UNICEF Pacific Consultancy: National Assistive Technology (AT) Coordinator, Pohnpei, FSM, 520 days over 24 months
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Job no: 591072
Contract type: Consultant
Duty Station: Pohnpei (Ponape)
Level: Consultancy
Location: Fiji/Pacific Island Countries, Micronesia
Categories: Health and Nutrition
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 access.
In the Pacific we work in Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu: These 14 Pacific island countries are home to 2.3 million people, including 1.2 million children and youth, living on more than 660 islands and atolls stretching across 17.2 million square kilometers of the Pacific Ocean, an area comparable to the combined size of the United States of America and Canada. Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Solomon Islands, and Tuvalu are classified as Fragile States according to World Bank/OECD criteria.
All 14 Pacific Island countries and territories have ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, but only a third are on track with reporting obligations. Explore the different areas of our work here: UNICEF Pacific Islands.
UNICEF Pacific's Multi-Country office will be implementing the AT-scale supported project titled “Unlock Healthy Learning in the Pacific: Improving access to assistive technology and related rehabilitation services for school-aged children” to increase access to vision, hearing, and mobility assistive technology (AT) for school-aged children across three Pacific Island countries: FSM, Kiribati, and Vanuatu. In FSM, the project aims to screen over 16,000 children and provide appropriate assistive products and services to more than 1,960 children. Leveraging existing partnerships in the Pacific, the project will also strengthen national systems by creating functional multi-sectoral referral pathways, building workforce capacity, and improving supply chains through a unified regional approach featuring pooled procurement and harmonized standards.
To ensure smooth and effective implementation, a full-time National Assistive Technology (AT) Coordinator will be recruited to handle the daily coordination of AT-related activities within the FSM government system. The coordinator will support the FSM Government Focal Point for the ATscale-supported project. This role is crucial for the successful implementation of the vision and hearing and mobility screening and AT provision program, as it involves hands-on administrative and technical tasks. The coordinator will be embedded within the National Department of Education (NDOE)’s division of special services and will work closely with four state-level AT focal points, service providers, UNICEF North Pacific team and other stakeholders.
How can you make a difference?
The main objective of this national consultancy is to handle the daily coordination of AT-related activities within the FSM government system. It involves hands-on administrative and technical tasks and will work closely with four state-level AT focal points, service providers, UNICEF North Pacific Team and other stakeholders.
Under the direct supervision of the FSM Government Focal Point, s/he will undertake the following roles and responsibilities:
Coordination, Communication, and Implementation:
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Assist in establishing the national AT governance /steering committee and serve as its secretariat. This includes helping to schedule meetings and workshops with stakeholders to ensure their participation is effectively captured.
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Act as a key communication and coordination focal point, facilitating information flow within the national AT governance / steering committee and between the national government focal point, state focal points, Departments of Education and Health, implementing partners (Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), Organization of People with Disabilities (OPDs)), and the UNICEF North Pacific Field Office (FO) team, Pacific Multi-Country Office (MCO), and the ATscale Secretariat.
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Assist in developing a national Communications Plan as required by ATscale to increase program visibility and identify communication activities to support program implementation and AT system strengthening.
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Assist the national government focal point in coordinating with the ATscale Secretariat and regional experts/partners (i.e., WHO Regional Technical Officer, PDF, UNICEF Procurement Specialist, technical/clinical experts, and research partners).
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Work with the government procurement focal point/agency and UNICEF Procurement Specialist to facilitate the procurement of AT products and logistical arrangements for screenings and AT provision; and support activities to strengthen national procurement/supply systems.
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Collect, organize, and manage all program-related documentation. Assist with report review, monitoring, supervision, and preparing updates for implementing partners.
Strategic and Technical Support:
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Provide general technical and administrative support to the National AT steering committee. This includes finalizing multi-year and annual work plans, a workforce capacity development plan, a results framework, a risk management plan, and facilitating research activity.
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Provide data and information to UNICEF North Pacific Field Office and MCO required to meet ATscale biannual and annual reporting requirements (i.e., narrative, results tracking, financial reports, lessons learned).
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Provide on-the-ground coordination and support for program activities, such as including delivering technical training to providers, developing clinical and practice standards, implementing effective service delivery system and referral pathways, ensuring quality assurance for screening activities and service provision (e.g., follow up), and managing CSO/OPDs sub-contracted to deliver advocacy or direct services.
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Collaborate with a technical agency to identify and implement the most appropriate digital platform for tracking service delivery, product distribution, and follow-up.
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Work with regional and national partners to assist in, support the development of national AT policy briefs, advocacy and awareness raising campaigns, and facilitate policy and financing discussions within government bodies.
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Contribute to policy integration of AT into national health/education strategies. This will, amongst other things, include the institutionalization of training activities supported by the project.
Please refer to the ToR (
TOR - National AT Coordinator, Pohnpei, Micronesia.pdf) for further information on the deliverables and the timelines.
GUIDANCE FOR APPLICANTS:
Please submit a separate financial offer along with your application and technical proposal. The financial proposal should be a lump sum amount for all the deliverables in the Terms of Reference above and should show a breakdown for the following:
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Daily/Monthly Fees - Based on the deliverables and as per the number of days indicated in the Terms of Reference.
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In country Travel – for a maximum of two trips per state per year (Yap, Chuuk and Kosrae). All estimates must be based on the most economical airfares, standard accommodation rates and local transportation costs.
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Miscellaneous - including health insurance, communications, and any other costs.
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
Minimum requirements:
Education:
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A Bachelor’s degree in public health, special/inclusive education, or a related field.
Experience:
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At least 2 years of professional experience in public health or related special education field.
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Proven technical expertise in health system, public health, inclusive education, field of disability.
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Experience in programme or project support, preferably in the field of disability or a related sector.
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Strong organizational, administrative, and communication skills.
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Ability to work effectively with diverse stakeholders.
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Familiarity and experience of working with UN agencies is an asset
Skills:
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Strong inter-personal, teamwork and organizational skills
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Advance computer skills, including proficiency in word processing, spreadsheets, and presentation software.
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Solid analytical, negotiating, communication, advocacy and report writing skills.
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Fluency in written and spoken English.
Language:
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Fluency in written and spoken English is required. Knowledge of a local language is highly desired.
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
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.
The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.
Remarks:
Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.
UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. 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.
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.
Advertised: West Pacific Standard Time
Deadline: West Pacific Standard Time