UN Specialist, Access to Essential Child Health Commodities (P-4), Job in Kenya

Health Specialist – Access to Essential Child Health Commodities (P-4)

Job Description

The position will be remote based in Africa but reporting to the Health Specialist (Integrated child health service delivery, IMCI/iCCM) in the Child and Community Health unit, MNCAH-Section in the Health Programme at New York HQ. S/he will provide technical and programmatic guidance fro the scaling up and quality assurance of UNICEF activities in the area of essential child health commodities, with a specific focus on oxygen and the transition of UNICEF’s COVID-19 oxygen response to oxygen systems strengthening and integration of oxygen in MNCH programming.

S/he will be an active member of the Child and Community Health unit which focuses on accelerating implementation of high impact cost effective child health interventions to support survival, health and development as well as the institutionalization of community-based primary health care. She/he will work in collaboration with other units in the MNCAH section and act as liaison with UNICEF Supply Division for essential child health commodities and related innovations. S/he will ensure effective coordination with regional and country offices, as well as with relevant partners and partnerships

For every child, good health…..

The purpose of the position is to support UNICEF’s efforts to scale access to essential maternal, newborn and child health commodities and innovations. A specific focus will be on oxyen systems strengthening and improved oxygen access in the context of maternal, newborn and child health services, building on and leveraging investments made during the COVID-19 pandemic. S/he will serve as liaison with Supply Division around essential child health commodities and innovations, represent UNICEF in relevant global fora, provide technical support and guidance to regional and country offices, support resource mobilization efforts and track achievements of set results.

How can you make a difference?

Act as liaison between PG-health for oxygen and essential MNCH commodities, including related innovations, including on.

Oxygen systems needs assessment, supply planning and implementation
Contribute to the identification and implementation of health innovations related to improving access to essential child health commodities

Coordinate and provide technical support to regional and country offices for oxygen systems scale up including

Play a critical role in building internal capacity on oxygen systems scale up and hypoxemia case management
Development of oxygen scaling strategies and roadmaps
Integration of oxygen access and hypoxemia case management in maternal, newborn and child health services and quality improvement efforts, including
support to countries in developing clinical guidelines, training materials and related job aids to improve hypoxemia diagnosis and treatment
decentralization of pulse oximetry/hypoxemia management and oxygen therapy to primary health care level
Implementation and optimal operations and use of oxygen equipment including PSA plants
Foster cross country learning and internal capacity building

Support broader work around commodities, especially increasing access to ORS/Zn co-pack and Amoxicillin DT

Work with regional offices and country offices to address supply and demand aspects around essential child health commodities, e.g. support relevant policy changes, forecasting and implementation of Amoxicillin DT and ORS/Zn
Support efforts that promote the rational use of drugs to prevent antimicrobial resistance

Support partnerships and resource mobilization efforts

Strategic engagement with key partners including WHO and partners under the emerging Global Oxygen Alliance to align and harmonize efforts around oxygen systems strengthening.
Engage with key partners on improving access to essential child health commodities, including Child Health Tak Force commodities subgroup, WHO
Work with different units in MNCAH section, with Supply Division, ROs and COs to develop funding proposals
Summarize learnings and highlights of UNICEF’s work to scale oxygen systems for broader advocacy

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

An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in Public Health, Medicine, Global/International Health is required. Having PhD is an asset
A minimum of 8 (eight) years of progressively responsible international professional experience in Public Health, especially around strategy, planning, budgeting and implementation around MNCH programming and access to essential child health commodities, especially oxygen and antibiotics is required.
Prior experience working in low- and middle-income country context with experience in policy, programme design and implementation. Clinical experience in child health is highly desirable.
Experience in programming is an asset.
Experience working in the UN system is an asset.
Fluency in English (written and verbal) 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, Accountability (CRITA), and sustainability

Please click Here to view UNICEF’s core values and Here to view our competency framework.

UNICEF competencies required for this post are.

Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (2)
Works Collaboratively with others (2)
Builds and Maintains Partnerships (2)
Innovates and Embraces Change (2)
Thinks and Acts Strategically (2)
Drive to achieve impactful results (2)
Manages ambiguity and complexity (2)

How to Apply

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 only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/”

For more information on remuneration and benefits, please visit UNICEF’s Entitlements’ page. If you would like to find estimates for entitlements, you may use the online Salary Estimate Calculator