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, a champion

In Burundi, UNICEF has a very diverse portfolio of responsibilities but all with the same objective which is to assist the Government and other stakeholders to fulfill children’s economic, social, cultural, political, and civil rights. The UNICEF country program in Burundi aims to improve the lives of children and women in the following key areas: Child and maternal health, Nutrition, Education, Child Protection, Water, sanitation and hygiene, Social Policy and Advocacy, Adolescent empowerment and community resilience, and Humanitarian response.

How can you make a difference? 

Under the overall supervision of the Chief of the Health Section and the Health Manager, Health Specialist for guidance and technical oversight, the Emergency Health Specialist is responsible for the development, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and reporting of UNICEF's response to the mpox epidemic at the national and operational levels with the following key functions:

• Provide technical support for the effective development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the national mpx contingency plan;
•  Actively support technical coordination of UNICEF-supported activities with partners, namely WHO, UNFPA, WFP, OIM and other partners involved in MPOX preparedness and response activities at national and sub-national levels;
• Provide technical support to implementing partners as part of UNICEF's mpox preparedness and response;
• Supporting the preparation of the stand-up meeting and following up on action points by Tacker in consultation with UNICEF's Technical Crisis Team on Mpox preparedness and response plan; 
• Participate in national health coordination and working group meetings and liaise with key partners to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of health activities;
• Support the updating of the UNICEF mpox preparedness and response plan, UNICEF mpox daily and weekly SITREPs, and other updates related to mpox in collaboration with the Nutrition, WASH, CREC, Child Protection, Education, PME and Social Policy sections of the UNICEF country office ;
• Support the collection and reporting of quality data for the development of the weekly Humanitarian Plan Monitoring (HPM) and the monthly UNICEF SITREP;
• Provide support to UNICEF offices and the 49 at-risk districts in the planning, pre-positioning, distribution and monitoring of emergency health supplies, with the aim of achieving mpox prevention and control.
• Support to the country in the dissemination of technical and operational guidance on MPOX preparedness and response;
• Contribute to epidemiological surveillance and contingency planning for other epidemics, such as Marburg hemorrhagic fever.
• Provide health inputs to rapid needs assessments, humanitarian response planning, emergency needs assessments and other CO documents.
• Contribute to the appropriate use of UNICEF resources and timely justification of funding in accordance with HACT (Harmonised Approach to Cash Transfers) procedures.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here:  ToR_ TA Health Emergency Specialist.pdf

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

Minimum requirements:

• Education: Advanced university degree in medicine, Public Health or other relevant disciplines.

• Work Experience: A minimum of five (5) years of relevant professional experience in one or more of the following areas is required: public health planning and management, health emergency/humanitarian preparedness and response, infection and infection prevention in the fight against public health emergencies (WHO, CDC, MSF).
• Work experience in emergency and developing countries; Background/familiarity with emergencies;Work experience with UNICEF/UN agencies or international development institutions is an advantage.
• Language Requirements: Fluency in French is required. Knowledge of English and another official UN language or local language of the duty station is considered as an asset.

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 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 female candidate and people with disability 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.