The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programmeis the UN organization that promotes volunteerism to support peace and development worldwide. Volunteerism can transform the pace and nature of development and it benefits both society at large and the individual volunteer. UNV contributes to peace and development by advocating for volunteerism globally, encouraging partners to integrate volunteerism into development programming, and mobilizing volunteers.
In most cultures volunteerism is deeply embedded in long-established, ancient traditions of sharing and support within the communities. In this context, UN Volunteers take part in various forms of volunteerism and play a role in development and peace together with co-workers, host agencies and local communities.
In all assignments, UN Volunteers promote volunteerism through their action and conduct. Engaging in volunteer activity can effectively and positively enrich their understanding of local and social realities, as well as create a bridge between themselves and the people in their host community. This will make the time they spend as UN Volunteers even more rewarding and productive.
SDG Liaison Primary Healthcare
Host Agency/Host Institute
The SDG Partnership Platform Liaison for Primary Healthcare post is located for 80% at the Frontier Counties Development Council (FCDC) Secretariat in Nairobi, Kenya and for 20% at the SDG Partnership Platform Secretariat, housed at the United Nations Resident Coordinator’s Office in Nairobi, Kenya.
Organizational Context/Project
Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will be as much about the effectiveness of development co-operation as it will be about the scale and form such co-operation takes. There is a lot of talk about partnership, but not enough practical, on-the-ground support to make partnerships effective in practice, especially not at scale.
Whilst Kenya has made substantial progress towards meeting the Millennium Development Goals, this progress has been uneven across specific goals and within the country. Strides have been made in attaining universal primary education, reducing infant and child mortality and the fight against HIV/AIDS. However, SDG progress must focus more on socio-economic equity of benefits in order to make sure that Kenya leaves no-one-behind.
The SDG agenda is marked by solidarity participation and universality, with a fundamental shift expected in the development finance architecture. Improving the effectiveness, quality and impact of development co-operation in this context will require inclusive partnerships, innovative approaches and application of lessons at country level.
The Government of Kenya and UN System in Kenya established in 2017 the SDG Partnership Platform. This Platform brings together a range of partners from Government, development partners, private sector, civil society, philanthropy, academia, and faith-based organizations to create diverse SDG accelerator windows. Primary Healthcare (PHC) – contributing to the SDG 3 cluster – has been the first window aiming to improve Universal Health Coverage through transformation of Kenya’s PHC system. Subsequently, the Platform will open windows to support thematic SDG clusters in support of Kenya’s “Big Four” agenda such as agriculture, and manufacturing.
Whilst the Platform aims at contributing to the SDG target 17.17: Effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships encouraged and promoted in Kenya, the SDG3 PHC Window aims at contributing to the results of the following three sub-outcomes:
- Enhanced national and county government capacities to steward large-scale Primary Healthcare PPPs.
- Innovative financing promoted in support of Kenya’s domestic resource mobilization agenda for UHC.
- Improved delivery and innovations of the Primary healthcare system, through increased public private collaboration, to better address Kenya’s triple burden of disease.
With the aim of contributing to the set outcomes and deliverables, the SDG3 Primary Healthcare Accelerator Window’s activities will be implemented through a three phased-approach (I. Diagnostics and Facts, II. Design and Planning and III. Active facilitation of on-the-ground implementation (national and county level) under which a common fact-base will firstly be established for Platform members to jointly identify selected bold transformative initiatives in pursuit of the SDG Partnership Platform goals and objectives, secondly to carefully design and plan with key stakeholders for the successful delivery of these initiatives, and thirdly to facilitate implementation of the initiatives.
The Frontier Counties Development Council (FCDC) is mandated to promote, coordinate and facilitate the active and extensive participation of all sectors to effect the socioeconomic development of its member counties (Marsabit, Mandera, Garissa, Tana River, Wajir, Isiolo, Lamu, Turkana) through a holistic and integrated approach to promote and strengthen inter-regional linkages to ensure the increased viability of the Frontier county-wide and/or Frontier county-specific programs and projects.
The FCDC County Governments have over recent years demonstrated strong leaderships and support to strengthening their health systems in order to leave no-one-behind and been frontrunners in the establishment of the SDG Partnership Platform. In support of taking forward the outcomes of the first SDG Partnership Platform Primary Healthcare Co-create workshop organized for the FCDC counties, a national UNV is proposed to coordinate Partnership Platform Secretariat support to optimizing public private collaboration and innovation at the primary healthcare level in the FCDC Counties to continue the Counties journey towards the attainment of Universal Health Coverage and therewith contribute to the attainment of Kenya’s Big Four agenda.
Living Conditions
The incumbent will find his/her own housing arrangements in Nairobi. Nairobi is a modern metropolitan city where most basic goods and services are available locally at reasonable cost. The city is at a high altitude, with sunny days and cooler nights. There is a short rainy season before Christmas, and longer rains fall from March to May. November to February is generally warm. No need for central heating, however warm clothes are necessary during the rainy season. There are several transportation options in Nairobi, including taxis, buses, mini-buses, and mobile applications for transport. Public healthcare in Nairobi is generally subpar, but there are private healthcare options that are of better quality. The city is widely connected through Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and the smaller Wilson Airport. Air transport is also available to many up country destinations. The city is home to some 3,000 UN personnel mainly attributed to the fact that it serves as the headquarters for both UN HABITAT and UNEP, and as the UN Regional Hub for the East and Horn of Africa region. Security is an issue in Nairobi, with incidents of car-jacking and theft not uncommon. Safety and security in Nairobi varies depending on different neighborhoods, and it is important to become familiarized with safety recommendations for the city. Telecommunication system in Nairobi is generally sufficient. Internet access is generally reliable. There are fairly frequent power cuts, however most of the shared compounds have generators. Water supply can also be an issue as Kenya often experiences drought. In these situations expats may need to supplement their water supply by buying in water tankers. Kenyans are wonderfully friendly and tolerant to visitors. English is the first language spoken here, though most Kenyans are trilingual, using tribal languages and Kiswahili.
Conditions of Service for national UN Volunteers
A 12 month contract; with subsequent contract extensions subject to availability of funding, operational necessity and satisfactory performance. However, there is no expectation of renewal of the assignment.
Travel to duty station (if applicable) and a Settling-In-Grant will be provided in the event duty station is not within commuting distance from the place of recruitment. A Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA) of KES 80,541.17 is provided monthly to cover housing, utilities and normal cost of living expenses. Life, health and permanent disability insurance are included (health insurance for up to 3 dependents), as well as final repatriation (if applicable) and resettlement allowance for satisfactory service.
Duties and Responsibilities
Under the direct supervision of the SDG Partnership Platform Specialist at the SDG Partnership Platform Secretariat the national UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:
- Responsible for coordinating relevant support from the SDG Partnership Platform Secretariat to the Frontier Counties Development Council Secretariat and membership in the following areas:
- identification of PHC PPP opportunities in line with County Government needs, priorities and executive directives;
- formulation of PHC PPP concept notes
- carrying out feasibility studies assessing the affordability, value for money, and risk transfer of the PHC PPP
- ensuring appropriate planning and budgeting of PHC PPP within County Government’s planning and budgeting cycles
- undertaking transparent PHC PPP tender process
- monitoring of PHC PPP performance
- design of alternative financing models for PHC infrastructure and operations
- review and formulation of County Government’s health PPP policy and strategy
- formal and informal training and transfer of knowledge for contracting authorities
- organization of special SDG Partnership Platform events as County Health Stakeholder Forums and Primary Healthcare Co-create workshops
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 IVD);
- 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.
Results/expected Output
- Active coordination support offered to FCDC Secretariat and membership for successfully engaging with the SDG Parntership Platform in pursue of common goals and objectives.
- SDG Partnership Platform Liaison for Primary Healthcare Annual Workplan
- Monthly progress reports and a final report describing implementation status of the UNV annual workplan and progress in meeting its milestones and targets
- A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for development during the assignment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in and capacities developed.
Competencies
- Job Knowledge and Technical expertise
- Good understanding of the political, social-economic, and cultural setting s/he will be operating in is highly desirable
- Excellent interpersonal communication skills, writing ability and administrative skills.
- Ability to work in multidisciplinary teams
Required Skills and Experience
Education
- Bachelor degrees in public health, medicine, business administration, public administration, economics, finance or in other related field is required.
- A specialization or master’s degree is an asset.
Experience
- At least 2 years of relevant working experience working in the health sector
- Experience in public private partnerships an asset
- Good understanding of the political, social-economic, and cultural setting s/he will be operating in is highly desirable
- Excellent interpersonal communication skills, writing ability and administrative skills.
- Ability to work in multidisciplinary teams
Language
- Fluency in both written and spoken English is required;
- Fluency in spoken Kiswahili an asset
IT
- Excellent IT skills (word, excel, powerpoint)
More Information
- Job City Nairobi
