HIV/AIDS Specialist, P-3, Temporary Appointment (6 months), Nairobi, Kenya, Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office

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How can you make a difference?

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child and adolescent, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programmes, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children, adolescents and families, translates this commitment to rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children and adolescents have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child or adolescent has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations. 

UNICEF’s HIV response work to ensure all children are born free of HIV, remain HIV-free for the first two decades of life and that all children and adolescents living with HIV have access to the treatment, care and support they need to remain healthy. Ending AIDS among children and adolescents 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.

Within ESARO, the adolescent HIV portfolio focuses on adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) and adolescents living with HIV (ALHIV). Through strategic partnerships under the UNICEF-Global Fund partnership agreement and as part of the Joint UN 2gether 4 SRHR Programme, UNICEF is committed to improving HIV and well-being related results for adolescents. 

Under the supervision of the HIV Specialist on Adolescents with regular guidance from the Regional HIV Advisor, the HIV/AIDS Specialist will provide: 1) support to programme development, planning, management, monitoring and delivery of results; 2) technical support to programme implementation and quality assurance; 3) knowledge management, capacity development and partnership; 3) strengthen monitoring and evaluation and enhanced data use to improve HIV-related results. The Specialist will interact and work with the UNICEF RO and HQ HIV team, cross-sectorally and with country offices. 

The HIV Specialist will support the management and implementation of the Global Fund AGYW partnership. The HIV Specialist will also provide support on the work of the HIV Section more broadly. 

Major Duties and Responsibilities

Support to programme development, planning, management, monitoring and delivery of results   Support the development and management of regional activities under the Global Fund AGYW partnership, particularly the south-to-south learning. Provide guidance and support country offices (COs) to strengthen contributions and performance under the Global Fund AGYW partnership.  Coordinate, facilitate and monitor requests for technical assistance under the Global Fund AGYW partnership.  Monitor the overall programme and financial implementation of the Global Fund AGYW partnership at regional and country levels, including close out activities  Support the development and ensure that all Global Fund AGYW partnership workplans, budgets, reports and other donor and administrative agent requirements are completed and submitted in a timely and high-quality manner. Technical support to programme implementation and quality assurance   Provide high quality technical assistance to COs as requested by the 13 Global Fund AGYW focus countries  Review and provide technical support to countries on resolving bottlenecks for implementation of Global Fund AGYW partnership through remote support and on-site missions.  Participate in programme strategic discussions/planning to provide technical advice/contribute to policy discussions and agenda setting to promote adolescent HIV interventions  Review and provide high-quality technical inputs on regional and country documentation, including but not limited to reports, concept notes, guidelines, technical proposals, briefs, human interest stories and other. Knowledge management, advocacy, communication and partnerships   Keep abreast of new evidence and programming on HIV prevention for AGYW and effective programming for adolescents living with and at-risk of HIV. Facilitate south to south capacity building initiatives for CO staff, regional and country level counterparts, particularly aiming to strengthen the implementation of the Global Fund AGYW investments.  Facilitate the development, exchange and sharing of experiences, lessons learned, promising practices using innovative methods for programme staff and relevant partners.  Support the communications of key outcomes from the Global Fund AGYW partnership Participate and/ or represent UNICEF in relevant meetings, working groups and events as requested. Contribute to internal coordination within the HIV section and with other relevant sections to ensure smooth implementation of the adolescent HIV programming in the region in particular on the Global Fund AGYW partnership Organize, conduct and document regular coordination calls with COs and relevant partners on the implementation and close out of the Global Fund partnership  Strengthen monitoring and evaluation and enhanced data use    Support the HIV section monitoring and evaluation exercises, reviews, and mid-year and annual reviews with regional and national partners to assess progress and to determine required action/interventions to achieve results.  Plan and/or collaborate with internal and external partners to establish monitoring benchmarks, performance indicators and other UNICEF/UN system indicators and measurement to assess/strengthen performance accountability, coherence and delivery of concrete and sustainable results for the assigned sector/s in HIV programmes, especially with relation to the Global Fund AGYW partnership. Support M&E interventions under the Global Fund AGYW partnership; conduct regular monitoring and periodic reviews of the technical assistance provided through to the Global Fund AGYW focus countries on collaboration with CO staff, and regional and country partners. Identify problems and propose remedial action/s and or/ propose alternative courses of action for strengthening the programme implementation. Support the planning and implementation of the end term review of the Global Fund AGYW partnership 

Key Expected Results

COs supported in planning, managing, and reporting of adolescent activities, in particular those implemented under the Global Fund AGYW partnership Capacity of CO staff and counterparts including Global Fund AGYW implementers strengthened to implement, manage, share experience, and report on enhanced HIV programming and results for adolescents.  High-quality inputs submitted in a timely manner for all required budgets, programmatic and financial reports, proposals and meetings, especially for the Global Fund AGYW partnership and adolescent activities under 2gether 4 SRHR.  Technically sound knowledge and experience sharing products developed and disseminated widely.  UNICEF’s inputs into regional and global discussions and meetings have been provided in a quality and timely manner.  Global Fund AGYW partnership implemented, reported on and closed out in a timely and high-quality manner 

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

Education:

An Advanced University Degree in public health, adolescent health, family planning, health research, global/ international health, health policy and management, epidemiology or other related discipline is required. 

Experience:

At least 5 years of progressively responsible professional work experience at the national and international levels in all aspects of public health, adolescent HIV and /or sexual and reproductive health is required. Relevant experience in low-resource settings, knowledge management, programme/project development and management in a UN system agency or organization is an asset. Understanding of the Global Fund and associated programme processes will be an added advantage. Experience in both development and humanitarian contexts within ESAR is an added advantage. Developing country work experience is required.

Language Requirements:

Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of a second UN and/or local working language of the duty station an asset.

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.