Public Health Programme Officer

The UNV Primary Health Care Specialist will primarily support the implementation of the project to ensure every mother and child survives through the promotion of Primary Health Care in Sierra Leone. This is for an anticipated project to be funded by the Government of Japan covering all 16 districts in a phased manner over three years (2026-2029): 5 districts - Bo, Moyamba, Bonthe, Pujehun and Kenema in year 1 and then scale up in all 16 districts in year 2 and 3.

This role will provide oversight and technical support during the planning, implementation, and monitoring of the Primary Health Care project whose emphasis is on rolling out the Maternal and Child Health Handbook. This Handbook offers comprehensive integrated health and nutrition service provision as a ‘one stop single window’ for mother’s and child health and nutrition services at facility and outreach levels, bringing the best results in a cost-efficient manner. Over the past few years, the Ministry of Health (MoH), with support from JICA and in close technical collaboration with key Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, and Adolescent Health and Nutrition (RMNCAH+N) partners, including UNICEF, has developed and refined the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Handbook to be used as a health education and self-learning tool aimed at promoting a continuum of care across the life course and empowering families and communities to take charge of their health. Building on promising results from pilot implementation in 2022-23 by JICA, MoH and UNICEF, the MoH plans to roll out the MCH Handbook nationwide in a phased manner. Meanwhile, it is recognized that in order to do this and ensure effective utilization of the MCH Handbook, there is a need to strengthen the functionality of the Primary Health Care (PHC) system and to enhance planning and budgeting at district and health facility levels.

Consequently, the PHC Optimization Model for Universal Health Coverage (UHC) piloted in a few districts has demonstrated the importance of community participation and data-driven decision-making. The 10-point Call to Action endorsed during the October 2023 dissemination by senior MoH leadership reaffirmed national commitment to scaling the PHC model to all districts.

The project will therefore build on learnings from two successful pilots implemented by the MoH with technical and financial support from JICA, UNICEF, and partners - namely, the MCH Handbook and PHC optimization model. It provides an opportunity to leverage these positive results to generate tangible improvements in health outcomes for mothers, children, and families. The PHC model strengthens governance, accountability, and equitable resource allocation, while the MCH Handbook serves as a holistic, integrated, and user-friendly tool that enhances caregivers’ knowledge, empowers communities, and addresses underlying gender and power dynamics that influence health-seeking behaviour and decision-making within households.

Overall, the aim of the project and the role of the PHC Specialist will be to contribute to the acceleration in the introduction and institutionalization of the MCH Handbook in Sierra Leone as a core communication, self-learning, and health system strengthening tool - ensuring client-centred services and continuity of care throughout the life course.

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of the MNCAH Specialist or his/her designated mandated representative(s), the UNV Primary Health Care Specialist will work in collaboration with other Heads of Unit in the H&N Section, MOH, JICA and / or other relevant Sections such as the Education Section to support implementation of the Primary Health Care project objectives. Specifically,

a.
Support the phased roll-out and implementation of the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Handbook as part of the integrated Primary Health Care (PHC) package.

Responsibilities:

 Support Health and Nutrition colleagues, the Ministry of Health and relevant stakeholders in the implementation of the MCH Handbook.
 Contribute to activities supporting quality of care in maternal and child health services.
b.
Support district-level implementation of Primary Health Care and health systems strengthening activities.
Responsibilities:

•Provide technical support to ensure capacity building on Quality of Care in an integrated manner.

•Develop and implement an enhanced performance management and accountability approach for improved quality of care.

•Provide technical assistance and contribute towards local level decentralized planning, budgeting, implementation of integrated services and monitoring.

c.Support communication and community engagement approaches for families, including males, and communities to empower them on ‘positive parenting’ with knowledge and skills to provide ‘nurturing care’ for young children across 16 districts.

Responsibilities:

•Collaborate with the MOH and relevant UNICEF Sections including the Social Transformation and Education Sections or other relevant stakeholders to support the development of a Community Engagement approach for positive parenting.

•Provide technical assistance in the implementation of the Community scorecard.

d. Coordination and Partnership Engagement

Objective: Support strengthen partnerships and coordination mechanisms to improve the efficiency in the attainment of the MCH Handbook and PHC project’s goals and objectives.

Responsibilities:
•Participate in regular coordination meetings at MOH and wider stakeholder engagement on the MCH Handbook and PHC implementation to harmonize project implementation.

•Serve as a UNICEF alternate focal point in the national level and or district level PHC forums, ensuring alignment with UNICEF’s and/or JICA’s & Government of Japan strategies and objectives.

•Promote a collaborative approach to address challenges in service delivery and data management with district teams and partner organizations.

•Identify coordination gaps and provide solutions or strategies to improve coordination between partners and between H&N programme components.

•Support capacity building of DHMTs and partners to strengthen governance and oversight in the roll out of the MCH Handbook and PHC model promotion.

Inputs Required: With experience in integrated Health and Nutrition Service delivery in a developing country context, health systems strengthening, relationship-building skills and knowledge of the Primary Health Care (PHC) model, and experience working with government and community partners.

Additionally, provide technical and operational support during program implementation and monitor relevant Direct Cash Transfers, oversee programme innovations, knowledge management and capacity building.

As an active UNICEF team member, the UNV Primary Health Care Specialist will ensure that efficient, timely, responsive, client-friendly and high-quality support in relation to the roll out of the MCH Handbook and promotion of the PHC model project is rendered to UNICEF and its beneficiaries in the delivery of her/his functions, including:

Scaled up MCH Handbook roll out in the country in line with the project goals and targets.

Health system capacity strengthened in all 16 districts based on the PHC ‘optimization’ model pilot.

Community engagement activities rolled out systematically for families, including males, and communities to empower them on ‘positive parenting’ with knowledge and skills to provide ‘nurturing care’ for young children across all 16 districts,

Provide a final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for peace and development during the assignment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in and capacities developed.

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are required to:

Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day).

Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country.

Reflect on the type and quality of voluntary action that they are undertaking, including participation in ongoing reflection activities.

Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.

Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly arrived UN Volunteers.

Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.

UN Volunteers will be provided equal duty of care as extended to all host entity personnel. Host entity support to the UN Volunteer includes, but is not limited to:

Introductory briefings about the organisation and office-related context including security, emergency procedures, good cultural practice and orientation to the local environment.

Support with arrival administration including setting-up of bank accounts, residence permit applications and completion of other official processes as required by the host government or host entity.

Structured guidance, mentoring and coaching by a supervisor including a clear workplan and performance appraisal.

Access to office space, equipment, IT support and any other systems and tools required to complete the objectives of the assignment including a host entity email address.

Access to shared host entity corporate knowledge, training and learning. ​

Inclusion of the volunteer in emergency procedures such as evacuations.

Leave management.

DSA for official travel, when applicable​.
All changes in the Description of Assignment occurring between recruitment and arrival or during the assignment need to be formalized with the United Nations Volunteer Programme.