Health Specialist, (NO-3), TA, #137465, 364 days, Mogadiscio, Somalia,

Organizational Context

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential. We are committed, passionate, and proud, offering diverse opportunities for professional and personal development to serve children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture.

Job Purpose

As an Immunization Specialist, you are accountable for providing technical assistance in developing immunization work plans, aligning with national health goals and targets. This role collaborates with Child Survival and Development, Maternal and Child Health, and Health and Nutrition components to achieve UNICEF’s immunization-plus objectives. You will support all five field offices, particularly in Central-South Somalia, to strengthen immunization programmes and respond to cVDPV2 outbreaks and other vaccine-preventable diseases, aiming to reduce zero-dose children. As a key partner to immunization initiatives and the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), you contribute through advocacy, coordination, planning, implementation, and monitoring. Additionally, you promote gender equality within the immunization programme by ensuring gender disaggregation, identifying disparities, and supporting gender mainstreaming.

Responsibilities

The role involves timely sectoral analysis, input, support, and coordination for the Situation Analysis, consistently integrating sex-disaggregated data. You will make quality contributions to developing and implementing immunization strategies through participation and collaboration with in-country partners. Responsibilities include strategically establishing work plans, providing effective technical support, and ensuring timely delivery of planned results. You will monitor and evaluate project implementation progress for adjustment and improvement, providing gender/sex disaggregated data. Technical support is provided to government and NGOs at all stages of programme cooperation, including capacity building. The position strengthens MoH staff capacities in immunization programme development and management. You will ensure UNICEF and Government accountability for supply and non-supply assistance and fund disbursement. Effective partnership and collaboration are maintained for advocacy, technical cooperation, and information sharing. Providing relevant and strategic information to support the Immunization Programme through integrated child survival monitoring is key. All required programme reports must be timely prepared. Emergency preparedness is maintained, and outbreak responses are developed with effective coordination. UNICEF procedures regarding Post Distribution Aid Diversion (PDAD) are applied and monitored. Programmatic visits are planned and implemented to monitor implementing partners and NGOs, alongside other assigned duties.

Work Experience

At least 5 years of relevant work experience in Nutrition, Health, Social Policy, immunization, public health, maternal and child health, epidemiology, health systems strengthening, health program management, monitoring and evaluation, disease surveillance, or emergency response is required.

Skills

Immunization Program Management, Epidemiology, Public Health, Child Health, Health Systems Strengthening, Monitoring & Evaluation, Emergency Response Coordination, Capacity Building, Partnership Management, Data Analysis, Advocacy, Gender Mainstreaming

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