Generic Vacancy Announcement: Subnational Nutrition Cluster Coordinator (5 positions), NOB, TA (364 day), (Kabul, Jalalabad, Mazar, Herat, Kandahar), Afghanistan (Afghan nationals only)

Contract

This is a NO-2 contract. This kind of contract is known as National Professional Officers. It is normally only for nationals. It's a staff contract. More about NO-2 contracts.

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 current nutrition needs in Afghanistan, and related scale up plan for increased coverage and quality of nutrition services, underscore the relevance of a reliable, at-scale, informed coordination mechanisms to ensure adequate and effective reach to the most vulnerable. Coordination of nutrition partners at national level involves the main cluster forum, as well as subgroups, such as the Strategic Advisory Group (SAG) and three major thematic Technical Working Groups. At subnational level, efforts have been imparted to establishing zonal level coordination, in connection with the Provincial Nutrition Committees that bring provincial nutrition stakeholders together.

The need for leadership strengthening at subnational level, and establishment of strong connection between the various levels have risen as central elements for improved coordination. At sub-national level, there are cluster focal points (UNICEF) in each of the five zones (Central, Northern, Eastern, Western, and Southern), who oversee programmatic implementation while at the same time ‘double-hatting’ for sub-national cluster coordination. Given the current needs, the demand for programme implementation outweighs their sub-national cluster coordination efforts. A dedicated subnational cluster coordinator is needed for the fulfillment of the cluster functions, in collaboration with the cluster focal points and relevant stakeholders present at zonal level.

How can you make a difference?

The post holder has joint responsibility with the UNICEF, resourcing partners and all cluster participants at the national and sub-national level for the efficient management and functioning of the sub-national nutrition cluster encompassing the following:

1. Build and sustain effective close working partnerships with nutrition stakeholders through active sharing of information and knowledge
2. Revitalize and maintain an appropriate humanitarian nutrition coordination mechanism
3. Build complementarity of partner actions, avoiding duplication and gaps
4. Provide support to adequate resource mobilization and equitable allocation for the effective functioning of the sub cluster and its response.
5. Promote effective and comprehensive integration of relevant cross-cutting issues, including age, gender, and disabilities.
6. Maintain flexibility within the sub cluster to respond to changes in the operating environment, evolving requirements, capacities and participation.
7. Effectively use and transfer information to, from and between cluster participants and other stakeholders.
8. Interact with other clusters (including through inter-cluster coordination), humanitarian actors, government counterparts, and relevant authorities for operational planning, engagement and active contribution of operational partners.
9. Be accountable to the affected population through effective and inclusive consultative and feedback mechanisms.

10. Enhance and monitor performance of the core cluster functions, i.e.:

11. Supporting service delivery

• Provide a platform to ensure that service delivery is driven by the agreed strategic priorities
• Develop and/or contextualize mechanisms to eliminate duplication of service delivery

2. Informing strategic decision-making for the humanitarian response

• Needs assessment and gap analysis (across other sectors and within the sector)
• Analysis to identify and address (emerging) gaps, obstacles, duplication, and cross-cutting issues.
• Prioritization, grounded in response analysis

3. Planning and strategy development

• Develop context-specific sectoral plans, objectives and indicators that directly support the realization of the nutrition cluster strategic priorities
• Application and adherence to existing standards and guidelines
• Clarify funding requirements and prioritization and provide input into the fundraising processes (Flash Appeal, AHF, CERF, etc.)

4. Advocacy

• Identify advocacy concerns to contribute to nutrition cluster messaging and action
• Undertaking advocacy activities on behalf of cluster participants and the affected population

5. Monitoring and reporting the implementation

• Participate in monitoring and evaluation exercises, programme reviews and annual reviews with the government and other counterparts.
• Enhance programme data analysis for action at subnational level.
• Participate and keep record of reports on surveys and assessments for easy reference and/or to capture and institutionalize lessons learned.
• Work closely and collaboratively with colleagues and partners to discuss facts and concerns found from monitoring. Provide solutions, recommendations and/or alert appropriate officials and stakeholders for higher-level intervention and/or decision-making.
• Monitor and report on the use of sectoral resources allocated to partners (financial, administrative and other assets), verifying compliance with approved allocation.

6. Contingency planning/preparedness for recurrent disasters

• Contribute to risk profiling and analysis and subsequent contingency plans with relevant, context-specific inputs.

7. Accountability to affected populations

• Promote information sharing, sensitization and community engagement
• Ensure effective and inclusive consultative and feedback mechanisms

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

• 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/nutrition-related field.
• 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 programme/project coordination is an asset.
• Experience in health/nutrition programme/project development in a UN system agency or organization is an asset.
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset.
• Fluency in English and local languages are required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA).

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

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:

* Female candidates are highly encouraged to apply.

* Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

* Employment is conditional upon receipt of medical clearance, any clearance required, the grant of a visa, and completion of any other pre-employment criteria that UNICEF may establish. Candidates may not be further considered or offer of employment may be withdrawn if these conditions are unlikely to be met before the date for commencement of service.

* The successful candidate for this emergency recruitment MUST be available to commence work within 31 days of receiving an offer .