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, Unicef :
Malnutrition is a public health problem in Burkina Faso exacerbated by effects of climate change, drought and the current insecurity context since beginning of year 2019. Declared of a state of emergency in 14 provinces in six out of 13 regions (Sahel, Nord, Centre-Est, Hauts-Bassins, Boucle du Mouhoun and Est) since December 2018 had been extended to end of year 2020. Since the declaration the number of displaced populations greatly increased, from 87,000 in January 2019 to 765,517 on the 12th February 2020 (with an estimated 85% of the IDPs settled in host communities and the rest in five displacement sites). As of February, 17th, 2020, 121 health facilities are closed and 152 (out of 1192) health facilities are running with minimum operations. This affects about 1, 478, 068 people who have limited access to essential health and nutrition services. Five regions of Burkina Faso (Sahel, Central Nord, Nord, Est and Boucle du Mouhoun) are most affected by the crisis. Those regions are hosting IDPs with increased vulnerability related to food and social services access. These same regions have traditionally been the most affected by acute malnutrition with rates of global and severe acute malnutrition up to 12.8 per cent and 3.1per cent respectively in the Sahel in 2018. Significant deteriorations are anticipated in 2020 as shown in the preliminary results of the nutrition survey conducted in October 2019 in six communes hosting IDPs in the Sahel, Centre Nord; Est and Nord regions. The results indicate worrying levels of global and severe acute malnutrition is ranging from 19.7 per cent GAM and 7.8 per cent SAM in Barsalogho IDP site and 16.9per cent GAM and 5.1per cent SAM in Djibo commune. The total number of children suffering from acute malnutrition (both moderate and severe) is estimated at 379,224, including 156,453 with severe acute malnutrition. Centre Nord Region had a rate of global acute malnutrition of 10,73 per cent and hosts 50.15 per cent IDPs of the country.
To reinforce emergency response, UNICEF is strengthening his capacities in three sub-offices of Dori (Sahel Region), Kaya (Centre Est region) and Fada (Est region).
The Nutrition Officer under recruitment will be part of the UNICEF sub-office of Kaya, in Centre Nord region. He will work on the global nutrition response with emphasis on emergency nutrition response in areas affected by political insecurity, and aggravating factors such as closure of health facilities, and food insecurity. He/she will provide technical and operational support to the regional health directorate of Centre Nord region for all nutrition interventions supported by UNICEF in the region.
How can you make a difference?
Under the direct supervision of the Chief of Field Office, Kaya and the technical supervision of Chief of Health and Nutrition Section, the post will undertake the following :
- Support to programme development and planning ;
- Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results ;
- Technical and operational support to programme implementation ;
- Networking and partnership building ;
- Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building.
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
- A first university degree (Bachelor) in one of the disciplines relevant to the following areas: Public Health & Nutrition, Health Sciences, International Health & Nutrition, Public Health & Nutrition Policy and Management, Family and Community Health & Nutrition, Nutritional Epidemiology, Health & Nutrition Education, Health & Nutrition Promotion and Disease Prevention, Public Health Preparedness, Health Emergency Preparedness, or other relevant discipline(s) or related technical field ;
- A minimum of two (2) years of professional experience in one or more of the following areas is required: Nutrition, Public Health, Emergency Nutrition response, Nutrition planning and management, or Maternal, Infant and Child Health/Nutrition care ;
- Experience in strengthening service delivery programs, nutrition emergency response, performance and quality improvement and monitoring and evaluation ;
- Experience in Nutrition programme/project development in a UN system agency or organization is an asset ;
- Fluency in French is required. Good working Knowledge of English is required. Knowledge of a local language of the duty station is considered as 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 functional competencies required for this post are…
- Formulating strategies and concepts (I) ;
- Analyzing (II) ;
- Applying technical expertise ((II) ;
- Learning and researching (II) ;
- Planning and organizing (II).
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.
UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse, and on any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination.
All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process