Chief Health, Cotonou, Benin,AFRICA

post:Chief Health, Cotonou, Benin

Purpose of the Position
Under the general guidance of the Representative P5 and the Deputy Representative P4, responsible for the formulation, planning, design, implementation and evaluation of the Child Survival and Development programme (health and Nutrition)
within the country programme, including strengthening health systems, Mother, newborn and child survival which includes the WASH components, Nutrition and HIV/AIDs programming. As head of health and nutrition section, ensures the implementation and monitoring of all activities in the sector. Directly responsible for the ensuring UNICEF's support to health systems strengthening and the overall management of the Child survival and development programme.

Key Expected Results
1. Participates in the formulation and development of programme goals, strategies and approaches for the UNICEF plan of cooperation. Plan, implement and monitor assigned activities to support health system strengthening, through partnership development, technical assistance to government for elaboration of a SWAP or compact, health budgeting and costing scenarios, scaling up of high impact health and nutrition interventions for child survival, capacity building at national, departmental and health district levels, and the development of monitoring systems.

2. Participates with UNICEF/government and others partners in the development of strategies, methodologies and identification of new of new approaches for improving programme delivery, with emphasis on advocacy, common and social mobilization.

3. Reviews and evaluates the technical, institutional and financial feasibility and constraints of programme coordination and collaboration with government and others partners.

4. Provides technical supports to government and non-government organizations at the national, regional and district levels in the planning, development and implementation stages of the programme/projects. Plans, organizes and conducts training and orientations activities for government personnel and beneficiaries, for the purpose of building at the central and regional levels, and expansion of coverage of services.

5. Undertakes field visits and surveys to monitor and evaluate project implementation and health and nutrition programme impact. Identify alternative courses of action to accelerate/improve Identify alternative courses of action to accelerate/improve programme delivery.

6. Develops the work plan for the sector and monitors compliance to ensure objectives and targets are met. Guides and supervises professional and support staff. Ensures their training needs are met, and provides training.

7. Coordinates with Operations/Supply staff and non-supply assistance activities. Approves distribution of funds ensuring proper utilization and accountability, and that activities are within established plans of actions and the programme budget allotments.

8. Coordinates activities and exchanges information/ideas with other programme, to contribute to achieve of overall country programme objectives.

Qualifications of Successful Candidate

•     Advanced university degree in health economics, or Public health.
•     Excellent knowledge in design, analysis and reporting of costing, resource allocation and economic burden of disease.
•     Ten years of relevant work experience at national and international levels in Health economics and/or health programme planning, management, monitoring and evaluation.
•     Experience in costing, data management and tool development.
•     Experience in conducting facility level costing studies and analysis.
•     Experience in providing technical support to government officials in a variety of settings.
•     Good knowledge of computer management and applications
•     Full fluency in both French and English required.
•     A first level university degree with a relevant combination of academic qualifications and experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Competencies of Successful Candidate

•     Communicates effectively to varied audiences, including during formal public speaking.
•     Able to work effectively in a multi-cultural environment.
•     Sets high standards for quality of work and consistently achieves project goals.
•     Has good leadership and supervisory skills;
•     Co-ordinates group activities, ensuring that roles within the team are clear.
•     Translates strategic direction into plans and objectives.
•     Analyzes and integrates diverse and complex quantitative and qualitative data from a wide range of sources.
•     Quickly builds rapport with individuals and groups;
•     maintains an effective network of individuals across organizational departments.

    Identifies urgent and potentially difficult decisions and acts on them promptly;
    initiates and generates team- and department-wide activities.
    Demonstrates, applies and shares expert technical knowledge across the organization.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organisation.
http://unjobs.org/vacancies/1368421039106
Closing Date: Thursday, 30 May 2013