Temporary appointment: Innovation Specialist (P-3), Bujumbura Burundi Full Time

The Health & Nutrition Innovation Specialist reports to the Chief of Health & Nutrition for supervision. The Specialist provides professional technical, operational and administrative assistance throughout the programming process for the Health & Nutrition Program within the Country Program from the development planning to delivery of results, preparing, executing, managing and implementing a variety of technical and administrative program tasks to facilitate program development, implementation, program progress monitoring, evaluating and reporting of results.

Purpose of the Job: The Health & Nutrition Innovation Specialist reports to the Chief of Health & Nutrition for supervision. The Specialist provides professional technical, operational and administrative assistance throughout the programming process for the Health & Nutrition Program within the Country Program from the development planning to delivery of results, preparing, executing, managing and implementing a variety of technical and administrative program tasks to facilitate program development, implementation, program progress monitoring, evaluating and reporting of results.

II. Key function, accountabilities and related duties/tasks

2.1. Support to programme development and planning

• Conduct/update situation analysis for the program sector/s for development, design and management of health and nutrition innovations related programs. Research and report on development trends (e.g. political social, economic, health) for higher management use to enhance program management, efficiency and delivery of results.
• Contribute to the development/establishment of sectoral program goals, objectives and strategies and results-based planning through analysis of health needs and areas for intervention and submission of recommendations for priority and goal setting;
• Provide technical and operational support throughout all stages of programming processes by executing/administering a variety of technical program transactions, preparing materials/documentations and complying with organizational processes and management systems, to support program planning, results-based planning (RBM) and monitoring and evaluating results;
• Prepare required documentations/materials to facilitate the program review and approval process, especially databases and training materials;
• Support UNICEF and Government for the identification of adequate technology equipment.

2.2. Program management, monitoring and delivery of results

• Work closely and collaboratively with internal and external colleagues and partners to discuss operational and implementation issues, provide solutions, recommendations and/or alert appropriate officials and stakeholders for higher-level intervention and/or decision. Keep record of reports and assessments for easy reference and/or to capture and institutionalize lessons learned;
• Participate in monitoring and evaluation exercises, program reviews and annual sectoral reviews with the government and other counterparts to assess programs and to report on required action/interventions at the higher level of program management;
• Monitor and report on the use of health & Nutrition innovations resources (financial, administrative and other assets), verify compliance with approved allocation/goals, organizational rules, regulations/procedures and donor commitments, standards of accountability and integrity. Report on issues identified to ensure timely resolution by management/stakeholders. Follow up on unresolved issues to ensure resolution;
• Prepare regular/mandated sectoral programme/project reports for management, donors and partners to keep them informed of programme progress.

2.3. Technical and operational support to programme implementation

• Support Health System Strengthening in general and the implementation of innovations activities related to Kiramama project, Mother and Child Health Weeks (MCHWs), Community Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM), cholera reporting as well as health information system strengthening. Additional activities could be added based on joint discussion between Ministry of Health and related institutions and UNICEF;
• Conduct regular programme field visits and surveys and/or exchange information with partners/stakeholders to assess progress and provide technical support, take appropriate action to resolve issues and/or refer to relevant officials for resolution. Report on critical issues, bottlenecks and potential problems for timely action to achieve results;
• Support new trainings as well as refresh trainings of health and nutrition sector government counterparts and national stakeholders in the area of systems strengthening and innovations for the implementation of kiramama project, MCHW, CMAM, cholera and health information system strengthening;
• Participate in discussions with national partners, clients and stakeholders to promote health and development issues, especially in the areas of health information system.

2.4. Networking and partnership building

• Build and sustain effective close working partnerships with health and nutrition sector government counterparts and national stakeholders through active sharing of information and knowledge to enhance programme implementation and build capacity of stakeholders to deliver concrete and sustainable results;
• Coordinate with all stakeholders and at all levels (private sectors, ministries and other related public services and partners) of the implementation for a Rapid SMS system for kiramama project, CMHW, CMAM and cholera;
• Draft communication and information materials for CO programme advocacy to promote awareness, establish partnership/alliances and support fund raising for health programmes;

• • Participate in appropriate inter-agency (UNCT) discussions on health-related issues to collaborate with inter-agency partners/colleagues on UNDAF operational planning and preparation of health programmes/projects and to integrate and harmonize UNICEF position and strategies with the UNDAF development and planning process;
  • Research information on potential donors and prepare resource mobilization materials and briefs for fund raising and partnership development purposes.

2.5. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

• • Identify, capture, synthesize and share lessons learned for knowledge development and to build the capacity of stakeholders;
  • Apply and introduce innovative approaches and promote good practices to support the implementation and delivery of concrete and sustainable programme results;
  • Assist with oversight of research and ensure results are available for use in knowledge products;
  • Participate a resource person in capacity building initiatives to enhance the competencies of clients/stakeholders.

III. Impact of Results

The efficiency and efficacy of support provided by the Health and Nutrition Innovations Specialist to programme preparation, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of health and nutrition programmes/projects facilitates the delivery of concrete and sustainable results for the Health and Nutrition programme that directly impacts the improvement of the health and nutrition of the children and women in the country, and this in turn contributes to maintaining/enhancing the credibility and ability of UNICEF to continue to provide programme services to protect the rights of children, promote greater social equality to enable children to survive, develop and reach their full potential in society.

IV. Competencies And Level Of Proficiency Required

Core Values

• • Commitment
  • Diversity and inclusion
  • Integrity

Core competencies

• • Communication (II)
  • Working with people (II)
  • Drive for results (II)

Functional Competencies

• • Formulating strategies and concepts (II)
  • Analyzing (III)
  • Applying technical expertise (III)
  • Learning and researching (III)
  • Planning and organizing (III)

V. Recruitment Qualifications

Education

Advanced university degree in Informatics, Statistics, Economics, Social Sciences, Public health/nutrition, pediatric health, Business administration, or other health related informatics programming is required (or a bachelor Degree plus at least 7 years of demonstrated professional experience in the field of informatics, Statistics, Economics, Social sciences, Public health / nutrition, Business administration, or other health related informatics programming).

Experience

At least 5 years of professional experience in informatics programing and management and/or in relevant areas of maternal and neonatal health, nutrition, informatics or statistics at the international level and/or in a developing country is required. Experience in health/nutrition program/project in UN system agency or organization is an asset.

Language Requirements

Fluency in French and working knowledge in English are required. Knowledge of another official UN language or local language of the duty station is considered as an asset.

Tagged as: Burundi, UNICEF