Job Opportunity: Immunization Specialist, UNICEF United Nations Children’s Fund, Cameroon.

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 fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child,  Health

UNICEF has been working in Cameroon since 1975 to allow women and children to fully realize their rights to development without restriction, as enshrined in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. UNICEF provides financial and technical support to Cameroon across seven areas to fully realize the rights of women and children. These areas include Health, HIV/AIDS, Water-sanitation-Hygiene, nutrition, education, child protection, and social inclusion. UNICEF focuses mainly on children and the most vulnerable and excluded families. Cameroon’s 2020 population is estimated at 26,545,863 people according to UN data. The population is young and generates strong socioeconomic demand. In rural areas, limited access to basic social services and the effects of climate change led to household impoverishment and severe child deprivations. The task is immense but not insurmountable; it requires the energy of all stakeholders in Cameroon and outside of Cameroon: also, women, men, youth and children, government, technical and financial partners, donors, civil society, the private sector, parliamentarians, and communities. Everyone is invited to take part in the struggle to meet the challenges that lie ahead. It is together that we will act for Cameroon, a country that summarizes the challenges and hopes of Africa.

To learn more about UNICEF Cameroon, use the below link

https://unicef.sharepoint.com/sites/CMR/SitePages/AboutUs.aspx .

How can you make a difference?

Immunization (EPI) Specialist is accountable for professional leadership in and contribution to the development, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, and administration of the Immunization program in conjunction with Child Survival and Development, Maternal and Child Health, Health and Nutrition components within the country program, to achieve the UNICEF’s immunization more goals and objectives for the country. He/she is also accountable for ensuring the UNICEF Immunization program promotes gender equality, emphasizing gender disaggregation, gender disparity identification, and gender mainstreaming.

The EPI specialist will focus on the following key end results:

1.  Timely sectoral analysis, input, support, and coordination contribute to the Situation Analysis with consistent integration of sex disaggregated data and its periodic update for effective project planning, development, and management.

2. Quality contributions are made to the development and implementation of Immunization strategies and approaches through participation and collaboration with internal and external partnerships.

3. Work plan and objectives are strategically established, and technical support is effectively

provided, and planned results are timely delivered through the exercise of strong technical leadership.

4. Project implementation progress is monitored and evaluated for adjustment, acceleration and improvement of program delivery and sustainability. Gender/sex disaggregated data and inputs relevant to the Immunization Program provided.

5. Technical support is provided to government and NGOs at all stages of the program cooperation, including capacity building of government personnel and beneficiaries.

6. The capacities of Country Office staff are strengthened through effective capacity building program in the development, implementation and management of the Immunization program.

7. UNICEF and Government accountability is ensured for supply and non-supply assistance and disbursement of program funds for the sector.

8. Effective partnership and collaboration achieved and maintained for advocacy, technical cooperation, program coordination, information sharing and knowledge networking.

9. The most relevant and strategic information is provided to support the Immunization Program

by the effective implementation of integrated child survival monitoring system.

10. All required program reports are timely prepared in compliance with the established guidelines and procedures.

11. Emergency preparedness is maintained, and in emergencies, emergency responses with

effective coordination is provided.

12. Other assigned duties and responsibilities are effectively performed.

For more details, I have attached the JD:   Immunization Specialist Level NOC Final.doc

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

• Advanced university degree(Masters) in Public Health, Pediatric Health, Child Development, Child Health, Nutrition, Epidemiology, Public Administration, Social Policy, Social Development, Community Development, or other relevant disciplines.
• Five years of professional work experience at the national and international levels in planning, programming, implementation monitoring, and evaluation of health/Immunization programs. Professional work experience in a technical expert position related to child survival & health care.
• Field work experience. Background/familiarity with Emergency.
• Fluency in French & English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, Russian, or Spanish) or a local language is 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.

During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels:  competency framework here .

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to including everyone , irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.
We offer a  wide range of benefits to our staff , including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and  reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities . UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.
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 is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore undergo, rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Notes:

UNICEF’s active commitment to diversity and inclusion is critical to delivering the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable  female candidates  are encouraged to apply . 

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments are also subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advanced to the next stage of the selection process.