HIV Prevention and Health Systems Officer

Organizational Context

The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) is a collaborative UN venture uniting 11 organizations to lead and inspire global efforts for universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care, and support. In Kenya, the HIV response is at a critical juncture, navigating complex health system reforms and financing challenges. The UN Volunteer will be embedded within the UNAIDS Kenya Country Office, supporting national and county efforts on HIV prevention, health systems strengthening, and policy advocacy.

Job Purpose

Kenya's HIV response requires sustained gains amidst complex health system reforms, strengthened domestic financing, and intensified integrated HIV prevention, particularly for key populations and adolescent girls and young women. Ongoing Universal Health Coverage reforms, including the transition to the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), present both opportunities and risks for HIV service integration and financing. Kenya's leadership in global AIDS governance also demands robust policy engagement. This assignment offers a unique opportunity for the UN Volunteer Specialist to contribute high-impact technical expertise at a pivotal moment in Kenya's HIV and health systems transition, supporting an integrated, prevention-oriented, and sustainably financed HIV response while strengthening partnerships and advancing progress toward ending AIDS as a public health threat.

Responsibilities

The International UN Volunteer Specialist will provide technical advice on HIV prevention and service integration for key populations and adolescent girls and young women within Kenya's primary health care framework and SHIF. This includes coordinating UNAIDS's engagement with the Ministry of Health and other stakeholders on policy alignment and implementation to advance health system reforms and equitable access. The role involves strengthening HIV prevention strategies, including combination approaches, with a focus on disproportionately affected populations, and integrating HIV prevention into broader SRH, mental health, and community health programmes, including in humanitarian settings. The Specialist will contribute to strategic planning and sustainable financing efforts, developing strategic documents, investment cases, and advocacy materials. Further responsibilities include supporting community-led and community health strategies, ensuring HIV inclusion in emergency preparedness, promoting digital health innovations, and collaborating on capacity building initiatives at national, county, and community levels. The role also entails supporting partnership coordination with development partners, monitoring, evaluation, and learning against national and global targets, and facilitating knowledge management and South-South learning on HIV prevention, PHC integration, and health financing reforms.

Work Experience

A minimum of 3 years of relevant experience is required in health programme management, HIV/AIDS programming, health systems strengthening, sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), health financing, or public policy. Experience working with government health systems, UN agencies, or international NGOs in resource-limited settings is highly desirable.

Skills

Core competencies include Accountability, Adaptability and Flexibility, Communication, Professionalism, Teamwork, Planning and Organizing, Integrity, and Judgement and Decision-making. Technical skills encompass health policy analysis, strategic planning, programme management, stakeholder coordination, monitoring, evaluation and learning, health financing, advocacy, report writing, data analysis, and proficiency in Microsoft Office. Expertise in community development, development programmes, and health is also essential.

Explore related opportunities