Programme Specialist (Nutrition and ECD), P3, FT, Child Nutrition and Development in Emergencies, Programme Group at UNICEF

Purpose for the job  

• Under the leadership of the Senior Nutrition Advisor, Child Nutrition and Development in Emergencies, this role will support countries and partners to deliver quality, predictable, timely, effective, and integrated nutrition and child development responses.
• The staff member will work closely with the Child Nutrition and Development in Emergency team with a specific focus on humanitarian response in areas of early childhood nutrition (ECN) and development (ECD), and backstopping support for L2/ L3 and/ other prioritized emergencies. This position continues to develop and strengthen delivery of key critical responses related to ECN by supporting and developing global guidance alongside the Global Nutrition Cluster Technical Alliance. In addition, this role will provide much needed technical and operational support – both remotely and via deployment - to priority humanitarian responses to support UNICEF Country Offices deliver on the Core Commitments for Children in Humanitarian Action. This role will work in close coordination with the nutrition ERT, the GNC Technical Alliance and the IFE Core Group, as well as colleagues in Early child nutrition and Early Childhood Development units.

Summary of results-based key functions/accountabilities:

Programme support to Infant and Young Child Feeding and Caring in emergencies:

• Contribute to and support the preparation, design and updating of Early Childhood Nutrition (ECN) and Development (ECD) situation analysis for fragile and humanitarian countries to ensure comprehensive and current data on maternal and child diets and practices is available to guide preparedness plans, and design of emergency nutrition programmes
• Extended support for Early Childhood Nutrition responses in emergencies. Deploy as needed, to support surge and early programme planning and implementation needs.
• Support with RO and key CO, development of anticipatory action for ECN and ECD in cyclical emergencies and a core set of recommendations for action and recovery.
• Establish stronger programs in support of complementary feeding and foods in humanitarian settings and support SD, CO and partners to develop mechanisms for market shaping, demand assessments, and design of products.
• Plan and/or collaborate with internal and external partners to establish program benchmarks, tracking of user/ client experience as well as monitoring and reporting tools to track industry influence including donations of breastmilk substitutes, ultra-processed foods etc.

Strengthen integrated and cross sectoral actions for ECN/D actions in humanitarian settings

• Support technical leadership for planning and delivery of nutrition response in public health emergencies
• Support planning and integration of nutrition actions into humanitarian social protection programs
• Participate in discussions with key partners including WFP, GNC alliance members, national partners, and stakeholders to promote nutrition and child development services and practices in multisectoral emergency preparedness, response and recovery plans

Knowledge generation, management and dissemination

• Contribute to the generation and documentation of best practices and processes in close partnership and engagement with RO, and CO, thereby facilitating organizational learning
• Support drafting and production of relevant communication products to support advocacy and resource mobilization efforts, assist in drafting and editing articles, briefing notes, human interest stories and information materials for both internal and external use, as appropriate.      
• Keep abreast of research, benchmark, and implement best practices

Support strengthening nutrition management and information systems at global and national levels

Capacity strengthening and networking support

• Support capacity building initiatives to enhance the competencies of partners and stakeholders to promote nutritious diets, feeding and caring practices in humanitarian response
• Participate and/or represent UNICEF in inter-agency discussions, ensuring that UNICEF’s position, interests, and priorities are fully considered

Impact of Results

• The support provided by the Programme Specialist will strengthen actions and programs related to ECN and ECD; with a focus on children’s diets and services in fragile, humanitarian contexts, and contribute to the early prevention, detection and treatment of wasting. This position directly contributes to accelerating humanitarian efforts to improve the nutritional status of mothers, infants and children and to maintaining UNICEF’s position as the global lead for child nutrition and development in humanitarian action.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• Advanced university degree (Master's Degree) in public health, international development or social sciences is required.
• Minimum five (5) years of progressively responsible professional experience at the national/and or international levels related to humanitarian action, infant and young child nutrition, early childhood development or related programmes is required.
• Experience in designing, implementing and managing nutrition and ECD programs.
• Demonstrated partnership and capacity building experience- including provision of in person and remote technical assistance, participating in the development of program tools for assessment, monitoring and reporting.
• Ability to draft concept notes, and advocacy briefs.
• Self-motivated with the ability to set priorities and manage multiple tasks under minimal supervision in effective and efficient manner.

ADDITIONAL SKILLS DESIRED:

• Knowledge of UNICEF programmes in the field of nutrition, ECD, health or social policy.
• Proven skills in communication.
• Computer skills, including SharePoint navigation and various office applications.
• Experience in planning and financial management.
• Excellent writing and communication skills in English is required. Working knowledge of another UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish) is considered an asset.