UNITED NATIONS CHILDREN’S FUND (UNICEF)
KENYA COUNTRY OFFICE
Temporary Appointment
Health Officer, Garissa
NO-B
Duration: 12 months
Date of Issue: 03 April, 2013 Closing Date: 17 April, 2013
Applications are hereby invited from suitably qualified candidates to fill the above
Temporary position in the Health Section, UNICEF Kenya, to be based in Garissa.
Justification
North Eastern Province, Upper Eastern and Tana River County like other northern areas of Kenya continue to experience the effect of cyclic drought and poor health systems manifested by poor health indicators including low coverage of routine immunization, high maternal mortality rates, more than double the national average (over 1,000:488per 100,000 live births). The impact of poor health indicators has been observed previously for instance in the 2011 drought emergency and 2012, measles, polio Dengue fever and cholera outbreaks, and high malnutrition all of which contribute to the poor cognitive development and survival of children in the region. The province is home to one of the largest refugee camps, which further complicate the health programming in the entire region due to porous borders that Kenya shares with Somalia and Ethiopia. As part of the UNICEF support to the government initiated in 2012, UNICEF Kenya health section has prioritized support to the government to further invest in northern Kenya on maternal, newborn and child health to reverse the poor trends in health indicators in the region in 2013. The support is in the following thematic areas: development of maternal and newborn health strategy for northern Kenya; roll-out of integrated community case management of diarrhea, pneumonia and malaria; capacity development of health managers on evidence based planning and budgeting aiming at strengthen county health sector coordination, and incorporating disaster risk reduction priorities in county annual work plans and the scale up of community health services through recruiting and training community health workers and procurement of tools.
UNICEF also focuses in strengthening partnerships to leverage resources for sustained implementation of community based maternal, newborn and child health interventions, using community health strategy as a platform for service delivery in the counties that have very few health facilities, and acute shortage of human resources for health. This huge investment requires strategic positioning technical expertise in the sub office for effective follow up and timely implementation of key priorities to ensure achievement of target indicators.
The support to the long term investments is already ongoing, and close monitoring to ensure quality assurance is observed and risks are managed. Continuity of the technical support to North Eastern province, Upper Eastern and Tana River County through Garissa field office is critical. Continuity of priority interventions including the finalization of county investment plans, design and development of a maternal and newborn health strategy for northern Kenya are a top priority, thus the importance of having a technical expertise to support the processes.

The TA is expected to support Garissa sub offices for a period of 12 months in close liaison with health TA based in Dadaab to ensure the interrelation in health interventions between refugees and the host communities are effectively managed. The TA is proposed to start on 15 May 2013.
Scope of Work
MNCH and health emergency response
Overall, the TA will oversee the programming of key MNCH priorities in North Eastern Province,
Upper Eastern and Tana River. Working under the supervision of the Resident Programme Officers
Garissa Field Offices, and technically guided by Health Systems Specialist based in Nairobi, specifically the TA will dedicate 100% of the time on Maternal, Newborn and Child Health, paying attention to health disaster risk reduction (DRR) and health systems strengthening due to the chronic cyclic emergency experienced in the region to undertake the following:
1.
Participate in mapping of partners and coordination meetings and share UNICEF support with the County health team and other sector partners;
2.
Support finalization of Garissa, Marsabit, isiolo and Tana River Counties MNCH investment plans;
3.
Support plans for roll out of iCCM, focusing on diarrhea and malaria component, and community based maternal an newborn care;
4.
Support the coordination of the Community Health Strategy Technical Working Group to ensure effective and efficient scale up of community strategy through mapping, recruitment and training of community health workers, community health committees and operationalization of community health units;
5.
Participate in the development of Maternal and Newborn strategy for northern Kenya through stakeholders sensitization and consensus building;
6.
Undertake end user monitoring of selected health supplies; Undertake drafting regular health section situation reports, on bi-weekly and monthly basis that are required by the office for information sharing and also as part of the resource mobilization strategy
7.
Undertake field monitoring visits in North Eastern Province, Upper Eastern and Tana River
County to evaluate the progress to MNCH programming including Disaster Risk
Reduction/Management
8.
Draft a final report on MNCH, and health disaster risk reduction/management situation and programming as part of the hand over report
RWPPCR/IRs areas covered
UNICEF will contribute to increasing number of women and children have equitable Access to and
Use of Quality Essential Social and Protection Services and practices with focus on vulnerable groups and the most marginalised regions of Kenya by 2013
Majorly:
IR3: Health policies, strategies and systems supportive of MNCH scale-up and mitigation of emergencies; and

IR 1: Increased proportion of women and children receiving quality evidence-based essential integrated maternal and child care services by December 2013
IR 2: Increasing number of households practicing improved health care practices with focus on reaching the un-reached by 2011 and sustained after that
Expected Deliverables
Output Deliverable Time
Coordination
Implementation of
Community Health
Strategy
Maternal,
Newborn and
Child health
Investment plans
MNH strategy for northern areas
1.
Monthly stakeholders coordination meetings and reports that guide implementation of disaster risk reduction priorities in Catchment Area of the FO;
2.
Performance of essential health services in the Project Area reviewed periodically (monthly/quarterly) by districts and partners
3.
Harmonized Annual plan for joint supervision, monitoring and evaluation available
1.
Community health workers mapped by partners, capacity, trained, community units created and interventions offered
2.
Partners briefed on the plan and status of Community Health Strategy roll out
3.
25 Community Health Units created through training of Sub-County
Health Management Teams, Community Health Extension Workers,
Community Health Committees, and Community Health Workers
1.
MNCH Investment plans finalized, presented to Garissa and Marsabeth counties, and interventions prioritized
2.
Implementation of key interventions initiated
3.
Availability of seed resources for outbreak response and joint monitoring visits
1.
Desk review of Marsaabeth and Garissa Counties health data to influence development of MNH strategy for northern areas
2.
Marsabeth and Garissa counties (MOH) review and make recommendations to stakeholders through regional retreats/workshops to address maternal and neonatal mortality
3.
Stakeholders reach consensus on MNH Strategy for northern Kenya
Prepositioning and utilization of emergency drugs, supplies and equipment
1.
Periodic end user monitoring informs utilization and gaps in essential commodities
10%
20%
20%
15%
10%
Disaster risk analysis and situation reports
1.
Analytical reports comparing morbidity and utilization of the essential drugs on monthly basis compiled
10%
1.
County implementation plans for iCCM developed, implemented; 10% iCCM
Final report of consultancy
1.
Analytical report that links analysis to evidence in programming
5%

Required Qualifications
Advanced degree in Public Health or a health related field.
Experience
Two years of relevant professional work experience at the national and international level in programme management, monitoring and evaluation, in a related field.
Demonstrated competency in disaster risk reduction/emergency coordination and response, and also knowledge in SPSS shall be useful.
In addition, the incumbent should:
 Have the ability to communicate effectively in English with others to effectively convey information.
 Proven ability to conceptualize, develop, plan and manage maternal and emergency
 health programmes, as well as to impart knowledge and teach skills.
Have a strong capacity to use logic and analysis to identify the strengths and
 weaknesses of different approaches.
Operate with minimal support, good initiative and ability to apply technical knowledge creatively to ensure conflicts and disputes are resolved between consultants, contractors and beneficiaries.

Good analytical, negotiating, communication and advocacy skills.

Demonstrated ability to work in a multi-cultural environment and establish harmonious and effective working relationships both within and outside the
 organization.
Computer skills, including internet navigation and various office applications, including knowledge of SPSS and EpiInfo.
Competencies






Communication
Drive for Results
Formulating Strategies and Concepts
Applying Technical Expertise
Working with People
Planning and Organizing
Languages: Fluency in English. Knowledge of Kiswahili would be an asset.

Conditions (Important)
Temporary Position will be based in Garissa, responsible to overseeing health programing in North
Eastern Province, Upper Eastern and Tana River county and undertake field mission to these areas when and if required to.
Interested and suitable candidates should ensure that they forward their applications along with their curricula vitae, to;
The Human Resources Manager
UNICEF Kenya Country Office
Email address: kenyahrvacancies@unicef.org
Please indicate Reference No. “KCO/HLTH/2013/006” in the email subject.
Interested candidates should also complete the Personal History (P11) form, which can be downloaded from the UNICEF Kenya website ( http://www.unicef.org/kenya ).
“QUALIFIED FEMALE CANDIDATES ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY”
ZERO TOLERANCE FOR SEXUAL EXPLOITATION AND ABUSE
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