Nutrition Specialist at the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)

UNICEF works in 190 countries and territories to protect the rights of every child. UNICEF has spent 70 years working to improve the lives of children and their families. Defending children's rights throughout their lives requires a global presence, aiming to produce results and understand their effects. UNICEF believes all children have a right to survive, thrive and fulfill their potential - to the benefit of a better world.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Nutrition Specialist - NOC

Job Number: 510985
Location: Abuja, Nigeria
Work Type: Fixed Term Staff

Summary of Key Functions/Accountabilities

• Management and/or advisory support to the Chief
• Program development and planning
• Program management, monitoring and delivery of results
• Advisory services and technical support
• Advocacy, networking and partnership building
• Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

Management and/or advisory support to the Chief:

• Provide advice to the Chief in establishing the annual work plan including developing strategies and determining priorities/targets and performance measurements.
• Coordinate work progress monitoring and ensure results are achieved according to schedule and performance standards and report to Chief critical issues for timely action.
• Provide technical assistance/advice to colleagues in the Section on all aspects of programming and implementation to enable colleagues to achieve program/performance objectives
• Perform the full duties of the Chief in his/her absence.

Program development and planning:

• Plan and/or provide technical support/guidance to the preparation/design and conduct/update of situation analysis for the nutrition sector/s to ensure timely comprehensive and current data on maternal and child nutrition are available to guide policy and development, design and management of nutrition programs/projects. Keep abreast of development trends to enhance program management, efficiency and delivery.
• Participate in strategic program discussion on the planning of nutrition programs/projects. Formulate, design and prepare nutrition (and/or large sector/s) of programs/projects proposal, ensuring alignment with the overall UNICE's Strategic Plans and Country Program and coherence/integration with UN Development Assistance Framework (UNDF), regional strategies and national priorities, plans and competencies.
• Establish specific goals, objectives and strategies and implementation plans for the sector/s based on results-based planning terminology and methodology (RBM). Prepare required documentations for program review and approval.
• Work closely and collaboratively with internal and external colleagues and partners to discuss strategies and methodologies and to determine national priorities/competencies to ensure the achievement of concrete and sustainable results.
• Provide authoritative 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 other UNICEF/UN system indicators and measurement to assess/strengthen performance accountability, coherence and delivery of concrete and sustainable results for the assigned sector/s in nutrition programs.
• Participate in monitoring and evaluation exercises, program reviews and annual reviews with government and other counterparts to assess progress and to determine required action/interventions to achieve results.
• Prepare/assess monitoring and evaluation reports to identify gaps, strengths/weaknesses in program and management, identify lessons learned and use knowledge gained for development planning and timely intervention to achieve goals.
• Actively monitor programs/projects through field visits, surveys and/or exchange of information with partners/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.
• Plan, monitor and certify and control the optimum/appropriate use of program resources (financial, administrative and other assets) confirming compliance with organizational rules, regulations/procedures and donor commitments, standards of accountability and integrity and ensuring timely reporting and liquidation of resources
• Prepare mandated and key program/project reports for donors and other partners to keep them informed of program progress.

Advisory services and technical support:

• Provide advice to key government officials, NGO partners, UN system partners and other country office partners/donors on policies, strategies and best practices and approaches on health and related issues to support program development planning, management, implementation and delivery of results.
• Participate in program strategic discussions/planning to provide technical advice/contribute to policy discussions and agenda setting to promote health/nutrition interventions especially in the areas of gender, emergency preparedness and maternal, newborn and child health and nutrition.
• Prepare policy papers, briefs and other strategic program materials for management use, information and/or consideration.
• Participate in emergency preparedness initiatives program development and contingency planning and/or to respond to emergencies in country or where designated.

Advocacy, networking and partnership building:

• Build and strengthen strategic partnerships with nutrition/health sector government counterparts, national stakeholders and global partners/allies/donors/academia through active networking, advocacy and effective communication to build capacity, exchange knowledge/expertise and/or promote cooperation and alliances to achieve program goals on maternal/children rights and social justice/equity.
• Prepare communication and information materials to highlight program goals, achievements and/or needs to promote awareness, establish partnership/alliances and support fund raising for nutrition programs (maternal, newborn and child survival and development).
• Participate and/or represent UNICEF in appropriate inter-agency (UNCT) discussions and planning on health and related issues to ensure organizational position, interests and priorities are fully considered and integrated in the UNDAF process in development planning and agenda setting. Collaborate with inter-agency partners/colleagues UNDAF planning and preparation of nutrition programs/projects.

Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building:

• Promote critical thinking and innovative approaches and good practices for sustainable health programs/projects initiatives through advocacy and technical advisory services.
• Keep abreast, research, benchmark and implement best and cutting edge practices in health management and information systems. Institutionalize and share best practices and knowledge learned.
• Contribute to the development of policies and procedures and introduce innovation and best practices to ensure optimum efficiency and efficacy of sustainable programs and projects.
• Organize, plan and/or implement capacity building initiatives to enhance the competencies of clients/stakeholders to promote sustainable results on health/nutrition related programs/projects.

Impact of Results:

• The efficiency and efficacy of program 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, and this in turn contributes to maintaining/enhancing the credibility and ability of UNICEF to continue to provide program services for mothers and children that promotes greater social equity in the country.
• Competencies and level of proficiency required (based on UNICEF Professional Competency Profiles.

Core Values

• Commitment
• Diversity and inclusion
• Integrity

Recruitment Qualifications
Education:

• An Advanced University Degree in Nutrition, Nutritional Epidemiology, Public Health, Global/International Health and Nutrition, Health/Nutrition Research, Policy and/or Management, or other Health related science field is required.

Experience:

• A minimum of 8 years of professional experience in public health/nutrition planning and management and/or in relevant areas of maternal, newborn and child nutrition health care at the international level some of which preferably in a developing country is required.
• Relevant experience in health/nutrition program/project development and management in any UN system agency or organization is an asset.

Core competencies:

• Communication (II)
• Working with people (II)
• Drive for results (II)

Functional Competencies:

• Leading and supervising (I)
• Formulating strategies and concepts (II)
• Analyzing (III)
• Relating and networking (II)
• Deciding and Initiating action (II)
• Applying technical expertise (III)

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language or a local language is an asset.

Application Closing Date
4th March, 2018.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online