Purpose of Position
The purpose of this external announcement is to attract suitable Nutrition in Emergencies Specialists from outside the organization for inclusion in UNICEF's Rapid Response Mechanism (RRM) roster for the Eastern and Southern Africa region. The purpose of the RRM roster is to ensure that the region’s emergency staffing response is in line with the organization's strategic goals, to support emergency preparedness and response through a predictable and coordinated approach to emergencies. This is not a regular vacancy announcement but rather a call for surge personnel with emergency nutrition experience interested in short term assignments with UNICEF. Inclusion in the Roster does not guarantee any future contractual relations with UNICEF.
This announcement is targeting candidates outside of UNICEF with interest in working in any of the countries within UNICEF's Eastern and Southern Africa region for the next 18 months.
The roster serves as an intermediate between consultants interested in working on UNICEF consultancy/TA assignments, and Regional Office/Country Offices seeking support. It is a list of vetted individuals that are viewable by the Regional Office and Country Offices that are looking for consultants/TAs who can help them in specific assignments, missions or projects.
We are currently looking for Nutrition Specialists in the following areas;
- Nutrition in Emergencies (including programme coordination and management in NiE)
- Infant/Young Child Feeding in emergencies
- Management of acute malnutrition; community-based approach in emergencies
- Micronutrient deficiencies programmes in emergencies
- Nutrition surveillance and assessments
Key Expected Results
- Provide technical direction for the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of emergency nutrition programme/projects to ensure achievement of objectives, introducing where necessary new approaches, methods and practices to ensure community participation and ownership of the nutrition problems and solutions.
- Provide technical support for the development of guidelines and standards in relation to emergency nutrition as needed.
- Provide technical support in the assessment and monitoring of trends in the nutrition situation of children, women and vulnerable populations
- Review routine and survey data on nutrition and food security and other public health related determinants of nutrition and determine the need for an in-depth nutritional assessment and/or survey in affected regions.
- In the absence of a system, technically support the establishment of a nutrition monitoring system and develop nutritional surveillance tools to gauge impact of interventions.
- Ensure that a reporting system for programme and assessment data is establishment amongst all Implementing Partners as necessary.
- Contribute to the preparation of situation analysis updates, sectoral reviews, preparation of programme, funding proposals and donor reports.
- Ensure interventions meet quality standards, in terms of clear goals definition, appropriate strategic choices and concrete results to be achieved in line with the Core Commitments for Children. Suggest corrective measures if required.
- Identify supply needs for the UNICEF nutrition response and coordinate with the Supply Division for timely supply and release.
- Establish and maintain regular contacts with local authorities in order to advocate for the inclusion of UNICEF nutrition priorities within the zonal development plan/initiatives, and participate in coordination meetings and follow up on implementation of recommendations and agreements.
- Facilitate partnerships and coordination at national and regional level with WHO, WFP, the ministry of health and the NGOs about UNICEF-supported nutrition activities, including UNICEF Emergency response plan, rapid nutrition assessments (when needed), nutrition programme, and the process of establishing nutrition programmes
- Ensure strong participation in Nutrition cluster coordination. Develop sectoral work plans with the active participation of other Nutrition partners to ensure achievement of programme objectives. Track the progress in implementation and address bottlenecks and issues impeding sector response.
- Assist in identifying staffing needs and assist in the recruitment process of national consultants to work on responding to the crisis. Identify training needs of the nutrition staff. Support the development of relevant training modules and follow-up tools. Develop a plan and coordinate emergency nutrition capacity building activities.
- 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 in emergency nutrition programs.
- Coordinate with operations staff provision of supply and non-supply assistance to partners, ensuring proper and timely accountability in accordance with UNICEF policies and procedures. Certify disbursements of funds, monitor utilization and preparation of financial status reports.
- Undertake field visits to monitor programme implementation. Provide assistance to the field teams as requested and to travel to the field to fill gaps as required.
- Design, prepare, implement and follow-up on the projects/activities on Nutrition, for emergency and development phases (development of more sustainable and community-based activities). Contribute to the development of the early recovery component.
Qualifications of Successful Candidates
- Advanced university degree in nutrition, public health, nutritional epidemiology, global/international health and nutrition, health/nutrition research, policy and/or management, or other health related science field is required. A First university degree with additional two-years of relevant work experience is acceptable in lieu of an advanced university degree.
- A minimum of 5 years of professional experience in nutrition, public health, related research or planning and management in relevant areas of maternal, infant and child nutrition, at the international level some of which preferably in a developing country is required.
- At least two (2) years of substantive relevant experience dealing with nutrition emergencies is required.
- Relevant experience in health/nutrition program/project development and management in any UN system agency or organization is an asset.
Language Requirement
Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of French and/or Portuguese is an asset.
The UNICEF Eastern and Southern Africa Region Country Offices are located in the following countries: Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Comoros, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
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