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
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, nutrition, 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.
Job organizational context :
The Nutrition Officer is to be used in a Country Office (CO) where the Nutrition Programme is a component of the Country Programme (or UNDAF). The Nutrition Officer reports to the Chief Field Office who is at Level 3.
Purpose for the job :
The Nutrition Officer provides professional technical, operational and administrative assistance throughout the programming process for the nutrition programmes/projects within the Country Programme, from development planning to delivery of results. In doing so, the incumbent implements a variety of technical and administrative programme tasks to facilitate programme development, implementation, programme progress monitoring, evaluation, and reporting of results.
Key function, accountabilities and related duties/tasks :
The holder of this position will be in charge of providing technical support to implementing partners in Lake State. He/She will be in charge of developing nutrition component of field office multi-year workplan and budget and supplies plan. He/She will support preparation of programme documents with implementing partners and ensure quality of all programme documents before submission. He/She will be in charge of analyzing monthly data reports and leading monthly sub-national nutrition cluster meetings. He/She will prepare preparation of quarterly performance scorecards for providing feedbacks to implementing partners but also preparation of bottleneck analysis of key nutrition interventions in counties in the central equatorial state. He/She will facilitate training session on CMAM, MIYCN and Nutrition Information System. He/She is expected to travel 50% of the time.
Summary of key functions/accountabilities :
Support to programme development and planning :
- Conduct and update the situation analysis for the programme sector(s) for the development, design and management of nutrition related programmes/projects. Research and report on development trends (e.g. political social, economic, nutrition, health) for higher management use to enhance programme management, efficiency and delivery of results ;
- Contribute to the development and establishment of sectoral programme goals, objectives, strategies, and results-based planning, through analysis of nutrition needs and areas for intervention; and submission of recommendations for priority and goal setting ;
- Provide technical and operational support throughout all stages of programming processes by executing and administering a variety of technical programme transactions; preparing materials and documentations, and complying with organizational processes and management systems, to support programme planning, results-based planning (RBM), and monitoring and evaluation of results ;
- Prepare required documentations and materials to facilitate the programme review and approval process.
Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results :
- Work closely and collaboratively with colleagues and partners to discuss operational and implementation issues. Provide solutions, recommendations and/or alert appropriate officials and stakeholders for higher-level intervention and/or decision-making. Keep record of reports and assessments for easy reference and/or to capture and institutionalize lessons learned ;
- Participate in monitoring and evaluation exercises, programme reviews and annual reviews with the government and other counterparts to assess programmes/projects and to report on required action and interventions at the higher level of programme management ;
- Monitor and report on the use of sectoral programme resources (financial, administrative and other assets), verifying compliance with approved allocation, goals, organizational rules, regulations/procedures, donor commitments, standards of accountability, and integrity. Report on issues identified to ensure timely resolution by management and stakeholders. Follow up on unresolved issues to ensure resolution ;
- Prepare regular and mandated sectoral programme/project reports for management, donors and partners to keep them informed of programme progress.
Technical and operational support to programme implementation :
- Conduct regular programme field visits and surveys, and exchange information with partners and stakeholders to assess progress and provide technical support. Take appropriate action to resolve issues and/or refer to relevant officials for resolution. Report on critical issues, bottlenecks and potential problems for timely action to achieve results ;
- Provide technical and operational support to government counterparts, NGO partners, UN system partners, and other country office partners/donors on the application and understanding of UNICEF policies, strategies, processes, and best practices on nutrition-related issues to support programme implementation, operations and delivery of results.
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 to facilitate programme implementation and build capacity of stakeholders to achieve programme goals on maternal and child rights as well as social justice and equity ;
- Draft communication and information materials for CO programme advocacy to promote awareness, establish partnership/alliances and support fund raising for nutrition programmes ;
- Participate in appropriate inter-agency (UNCT) meetings and events on programming to collaborate with inter-agency partners and colleagues on UNDAF operational planning and preparation of nutrition programmes/projects, and to integrate and harmonize UNICEF’s position and strategies with the UNDAF development and planning process ;
- Research information on potential donors and prepare resource mobilization materials and briefs for fund raising and partnership development purposes.
Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building :
- Identify, capture, synthesize, and share lessons learned for knowledge development and to build the capacity of stakeholders ;
- Apply innovative approaches and promote good practices to support the implementation and delivery of concrete and sustainable programme results ;
- Research, benchmark and report on best and cutting edge practices for development planning of knowledge products and systems ;
- Participate as a resource person in capacity building initiatives to enhance the competencies of clients and stakeholders.
Impact of Results :
The efficiency and efficacy of support provided by the Nutrition Officer to the preparation, planning and implementation of nutrition programmes/projects contributes to and accelerates the national development efforts to improve the nutritional status of mothers, infants and children in the country and this in turn contributes to maintaining and enhancing the credibility and ability of UNICEF to continue to provide programme services to mothers and children that promotes greater social equity in the country.
Recruitment Qualifications :
Education : A university degree in one of the following fields is required: 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.
Experience :
- A minimum of two years of professional experience in a developing country 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 ;
- Experience in health/nutrition programme/project development in a UN system agency or organization is an asset ;
- Strong experience in complex emergency settings will be a must ;
- Experience in Planning and Budget Monitoring will be a must ;
- Strong experience in programme monitoring of implementing partners ;
- Strong experience in supervision and coaching of staff will be an asset ;
- Experience in coordinating and implementing training programme ;
- Experience in sub-national cluster coordination of nutrition partners ;
- Experience in using excel functions and eTool will be an asset.
Language Requirements : Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language or 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.
For every Child, you demonstrate…
- Builds and maintains partnerships : Build a network of external stakeholders and alliances with government counterparts, civil society, the media and the private sector, in order to promote and advance the work of the organization ;
- Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness : Self-aware of own strengths, limitations, working style and deeply held convictions and biases. Displays ethical awareness through behaviours that are consistent and compliant with the standards of conduct for international civil servants, UNICEF’s values and relevant UNICEF policies and procedures ;
- Drive to achieve results for impact : Commits to action and assumes responsibility and ownership for own performance and the associated outcomes ;
- Innovates and embraces change : Is open to and proposes new approaches and ideas. Adapts and responds positively to change ;
- Manages ambiguity and complexity : Demonstrate resilience and composure, get things done despite challenges and maintain performance levels in pressured, adverse and uncertain environments ;
- Thinks and acts strategically : Understands the big picture and is able to identify potential opportunities for action and challenges that exist. Forms sound evidence-based judgements in the delivery of UNICEF’s results ;
- Works collaboratively with others : Establish and maintain mutually supportive working relationships, demonstrating sensitivity to people of diverse backgrounds, respecting differences and ensuring that all can contribute and succeed.
Nurtures, leads and manages people :
- Provide exemplary management and leadership, motivating and developing colleagues to perform at their best, while building diverse and inclusive teams ;
- The functional competencies required for this post are…
View our competency framework at : UNICEF_Competencies.pdf
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 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.
Remarks :
- Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service ;
- Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.