UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for personal and professional development that will help them develop a fulfilling career while delivering on a rewarding mission. We pride ourselves on a culture that helps staff thrive, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, Health

The MENARO Health Section is seeking to bring on board a Health Specialist (Maternal Newborn and Child Health), level 3, under Temporary Appointment contract, to support the Maternal Newborn and Child Health programme. The Health Specialist (Level 4) will provide technical guidance and management support throughout the programming processes to facilitate the administration and achievement of concrete and sustainable results according to plans, allocation, results based-management approaches and methodology (RBM), organizational Strategic Plans and goals, standards of performance, and accountability framework.

How can you make a difference?

Under the supervision of the Health Specialist (Level 4), the incumbent will ensure support to the managing, implementing, evaluating, and reporting of the programme progress of the maternal, newborn and child health programme within the regional office Health Programme.

Responsibilities and Tasks:

• In coordination with the Health Specialist (Level 4), support the development, design and management of the Middle East and North Africa maternal, newborn and child health programme.
• Participate in strategic programme discussions on the planning of the regional maternal, newborn and child health programme. Keep abreast of development trends to enhance programme management, efficiency, and delivery.
• Contribute to the development/establishment of sectoral programme goals, objectives, strategies, and implementation plans based on results-based planning terminology and methodology (RBM) through research, data collection, analysis and reporting of maternal newborn and child health for development planning and priority and goal setting. Prepare required documentations for programme review and approval.
• Work closely and collaboratively with colleagues and partners to discuss strategies and methodologies, and to determine regional priorities and competencies to ensure the achievement of concrete and sustainable results.
• Ensure the maternal, newborn, and child health regional programme priorities, implementation modality are aligned with UNICEF’s internal procedures and policies, regulatory frameworks activities.
• Provide technical and operational support throughout all stages of programming processes to ensure integration, coherence, and harmonization of programmes/projects with other UNICEF sectors and achievement of results as planned and allocated.
• Provide technical support to the implementation of the regional and country offices maternal, newborn and child health planned programmes and activities.
• Support regional emergency preparedness initiatives for programme development, contingency planning and/or to respond to emergencies and as requested by country offices.
• Prepare communication and information materials for regional office programme advocacy to promote awareness, establish partnerships/alliances, and support fund raising for the maternal, neonatal and child health and development programmes.
• Participate and/or represent UNICEF in appropriate inter-agency discussions and planning and to collaborate with inter-agency partners/colleagues on planning and preparation of maternal, newborn and child health programmes/projects, ensuring organizational position, interests and priorities are fully considered and integrated in the development planning and agenda setting.
• Contribute to identifying, capturing, synthesizing, and sharing lessons learned, experiences and case studies from regional and country maternal, newborn and child health implementation to inform capacity development trainings as well as address gaps and refine relevant regional, national and sub-national guidance and strategies.
• Support country offices on innovative approaches and good practices and to build the capacity of partners and stakeholders on trainings on areas such as:  Integrated Community and Case Management (iCCM), Integrated Management of Neonatal and Childhood Illnesses (IMNCI), Emergency obstetric and newborn care (EmONC), Respectful Maternity Care (RMC), Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) and others to support the implementation and delivery of concrete and sustainable programme results on MNCH.

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

Minimum requirements:

• Education: An advanced 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.
• Work Experience: A minimum of five years of professional experience in maternal, neonatal and child health care including expertise in health emergency/humanitarian preparedness.
• Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) is considered an asset.

Desirables:

• Experience working in a developing country is considered as an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

1. Builds and maintains partnerships
2. Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness
3. Drive to achieve results for impact
4. Innovates and embraces change
5. Manages ambiguity and complexity
6. Thinks and acts strategically
7. Works collaboratively with others

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic background, and persons with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. To create a more inclusive workplace, UNICEF offers paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. Click here to learn more about flexible work arrangements, well-being, and benefits.

According to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. In its Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy 2022-2030, UNICEF has committed to increase the number of employees with disabilities by 2030. AtIn UNICEF, we provide reasonable accommodation for work-related support requirements of candidates and employees with disabilities. Also, UNICEF has launched a Global Accessibility Helpdesk to strengthen physical and digital accessibility. If you are an applicant with a disability who needs digital accessibility support in completing the online application, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). 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 based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. 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, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF’s active commitment to diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable female candidates are encouraged to apply.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.