UNICEF Senior HIV/AIDS Specialist - PMTCT and Paediatric HIV - Jobs in South Africa
UNICEF Senior HIV/AIDS Specialist - PMTCT and Paediatric HIV - Jobs in South Africa
UNICEF’s HIV response for children must ensure that neither age, poverty, gender inequality, nor social exclusion determine access to life saving HIV prevention, treatment and care. UNICEF and its partners’ responses ensure all children are born free of HIV, and remain HIV-free for the first two decades of life, from birth through adolescence. It means that all children living with HIV have access to the treatment, care and support they need to remain alive and healthy.
This is UNICEF’s vision of an AIDS-free generation starting with children. Ending AIDS among children is vital to ending the AIDS epidemic as a public health threat by 2030 – the overarching goal of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) of which UNICEF is a cofounding partner.
The Senior HIV Specialist serves as an expert technical adviser to the Regional HIV/AIDS Advisor, Country Offices, governments, regional UN partners, and other partners in the region on strategies, policies, best practices and knowledge to support HIV/AIDS programming, especially in the 1st decade (PMTCT and Paediatric HIV), and to ensure the achievement of concrete and sustainable results according to plans, results based-management approaches and methodology (RBM) and UNICEF’s Strategic Vision/Plans, standards of performance and accountability framework.
Under the guidance of the Regional HIV/AIDS Advisor, the Senior HIV Specialist deepens collaboration with key regional stakeholders to ensure greater visibility for UNICEF and influence in support of its mission and to support the UN in delivering as one.
Responsibilities:
Regional technical leadership and support to countries in the region on strategic programme planning and normative guidance for 1st decade HIV (PMTCT and paediatric HIV)
Provide expert technical and management advice to UNICEF country offices, UN system partners and other regional partners on policies, strategies, approaches and best practices on 1st decade HIV related issues to support programming and delivery of sustainable results.
Participate in regional/country programme planning, preparation and review to provide advice on the formulation, design, implementation and management of HIV programmes including setting priorities and application/use of results-based management tools and methodologies to support PMTCT and paediatric HIV, while promoting cross sectoral collaboration (Health, Nutrition, ECD).
Participate in regional key events and strategic discussions to influence policy discussions and agenda setting to promote HIV related issues to ensure that HIV programming contributes to the vision of an AIDS free generation.
Provide technical support to regional HIV programme development and planning
Contribute throughout all stages of programming to provide technical support in HIV programme preparation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, providing leadership on the 1st decade for PMTCT and paediatric HIV.
Provide policy guidance and technical support to internal colleagues and external partners to develop regional and national policies/strategies for UNICEF assisted 1st decade HIV programmes/projects.
Contribute to the planning and conduct/update of situation analysis to establish comprehensive/updated 1st decade HIV/AIDS data and indicators to guide country offices’ programme planning, monitoring and delivery of programme/project services. Keep abreast of national/regional/global development trends and priorities to determine strategies, approaches and priorities for 1st decade HIV programming that addresses regional needs to achieve UNICEF’s vision of an AIDS-free generation.
Consult and collaborate with internal and external colleagues and partners to provide technical guidance and operational support to 1st decade HIV programme planning, management and implementation and to promote synergy, integration, coherence and harmonization of programmes/projects initiatives with UNICEF Strategic Plans and priorities.
Support regional programme monitoring and assessment, including evaluations and quality assurance
Collaborate with Regional Adviser and HQ 1st decade focal points to establish benchmarks, performance indicators and other UNICEF/UN system indicators and measurement to assess/strengthen performance accountability, coherence and delivery of concrete and sustainable results in 1st decade HIV programmes/projects.
Participate in major monitoring and evaluation exercises, programme reviews and annual sector reviews with regional and country counterparts to assess progress and to determine required action/interventions to achieve results.
Assess COs monitoring and evaluation reports to identify gaps, strengths/weaknesses in programme and management, identify lessons learned and use knowledge gained for development planning and timely intervention to achieve goals.
Submit/share and provide quality review for plans and assessments of HIV programmes/projects in country offices highlighting critical issues and suggestions for enhancing performance and delivery of sustainable results.
Advocacy, networking and partnership building
Build and strengthen strategic partnerships with regional partners, country offices, relevant sector government counterparts, global institutions/partners/donors and academia through active networking, advocacy and effective communication of UNICEF mission, goals and programmes and resource mobilizations needs.
Collaborate with/advise other RO sections (i.e., health, nutrition ECD), country offices in the region to develop communication strategies and implementation plans and activities for maximum impact and outreach to promote awareness, establish partnership/alliances and support resource mobilization for UNICEF and Country Office HIV programmes/projects.
Participate and/or represent UNICEF (as delegated/designated) in key regional and global events/meetings and in inter-agency (UNCT) to articulate/promote organizational position, interests and priorities and to ensure that these are fully considered and integrated in the UNDAF process in development planning and agenda setting.
Collaborate with regional inter-agency partners/colleagues on planning and management of joint UN programmes.
Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building
Promote critical thinking and introduce technological and programme innovations, approaches and good practices in the region for sustainable 1st decade HIV programmes/projects results/outcomes.
Keep abreast, research, benchmark and implement best and cutting edge practices in the region’s 1st decade HIV management and information systems. Institutionalize and share best practices and knowledge learned.
Lead and/or develop policies, guidelines and standards to ensure optimum efficiency and efficacy of sustainable 1st decade HIV programmes and projects.
Lead/plan/implement capacity building initiatives to enhance the competencies of country offices and other stakeholders to plan, manage, implement and achieve sustainable results in 1st decade HIV programmes/projects.
Requirements
An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in public health, pediatric health, family health, health research, global/international health, health policy and/or management, environmental health sciences, biostatistics, socio-medical, health education, epidemiology or other health related sciences is required
A minimum of 10 years of professional experience in public HIV/AIDS planning and management and/or in relevant areas of health care, health emergency/humanitarian preparedness, at the international level some of which preferably in a developing country is required. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills along with demonstrated ability to manage and strengthen programme-related partnerships are required. Relevant experience in HIV/AIDS programme/project development and management in any UN system agency or organization is an asset.
Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset.
Oral and written proficiency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.
How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should apply online by 4th August, 2019.
For more information and job application details, see; UNICEF Senior HIV/AIDS Specialist - PMTCT and Paediatric HIV - Jobs in South Africa
