job Description
Mission and objectives
The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programmes, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.
UNICEF has been operating in Zimbabwe since 1982. We are a team of passionate professionals committed to the protection and fulfilment of children’s rights. Supporting the Government’s vision of a prosperous and empowered upper-middle-income society, the country programme is aimed at contributing to sustainable socioeconomic development that provides all children, including adolescents, with opportunities to fulfil their potential, lead a healthy life, access quality learning and protection and meaningfully participate in society.
Context
Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of the Health Specialist MNCH, or his/her designated representative/s, Public Health Intern - PHI will contribute to UNICEF’s efforts to advance comprehensive primary health care and promote equitable access to essential health services across the life course. This assignment offers an opportunity to contribute to integrated public health programming that addresses both immediate needs and long-term system resilience, while enhancing the volunteer’s exposure to field realities and health policy environments.
Task description
The UN Volunteer will support the Health Section, with responsibilities that cover maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health, including immunization, childhood non-communicable diseases (NCDs), and HIV in children. In line with UNICEF’s programming approach, the assignment will also emphasize the importance of community-based primary health care, health system preparedness and response, and long-term health system strengthening and resilience.
Key responsibilities will include:
• Participate in and learn from project coordination processes related to maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health—including immunization, childhood non-communicable diseases (NCDs), and HIV in children—under the guidance of technical staff.
• Support activities related to Primary Health Care (PHC) for RMNCH, including reviewing background documents and participating in discussions on immunization, community health systems, and emergency response, as part of on-the-job learning.
• Assist in collecting, organizing, and conducting basic analysis of health data, with mentorship provided to enhance data literacy and interpretation skills.
• Join selected field visits to observe program implementation and contribute to capturing lessons learned, innovations, and best practices.
• Support the preparation and review of planning documents, including the Health Section’s rolling workplan and inputs to mid-year and annual reviews, as a capacity-building opportunity in planning and monitoring.
• Attend and actively participate in Health Section meetings, taking notes and occasionally assisting with coordination to build familiarity with team collaboration and workflow.
• Learn about multisectoral coordination by supporting preparations for meetings with government partners, local stakeholders, and communities.
• Observe and document technical discussions and working group meetings related to RMNCH and HIV programming to deepen understanding of policy dialogue and partner collaboration.
• Assist in developing knowledge products—such as presentations, briefs, and reports—for internal and external audiences, with guidance from supervisors.
• Perform other tasks as assigned, with a focus on supporting learning objectives and contributing to team efforts in a meaningful and structured way.
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