UNICEF recruits 01 HIV/AIDS Specialist (Diagnostics)
HIV/AIDS Specialist (Diagnostics), NOC, Lilongwe, Malawi
Job Number: 519750 | Vacancy Link
Locations: Africa: Malawi
Work Type : Fixed Term Appointment
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, a safe home.
UNICEF Malawi Country Programme (2019-2023) is aligned with the Government of Malawi’s Growth and Development Strategy (MDGS III) and the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF). The programme supports the Government of Malawi to meet its commitment to respect, protect and fulfil children’s rights in line with international conventions and standards. The country programme is guided by the principles of children’s rights, equity, gender equality, inclusion and resilience, and supports evidence-based, integrative and innovative programming. The vision is that ‘all girls and boys in Malawi, especially the most disadvantaged and deprived, realize their rights’. The programme focuses on: early childhood (parenting, high-impact social services, early stimulation and learning), middle childhood and adolescence (learning, multi-sectoral services, active citizenship), communities (decentralized services and systems, community ownership, social norms), programme effectiveness (monitoring, evaluation, HACT, Innovation, Social Protection and Social Policy and External Communication. The programme is based on ‘leaving no child behind’, realizing ‘rights for all children in Malawi’.
How can you make a difference?
“Currently, the Malawi country office is operating under a matrix-management model, where individuals will have more than one reporting line. While this particular position is not currently “matrixed”, it is possible that this may change depending on programme needs”.
Reporting to the HIV & Maternal Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) Manager, the HIV/AIDS Specialist (Diagnostics) will support effective project design, implementation, management, monitoring and evaluation. He/she will contribute to diagnostic, sample referral and mHealth programme management to improve coverage and quality of HIV diagnosis, care and treatment services through innovations, including point of care technology, laboratory support, RapidPro, RapidSMS and other emerging innovations.
Key Accountabilities:
1. Timely diagnostics sectoral analysis, input, support and collaboration to the Situation Analysis of paediatric HIV, with consistent integration of technology in locating, treating and retaining children and women on treatment.
2. Knowledge management effectively promoted through drafting/finalizing key diagnostics, mHealth and sample referral documents and reports, sharing good practices, lessons learnt, and knowledge/information exchange.
3. Sectoral work plan and activities formulated, implemented and monitored, ensuring alignment with the national defined Point of Care, mHealth and sample referral project strategies and approaches.
4. Project delivery, evaluation and reporting carried out efficiently, rigorously and transparently in compliance with the established donor and UNICEF guidelines and procedures.
5. UNICEF’s paediatric HIV diagnosis, care and treatment global and regional goals effectively promoted through advocacy and policy dialogue with Government.
6. Proper and timely UNICEF and Government accountability ensured regarding supply and non-supply assistance as well as disbursement of programme funds for the HIV/AIDS sector.
7. Effective communication and networking achieved through partnership and collaboration, sharing UNICEF’s position on point of care testing, sample referral and mHealth.
Summary of key functions/accountabilities:
1. PROGRAMME PLANNING, MANAGEMENT, DOCUMENTATION AND KNOWLEDGE SHARING
Supporting Health Technical Support Services (HTSS), District and Health facility staff through training, supervising and mentoring in managing various Point of Care (POC) Technologies for Early Infant Diagnosis (EID), Viral Load (VL), Tuberculosis (TB) and Human Papillomavirus (HPV).
Provide technical guidance and management support for optimal utilisation of Point of Care machines for EID, VL, TB and HPV.
Perform periodic PoC and Laboratory Management Information System (LMIS) data analysis and spatial mapping exercise to determine placement or models of how POC or near POC machines can be optimised.
Compile PoC, mHealth programme implementation materials to promote knowledge sharing with donors, government, implementing partners, key stakeholders, media and other UNICEF Offices in the region.
Support institutionalisation of innovative practices related to improved HIV diagnosis, sample referral, results delivery and retention in care.
2. PROJECT EFFICIENCY AND EFFECTIVENESS
Enhance paediatric HIV, Viral Load, Tuberculosis diagnostics efficiency and effectiveness through implementation follow-on, including age and gender-specific monitoring of UNICEF inputs of project results.
3. PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION, INFORMATION MANAGEMENT, EVALUATION AND REPORTING
Ensure project, sectoral or inter-sectoral efficiency and delivery through a rigorous and transparent approach to evaluation. Participate in PoC evaluation exercises, programme reviews, Technical Working Group and task force meetings with government and other counterparts.
Prepare annual PoC and mHealth sector status reports, ensuring that quantitative and qualitative lessons learned in implementation are included.
Manage, monitor and report on the progress of PoC or near PoC at national, district and facility levels.
Support real-time monitoring and reporting of results by SMS, sample tracking and other new mHealth technologies that ensure women and children are retained in care or switched to more efficacies regimen in case of treatment failure.
4. COMMUNICATION AND NETWORKING
Develop and maintain effective communication and networking relationship through partnership and collaboration with government and other implementing partners.
Collaborate with members of the development community, including NGOs, other UN agencies and bilateral agencies in the exchange of information relating to improved quality and coverage of paediatric HIV diagnosis, Care and treatment services, including PoC and mHealth.
Participate and/or represent UNICEF in appropriate government, donor, partner and UN inter-agency forums. Ensure UNICEF’s position, interests and priorities are fully considered and integrated in the HIV response agenda. Collaborate with members of the development community, including NGOs, UN and bilateral agencies in the exchange of information relating to improved quality and coverage of paediatric HIV diagnosis, care and treatment services, including Point of Care and mHealth.
Team with Ministry of Health, District Councils and Non-Government counterparts to exchange information on mHealth (rapidSMS, RapidPro), sample referral, Point of Care diagnostics and clinical management) special studies, and other innovative practices.
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have
Advanced university degree in one or more of the disciplines: Public Health, Public Health Administration, Laboratory Medicine, Biostatistics, Medical Statistics, Primary Health Care, Pediatrics AIDS, Health Education, Medicine, Social Sciences or a field relevant to international development assistance in HIV/AIDS
Five years of relevant professional work experience in the field of public health and/or laboratory medicine
Experience in mHealth and Point of Care diagnostics is considered as an added advantage
Fluency in English and local working language is essential
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.
The functional competencies required for this post are:
Leading and Supervising [ I]
Formulating Strategies and Concepts [ II]
Analyzing [ III]
Relating and Networking [ II]
Deciding and Initiating Action [ II]
Applying Technical Expertise [ III]
View our competency framework at: http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf
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 sexual exploitation and abuse, and on any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.”
Remarks:
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.
Closing Date Tue Feb 19 2019 16:00:00 GMT+0100 (Afr. centrale Ouest)