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 for as long as we are needed. 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 professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

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

For every child, the right to a Chance

How can you make a difference?

Under the supervision of the Chief of Health and Nutrition, the Health Specialist (Public Health Emergency) (P-3) TA, provides technical leadership and programme management support for pandemic preparedness and response, with a primary focus on implementation of Pandemic Fund–supported interventions and WASH in emergencies. The position supports the National Directorate of Public Health to strengthen systems for early warning, early action, and coordinated emergency response, while ensuring UNICEF’s office readiness to effectively prevent, detect, and respond to public health threats. The role contributes to strengthening resilient health systems, aligned with national priorities and global health security frameworks. Accountable for effective technical and programme support to facilitate the application and adaptation of UNICEF policies and strategies to achieve strategic priorities and objectives and expansion of UNICEF assisted PHE and WASH in emergency interventions, including the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals agenda.

1. Pandemic Fund Programme Management and Coordination

• Lead and the planning, implementation, and monitoring of Pandemic Fund–supported activities, ensuring alignment with national strategies and UNICEF programme frameworks.
• Support the strengthening of integrated, PHE preparedness and response systems, aligned with International Health Regulations (IHR 2005) and national frameworks.
• Coordinate with government, WHO and FAO to ensure coherent, multi-sectoral implementation of pandemic preparedness interventions.

2. Strengthening Early Warning and Early Action Systems

• Provide technical support to the National Directorate of Public Health to establish and operationalize integrated early warning and early action systems ensuring timely detection, verification, reporting, and coordinated response to public health threats.
• Support the design, establishment, and operationalization of event-based surveillance (EBS) systems, including community-level detection mechanisms.

3. Capacity Building and Workforce Development

• Support development and implementation of capacity-building plans for national and subnational public health staff in emergency preparedness and response.
• Strengthen national capacity for PHE preparedness and response through structured training and institutional capacity development initiatives.
• Support the development and deployment of online training modules on emergency preparedness and response through the national digital learning platform.

4. Emergency Preparedness and Supply Chain Strengthening

• Support the Country Office in strengthening internal emergency preparedness, including contingency planning, risk analysis, and simulation exercises.
• Provide technical and operational support to public health emergency responses, including but not limited to cholera, mpox, yellow fever, malaria, dengue, polio, and Ebola virus disease (EVD).
• Strengthen systems for forecasting, supply planning, and emergency stock management.

5. WASH in Emergencies (WiE) and Infection Prevention and Control

• Support the integration of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) in Emergencies (WiE) interventions within public health emergency preparedness and response frameworks to reduce transmission of epidemic-prone diseases and strengthen community resilience.

6. Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting

• Develop and monitor performance indicators, and support monitoring and reporting of Pandemic Fund, WiE, and emergency preparedness interventions to ensure timely, high‑quality, evidence‑based implementation.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here:  Health Specialist PHE Level 3 Mayl2026 (1).pdf

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

• Minimum requirements

• • 1. 1. Education: Master or equivalent (Advanced University Degree) in Public Health, Epidemiology, Health Administration, International health, health systems management, infectious disease, environmental health, health informatics, emergency management, global health, infectious disease control and any other related fields.
       2. Work Experience: At least 5 years of relevant work experience in Planning, Programme Management, Monitoring and Evaluation, Emergency, public health emergencies, emergency preparedness, disease surveillance, health systems strengthening, water sanitation and hygiene, infection prevention and control, supply chain management, capacity building. and any other related fields.
       3. Skills: Early Warning, Epidemiology, Monitoring, Reporting, Planning, Budgeting.
       4. Language Requirements: English language knowledge on a proficient/fluent level

• Desirables
  
  1. 1. Language: Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language.
     2. Knowledge of Portuguese language on intermediate level, previous experience with Programme Implementation, Programme, Leadership, Emergency and Child-Survival.
     3. Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts. 

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

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 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 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 is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable candidates from WCARO and EAPRO regions 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.

UNICEF staff members holding fixed-term, continuing, or permanent appointments who are considered to be on abolished post status may apply for this temporary position and, if selected with a start date before 31 December 2025, may take it up as a temporary assignment, in line with UNICEF guidance on separation due to the abolition of posts or staff reduction. They will retain their fixed-term entitlements but will not hold a lien to their abolished post. For other scenarios where a Temporary Assignment may be possible, please refer to Additional guidance on IP to IP temporary assignments after completion of the full TOD.pdf (accessible to UNICEF personnel only).

The conditions of a temporary assignment, including relocation entitlements, will depend on the status of the staff member's original appointment and may be limited in accordance with applicable UNICEF policies, procedures, and practices in force.

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.