Immunization Specialist, (P-4), WCARO Dakar, Senegal #00131496

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For every child, Hope

In line with the Sustainable Development Goals (2015-2030), the UNICEF Regional Office in West and Central Africa (WCARO) is implementing the 2022-2025 Regional Office Management Plan (ROMP) in response to regional priorities. In the area of Health, the priorities and organizational focus are on three Key Results that contribute to advancing the Child Survival & Development agenda in the Region: i) Closing equity gaps in immunization through polio eradication and accelerated routine immunization-plus; ii) Saving new-born lives and; iii) accelerating the integrated management of childhood killer diseases.

The Lake Chad Basin region—encompassing Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria—remain the core reservoirs of variant poliovirus type 2 transmission within the African Region. The countries are vulnerable to poliovirus transmission due to challenges like inadequate essential immunization systems, high transnational high-risk population mobility, insecurity, and limited access to stable healthcare system. To effectively combat polio transmission and meet the goal of interrupting polio transmission by end 2026, a structured and unified response is critical. A Lake Chad Basin Coordination Team for Polio Eradication (LBCT) is established to enhance inter-country collaboration, harmonize cross-border polio eradication activities, and ensure effective implementation of the polio response cross boarder plan as well as the regional strategies, and promote alignment and information sharing with other cross broader health and disease outbreak prevention and response efforts.

The LBCT includes a small team that will be physically based at a Coordination Centre in Ndjamena – Chad (Coordinator, admin and operational support, Technical supports as necessary, Advocacy and External Communication, Representatives from GPEI or other partners assigned to the Team by the GPEI Regional Outbreak Response Group with additional members participating remotely from the five Lake Chad Basin countries (Country Incident Managers, GPEI Coordinators, WHO and UNICEF country Team Leads, local focal points from border areas).

This RO outposted Immunization Specialist / Polio will be the representative of UNICEF RO within LBCT group based in Ndjamena-Chad. This position aims to facilitate, coordinate, and enhance cross-border polio eradication activities across the Lake Chad Basin countries by ensuring synchronized efforts in the domains where UNICEF is partner lead (SBC & Vaccine Management) as well as in pillars for which UNICEF is co-lead partner (Advocacy & finance).

How can you make a difference? 

Purpose for the job

Under the general guidance of the Regional Adviser Health and the direct supervision of the Health Specialist Immunization/Polio Coordinator at the Regional Office, the Immunization Specialist /Polio is responsible for providing UNICEF’s strategic and technical leadership on polio eradication agenda in the five countries of Lake Chad Basin, namely Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria. The incumbent is part of the Lake Chad Basin Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) Coordination Team for Polio Eradication (LBCT) and will support and advise on the overall management of the Polio programme in this region. This includes coordination, development of polio-related strategies, outbreak preparedness and cross-border response plans, and the provision of timely technical assistance to the five countries in the Lake Chad Basin. The Specialist is responsible for ensuring synchronized efforts in the domains where UNICEF is the lead agency (SBC & Vaccine Management) as well as where UNICEF is the co-lead partner (Advocacy & Finance). The incumbent will work closely with the Chief Health/Immunization/Polio Coordinators of the five Country Offices in the Lake Chad Basin. The position will also closely interact with GPEI partners, including WHO, CDC, Gates Foundation, and the governments of the Lake Chad Basin countries. The position will be out-posted and based in Ndjamena, Chad where the LBCT is located.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

Timely analysis, technical support and coordination related to polio eradication/Immunization efforts in Lake Chad Basin (LCB) bloc for effective planning, development, and management.

• Support coordination of partnership within the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), including GPEI coordination and Task Team meetings; and participate in meetings/events with governments and other counterparts/stakeholders (GPEI partners) to contribute to polio assessments, strategic program discussions, and outbreak preparedness and response planning of the Lake Chad Basin (LCB) Countries.
• Support effective advocacy, and networking through partnership and collaboration with the Regional Outbreak Response Group (RORG), and country levels in LCB.
• Provide advice on program strategies, direction and planning that advance UNICEF goals on immunization agenda focusing on polio eradication in LCB. This includes guidance and advice to the 5 country teams throughout the process of planning and preparation of the Polio Annual Work plans, ensuring harmonization of approaches and alignment with UNICEF and GPEI Partners corporate guidelines, policies/procedures as well as regional and national priorities.
• Provide technical assistance and capacity building of the five countries in LCB for polio outbreak preparedness and response, external evaluations of the polio outbreak response (OBRAs), and strengthening routine Immunization capitalizing on polio eradication assets with a focus on development and implementation of transition plans.

Development and implementation of the polio cross-border plan in LCB and approaches through technical inputs, participation and collaboration with internal and external partners.

• Facilitate regular communication between national health authorities, five UNICEF Country offices and the Regional Office as well as other relevant partners to ensure a cohesive response to cross border aspects of polio transmission.
• Establish and maintain coordination channels between five countries and respective UNICEF Country Offices to address challenges and review progress.
• In agreement with UNICEF Country Offices, coordinate efforts with humanitarian stakeholders on the ground, especially UN agencies and/or NGOs focusing on displacements.
• Ensure internal coordination and oversight of polio multi-sectoral response team (Health, SBC, M&E, Com/Advocacy), and provide advice on best and innovative programming and management practices to enhance programming and operations.

Implementation progress is monitored and evaluated for adjustment, acceleration and improvement of program delivery and sustainability. In close coordination and agreement with the Rapid Response Team (RRT) experts, the Country Office Chiefs of Health and the LBCT GPEI core group members:

• Assess the areas which need advocacy to get full commitment of authorities on Polio eradication / Immunization and propose to RO and COs the strategy/plans to reach them.
• Evaluate overall program progress, identify weaknesses, bottlenecks and potential problems.
• Monitor implementation and progress of work plans and collaborate with colleagues to ensure achievement of results according to targets and performance standards.
• Monitor the optimum and appropriate use of program resources (financial, human, administrative and other assets) and verify compliance with organizational rules, regulations and procedures, donor commitments and standards of accountability and integrity.
• Ensure that multi-country action plan developed by the LBCT includes accurate and high-quality UNICEF Country Offices inputs related to cross-border activities specifically the community engagement, advocacy, and vaccine management.
• Participate in the regular bi-monthly virtual/hybrid meetings and quarterly in-person meetings (as per the set by LBCT) to review progress, address challenges, and plan upcoming activities, and provide regular updates to the Regional Office to discuss and agree on decisions which need to be taken.

Technical support is provided to governments of LCB countries and GPEI partners, including capacity building of relevant stakeholders.

• Advise on the conceptualization, development and implementation of the cross-border polio preparedness and response, using the latest information technology and introducing innovations and best practices to ensure optimum efficiency and efficacy in programming and operations.
• Coordinate the collection, institutionalization and sharing of lessons learned to enhance performance and to use lessons learned in cross-border polio preparedness and response. Promote learning and development through capacity building initiatives to enhance the competencies/productivity of staff members.
• In coordination with the COs, identify and submit to RO the quarterly technical assistance needs related to vaccine management, SBC, and finance, to support COs on the preparation and implementation of polio campaigns.
• In coordination with national authorities, the UNICEF COs and the Rapid Response Team experts, facilitate capacity-building of actors on SBC, Advocacy, vaccine management at national levels for polio eradication efforts/Immunization across borders.
• Provide in-country technical support to LCB countries to strengthen coordination, Monitoring of polio outbreak as well as post campaign activities with focus on transborder activities

Effective partnership and collaboration achieved and maintained for advocacy, technical cooperation, programme coordination, information sharing and knowledge networking.

• Under the guidance of the Regional Health Specialist (Polio Coordinator) and in collaboration with the Polio RORG and country GPEI partners:
  • Support UNICEF Country Offices to engage political leaders and policymakers to ensure strong governmental ownership and leadership of cross-border polio eradication efforts.
  • Support UNICEF Country Offices to engage traditional leaders in aim to strengthen the community engagement for polio responses.
• Support UNICEF Country Offices to advocate for the inclusion of polio eradication in broader health agendas and encourage the allocation of national resources to support immunization and surveillance activities.

All required polio-related reports of the LCB are timely prepared in compliance with the established guidelines and procedures.

• Ensure that LBCT quarterly progress reports shared with RORG include deep analysis and way forward of key elements related to UNICEF responsibilities.
• Contribute to programme reports required by the Regional Office with emphasis on Polio Eradication related matters and contribute to the development of proposals for LCB countries to donors as necessary

Other assigned duties and responsibilities are effectively performed.

• Performs and delivers additional duties and services assigned by the supervisor.

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

Minimum requirements:

Education:

• An Advanced university degree in Public Health or equivalent
• Desirable: Training in emergencies.

Work Experience:

• Eight years of working experience in Health programme including at least five years in Immunization program.
• Experience on health program management including coordination with partners. 
• Solid experience in managing Vaccine Preventable Disease Outbreak response.
• Experience in capacity building in health and immunization
• Strong communication and negotiating skills

Skills: 

• Leadership; Build and maintain partnership; Works collaboratively with others.
• Capability to work in an emergency context.
• Ability to work independently and to meet deadlines.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English and French required.

Desirables:

• Experiences in emergency context is a strong asset.
• Coordinating polio campaigns as well as synchronized polio campaigns is an asset.
• Working experience with UN agencies and in Lake Chad Basin Countries is 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.

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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.

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