UNICEF NEPAL Regional Adviser (Polio), P-5

Duty Station: Kathmandu Regional Office, Nepal
Contract Type: 1-year Fixed Term (FT) Application Closing Date: 18 January 2013

If you are a public health expert passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world's leading children's rights organization would like to hear from you. Help UNICEF accelerate its response to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) and eradicate polio.

Key Responsibilities

Under the guidance of the supervisor, the incumbent will provide over-all leadership on Polio eradication, in all its aspects from programme design to social mobilization, including strengthening routine immunization, technical or operational dimensions, vaccine management, C4D, human resource planning and talent management building linkage and improved partnerships between Polio and RI teams within country offices.

Key responsibilities include:

1. In collaboration with UNICEF HQ and country programmes and government officers, translate global strategic direction into operational programmes through technical support to UNICEF country offices and government counterparts towards developing Polio eradication programme including (a) its transition to RI and other convergent dimensions, (b) technical and operational support, (c) vaccine management, (d) specifically focus on defining and evolving use and new areas related to capacity building for the established social mobilization networks as part of Polio legacy, (e) increase community participation in and ownership of EPI and Polio Eradication Programme, (f) human resource planning and talent management, and (g) strengthening of Polio emergency preparedness and outbreak response.
2. Act as the focal point, maintain a presence at regional events, and further cultivate regional relations with all major stakeholders (WHO, Rotary, BMGF, CDC) while at the same time helping to explore opportunities for expanded or new partners, as well as vis-a-vis other regional offices and head-quarters, including through a cross sector convergent approach.
3. Act as focal point for advocacy on Polio; engage with and oversee coordination within the organization related to External Communication dimensions and opportunities for synergy related to this at both Regional and Country Office levels. Represent ROSA at the TAGs meetings (in Pakistan and Afghanistan) and in the IEAG (India).
4. In collaboration with UNICEF HQ and regional partners, organize and provide technical support to social research, including formative and summative evaluation, and other forms of qualitative and quantitative social research that will contribute to the design and evaluation of communication activities for EPI and polio eradication.
5. Develop, support and facilitate cross country exchange, multi country cooperation and training activities to build capacity in operational dimensions including high risk district and cluster approach and/or polio reservoir approach along with the continued emphasis on engagement with mobile, migrant and nomadic populations to track missed children. Help to further promote or strengthen cross-border activities as well as emergency response to strengthen routine immunization. Explore and share strategies and approaches to increasing access in insecure or conflict-affected areas across borders.
6. Support country offices in results-based approach to programming, data collection, validation and management. Monitor and evaluate EPI and Polio eradication activities through established reporting/ racking mechanisms, through regular contact with immunization teams and frequent country mission. Process and disseminate analysis and reports to UNICEF HQ, ensures exchanges of experience and innovative methods to government officials, EPI and polio eradication programme staff and other UNICEF regional partners.
7. Act as the main reporting officer to the UNICEF global polio team on regional and country level indicators, communication outcomes and impact on immunization targets.
8. Contribute to documentation of learning and support to countries with transition and legacy planning, including cross sectors documentation.

Qualifications

1. Advanced university degree in the social sciences, (Communication, Sociology, Anthropology, Psychology, Health Education) with emphasis on participatory communication, social and participatory research, training, project / communication evaluation.
2. Ten years of relevant experience in the planning and management of social development programmes, including four years in developing countries, with practical experience in the adaption and application of communication planning processes to specific programmes.
3. Fluency in English and another UN language. Knowledge of the local working languages is an asset.

How to apply:

Oneline application only. Please click this link http://bit.ly/XaWfsC or visit www.unicef.org/about/employ to register in our e-Recruitment system, and search using exact keyword “polio” for further details/to apply.