Senior Adviser Health – Integrated Service Delivery (P-5), PG Health Immunization (Co-located with GAVI), Geneva – Switzerland # 00129495

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.

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For every child, … good health….!

Immunization is crucial to primary healthcare, particularly for zero-dose children, who highlight communities lacking access to essential health services. Integrated delivery of immunization alongside other primary healthcare services—such as child health, nutrition, and WASH—can effectively address the needs of un/under-immunized children and underserved populations, especially as new vaccines become available. UNICEF has long invested in multi-sectoral programs that combine immunization with essential services, while Gavi employs various strategies to enhance equity and reach these vulnerable groups. However, the implementation of these integrated approaches remains limited, necessitating stronger evidence and guidance for effective strategies. To address this gap, UNICEF and Gavi are collaborating through a new position focused on integrated service delivery, aiming to optimize the impact of their initiatives and ensure that every child receives vital vaccinations, in alignment with global health goals.

How can you make a difference?

Join us as the Senior Health Adviser, Integrated Service Delivery, where you will play a pivotal role in enhancing collaboration between immunization and other UNICEF programs, such as maternal and child health, nutrition, education, WASH, and social protection, supported by Gavi. In this dynamic position, you will develop and implement strategies that equip UNICEF regional and country offices with the tools and guidance needed for effective planning, monitoring, and documenting of integrated service delivery. Your work will focus on improving the efficiency and reach of immunization initiatives, ultimately reducing the number of zero-dose children and advancing public health outcomes. Collaborate with teams at UNICEF headquarters, regional offices, and Gavi to make a tangible impact on children’s health worldwide!

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

Programme development, monitoring, documentation, and learning

• Facilitate the convening, and lead discussions between UNICEF (immunization and non-immunization teams from HQ, ROs, COs) and Gavi secretariat around integration of Immunization services, new touchpoints and PHC.
• Identify opportunities and new ways of collaboration between immunization programme and other programmes (Nutrition, WASH, Education, Social Protection, Digital Health Information System, etc.) at country level, building on existing health services and/or platforms.
• Ensure that opportunities for integration are explored and considered during the planning, implementation and monitoring of immunization programs and Gavi grants design and implementation processes by collaborating and coordinating with relevant UNICEF teams at HQ, RO, and CO levels.
• Track, assess and document integration opportunities, support and follow through on their implementation.
• Contribute to the development of a framework, programmatic guidance and implementation tools on integrated service delivery of immunization and other Primary Health Care to zero-dose and under-immunized children and missed communities in the context of Gavi supported programmes. Adapt the framework and disseminate the framework to guide UNICEF-supported activities in Gavi-eligible countries.
• Guide UNICEF regional and country offices to better align and strengthen integrated service delivery strategies (e.g., routine immunization, campaigns, PIRIs) across Gavi levers (e.g., HSIS, EAF, VIGs, MICs), and with other funders (e.g. GFATM, GFF, bilaterals) in line with the Lusaka agenda.
• Systematize, monitor, document and disseminate the implementation experience and lessons learned on integrated service delivery and the delivery approaches through the new vaccination touch points supported by UNICEF and other Alliance Partners in the context of Gavi programmes, and the effectiveness of this support. Promote the use and integrate the learning into the development of guidance document on a coordinated approach, with a particular focus on fragile contexts.
• Contribute to evaluation of integrated service delivery approaches, including of challenges and successes, supported by Gavi.

Capacity Building

• Jointly with Gavi secretariat and Alliance partners, develop capacity building approaches, action plan, and tools on integrated service delivery approaches for Governments, Alliance partners at regional and country levels, and Gavi secretariat.
• Organize and facilitate orientation sessions and technical clinics for Government and partners, including CSOs, on aligning immunization activities with other interventions and programmes to reach zero dose children and under-served communities.

Advocacy and Influence

• Develop and implement approaches for internal and external advocacy with Gavi partners for integrated service delivery and implementation approaches in immunization programs, strategies and operations at the global, regional, and country levels.
• Develop and implement strategies and approaches to influence increased investments by countries in integrated delivery of immunization with PHC and other essential services with focus on zero dose and under-immunized children and missed communities.

Promote and strengthen linkages within and across teams in UNICEF, Gavi secretariat, and partners

• Reach out and leverage UNICEF’s multi-sectoral structures and staff capacity (including but not limited to adolescent health, maternal and child nutrition, education, WASH, social protection) to promote an integrated service delivery for immunization with PHC and other essential social services in Gavi supported countries.
• Promote and use Hepatitis B birth dose, Malaria, HPV, Td booster vaccine introductions as entry points for integrated programming and multisectoral approaches.
• Leverage UNICEF’s advocacy and programmatic investments into Primary Health Care, including in community health and nutrition, to engage with communities and promote/support integrated service delivery to zero-dose children and missed communities.
• Foster partnerships with relevant stakeholders, including governments, NGOs, and civil society organizations, to promote gender-responsive immunization programs.

The following minimum requirements:

An advanced University degree in Public Health, Health Policy, Health Management, Social Sciences, or another relevant field or related technical areas is required.

Work Experience:

A minimum of 10 years of senior-level experience at the national and/or international level in immunization programming including work related to primary health care, health system strengthening, or maternal and child health initiatives is required.

Desirables/Assets:

• Experience of working at both global and country level, preferably in low- and lower-income settings.
• Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organisation is considered an asset.
• Demonstrated policy development and programming experience with focus on integration or multisectoral interventions, programs and strategies.
• Experience working with complex, multi-partner initiatives. Working with public-private partnerships such as Gavi, GFF, Global Fund ATM is highly desirable.
• Excellent communication, coordination, and influencing skills.
• Ability to evaluate and synthesize complex challenges; and to translate data and analysis into programmatic strategies.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a complex, multicultural environment.
• High sense of responsibility, efficiency, reliability and results-orientation.

Language Requirements:

Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese,  Russian or Spanish). Fluency in French strongly 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…

• Builds and maintains partnerships
• Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness
• Drive to achieve results for impact
• Innovates and embraces change
• Manages ambiguity and complexity
• Thinks and acts strategically
• 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 benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, 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:

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

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.