supply operation.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

The officer will carry out the following activities related to the child survival and wellbeing program within the overarching health systems strengthening component of the health and HIV portfolio in Nigeria:

• Conduct and update the situation analysis for the development, design and management of supply chain and logistics packages for health programs. Research and report on development trends (health commodity value chain), including equity analyses, 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 documentations, and complying with organizational processes and management systems, to support programme planning, results-based planning (RBM), and monitoring and evaluation of results.
• Support the implementation of the primary health care supply systems strengthening policy working closely with the different departments in the Government and the health and supply teams internally.
• Work closely and collaboratively with colleagues and partners to develop the health value chain and logistics program. Support the development of national capacity for local production of essential medicines, supplies, and logistics systems.
• Support central level and central to State and below supply logistics for the entire health section programme including supply monitoring of all commodities associated with the health and HIV portfolio linked with the Government’s primary health care supply system strategy systems. Provide regular update and analytics, including inventory and dispatches dashboard to reflect the commodities delivered in-country either directly to partners or PPO in UNICEF WHs.
• Provide technical support and participate in all meetings with Government, including NAFDAC, FMOH, NPHCDA etc.

 Impact of Results:

The efficiency and efficacy of support provided by the health officer to programme preparation, planning and implementation facilitates the delivery of concrete and sustainable results that directly impact the improvement of the health and wellbeing of the most marginalized and vulnerable children and women in the country. This in turn contributes to maintaining and enhancing the credibility and ability of UNICEF to continue to provide programme services to protect the rights of children, and to promote greater social equality to enable them to survive, develop and reach their full potential in society.

Minimum requirements:

• A university degree is required in pharmacy, Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Procurement, Contract/Commercial Law, International Development, Health or related social science field.
• A minimum of two (2) years of relevant experience, at the national and international levels, in supply, logistics, procurement, contracting, administration and/or other directly-related technical fields is required.
• Understanding of development and humanitarian work.
• Emergency experience an advantage.
• Health supply chain management experience an advantage.
• Good analytical skill and negotiating skills.
• Ability to manage and monitor the effective use of financial and material resources.
• Ability to supervise and direct a team of professional and support staff.
• Ability to work in a multicultural environment and establish harmonious working relationships, both within and outside the organisation.
• Fast learner, adapts and responds to change, tolerates ambiguity.
• Ability to contribute to formulation of strategies and policies.
• Good knowledge of latest developments and technology in supply chain management.
• Good understanding of supply chain processes, from programme needs assessment, through planning, procurement and contracting, logistics and delivery, monitoring and evaluation.
• Good knowledge and understanding of UNICEF programmes, public procurement principles, financial and legal aspects of supply chain issues, ethics and risk management of supply chain operations.

go to method of application »

Minimum requirements:

How can you make a difference? 

Advocacy and Communication are at the centre of UNICEF’s mandate. We advocate to decision makers for ‘the protection of children's rights, to help meet their basic needs and to expand their opportunities to reach their full potential’. We communicate to key public and private audiences to build support for the cause of children. The P5 Chief of Advocacy and Communication is accountable for leading the advocacy and communication strategies of the Country Office, under the supervision of the Representative.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

• Advocacy strategy implementation
• Communication strategy implementation
• Digital Strategy
• Media Relations
• Advocacy and Communication M & E
• Team building Project and Budget Management
• Advocacy and Communication Capacity Building
• Stakeholder engagement
• Country Management Team

Education: An Advanced University degree is required in one of the following fields: International Relations, Political Science, International Development, Public Policy, Public Administration, Economics, Communication, or related fields.

Work Experience: At least ten (10) years of progressively responsible and relevant professional work experience in advocacy/ campaigning and communication is required, with at least two years at the international level.

Language Requirements:  Fluency in English is required.

Other Experience

• Experience in leading the development and implementation of advocacy and communication strategies, with clear theories of change, specific, measurable, and time objectives, and performance indicators.
• A track record of achieving or contributing to tangible policy change.
• Proven experience in deploying a range of advocacy and communication tactics based on a clear theory of change.
• Experience in building and maintaining a network of external stakeholders, and in working with coalitions.
• Experience in building strong relationships with traditional and social media entities and using media relations and channels to engage public audiences. 
• Experience in leading the development, implementation and monitoring of digital strategies.
• Experienced and current in digital and social media content and audience trends as well as in managing online platforms and channels.
• Strong communicator with emphasis on being able to present complex policy ideas in succinct, engaging ways through campaign narratives and creative tactics.
• Experience in managing a team is a requirement, along with a proven commitment to diverse and inclusive recruiting process. Experience managing a multicultural team is an asset.
• Demonstrated experience in design and management of projects, including budget management and monitoring and evaluation of results.
• Knowledge of international development, humanitarian issues and children’s rights.
• Experience in training and facilitation is an asset.
• Experience working in a developing and emergency environment is an asset.