Health Specialist (Policy & Budget)
Organizational Context
UNICEF’s Caribbean Multi-Country Office (MCO) serves twelve English- and Dutch-speaking Caribbean countries. It advances results for children through an integrated programme, management structure, and shared resources. The MCO focuses on equitable access to primary health care, learning, skills, child protection, poverty reduction, and resilience strengthening, addressing interconnected challenges like learning losses, mental health, violence, and climate-related disasters, particularly for vulnerable populations.
Job Purpose
The Health Specialist (Policy & Budget) plays a crucial role in advancing UNICEF’s mission to ensure equitable access to primary health care for children across the twelve English- and Dutch-speaking Caribbean countries served by the Multi-Country Office (MCO). This position is instrumental in influencing health policy development and implementation, as well as in the strategic management of budgets allocated for child health initiatives. The specialist will address interconnected challenges such as learning losses, mental health concerns, violence, and the increasing exposure to climate-related disasters, all of which significantly impact children's health and well-being in the region. By providing technical expertise and fostering strategic partnerships, the role aims to strengthen health systems and deliver impactful, system-based solutions. The specialist will work to reduce inequalities, particularly for vulnerable children, adolescents, indigenous communities, and those in remote areas, ensuring that the MCO’s integrated programme achieves its shared outcomes for child health, poverty reduction, and resilience strengthening amidst fiscal constraints and economic shocks.
Responsibilities
The Health Specialist will be responsible for analyzing existing health policies and advocating for child health priorities within national and regional policy dialogues across the Caribbean MCO's twelve countries. This includes providing expert technical guidance for the development and refinement of health policies that effectively address persistent inequalities and vulnerabilities affecting children. A key responsibility involves contributing to the strategic development and meticulous management of health-related budgets, which encompasses monitoring expenditure, ensuring efficient and transparent resource allocation, and actively supporting fundraising initiatives for critical child health programs. The specialist will play a vital role in supporting the comprehensive implementation of the MCO's integrated health program, with a particular focus on strengthening primary health care services, addressing prevalent mental health issues among children and adolescents, and mitigating the adverse impacts of violence and climate change on child well-being. Furthermore, the role requires proactive engagement with diverse stakeholders, including national governments, regional bodies, civil society organizations, and other key partners, to foster collaborative efforts aimed at building robust health systems and achieving sustainable program outcomes. The specialist will also contribute significantly to the monitoring and evaluation framework of health programs, meticulously analyzing data to assess progress, identify emerging challenges, and prepare comprehensive reports on program performance, impact, and lessons learned to inform future strategies.
Work Experience
No specific work experience requirements are mentioned in the provided content for this role.
Skills
Health Policy Analysis, Budget Management, Programme Management, Strategic Planning, Partnership Development, Advocacy & Influence, Technical Assistance, Data Analysis & Reporting, Communication (Verbal & Written), Problem Solving, Team Collaboration, Understanding of Caribbean Health Context