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The Chief Health reports to the Deputy Representative P5 in Nepal Country Office for oversight and is responsible for managing and supervising all stages of health programmes (e.g. maternal, neonatal, child survival, adolescent mental health, non-communicable diseases and emergency preparedness) within the country programme, from strategic planning and formulation to delivery of results. Incumbent leads and manages the health team including establishing plans of action to achieve concrete and sustainable results according to plans, allocation, results based-management approaches and methodology (RBM), as well as UNICEF’s Strategic Plans, standards of performance and accountability framework, and does that in consultation with the Regional Health Adviser.

In the past few years, Nepal has made significant strides in maternal, child and adolescent health: the maternal mortality ratio stands at 142 per 100,000 live births and under-five mortality to 31 per 1,000 livebirths. Significant improvements in maternal and child health have been driven by the long-standing Female Community Health Volunteer network, expanded skilled birth attendance and institutional delivery, as well as immunization scale-up. Nevertheless, neonatal deaths now constitute most of the child mortality, and pronounced disparities persist by geography, wealth and caste/ethnicity. Recurring outbreaks of measles, Japanese Encephalitis and cholera underscore the fragility of health gains in vulnerable districts. Child and adolescent mental health are emerging issues as 10 out of 100 adolescents aged 15–19 suffer from depression or anxiety.

UNICEF Nepal’s health programme, a portfolio spanning immunization, maternal, newborn health, child and adolescent mental health, health systems strengthening, and emergency response, supports the Ministry of Health and Population across federal level and four priority provinces. The upcoming Country Programme 2028–2032 and UNICEF Strategic Plan 2026–2029 will demand equity-focused systems strengthening, climate-health integration, and multisectoral coordination with nutrition, WASH and other sector programmes.

Key function, accountabilities and related duties/tasks: 

1. Managerial leadership

2. Programme development and planning
3. Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results
4. Advisory services and technical support
5. Advocacy, networking and partnership building
6. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here:  JD Chief Health P4 # 7031 Kathmandu Nepal CO.docx

To qualify as advocate for every child you will have… 

Minimum requirements:

• Education: An advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in one of the following fields is required: public health, nutrition and dietetics, pediatric health/pediatrics, general medicine, family health, health research, global/international health, health policy and/or management, environmental health sciences, biostatistics, socio-medical sciences, health education, epidemiology, or another relevant health-related technical field.
• Work Experience: A minimum of eight years of professional experience in one or more of the following areas is required: health and programme management, public health, maternal, child and newborn health, immunization, mental health, health systems strengthening, health emergency and humanitarian preparedness, health policy, monitoring and evaluation, partnership development, or another relevant health-related field.
• Skills: Familiarity with Public Health, Leadership, Monitoring and Evaluation, Fundraising, Nutrition Planning, and Quality Reports.
• Language Requirements: Proficiency in English is required.

Desirables:

1. Language: Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset. Nepali language is considered as an advantage.
2. International experience: Experience working in developing countries, particularly in low-middle income countries, fragile or humanitarian contexts, is considered an asset.
3. UN experience: Relevant experience in a UN system agency or international organization is considered an asset.
4. Programme planning: Demonstrated experience in developing and planning health and relevant sector programmes and monitoring implementation at national and subnational levels.
5. Leadership: Proven track record in providing managerial leadership to staff in a country office, as well as strong technical leadership across field offices.
6. Policy and budgeting: Proven experience in influencing national and subnational plans and budgets through upstream engagement with government counterparts in highly decentralized political contexts.
7. Partnerships and resource mobilization: Proven experience in establishing strategic partnerships and mobilizing resources to support health programmes, including engagement with national and international stakeholders such as the private sector and academia.
8. Thought leadership and knowledge management: Strong thought leadership in the health sector and demonstrated ability to draft and compile high-quality reports in English.

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
(8) Nurtures, leads and manages people

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

This position has been assessed as an elevated risk role for Child Safeguarding purposes as it is either a role with direct contact with children, a role that works directly with identifiable children's data, a safeguarding response role, or an assessed risk role. Additional vetting and assessment for elevated risk roles in child safeguarding (potentially including additional criminal background checks) apply.

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

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 are conditional on the selected candidates willingness to comply with current or future vaccination requirements, should UNICEF mandate it for personnel. Failure to comply with such requirements, where applicable and without a duly approved medical exemption from the relevant UN authority, will result in the cancellation of the selection or may lead to other administrative measures, including separation from service.

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 is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable [Insert candidates from targeted underrepresented groups] 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.

Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF's Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.

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.