CHARITY JOBS IN AFRICA

Organization: UN Population Fund
Country: South Africa
Closing date: 24 Sep 2014

VACANCY NO.: Job ID 2647

CLOSING DATE: 24 September 2014 (5:00p.m. New York time)

POST TITLE: Health Systems Specialist

CATEGORY: ICS-11 (P-4)

POST TYPE: Non-Rotational

DUTY STATION: Johannesburg

DURATION: One year (renewable)^[i][i]

ORGANIZATIONAL UNIT: East and Southern Africa Regional Office

ORGANIZATIONAL SETTING:

The Health Systems Specialist post is located in the Regional Office for East and Southern Africa. S/He reports directly to the practice leaders for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) under the overall leadership of the Deputy Regional Director who provides overall leadership, and receives input from the Programme and Policy Advisers on the overall programme strategy. S/He is part of an inter-disciplinary team, which provides technical, policy, programme support and guidance to the regional programme and to countries in the regional cluster in an integrated and coordinated manner under the coordination of the Practice Leader SRHR.

MAJOR DUTIES AND REPONSIBILITIES

A. Provide Guidance on Policy and Programme Development and Implementation

-Assist in co-ordination of the planning and delivery of integrated policy, programme and technical support and advice to Country Offices (COs) in the programming process;

-Technically support country office planning and implementation processes regarding health systems’ strengthening to increase access, uptake and monitoring of quality SRHR services and with a specific focus on HRH and health financing;

-Assist in policy dialogue and development within the region to further the advancement of the ICPD-PoA and health system strengthening;

-Contribute to the development and management of the regional programme, while ensuring complementarily between the regional programme and the needs, realities and activities at the country level, particularly where health system strengthening is concerned;

-Foster partnerships at regional and country level with the aim of strengthen health systems and advancing SRHR through a coordinated approach.

-Generate advocacy and policy arguments around the economic and health financing cases for investing in SRHR and HSS;

-Support countries develop health financing strategies and HRH strategies as relates to SRHR

B. Capacity development

-Assist countries offices in assessing further potential to strengthen health systems for better SRHR outcomes.

-Support the development and implementation of a capacity development strategy for the region, placing special emphasis on capacity in the area of health system strengthening;

-Identify capacity building needs of the country offices with regard to health system strengthening and follow-up through organization of capacity building activities with country office staff, national counterparts, and civil society partners; and

-Identify and support national and international experts and institutions in providing technical support to countries in the various areas of health system strengthening;

-Coordinate with other UN agencies, the provision of technical and programme assistance in the region and capacity development initiatives.

C. Monitoring and Oversight

-In coordination with the M&E adviser in the Regional Office (RO), and with regard to health system strengthening and SRHR, support the COs in the development and implementation of result****s****-based indicators and plans to monitor, evaluate and follow-up;

-Monitor and provide oversight to the development of key programme or management related documents from the assigned COs (e.g. Office Management Plan (OMP), Annual Work Plan (AWP), Country Office Annual Report (COAR), and evaluation reports, Annual reports of UNRCs, etc.) to keep abreast of country situation and progress, to identify areas for support by RO and to advise Regional management of issues, opportunities, and/or required interventions;

-Assist in the development of periodic progress reports on the regional programme, especially where health system strengthening is concerned.

-Participate in field missions related to planning, monitoring, and evaluation assistance to country programmes and regional programme initiatives;

D. Knowledge Management:

-Prepare briefings for the RO Deputy Director, Programme and Policy Advisors and COs on issues related to health systems’ strengthening at country and regional level;

-Support and assist the assigned COs to identify opportunities or lessons learned/best practices in the region with regard to efforts aimed at advancing SRH outcomes by strengthening health systems;

-Consolidate CO documentation on lessons learned/best practices in the region and ensure that these are incorporated into the UNFPA knowledge sharing system;

-Liaise with the Technical Division (TD) & Programme Division (PD) to ensure that state-of-the-art, global technical and programming knowledge and lessons learned/best practices are available for use in countries to improve the effectiveness of UNFPA programmes;

****E. Carry out any other duties as may be required by the Office of the Regional Director or by the Regional Deputy Director.****

ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:

****Education:****Background in Medicine or Nursing/Midwifery. And a Post-graduate University Degree or equivalent in public health, medicine, sociology, demography, gender, economics, international relations, international development, public administration, management or other related field.

****Knowledge and Experience:****

§ 7 years of increasingly responsible professional experience in management and development relevant to Health System Strengthening and SRH

· Experience in programme and/or technical assistance with the UN System

· Field experience is required

****Required Competencies:****

i) Values: Exemplifying integrity, Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system, Embracing cultural diversity, Embracing change

ii) Core Competencies: Achieving results, Being accountable, Developing and applying professional expertise/business acumen, Thinking analytically and strategically, Working in teams/managing ourselves and our relationships, Communicating for impact

iii) Required Skillset:

· Strategically positioning UNFPA programmes

· Providing conceptual innovation to support programme effectiveness

· Generating, managing and promoting the use of knowledge and information

· Providing a technical support system

· Strengthening the programming capacity of Country Offices

· Facilitating quality programmatic results

· Internal and External relations and advocacy for results mobilization

Languages:Fluency in English. Working knowledge of French and/or Portuguese an asset.

UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, teamwork, respect for diversity, integrity and a healthy balance of work and life. We are committed to maintaining our balanced gender distribution and therefore encourage women to apply.

We offer an attractive remuneration package commensurate with the level of the position. The package includes a competitive salary plus housing allowance, home leave, health insurance and other benefits.

How to apply:

UNFPA has established an electronic application management system. This allows applicants to create a candidate profile, which can be updated regularly and submitted for more than one vacancy.

Download the Step by Step Guide to Applying in the E-Recruit System of UNFPA at http://www.unfpa.org/employment

Please print out the Guide for your reference during the registration and application process.

Notice: There is no application, processing or other fee at any stage of the application process. UNFPA does not solicit or screen for information in respect of HIV or AIDS and does not discriminate on the basis of HIV/AIDS status.

Notice to applicants: In accordance with the rules of the United Nations, persons applying to posts in the international Professional category, who hold permanent resident status in a country other than their country of nationality, are required to renounce such status upon their appointment. Exceptions to this rule are very limited and can be made only for: (a) stateless persons; (b) newly appointed staff members who have applied for citizenship by naturalization, when such citizenship will be granted imminently; (c) acting staff members in the General Service and related categories with permanent residency status, on promotion to the Professional category; (d) staff members appointed under a temporary appointment. Please understand that UNFPA is not in a position to provide advice on or assistance in applying for any citizenship.