UNICEF

Position: NUTRITION SPECIALIST, NOC

Job Time: Full-Time

Job Type: Contract

Place of Work: ***, Ethiopia

Posted date: 48 minutes ago

Application Deadline: Nov, 24/2021 (13 days left)

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, Nutrition

How can you make a difference?

The Nutrition Specialist supports the development and preparation of the nutrition program and is responsible for managing, implementing, monitoring, evaluating, and reporting the program progress of a sector of the nutrition program within the country program. The Nutrition Specialist provides technical guidance and management support throughout the programming processes to facilitate the administration and achievement of concrete and sustainable results in maternal, infant, and child nutrition programs/projects. This is carried out according to plans, allocation results based-management approaches and methodology (RBM), as well as UNICEF’s Strategic Plans, standards of performance, and accountability framework.

Key function, accountabilities, and related duties/tasks

1. Support program development and planning
2. Programme management, monitoring, and delivery of results
3. Technical and operational support to program implementation
4. Networking and partnership building
5. Innovation, knowledge management, and capacity building

 Support program development and planning

• Contribute to and support the preparation, design, and updating of the situation analysis for the nutrition sector(s) to ensure comprehensive and current data on maternal and child nutrition is available to guide policy development and the design and management of nutrition programs/projects.
• Keep abreast of development trends to enhance program management, efficiency, and delivery.
• Participate in strategic program discussions on the planning of nutrition programs/projects.
• Formulate, design, and prepare a sector of the nutrition program proposal, ensuring alignment with UNICEF’s Strategic Plans, Country Programme, and coherence/integration with the UN Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF), regional strategies, as well as national priorities, plans, and competencies.
• Establish specific goals, objectives, strategies, and implementation plans for the nutrition sector(s) based on results-based planning terminology and methodology (RBM). Prepare required documentations for program review and approval.
• Work closely and collaboratively with colleagues and partners to discuss strategies and methodologies and to determine national priorities/competencies to ensure the achievement of concrete and sustainable results.
• Provide technical and operational support throughout all stages of programming processes to ensure integration, coherence, and harmonization of programs/projects with other UNICEF sectors and achievement of results as planned and allocated. 

Program management, monitoring, and delivery of results

• Plan and/or collaborate with internal and external partners to establish monitoring benchmarks, performance indicators, and UNICEF/UN system indicators and measurements, to assess and strengthen performance accountability, coherence, and delivery of concrete and sustainable results for the assigned sector in nutrition programs.
• Participate in monitoring and evaluation exercises, program reviews, and annual reviews with the government and other counterparts to assess progress and to determine required action and interventions to achieve results.
• Prepare and assess monitoring and evaluation reports to identify gaps, strengths, and/or weaknesses in program management. Identify lessons learned and use the knowledge gained for development planning and timely intervention to achieve goals.
• Actively monitor programs and projects through field visits, surveys, and/or exchange of information with partners and stakeholders to assess progress. Identify bottlenecks and potential problems and take timely decisions to resolve issues and/or refer to relevant officials for timely resolution.
• Monitor and verify the optimum and appropriate use of sectoral program resources (financial, administrative, and other assets) confirming compliance with organizational rules, regulations, procedures, donor commitments, and standards of accountability. Ensure timely reporting and liquidation of resources.
• Prepare regular and mandated program/project reports for management, donors, and partners to keep them informed of program progress.

 Technical and operational support to program implementation

• Provide technical guidance and operational support to government counterparts, NGO partners, UN system partners and other country office partners/donors on the interpretation, application, and understanding of UNICEF policies, strategies, processes, best practices, and approaches on nutrition and related issues to support program development planning, management, implementation, and delivery of results.
• Participate in discussions with national partners, clients, and stakeholders to promote nutrition and development issues especially in the areas of emergency preparedness and maternal, newborn, and child survival and development.
• Draft policy papers, briefs, and other strategic program materials for management use, information, and/or consideration.
• Participate in emergency preparedness initiatives for program development, contingency planning, and/or to respond to emergencies in the country or where designated.

 Networking and partnership building

• Build and sustain effective close working partnerships with nutrition sector government counterparts and national stakeholders through active sharing of information and knowledge.
• Facilitate program implementation and build the capacity of stakeholders to achieve program goals on maternal and child rights as well as social justice and equity.
• Prepare communication and information materials for CO program advocacy to promote awareness, establish partnerships/alliances, and support fundraising for nutrition programs (maternal, newborn, and child survival and development).
• Participate and/or represent UNICEF in inter-agency discussions, ensuring that UNICEF’s position, interests, and priorities are fully considered and integrated into the UNDAF development planning and agenda-setting.

 Innovation, knowledge management, and capacity building

• Apply and introduce innovative approaches and good practices to build the capacity of partners and stakeholders, and to support the implementation and delivery of concrete and sustainable program results.
• Keep abreast, research, benchmark, and implement best and cutting-edge practices in nutrition management and information systems. Assess, institutionalize and share best practices and knowledge learned.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of policies and procedures to ensure optimum efficiency and efficacy of sustainable programs and projects.
• Organize and implement capacity-building initiatives to enhance the competencies of clients and stakeholders to promote sustainable results on nutrition-related programs and projects. 

Impact of Results

The efficiency and efficacy of support provided by the Nutrition Specialist to the preparation, planning, and implementation of nutrition programs/projects contributes to and accelerates the national development efforts to improve the nutritional status of mothers, infants, and children in the country. This in turn contributes to maintaining and enhancing the credibility and ability of UNICEF to continue to provide program services to mothers and children that promote greater social equity in the country.

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

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in nutrition, public health, nutritional epidemiology, global/international health and nutrition, health/nutrition research, policy and/or management, health sciences, nutritional epidemiology, or another health-related science field.
• *A first University Degree in a relevant field combined with 2 additional years of professional experience may be accepted instead of an Advanced University Degree.
• A minimum of 5 (five) years of relevant professional experience in one or more of the following areas is required: nutrition, public health, nutrition planning, and management, or maternal, infant, and child health/nutrition care.
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergencies is considered an asset
• Experience in health/nutrition program/project development and management in a UN system agency or organization is an asset
• 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 values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People, and Drive for Results.

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are...

Core Values

• Care

• Respect

• Integrity

• Trust

• Accountability

 Core Competencies 

• Nurtures, Leads and Manages People (2)
• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (2)
• Works Collaboratively with others (2)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (2)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (2)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (2)
• Drive to achieve impactful results (2)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (2)

How to Apply

CLICK HERE

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

Click here to learn more about UNICEF’s values and competencies.

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 particularly encourage qualified female candidates to apply.

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 be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. 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.