Health and Gender Specialist, (NOC), Maseru, Lesotho, #131066, Temporary Appointment (364 days) Opened for Nationals of Lesotho ONLY
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For every child,Health
The Ministry of Health in Lesotho, in collaboration with Gavi and UNICEF, is committed to addressing zero dose immunization and in improving adolescent health outcomes through enhanced Primary Health Care, including through effective immunization programs. This position is designed to ensure that gender transformative considerations are fully integrated into health policies and programs targeting primary health care (PHC), including but not limited to adolescent health, and immunization, with a focus on reducing inequities and improving access and outcomes for all genders.
Lesotho, like many countries in the East and Southern African Region would benefit from gender-responsive and transformative immunization agenda. UNICEF, in alignment with the Ministry of Health’s national policies and guidelines proposes to use a socioecological approach to respond to populations left behind in the immunization agenda through the following three overarching strategic areas:
I. Leveraging existent programmes in HIV and Sexual Reproductive, Maternal, Neonatal Child and Adolescent Health and Nutrition (SRMNCAH+N) to scale up vaccine information and uptake through innovative and community-led approaches.
II. Strengthening health systems in delivering equitable immunization integrated in other primary health care services.
III. Generating and using evidence to learn, improve quality or scale up promising practices in gender-transformative programming.
The overall outcome for this role would be to assess, understand, address, and overcome gender barriers that affect health outcomes for children and adolescents using primary health care as platform.
How can you make a difference?
Purpose
UNICEF Lesotho Country Office is looking for a Health and Gender Specialist to support the implementation of gender-responsive programmes in the context of Primary Health Care using Immunization and Adolescent Health as an entry point. The incumbent will develop, implement, and monitor the programme, ensuring effective and timely delivery that is consistent with UNICEF rules and regulations. The Health and Gender Specialist works in close collaboration with a range of staff in the country office (CO), external partners and in particular the Ministry of Health and GAVI as well as agency counterparts in support of programme design and delivery. S/He provides regular feedback on the status of projects through monitoring milestones and advises programme implementation.
Major Duties and Responsibilities:
The position will be embedded Ministry of Health under the direct supervision of the HIV Specialist UNICEF and the Head of Family Health MOH.
1.Policy and Strategy Development
2.Coordination and Implementation
3.Capacity Building
4.Monitoring and Evaluation
5.Collaboration and Partnerships
6.Community Mobilization
7.Knowledge Management
If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: [ Health and Gender Specialist, NOC,TA, Maseru,Lesotho.docx]
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
Minimum requirements:
Advanced education: A master’s degree in social sciences, gender and development, public health, global/international health, policy and/or management, health sciences, or epidemiology
Specialized understanding of gender issues in health, including gender-based violence, maternal and child health, and reproductive health would be desirable.
Added advantage: A Basic degree in Medicine, Nursing or Public Health.
Experience:
At least five years of experience in planning, programming, implementation monitoring, and evaluation of technical cooperation programmes related to Health and Gender, preferably with the UN, development partners or non-governmental organizations.
Skills:
•Proven leadership skills and ability to manage complex stakeholder environments.
•Strong policy development, strategic planning, and capacity building capabilities.
•Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
•Strong analytical skills and attention to detail.
•Proven ability to address complex problems and manage conflicting priorities effectively.
•In-depth understanding of Lesotho’s Health sector
Language Requirements:
•Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or the local language is an asset.
Desirables:
- Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency.
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 (1)
(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness (1)
(3) Drive to achieve results for impact (1)
(4) Innovates and embraces change (1)
(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity (1)
(6) Thinks and acts strategically (1)
(7) Works collaboratively with others (1)
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. At 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 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.
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.
Deadline: 28 Nov 2024 South Africa Standard Time
