Maternal Infant & Young Child Nutrition (MIYC) Specialist

Contract

This is a UNV National Specialist contract. This kind of contract is known as National UN Volunteer. It is normally only for nationals. More about UNV National Specialist contracts.

This United Nations Volunteers (UNV) assignment is part of Nutrition work planned under India’s Country Programme Cycle 2023-27 by UNICEF.

UNICEF’s Nutrition work in India aims to ensure that young children, adolescents, and pregnant women, especially the most vulnerable, have access to and utilise gender responsive quality high nutrition impact interventions and adopt healthy diets and nutritional care practices. UNICEF India supports the flagship schemes of National Nutrition Mission and National Health Mission and works closely with governments flagship like Livelihood Mission in addition to MOHFW and MOWCD, NITI Aayog, academic institutes, development partners and non-government organisations to achieve coverage, continuity, intensity, quality and equity in nutrition results.

UNICEF engages and convenes partners (academia, development partners, sister agencies, private sector) to strengthen Government nutrition policies and responses.

Some of the key elements of UNICEF’s work in the ongoing country programme cycle are following: 1. Support government and partners to improve availability and accessibility of high nutrition impact interventions and healthy diets and nutritional care practices amongst young children, adolescents, and pregnant women 2. Strengthen research, including through centres of excellence, leveraging resources from Government and private sector for high nutrition impact interventions while upholding standards on nutrition products 3. Support convergent multisectoral continuum of care and services. In this context, address low birth weight and wasting in young children through frontline facility and community based prevention and care, especially in under-served areas 4. Address maternal and adolescent malnutrition, including anaemia, through frontline facility and community-based interventions, including the provision of iron and folic acid supplements 5. Strengthen evidence-generation, policy responses and partnerships to address overweight and obesity including adolescents as change agents.

UNICEF's response is aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 3 (Good Health and Wellbeing), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). By addressing nutrition needs, UNICEF aims to eliminate hunger, improve health outcomes, and foster effective partnerships to achieve sustainable development.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for UN Volunteers with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the recruitment process and afterwards in your assignment.

• Provide day-to-day data, information and documentation support to Delhi Nutrition team on nutrition agenda with specific focus on collaboration, convergence around multisectoral nutrition work • Contribute to informing and updating the situation analysis for the nutrition sector to ensure comprehensive and current data on maternal and child nutrition is available to guide decisions and discussions • Use available secondary data reports, briefs on budgets/ finances to prepare knowledge products • Support in preparing technical briefs for meetings/ consultations • Collate information available across UNICEF supported states with focus on policy, governance and partnerships • Prepare weekly/ monthly technical updates using global and national research and developments. • Collate available communication/ technical package across states on the key focus areas of Nutrition sections detailing the service delivery platforms, programme strategies, communication approaches, data and reporting systems for assessing commonality and differences between the states technical packages. • Support /prepare technical presentations for meetings/ webinars in consultation with Delhi team especially around multisectoral nutrition work • Work closely with the team of consultant/s in Resource mobilisation and Communication section to prepare programme/data briefs for states where CSR/NGOs are interested in investing. The briefs will feed into proposal development for Corporates/NGO partners to be prepared by the section • Validate technical content prepared by Resource mobilisation team for CSR engagement around Nutrition (social media/technical briefs etc.) • Facilitate in delivering training content/ technical package in programme driven trainings at national level (need based) • Work with the larger team of consultants in other sections- Health, WASH, Education and Communication to contribute to nutrition content/communication/ advocacy package for multisectoral nutrition engagement with the national government counterparts • Support the section in pre-planning and preparation for partners/stakeholders meeting including coordinating, minuting and following up on agreed action points.

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are required to: • Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading • relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day) • Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host • Country • Reflect on the type and quality of voluntary action that they are undertaking, including participation in ongoing reflection activities • Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc. • Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly arrived UN Volunteers • Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering, or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.

• Integrity and professionalism: demonstrated expertise in area of specialty and ability to apply good judgment; high degree of autonomy, personal initiative and ability to take ownership; willingness to accept wide responsibilities and ability to work independently under established procedures in a politically sensitive environment, while exercising discretion, impartiality and neutrality; ability to manage information objectively, accurately and confidentially; responsive and client oriented. • Accountability: mature and responsible; ability to operate in compliance with organizational rules and regulations. • Commitment to continuous learning: initiative and willingness to learn new skills and stay abreast of new developments in area of expertise; ability to adapt to changes in work environment. • Planning and organizing: effective organizational and problem-solving skills and ability to manage a large volume of work in an efficient and timely manner; ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor (own) work; ability to work under pressure, with conflicting deadlines, and to handle multiple concurrent projects/activities. • Teamwork and respect for diversity: ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and harmonious working • relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity and gender • Communication: proven interpersonal skills; good spoken and written communication skills, including ability to prepare clear and concise reports; ability to conduct presentations, articulate options and positions concisely; ability to make and defend recommendations; ability to communicate and empathize with staff (including national staff), military personnel, volunteers, counterparts and local interlocutors coming from very diverse backgrounds; ability to maintain composure and remain helpful towards the staff, but objective, without showing personal interest; capacity to transfer information and knowledge to a wide range of different target groups • Flexibility, adaptability, and ability and willingness to operate independently in austere, remote and potentially hazardous environments for protracted periods, involving physical hardship and little comfort, and including possible extensive travel within the area of operations; willingness to transfer to other duty stations within area of operations as may be necessary • Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity, and self-reliance; and commitment towards the UN core values.

development sector with substantial knowledge/ familiarity with the Government programme especially around National Health Mission and POSHAN Abhiyaan • Adept at understanding government systems and programme, data collection and assessment tools • Good analytical, negotiation, communication and advocacy skills • Knowledge of working/ drafting communication in Hindi • Accuracy and professionalism in document production and editing • Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including grassroots community members, religious and youth organizations, and authorities at different levels; familiarity with tools and approaches of communications for development • Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel • Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various Microsoft Office applications (Excel, Word, among others), email, and internet; familiarity with database management; and office technology equipment • Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines.

Desirable • Experience of working with Government (minimum three years) especially NHM and ICDS • Previous experience of working on nutrition programme • Understanding of the importance of social mobilisation, behaviour change and partnerships • Demonstrated ability to work in a multi-disciplinary environment and to establish harmonious and effective working relationships with governmental, non-governmental and civil society organisations • Previous work in any state on nutrition programmes.

New Delhi, the capital of India, is a bustling metropolis that has an amazing mix of modernization and carefully preserved antiquity. Delhi features an atypical version of the humid subtropical climate. From April to October the weather is hot. The monsoon arrives at the end of June, along with an increase in humidity. The brief, mild winter starts in late November, peaks in January and heavy fog often occurs. Different kinds of accommodation are available in Delhi, though it is most common to stay in rented apartment or guest houses. The cost will vary depending on individual wishes and requirements as well as location. Transport options include the metro rail, buses, radio cabs, autorickshaws etc. There are different phone networks available (fixed and mobile) and internet access is easy. However, to obtain a phone connection you are required to submit a photo and valid ID proof. The electricity network is 220 volts. Delhi is in security phase zero (0), so there is no security concern at this moment. Although English is generally used for official and business purposes, Hindi is the official language and is spoken by most of the people. Punjabi and Urdu are also commonly spoken.

As this is a national UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials. This position is based in New Delhi . National UN Volunteers are part of the malicious insurance plan. National UN Volunteers are expected to be culturally sensitive and adjust to the prevailing culture and traditions.

The contract lasts for the period indicated above with possibility of extensions subject to availability of funding, operational necessity and satisfactory performance. However, there is no expectation of renewal of the assignment.

The applicable Volunteer Living Allowance is provided monthly to cover housing, utilities and normal cost of living expenses. Life, health and permanent disability insurance are included (health insurance for up to 3 dependents - except for UN Community Volunteers), as well as final repatriation (if applicable). You can check full entitlements at https://app.unv.org/calculator .

For information specific to your assignment please see below: • Voluntary Living Allowance (VLA): INR 50,604.24 per month • Entry lump sum (one-time payment): USD 400 (equivalent in INR) • Relocation costs (both ways @ USD 200 at the beginning and end of assignment, if duty station is outside of commuting distance) • Exit allowance (paid on successful completion of the assignment): 1 VLA / 12 Months • Medical and life insurance Cigna Private Insurance • Access to UNV Learning Portal for Online Courses

Leave entitlements: • Annual leave: 2.5 days accrued per calendar month • Certified sick leave: 30 days • Uncertified sick leave: 7 days • Learning leave: 10 working days per consecutive 12 months • Maternity leave: 16 weeks • Paternity leaves: 10 days

In addition to duty station specific vaccine requirements, appointments are subject to confirmation of fully vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the appointment. It does not apply to UN Volunteers who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their contracts.