Under the overall supervision of the Regional Advisor (RA) Nutrition, the position will be responsible for technical support and strategic direction on Maternal, Infant and Young Child Nutrition (MIYCN), including micronutrient supplementation, first foods and food fortification. The work of the Specialist is guided by the UNICEF global nutrition strategy and its regional contextualization, notably the multi-system approach. The Nutrition Specialist provides substantive support to the RA for the work of the Nutrition Section, in terms of authoritative technical assistance, oversight on implementation of multi-country grants and initiatives and quality assurance to the MIYCN aspect of nutrition programs in countries, contribution to the regional aspects of the nutrition section’s work on MIYCN, including development of tools and guidance, innovation, evidence generation and knowledge development and exchange. The position oversees partnerships with regional economic communities (RECs) in the region, as well as with other stakeholders including UN agencies, NGOs, donors, academia and others on MIYCN.
Responsibilities:
Management and advisory support
to the Regional Adviser
- Provide advice to the RA in establishing,
implementing and monitoring the MIYCN components of the annual work plan.
- Ensure results for MIYCN are achieved
according to schedule and performance standards, and report to RA critical
issues for timely action.
- Provide technical assistance and advice
to colleagues in the section on the MIYCN aspects of programming and
implementation to enable them to achieve results.
Programme development and
planning
- Provide technical support and guidance on
the preparation, design and updating of regional and country situation
analyses on MIYCN, to inform the regional and country agendas.
- Provide technical and strategic
assistance to country offices to formulate, design and prepare the MIYCN
components of nutrition programmes across multiple systems and develop
implementation plans.
- Provide support for country offices to
develop the MIYCN components of humanitarian response plans, HACs,
appeals, proposals and other relevant emergency documents, as well as
resilience strategies.
- Work closely and collaboratively with
colleagues in other UNICEF sectors, particularly ECD, Gender, Disability
Inclusion, Emergency, SBC, Health, WASH, Social Policy, Supply and
Communications and with HQ. Act as focal point of the Nutrition Section
for ECD and for Disability Inclusion.
- Provide authoritative technical and
operational support on MIYCN throughout all stages of programming
processes.
Programme management, monitoring
and delivery of results
- Collaborate with internal and external
partners to establish monitoring benchmarks, performance indicators and
other UNICEF system indicators and measurements to assess and strengthen
performance accountability and results for MIYCN.
- Provide quality assurance and review of
country office annual reports, NutriDash, RAM, CSIs and results related to
MIYCN and review of RO/CO technical assistance compacts.
- Serve as focal point of ESARO and of the
Nutrition Section for selected country offices.
- Supervise the outposted nutrition
colleague (TA) in the SADC Secretariat and oversee the development and
implementation of UNICEF-SADC workplans and the development and
implementation of policy decisions, guidance documents, tools and
resources.
- Contribute to the design of assessments,
evaluations and research related to MIYCN and review reports. Identify
lessons learned and disseminate and use knowledge.
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, best practices and approaches on
MIYCN-related issues.
- Participate in strategic programme
discussions and planning to provide technical advice, contribute to policy
discussions, and promote appropriate MIYCN interventions across multiple
systems.
- Prepare policy papers, briefs and other
strategic programme materials on MIYCN for management use, information
and/or consideration.
- Participate in emergency preparedness
initiatives in countries, assessments and response to emergencies in
country (surge) on MIYCN. Coordinate and provide assistance to the 21
Country Offices in identifying where support is required.
Advocacy, networking and
partnership building
- Build and strengthen strategic
partnerships on wasting & NiE with relevant UN agencies, RECs,
government counterparts, NGOs, national stakeholders, global and regional
partners, allies, donors, and academia.
- Build capacity, exchange knowledge and
expertise, and/or promote cooperation and alliances to achieve programme
goals on MIYCN.
- Participate and/or represent UNICEF in
appropriate inter-agency discussions and planning on MIYCN -related
issues.
- Contribute to design and implementation
of strengthened resilience programming for nutrition with a focus on the
MIYCN components.
- Contribute to design and implementation
of the UNICEF agenda on climate and nutrition, including mapping,
analysis, research, recommendations, investment cases and advocacy for
climate-sensitive nutrition actions, fundraising, technical assistance and
documentation.
- Contribute to designing and implementing
of the UNICEF agenda on food systems for children, especially the first
foods component, including mapping, analysis, research, recommendations,
investment cases and advocacy for child-sensitive food system actions,
fundraising, technical assistance and documentation.
Innovation, knowledge management
and capacity building
- Promote critical thinking, innovative
approaches and good practices for sustainable and high coverage MIYCN
programmes in relevant systems in all contexts.
- Keep abreast, research, benchmark, and
implement best and cutting-edge practices in nutrition management and
information systems for MIYCN.
- Contribute to the development of policies
and procedures and introduce innovation and best practices on MIYCN
strategies and programmes across multiple systems.
- Organize, plan and/or implement capacity
building initiatives to enhance the competencies of country office
Nutrition staff, Government counterparts and other stakeholders to promote
and deliver results on MIYCN. The successful individual will be responsible
for the following key accountabilities:
Qualifications:
- Advanced university degree in Public
Health or Nutrition (preferably with specialized training in public health
and nutrition planning, health and nutrition education, health care system
management, or epidemiology), Child Development, Social Policy, Social
Development, Community Development, or other relevant disciplines.
- Eight years of professional work
experience at the national and international levels in planning,
programming, implementation monitoring and evaluation of nutrition
programmes. Professional work experience in a managerial/leadership
position, or a technical expert position in nutrition.
- Background/familiarity and specific work
experience on Maternal, Infant and Young Child Nutrition (including
micronutrients) programmes
- Developing country work experience and
familiarity with emergency is an asset
- Fluency in English is required. Knowledge
of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or
Spanish) or a local language is an asset.
How To Apply