Health Specialist, NO-3, Temporary Position, 364 days, Mogadiscio, Somalia, #00136898

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

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For every child, the right to a Champion

UNICEF Somalia is the Principal Recipient of the Global Fund for HIV, Malaria and RSSH (Resilient Sustainable Systems for Health). The GFSC (Global Fund Steering Committee) has an oversight role. In fulfilment of UNICEF’s roles as the Principal Recipient as well as the goals and objectives of the Health programme, the incumbent will work in close coordination with the Global Fund Steering Committee, International Organisations, health authorities, NGOs and other relevant health programmes. 

Purpose of the job

The Health Specialist reports to the HSS Manager, Malaria, and supports the development and implementation of the GFATM health grant. The role manages implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and reporting of Global Fund grants—particularly malaria and health systems strengthening—providing technical guidance and management support to deliver results aligned with work plans, budgets, RBM approaches, and UNICEF standards, including coordination with partners and relevant health authorities/committees.

Key functions, accountabilities and related duties/tasks:

1. Support to programme development and planning

• Contribute to situation analysis and strategic planning for GFATM and the wider health sector (malaria/HSS focus), and track trends to improve delivery.
• Participate in strategic planning discussions and help design health programme proposals aligned with UNICEF and national/UN frameworks.
• Define programme goals, objectives, strategies, and implementation plans using RBM; prepare documentation for review/approval.
• Coordinate with colleagues/partners on priorities and approaches; support partner capacity to meet goals and comply with donor rules.
• Provide technical/operational support across programming stages to ensure integration across UNICEF sectors and results delivery.

1. Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results

• Work with partners to set monitoring benchmarks and indicators; establish methods to collect/verify data for Global Fund performance updates.
• Participate in M&E exercises, programme reviews, and annual reviews with government/counterparts to assess progress and required actions.
• Conduct field visits and prepare M&E reports; identify gaps and lessons learned; strengthen information/reporting systems to track impact and targets.
• Monitor implementation through field visits/surveys/stakeholder updates; identify bottlenecks and support timely resolution/escalation.
• Prepare programme budgets consistent with donor conditions; ensure compliance, accountable resource use, and timely reporting/liquidation.
• Produce regular/required reports, including completing Global Fund semesterly templates with verified information.

1. Technical and operational support to programme implementation

• Provide technical guidance and operational support to government/NGOs/UN and partners on UNICEF policies, strategies, processes, and best practices; promote harmonized approaches and synergies across grants (especially systems strengthening).
• Engage with partners/stakeholders to promote priority health issues (including gender, emergency preparedness, maternal/neonatal health, child survival).
• Draft policy papers, briefs, and strategic programme materials for management use.
• Support emergency preparedness, contingency planning, and emergency response as required.

1. Networking and partnership building

• Represent UNICEF to build and sustain partnerships with government, stakeholders, global partners/donors/academia; use networking/advocacy/communication to support programme goals.
• Prepare communication and information materials for advocacy and fundraising for health programmes.
• Participate/represent UNICEF in inter-agency planning and discussions on health to ensure UNICEF priorities are integrated in UNDAF processes.
• Develop partnership documents for Global Fund sub-recipients, including UN-to-UN agreements.

1. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

• Apply and introduce innovative approaches and good practices to build partner/stakeholder capacity and improve results.
• Stay updated and conduct research to support evidence-based, cutting-edge health practices.
• Document, institutionalize, and share best practices and lessons learned.
• Contribute to policies/procedures that improve programme efficiency and effectiveness.
• Organize capacity-building initiatives to strengthen stakeholder competencies for sustainable results.
• Contribute to terms of reference for consultancies needed to address knowledge/skill gaps.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here:  JD Health Specialist, NO-3, Somalia.pdf

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have… 

Minimum requirements:

• Education: Master or equivalent (Advanced University Degree) in Public Health, Epidemiology, pediatric health, family health, health research, global health, international health, health policy, health management, biostatistics, sociomedical sciences and any other related fields.
• Work Experience: At least 5 years of relevant work experience in in one or more of the following areas is required: health project planning and management, malaria, child health, or health systems strengthening.
• Skills: Programme Management, Monitoring, Reporting, Partnership Building, Innovation, knowledge management.
• Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required.

Desirables:

• Language: Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language
• Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization is considered as an asset.
• Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts. 

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF's Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships
(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness
(3) Drive to achieve results for impact
(4) Innovates and embraces change
(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity
(6) Thinks and acts strategically
(7) Works collaboratively with others

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable candidates are encouraged to apply.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants' bank account information.

Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF's Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.

Visa residence requirements: i.e. UNICEF shall not facilitate the issuance of a visa and working authorization for candidates under consideration for positions at the national officer and general service category.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.