Health and Nutrition Specialist (MNCHN), NO-3, Baghdad, Iraq (post no. 86133) (Open to nationals of Iraq only)

Contract

This is a NO-3 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-3 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, health!

How can you make a difference?

UNICEF Iraq is looking for a senior health specialist to work in a dynamic and diverse environment and to lead the organization’s implementation of the Maternal, Neonatal, Child and Adolescent Health and Nutrition work (MNCHN) under the guidance of the Chief of MNCHN in Iraq. As UNICEF Iraq transitions from an emergency focused programme, the selected candidate will bring a strong systems approach, based in evidence, academic partnership and experience working in primary health care delivery to the most vulnerable. The incumbent will be responsible for oversight and coordination of UNICEF Maternal, Neonatal, Child and Adolescent Health, Early Child Development “ECD”, and Nutrition programme’s, supporting strategies and polies development, leading the ECD taskforce, fund management, disbursement, monitoring, documentation and reporting for the programmatic interventions, including the attainment of the relevant Sustainable Development Goal targets.

Key End Results 1. Timely sectoral analysis, input, support and coordination contribute to the Situation Analysis and its periodic update for effective project planning, development and management, in partnerships with key stakeholders and with contribution of knowledge institutions. 2. Quality contributions to the development and implementation of integrated Health & Nutrition and ECD strategies and approaches through participation and collaboration with internal and external partnership. 3. Partnerships with global funds, multilateral and bilateral agencies and development banks, as well as relations with the private sector enhanced and exploited efficiently, in order to formulate common advocacy positions and influence allocation of resources, as well as investment decisions on behalf of Health and Nutrition. 4. Work plan and objectives are strategically established, implementation support is effectively provided, and planned results are timely delivered through application of technical expertise, in consultation with all relevant partners. 5. Project implementation progress is monitored and evaluated for adjustment, acceleration and improvement of program delivery and sustainability. Gender/sex disaggregated data and inputs provided, relevant to the Health and Nutrition programme. 6. Technical support is provided to government and NGOs and all other partners at various stages of the project implementation, monitoring and evaluation, including capacity building of government personnel and beneficiaries. 7. The capacities of Country Office staff are strengthened through effective capacity building support in the development, implementation and management of the Health & Nutrition programme, and efficient communication is provided in building technical partnership with collaborating agencies which can bring state-of-art information to staff. 8. UNICEF and Government and implementing partners accountability is ensured for supply and non-supply assistance and disbursement of programme funds for Health & Nutrition. 9. Effective working relationships with internal and external counterparts are maintained for advocacy, technical coordination, information sharing and knowledge networking. 10. Relevant and strategic information is kept available and shared with relevant stakeholders as required to support the Health & Nutrition and ECD Programme by the effective implementation of an integrated monitoring system. 11. Required programme/project reports and advocacy documents are timely prepared and shared with relevant stakeholders as required in compliance with the established guidelines and procedures. 12. Emergency preparedness is maintained, and in emergencies, emergency responses with effective coordination are provided and in line with the Core Commitments for Children (CCCs) in Humanitarian Action, partnerships with the Health and Nutrition humanitarian actors strengthened within the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC). 13. Other assigned duties and responsibilities are effectively accomplished.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have… Five years of professional work experience at the national and international levels in planning, programming, implementation monitoring and evaluation of technical cooperation programmes related to Health and Nutrition. Professional work experience in a managerial position, or a technical expert position in child survival & development, health and nutrition care.

Advanced university degree (Master or above) in Medicine, Nursing, Public Health, Nutrition or Child Development or other relevant disciplines.

Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (especially Arabic) is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships (2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness (3) Drive to achieve results for impact (4) Innovates and embraces change (5) Manages ambiguity and complexity (6) Thinks and acts strategically (7) Works collaboratively with others (8) Nurtures, leads and manages people

During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: competency framework here.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. 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 is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. 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:

UNICEF’s active commitment towards diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable female candidates are encouraged to apply.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Appointments are also subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

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