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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. 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 personal and professional development that will help them develop a fulfilling career while delivering on a rewarding mission. We pride ourselves on a culture that helps staff thrive, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

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

For every child, health

Like much of the world, the ESA region has been severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, which worsened pre-existing weaknesses in healthcare systems, disrupted routine immunization, and led to increased vaccine-preventable diseases and a rise in zero-dose children. Climate change is further worsening health risks, spreading diseases like cholera and malaria, driving displacement, and negatively impacting children, who constitute 60% of the population in the region. Additionally, insufficient access to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services puts over 1.1 billion people at risk, particularly young children who are most vulnerable.

The ongoing Mpox epidemic, declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) in August 2024, has seen a surge in cases in the DRC and neighbouring countries, alongside the emergence of a new viral clade. So far, eight ESA countries – Angola, Burundi, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe – are reporting cases. In response, UNICEF activated Corporate Emergency Activation Procedure (CEAP) L3 to quicky scale up cross-sectoral response efforts and address the crisis in the affected and at-risk countries.

As part of these efforts, ESARO received a regional grant to enhance One Health emergency preparedness and response in the Greater Virunga Transboundary Landscape (GVTC), in collaboration with WHO and FAO. The incumbent will oversee the project from its inception, ensuring effective communication with stakeholders and monitoring its implementation.

How can you make a difference? 

Under the supervision of the Health Emergency Specialist (FT), and overall guidance of the Regional Health Advisor, the PHE Specialist will lead the technical aspects of planning, implementation, monitoring, reporting and evaluation of UNICEF’s preparedness and response to public health emergencies, in alignment with the ESARO framework for response to such emergencies.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Terms of Reference: [TOR here]

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

Minimum requirements:

Education: 

• Advanced university degree in Public Health (master’s or higher)

Work Experience: 

• At least eight years of professional experience in public health and humanitarian emergency preparedness and response at national and/or international level. 

Skills 

• Experience in coordinating public health emergency programs, including strategic partnerships, risk assessments, planning, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation.
• Expertise in epidemiology and control of epidemic-prone diarrheal diseases (diarrheal diseases, viral haemorrhagic diseases, vaccine preventable diseases etc.).
• Knowledge of the International Health Regulations (IHR) 2005 and its implementation in member states.
• Experience in developing countries, especially in Africa and familiarity with emergency situations is essential.  
• Prior work with UN agencies or organizations is an asset.
• Ability to manage large data sets and present information using tools like GIS, Power Bi, and other visualization software, particularly in outbreak response.
• Experience in technical writing for official public health documents, government policies, guidelines and academic publications.
• Familiarity with UNICEF processes and approaches is highly desirable.

Language Requirements:

Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of a second UN and/or local working language of the duty station 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

(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 

[add the 8^th competency (Nurtures, leads and manages people) for a supervisory role]. 

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

We offer a wide range of measures to include a more diverse workforce, such as paid parental leave, time off for breastfeeding purposes, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

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. UNICEF is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will 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.

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 male 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.

Eligible staff members on fixed-term, continuing or permanent contracts applying to IP TA positions in a duty station designated as L2/L3, may be able to retain a lien and their fixed-term entitlements, subject to approval by their Head of Office. The conditions of the temporary assignment will vary depending on the status of their post and relocation entitlements may be limited as per the relevant policies.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.