Programme Manager: United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Jobs in Kenya

_____________________________________________________________________________________ Closing date: 26 Feb 2010

Location: Kenya - Nairobi

Purpose of the Position

The GFATM Round 6 grant is a $27.7 million initiative over a five year period that is implemented through a broad range of partners. UNICEF, as the Principal Recipient (PR), is required to ensure effective planning, implementation, monitoring and reporting of the programme.A full time UNICEF based Coordinator is required manage and coordinate the implementation of the Round 6 programme.

This entails corresponding with the GFATM Secretariat and the Local Funding Agent (LFA), developing workplans and budgets, supervising programme implementation, ensuring that partners and activities are well coordinated, and facilitating regular management and coordination meetings.It also involves liaising with local health authorities and the body that holds the CCM responsibilities, the Health Sector Committee of the Somali Support Secretariat.

As Programme Manager, Malaria, you will:

1. Represent UNICEF in it role as Principle Recipient by working in close coordination with the Health Sector Committee, International Organisations, the health authorities, NGOs, other UNICEF sections and other GFATM funded programmes
2. Ensure that programme activities for all implementing partners make significant progress to meet targets and deadlines as per the workplans Phase 1 and 2
3. Ensure timely reporting on the progress of implementation, status of field monitoring and periodic reviews/evaluations, and any constraints in the project to the Health Sector Committee, the LFA and the GFATM as required; and liaise with the LFA, the GFATM and UNICEF Programme Funding Office for requests of disbursement to ensure continuity of the Programme.

Key Expected Results

· Lead and coordinate UNICEF’s programming and implementation of malaria control including management of the GFATM Malaria grant. Amongst other, this requires collaboration with partners (UN, NGO, Government, and others) to formulate and develop strategies, methodologies and new approaches for improving programme delivery. Supervise the review of the national malaria strategy, M&E plan and their periodic updates.
· Establish Malaria programme workplans, monitor compliance and provide training, support and guidance to the programme team in order to meet objectives. Guide and supervise professional and support staff. Ensure their training needs are met, and provide on-the-job training/coaching as required.
· Develop partnerships with local and international non-government organizations, community based institutions, religious groups, and health authorities. Guide and build the capacities of partners so that the goals of the programme are met and donor rules respected.
· Represent UNICEF in external Malaria technical meetings and donor meetings, ensuring that UNICEF’s core commitments to children are being addressed.

Qualifications of Successful Candidate

· Advanced university degree in medicine or public health, preferably with emphasis on malaria control.
· Eight years of progressively responsible professional experience in programme formulation, planning, management and evaluation of health programmes, preferably large scale malaria programmes.
· Strong knowledge and experience in monitoring and evaluation of programmes in developing countries.
· Sound knowledge of the health sector surveillance system, data analysis and management would be an added advantage.
· Previous experience in Somalia and knowledge of the Somali Support Secretariat an added advantage.
· Experience with GFATM procedures, UNICEF systems, results-based programming and planning.
· Diplomacy. Strong negotiation and organizational skills. Ability to work under tight deadlines and in cross cultural environments.
· Good communication, writing and presentation skills.
· Fluency in English and another UN working language required. Knowledge of local working language of the duty station an asset.

Competencies of Successful Candidate

· Communicates effectively to varied audiences, including during formal public speaking.
· Sets high standards for quality of work and consistently achieves project goals.
· Able to work effectively in a multi-cultural environment.
· Has good leadership and supervisory skills; co-ordinates group activities, ensuring that roles within the team are clear.
· Translates strategic direction into plans and objectives.
· Analyzes and integrates diverse and complex quantitative and qualitative data from a wide range of sources.
· Quickly builds rapport with individuals and groups; maintains an effective network of individuals across organizational departments.
· Identifies urgent and potentially difficult decisions and acts on them promptly; initiates and generates team- and department-wide activities.
· Demonstrates, applies and shares expert technical knowledge across the organization.

How to apply

UNICEF is committed to diversity and gender equality in its workplace. Women and nationals of developing countries are strongly encouraged to apply.If you are dedicated and passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world's leading children's rights organization would like to hear from you.

Visit us at www.unicef.org/employ to register in our new e-Recruitment system and to apply to this vacancy, quoting E-VN-2010-000183.

Applications must be received by 26 February 2010.Please note that only candidates who are under serious consideration will be contacted.

In the selection of its staff, UNICEF is committed to gender balance and diversity without distinction as to race, sex or religion, and without discrimination of persons with disabilities: well qualified candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

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