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The Immunization (EPI) Officer, under the supervision of the Immunization Specialist (EPI) and overall guidance of the Immunization Manager, is responsible for providing technical support to National Expanded Program on Immunization (NEPI), Provincial EPI teams and UNICEF Regional Offices for the planning, implementation, and monitoring of immunization program in the country, with a special focus on outreach vaccination and zero-dose children to achieve the UNICEF’s immunization goals and objectives for Afghanistan. The Immunization Officer provides professional technical, operational, and administrative support throughout the programming process of the routine immunization and vaccination campaigns within the Country Program. It includes delivering results by preparing, executing, managing, and implementing various technical and administrative tasks under the program. Global actors strongly recommend reducing unimmunized (zero-dose) children. This position specifically supports EPI vaccination, focusing on outreach vaccination to reduce zero-dose children.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

1. Regularly collect, compile, and analyze immunization program information and data to present situation analysis to inform country program design, planning, and resource requirements, including budget and monitoring and evaluation.

Ensures the availability of accurate, complete, and up-to-date information required for situational analysis for effective Immunization program and project design, implementation, management, monitoring and evaluation through improved outreach strategies and reduce the zero dose. Drafts sound Immunization program/project budgets for review by the supervisor, ensuring accuracy and appropriateness of data and coding. Drafts updated project/program status reports.

2. Contribute to annual work plans, including the budget, donor proposals and reports, and program/project documentation related to EPI.

Analyze collected data (particularly the micro-plan data) and information to inform and contribute to annual work plans, including a budget, donor proposals and progress reports. Drafts sections of the donors’ annual reports and other project documentation related to EPI, ensuring accuracy and consistency with established rules, regulations and plans of action. Develop implementation strategies to improve outreach in areas with high number of zero-dose children.

3. Provide technical support to the NEPI, Regional and Provincial EPI Management Teams (R/PEMTs) and UNICEF regional offices in planning with a special focus on outreach vaccination, implementation, and monitoring of the program. 

Provide technical support to NEPI and PEMTs in analyzing the available information and developing plans with a special focus on outreach vaccination, implementation and monitoring. Also, support in assessing the financial and logistics requirements and inform UNICEF health section on planned contribution from UNICEF.

4. Project/program efficiency, effectiveness and vaccination coverage are enhanced through effective implementation follow-on.

Enhances project/program efficiency and effectiveness through appropriate UNICEF inputs, including technical, financial, and logistics support, implementation monitoring, and follow-up on corrective actions.

Undertakes field visits to districts and sub-districts to monitor and supervise project/program activities to improve immunization coverage. Supervises the implementation of the routine EPI activities and prepares reports on the results of the field visits and the progress of vaccination coverage.

5. Appropriateness and completeness of financial and supply documentation as well as adherence to established allotments are ensured.

Ensures the appropriateness of financial, administrative and supply documentation; verifies that Immunization project expenditures are within allotments and that data is consistent with the project information and database. Follows up on queries or initiates corrective action on discrepancies.

6. The capacities of the immunization staff in the country and UNICEF offices are strengthened in planning, implementing, and monitoring the immunization program. 

Supports a staff training/development program to upgrade the capacity of the Country Office staff at the national level and in regions and UNICEF extenders in the development, implementation, and management of the Immunization Program. Conducts relevant orientation, workshop, teamwork facilitation and staff learning/development activities:

Ensures that national and regional government staff in vaccination programs are properly trained/oriented on the various aspects of EPI; uses the appropriate training guidelines.

7. Knowledge sharing with donors and other stakeholders is promoted.

Compiles Immunization project implementation training and orientation materials and shares useful and appropriate information to promote knowledge sharing with donors and other stakeholders.

8. Effective communication, networking and collaboration are achieved with internal and external partners.

Ensures effective communication and networking, and working relationships are developed and maintained.

• Collaborates with Operations staff to implement internal controls systems and resolve day-to-day issues or discrepancies in financial or supply management.
• Teams with local government counterparts to exchange detailed information on Immunization project/program planning and implementation and status
• Provides technical support in the planning of district EPI micro-plan. Recommends courses of action to supervisor as and when necessary.
• Participates in the study of the project/program implementation status and evaluation of the zero-dose children as required.
• Collaborates with members of the development community, including NGOs, UN, and bilateral agencies, in exchanging information about the immunization sector.

9. Other assigned duties and responsibilities are effectively performed.

Performs and delivers additional duties and services assigned by the supervisor.

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

• University degree in health/ or Public Health, Paediatric Health, Child Development, Child Health, Nutrition, Epidemiology, Public Administration, Social Policy, Social Development, Community Development, or other relevant disciplines.
• A minimum of two of relevant professional field work experience in immunization/public health.
• Experience in knowledge management. Training and experience in social welfare, or Immunization/health care. Background/Familiarity with Emergency
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language or a local language is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, 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 include 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 promote the protection and safeguarding of all children.

Remarks:

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.

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 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). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be cancelled.

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 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.

Government employees that 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 advance to the next stage of the selection process.