Health Specialist, (Health Systems Strengthening) P-4, Temporary Appointment, Abuja, Nigeria #131511

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.

Click here to experience our country through the perspective of our colleagues by clicking on this Link

For every child, Health

In Nigeria, UNICEF works in a complex humanitarian and development setting to fulfill and protect children’s rights in partnership with the government, civil society, children, and families.  UNICEF Nigeria is one of the largest UNICEF Country Offices globally – click the link to learn more about UNICEF in Nigeria: https://www.unicef.org/nigeria/

Background:

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programs, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education, and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfil their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nation

How can You Make a difference?

Purpose For the Job:

The government of Nigeria has renewed its commitment to achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and has adopted Primary Health Care as a key pillar in its strategy to meet UHC goals. The Health Specialist (System Strengthening) will support UNICEF Nigeria’s Health Section in implementing Sector Wide Approach (SWAp) policies and related health reforms, with a focus on enhancing access, equity, and the quality of healthcare services for children and vulnerable populations in Nigeria. This role will also contribute to creating a coordinated and sustainable healthcare system, ensuring that child and maternal health initiatives are integrated into broader national health reforms. Key responsibilities include providing technical support to government agencies on primary healthcare reforms at both the federal and sub-national levels.

Key function, accountabilities, and related duties/tasks:

• Plan and provide technical support and guidance for the preparation, design and updating of the situation analysis to establish a comprehensive and updated strategic plan for development, design, and management of health-related programmes. Keep abreast of development trends to enhance programme management, efficiency, and delivery.
• Prepare, coordinate and/or supervise the formulation of health programme recommendations and related documentations as a component of the Country Programme, establishing clear programme goals, objectives, strategies, and results-based planning terminology and methodology (RBM).
• Under the overall guidance of the Manager, Health System Strengthening (HSS/PHC) and Chief Health, provide technical, policy and programming support to Field Offices, Ministry of Health and other collaborating partners for ongoing reforms SWAp.
• Lead and manage country-level Global Fund grants, focusing on health system strengthening and digital health, collaborating with partners, government agencies, and other stakeholders.
• Ensure alignment of the sectoral programme with UNICEF’s Strategic Plans, Country Programme, UN Development Assistance Framework (UNDF), regional strategies as well as national priorities, plans and competencies.

2. Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results:

• Plan and/or collaborate with internal and external partners to establish monitoring benchmarks, performance indicators, and other UNICEF/UN system indicators and measurements to assess and strengthen performance accountability, coherence and delivery of concrete and sustainable results for the assigned sector in health programmes.
• Participate in monitoring and evaluation exercises, programme reviews and annual sectoral reviews with the government and other counterparts to assess progress and to determine required action/interventions to achieve results.
• Prepare and assess monitoring and evaluation reports to identify gaps, strengths and/or weaknesses in programme management, identify lessons learned and use knowledge gained for development planning and timely intervention to achieve goals.
• Actively monitor programmes/projects through field visits, surveys and/or exchange of information with partners/stakeholders to assess progress, identify bottlenecks, potential problems and take timely decisions to resolve issues and/or refer to relevant officials for timely resolution.

• Prepare timely health system, economic and financing analysis for PHC (including equity, cost effectiveness, and public health expenditure analysis) to empower UNICEF Nigeria with evidence for national dialogue in improving efficiency in health spending
• Support and guide UNICEF Nigeria on the analysis of health financing functions at subnational level with a focus on Immunization and Reproductive, Maternal, Neonatal, Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH) services without financial hardship
• Prepare data-driven situational analyses of health care financing in support of monitoring health sector performance, including general financing indicators, Sustainable Development Goals and UHC/PHC/Immunization/RMNCAH indicators.
• Lead the development of the SDG-3 investment case on PHC interventions including community level to reduce maternal mortality and improve child health outcomes, including expanding routine immunization and reducing zero-dose children.
• Undertake health sector budget analysis to inform UNICEF’s advocacy and technical assistance to federal and state Ministries of Finance, Budget and National Planning, and Ministry of Health and federal agencies.
• Work with Social Policy in the analysis and understanding of the underlying economic determinants of health to develop and implement policies and programmes that enhance health equity and integrate pro-poor, gender-responsive, and human rights-based approaches, including assessing the design and implementation of health insurance schemes.
• Facilitate the analysis of social and economic trends and health financing information with a focus on implications on fiscal space for PHC services, including immunization, and support engagement for policy dialogue and formulation.

• Build and sustain effective close working partnerships with health sector government counterparts, national stakeholders, as well as global partners, allies, donors, and academia for active networking, advocacy and effective communication to improve health planning, budgeting and financial flows at federal and sub-national level.
• Prepare communication and information materials to promote awareness, establish partnerships/alliances, and support national efforts on fundraising for health programmes (PHC and UHC including immunization)).
• Participate and/or represent UNICEF in appropriate inter-agency discussions and planning on health-related issues to collaborate with inter-agency partners/colleagues on PFM related discussions; and on UNSDCF planning and preparation of health financing programmes/projects.
• Support compelling use of finance data and evidence in advocacy materials and campaigns, including designing visually attractive infographics and data analysis on health planning, budgeting, and expenditures.
• Collaborate with WHO, World Bank, other UN agencies and implementing partners to support country-level technical assistance on public financing: costing, financial and fiscal space analysis, budgeting and design of financing mechanisms to benefit children and women
• Advocate, during strategic discussions with Ministries of Finance, Budget and National Planning, and Health and other key decision makers and stakeholders to influence agenda setting in favor of health and wellbeing of children, women and young people.

Impact of Results:

The efficiency and efficacy of support provided by the Health Specialist to programme preparation, planning and implementation facilitates the delivery of concrete and sustainable results that directly impact the improvement of the health and wellbeing of the most marginalized and vulnerable children and women in the country. This in turn contributes to maintaining and enhancing the credibility and ability of UNICEF to continue to provide programme services to protect the rights of children, and to promote greater social equality to enable them to survive, develop and reach their full potential in society.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: JD Health Specialist P4 TA 2025.doc

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

Minimum requirements:

An advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required: public health, global/international health, health policy and/or management, health economics & financing, health research, environmental health sciences, biostatistics, socio-medical, health education, epidemiology, or another relevant technical field.

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)

(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness (2)

(3) Drive to achieve results for impact (2)

(4) Innovates and embraces change (2)

(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity (2)

(6) Thinks and acts strategically (2)

(7) Works collaboratively with others (2)

(8) Nurtures, Leads and Manages People (2)

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.

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.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.