Health Consultant (Newborn) at the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF)

United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfil their potential. Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

We are recruiting to fill the vacant position below:

Job Title: Health Consultant (Newborn)

Job Number: 527162
Location: Nigeria
Work Type: Consultancy

Background
The Newborn Situational Analysis reports of the past 10 years have led to the introduction of the Nigerian Every Newborn Action Plan nationally and the domestication of this document to an implementable State Every Newborn Action Plan. The vision, which is to end preventable stillbirths and newborn deaths by accelerating the progress and scale up of evidence based high impact and cost-effective interventions, guided by the principles of Leadership, Integration, Accountability, Equity, Human rights innovation and research. 2019 has seen some major shifts and achievements in the health sector in Nigeria, namely, launch of the National Strategic Health Development Plan II (2018-2022) (NSHDP), the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) and the Minimum Service Package and the Action Framework for accelerating reduction of preventable maternal, newborn and child deaths in Nigeria.

There is focus on having an operational plan for the NiENAP across the states and UNICEF is working with select States towards moving forward with developing The SENAP (State Every Newborn Action Plan). We see implementable actions at the primary Health Care and Community levels linked with every child alive campaign.

We see an opportunity and an urgent need towards further strengthening the foundation set by the ongoing work in the States on using data for action and results. Capacities have been built towards developing and using score cards across RMNCAH+N indicators and tracking progress at State/LGA/Health facility levels quarterly. All these with priority focus on the new born will be geared towards improved service delivery for the newborn.

We propose to work with the Federal Ministry of Health, the NPHCDA, and the respective State counterparts including all partners and stakeholders towards developing an annual operational plan/action framework, as well as, investment plans across these states. These will guide implementation of Every New Born Action Plan, understanding bottlenecks, and other components like infrastructure, HR, supplies etc.

Specific Project Objective to which the consultant is related:

• The health system at all levels have strengthened capacities and improve utilization of essential high-impact maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health interventions.
• The purpose of this consultancy is to work with states to develop operational plans for the NiENAP as well as Newborn investment plans across the States. UNICEF is working with select States towards moving forward with developing the SENAP (State Every Newborn Action Plan). We see implementable actions at the primary Health Care and Community levels linked with every child alive campaign.
• We see an opportunity and an urgent need towards further strengthening the foundation set by the ongoing work in the States on using data for action and results in addition to giving technical expertise to the SEMCHICs through the NEMCHIC. Capacities have been built towards developing and using score cards across RMNCAH+N indicators and tracking progress at State/LGA/Health facility levels quarterly. All these with priority focus on the new born will be geared towards improved service delivery for the newborn.

Key Functions, Accountabilities and Related Duties/Tasks
Rapid Assessment, Data Analysis and Mapping:

• Desk-review research, literature review, Analysis, Requirements gathering calls and virtual meetings.

Newborn Health Policy, Programming, and Service Delivery With Innovative and Proven Approaches:

• Technical assistance on newborn health and management of the three major killers of newborns – intrapartum related complication, newborn infections and preterm births in supported States.
• Support States to implement PSBI in selected LGAs
• Support States to implement Kangaroo Mother care in selected LGAs
• Support states in the scale up of CHX for cord care
• Support states in the implementation of their annual workplan as concerns newborn health
• Support States in the implementation of quality of care in selected States.
• Support states to develop investment plans for the SENAP

Provide technical support to NEMCHIC and SEMCHIC:

• Guide the emergency approach to addressing newborn issues and fast-tracking CBNC and ENCC

Primary health care and Newborn:

• Integration of newborn health interventions into the 1 PHC/ward in selected States
• Creation of functional newborn resuscitation corners in PHC
• Creation of KMC corners in PHC.

Capacity building for HCWs on CBNC and ENCC.:

• Using existing tools, facilitate capacity building.
• Develop a draft framework for implementation of ENCC at the facility level and CBNC at the community level.

Develop framework to address gaps and implement newborn service delivery through CBNC.:

• Finalize draft framework for ENCC and CBNC implementation including investment plan.
• Extraction of existing operational plan for newborn/develop AOP if non-existent.

Implementation and Result Tracking on Newborn:

• Tracking of Global, National and State indicators.
• Field test of AOP.

Strengthening of Partnership and Networking:

• Strengthen on-going partnership with professional associations and academic institutions (NISOMN, PAN, SOGON…etc.) and create new ones on newborn issues.

Documentation and Reporting:

• Prepare and submit quarterly reports. 
• Document best practices and lessons learnt
• Contribute to the development of publications for peer-reviewed journals.

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

• An Advanced University Degree in Public Health/Nutrition, Paediatrics, 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 5 years of professional experience in public health/nutrition planning and management and/or in relevant areas of maternal and neonatal health care, health emergency/humanitarian preparedness, at the national and/or international level some of which preferably in a developing country is required. Relevant experience in health/nutrition program/project development and management in any UN system agency or organization is an asset.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language or a local language is an asset
• Knowledge of use of LiST and or other analysis tools
• Knowledge of DHIS 2.0 platform for health data collection and collation.
• Ability to make timely and quality judgments and decisions and very good training skills.
• Computer skills, including internet navigation and various office applications.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a multi-cultural environment and establish harmonious and effective working relationships, both within and outside the organization.
• Willingness to travel to remote LGAs and communities

For every Child, you demonstrate…

• UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.
• View our competency framework at: http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

Application Closing Date
31st October, 2019 by 23:55:00 GMT+0100 (West Africa Standard Time).

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Note

• UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.
• UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.