Temporary Appointment
Applications are hereby invited from suitably qualified candidates to
fill the above Temporary position in the Health Section, UNICEF Kenya,
to be based in Lodwar.
Justification
Turkana County and other northern areas of Kenya continue to experience the effect of cyclic droughts and poor health systems
manifested by poor health indicators including routine immunization coverage and high maternal mortality rates.
The impact of poor health indicators has been observed previously for
instance in the 2011 drought emergency through high malnutrition rates
and consequent upsurge of epidemic prone diseases including high case
load of diarrhea diseases.
In 2009, 18 confirmed cases of the wild polio virus were reported in
the county which made the government and partners implement 5 rounds of
supplementary immunization campaigns to contain the transmission.
Additionally, the county has had episodes of cholera outbreak; the worst
occurred late 2009 to mid-2010.
In 2012, UNICEF Kenya health section invested in supporting the
government to implement long term programmes at county level through
support to strengthen county health sector coordination, scale up of
community health services through recruiting and training community
health workers and procurement of tools.
Additionally, UNICEF supported county health teams in generating
evidence using health systems data from Turkana County to guide county
teams in developing quality plans.
In 2013, the focus of UNICEF will be to support county teams develop
investment plans for the county that incorporate disaster risk reduction
priorities in plans, focus to prioritize phased implementation of the
priorities identified starting with cost effective high impact
interventions that require minimal funding but yield higher results;
development of maternal and newborn health strategy for northern Kenya;
roll-out of integrated community case management of diarrhea, pneumonia
and malaria.
UNICEF will also focus in strengthening partnerships to leverage
resources for sustained implementation of community based maternal and
newborn interventions, using community health strategy as a platform for
service delivery in the counties that have very few health facilities,
and acute shortage of human resources for health.
The support to the long term investments is already on-going, and
close monitoring to ensure adherence to quality assurance and risks are
managed as they arise for optimal achievement of results. Continuity of
the technical support to Lodwar field office is critical. The
recruitment of a health specialist TA will ensure the priority Maternal,
Newborn and Child Health priorities are implemented and systems put in
place for sustainability through the government structures supported by
partners.
In light of support to the investments listed, UNICEF has planned to
have a sustained technical expertise as TA to support Lodwar sub office
for a period of 12 months.
Scope of Work
Health emergency response
Overall, the TA will oversee the programming of key MNCH priorities in
Turkana County. Working under the supervision of the Programme
Specialist (Head of office), Lodwar Field Office, and technically guided
by Health Systems Specialist based in Nairobi. Specifically the TA will
dedicate 100% of the time on Maternal, Newborn and Child Health, paying
attention to health disaster risk reduction (DRR) and health systems
strengthening due to the chronic cyclic emergency experienced in the
region to undertake the following.
1. Participate in mapping of partners and support in the
strengthening of the Turkana county health coordination mechanisms and
share UNICEF support with the County health team and other sector
partners.
2. Support finalization of Turkana county MNCH investment plans.
Support coordination of the Community Health Strategy Technical Working
Group to ensure effective and efficient scale up of community strategy
through mapping, recruitment and training of community health workers,
community health committees and operationalization of community health
units;
3. Support plans for roll out of iCCM, focusing on diarrhea,
pneumonia and malaria management and community based maternal an newborn
care;
4. Participate in the development of maternal and newborn strategy
for northern Kenya through stakeholders sensitization and consensus
building and support implementation;
5. Undertake end user monitoring of selected health supplies-
including antimalarial, indicating the number of people covered by the
supplies on monthly basis to guide in further prepositioning;
6. Undertake drafting regular situation reports, on bi-weekly and
monthly basis that are required by the office for information sharing
and also as part of the resource mobilization strategy
7. Ensure DRR and emergency interventions by UNICEF and partner
agencies conform to the norms and standards. Undertake field monitoring
visits in Turkana to evaluate the progress to Disaster Risk
Reduction/Management
8. Draft a final report on health disaster risk reduction/management
situation and programming as part of the hand over report
9. Support fundraising efforts through drafting of proposals and technical input when required to do so.
RWPPCR/IRs areas covered
UNICEF will contribute to increasing number of women and children have
equitable Access to and Use of Quality Essential Social and Protection
Services and practices with focus on vulnerable groups and the most
marginalised regions of Kenya by 2013
Majorly:
IR3: Health policies, strategies and systems supportive of MNCH scale-up and mitigation of emergencies; and:
IR 1: Increased proportion of women and children receiving quality
evidence-based essential integrated maternal and child care services by
December 2013
IR 2: Increasing number of households practicing improved health care
practices with focus on reaching the un-reached by 2011 and sustained
after that
Expected Deliverables
Output Deliverable Time
Coordination
1.Monthly stakeholders coordination meetings and reports that guide
implementation of disaster risk reduction priorities in Turkana 10%
2.Performance of essential health services in the County reviewed periodically (monthly/quarterly) by districts and partners
3. Harmonized Annual plan for joint supervision, monitoring and evaluation available
Implementation of Community Health Strategy
1.Community health workers mapped by partners, capacity, trained, community units created and interventions offered 25%
2.Partners briefed on the plan and status of Community Health Strategy roll out
3.40Community Health Units created through training of District Health
Management Teams, Community Health Extension Workers, Community Health
Committees, and Community Health Workers trained on Community Strategy
and implementation initiated in each county.
Maternal, Newborn and Child health Investment plans
1.MNCH Investment plans finalized, presented to the county health management, and interventions prioritized 20%
2. Implementation of key interventions initiated
3. Availability of seed resources for outbreak response and joint monitoring visits
MNH strategy for northern areas
1.Desk review of Turkana county health data to influence development of MNH strategy for northern areas 15%
2. Turkana (MOH) review and make recommendations to stakeholders
through regional/county retreats/workshops to address maternal and
neonatal mortality
3. Stakeholders reach consensus on MNH Strategy for Turkana county
Prepositioning and utilization of emergency drugs, supplies and equipment
1.Periodic end user monitoring informs utilization and gaps in essential commodities 10%
Disaster risk analysis and situation reports
1.Analytical reports comparing morbidity and utilization of the essential drugs on monthly basis compiled 10%
Required Qualifications
Advanced degree in Public Health or a health related field.
Experience
Two years of relevant professional work experience at the national and
international level in programme management, monitoring and evaluation,
in a related field.
Demonstrated competency in disaster risk reduction/emergency
coordination and response, and also knowledge in SPSS shall be useful.
In addition, the incumbent should:
• Have the ability to communicate effectively in English with others to effectively convey information.
• Proven ability to conceptualize, develop, plan and manage maternal
and emergency health programmes, as well as to impart knowledge and
teach skills.
• Have a strong capacity to use logic and analysis to identify the strengths and weaknesses of different approaches.
• Operate with minimal support, good initiative and ability to apply
technical knowledge creatively to ensure conflicts and disputes are
resolved between consultants, contractors and beneficiaries.
• Good analytical, negotiating, communication and advocacy skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a multi-cultural environment and
establish harmonious and effective working relationships both within and
outside the organization.
• Computer skills, including internet navigation and various office applications, including knowledge of SPSS and EpiInfo.
Competencies
• Communication
• Drive for Results
• Formulating Strategies and Concepts
• Applying Technical Expertise
• Working with People
• Planning and Organizing
Languages: Fluency in English. Knowledge of Kiswahili would be an asset.
Conditions (Important)
Position will be based in Lodwar, with frequent field visits to the six districts of the county.
Interested and suitable candidates should ensure that they forward their applications along with their curricula vitae, to:
The Human Resources Manager
UNICEF Kenya Country Office
Email address:
kenyahrvacancies@unicef.org
Please indicate Reference No.
“KCO/HLTH/2013/016” in the email subject.
Interested candidates should also complete the Personal History (P11)
form, which can be downloaded from the UNICEF Kenya website (
http://www.unicef.org/kenya).
“QUALIFIED FEMALE CANDIDATES ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY”ZERO TOLERANCE
FOR SEXUAL EXPLOITATION AND ABUSE. UNICEF IS A SMOKE-FREE ENVIRONMENT
