Health Specialist (Polio Outbreak Response) at United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF)

Job Title: Health Specialist (Polio Outbreak Response)

Job Summary

• The Health Specialist (Polio Outbreak Response) reports to a Health Specialist for guidance and general supervision.
• The Health Specialist (Polio Outbreak Response) is responsible for the managing, implementing, monitoring, evaluating, and reporting the programme progress of the UNICEF polio outbreak response across the core accountabilities of campaign design, advocacy and vaccine management.
• The candidate will provide technical support to the EOC Health authorities and other polio eradication partners in designing, implementing and evaluating interventions that increase uptake for Polio immunization including areas that are hard to reach, and security compromised.
• The candidate will be supporting polio outbreak response in Kwara, Kaduna, Nasarawa and Niger states.

Summary of Key Functions / Accountabilities

• Support Chief of UNICEF Kaduna office with strategic and operational oversight of polio outbreak response operations, particularly around the areas of campaign design, implementation, vaccine management and advocacy, ensuring that they address the needs of the population and are aligned with plans and strategies of the national polio outbreak response.
• Ensure Internal coordination between various sections within the field office in preparation and implementation of polio outbreak response.
• Represent UNICEF at meetings and EOC, provide direct feedback to the CFO and NCO about outbreak response progress, challenges and ways forward.
• Foster close coordination with SPHCDB and other partners, and assist in the organization of regular coordination meetings, teleconferences, and updates.
• Work with SPHCDB/SMOH/WHO/The Gates Foundation and other partners to develop a state outbreak response plan, including a budget as may be needed.

Major Responsibilities

• In coordination with Polio partners and EOC, map and identify high risk, inaccessible settlements as well as low performing settlements, Wards and LGAs and by using evidence interventions reach identified areas
• Ensure Internal coordination between various sections within the field office in preparation and implementation of polio outbreak response.
• Represent UNICEF at meetings and EOC, provide direct feedback to the CFO and NCO about polio outbreak response progress, challenges and ways forward
• Foster close coordination with SPHCDB and other partners, and assist in the organization of regular coordination meetings, teleconferences, and updates.
• Work with SPHCDB/SMOH/WHO/The Gates Foundation and other partners to develop a state polio outbreak response plan, including a budget as may be needed.
• Support and contribute to the preparation, design and updating of the situation analysis for the sector(s) to establish a strategic plan for development, design and management of polio outbreak response. Keep abreast of development trends to enhance polio eradication programme management, efficiency and delivery.
• Participate in strategic programme discussions on the planning of polio eradication programmes. Formulate, design and prepare a sector of the polio eradication programme proposal, ensuring alignment with UNICEF’s Strategic Plan, the Country Programme, as well as coherence/integration with the UN Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF), regional strategies, and national priorities, plans and competencies.
• Establish specific programme goals, objectives, strategies, and implementation plans based on results-based planning terminology and methodology (RBM). Prepare required documentations for programme review and approval.
• Work closely and collaboratively with colleagues and partners to discuss strategies and methodologies, and to determine national polio eradication priorities and competencies to ensure the achievement of concrete and sustainable results.
• Provide technical and operational support throughout all stages of polio eradication programming processes to ensure integration, coherence and harmonization of programmes/projects with other UNICEF sectors and achievement of results as planned and allocated.
• 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 polio eradication 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.
• Monitor and verify the optimum and appropriate use of sectoral programme resources (financial, administrative and other assets) confirming compliance with organizational rules, regulations/procedures and donor commitments, standards of accountability and integrity, ensuring timely reporting and liquidation of resources.
• Prepare regular and mandated programme/project reports for management, donors and partners to keep them informed of programme progress.
• Provide technical guidance and operational support to government counterparts, NGO partners, UN system partners and other country office partners/donors on the interpretation, application and understanding of UNICEF policies, strategies, processes, and best practices and approaches on polio eradication-related issues to support programme development planning, management, implementation and delivery of results.
• Participate in discussions with national partners, clients and stakeholders to promote polio eradication and development issues, especially in the areas of gender, emergency preparedness, maternal and neonatal polio eradication, and child survival and development.
• Draft policy papers, briefs and other strategic programme materials for management use, information and consideration.
• Participate in emergency preparedness initiatives for programme development, contingency planning and/or to respond to emergencies in country or where designated.
• Build and sustain effective close working partnerships with polio eradication sector government counterparts, national stakeholders, as well as global partners, allies, donors, and academia. Through active networking, advocacy and effective communication, build capacity and exchange knowledge and expertise to facilitate the achievement of programme goals on child rights, social justice and equity.
• Prepare communication and information materials for CO programme advocacy to promote awareness, establish partnerships/alliances, and support fund raising for polio eradication programmes (maternal, neonatal and child survival and development).
• Participate and/or represent UNICEF in appropriate inter-agency (UNCT) discussions and planning on polio eradication-related issues to collaborate with inter-agency partners/colleagues on UNDAF planning and preparation of polio eradication programmes/projects, ensuring organizational position, interests and priorities are fully considered and integrated in the UNDAF process in development planning and agenda setting.
• Apply and introduce innovative approaches and good practices to build the capacity of partners and stakeholders, and to support the implementation and delivery of concrete and sustainable programme results.
• Keep abreast and conduct research to provide evidence for implementation of best and cutting-edge practices in health and polio eradication.
• Assess, institutionalize and share best practices and knowledge learned.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of policies and procedures to ensure optimum efficiency and efficacy of sustainable programmes and projects.

Requirements
To qualify as an advocate for every child, you will have:

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

Experience:   

• A minimum of five years of professional experience in one or more of the following areas is required: public health /Immunization/nutrition planning and management, maternal and neonatal health care, or health emergency/humanitarian preparedness.
• Experience working in a developing country is considered as an asset.
• Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization is considered as an asset.
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergencies.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language or a local language is an asset. 

Application Instructions:

The application deadline is on 31st July, 2025. Therefore, Qualified and interested candidates can “CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT APPLICATION” It is important to visit the official website (link found below) for detailed information on how to apply successfully for this vacancy.

Official Job Website: https://jobs.unicef.org/

Note: Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.