Nutrition Emergency Specialist, P-4, Kabul, Afghanistan

Overview

Oversee and manage Nutrition emergency programs for child survival.

You have:

• An advanced university degree (Master's or higher) in Public Health and Nutrition.
• A minimum of eight years of relevant professional experience in health and nutrition programming.
• Fluency in English is required.
• Knowledge of another official UN language or a local language is an asset.
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset.

Contract

This is a P-4 contract. This kind of contract is known as Professional and Director staff. It is normally internationally recruited only. It's a staff contract. It usually requires 7 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 124,993 USD and 161,152 USD.

Please keep in mind that the salary displayed here is an estimation by UN Talent based on the location and the type of contract. It may vary depending on the organization. The recruiter should be able to inform you about the exact salary range. In case the job description contains another salary information, please refer to this one.

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 fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the Organization does — in programmes, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give more children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.The incumbent is responsible for the overall management and administration in the development, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the Nutrition emergency programme in the context of child survival and development within the overall country programme. Accountable for effective technical emergency leadership, management guidance and programme support to facilitate the application and adaptation of UNICEF policies and strategies to achieve programme goals and expansion of UNICEF assisted Nutrition interventions as they relate the Humanitarian Action Plan and other emergency associated plans, actions and targets. This post will report to the Chief of Nutrition, based in the Afghanistan Country Office, with frequent travel.

How can you make a difference?

The incumbent is responsible for the overall management and administration in the development, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the Nutrition emergency programme in the context of child survival and development within the overall country programme. Accountable for effective technical emergency leadership, management guidance and programme support to facilitate the application and adaptation of UNICEF policies and strategies to achieve programme goals and expansion of UNICEF assisted Nutrition interventions as they relate the Humanitarian Action Plan and other emergency associated plans, actions and targets.

This post will report to the Chief of Nutrition, based in the Afghanistan Country Office, with frequent travel.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES and DUTIES & TASKS Within the delegated authority and under the given organizational set-up, the incumbent may be assigned the primary, shared, or contributory accountabilities for all or part of the following areas of major duties and key end-results.

1. Timely and quality sectoral analysis, input, support and coordination contribute to the HAC, HRP, CPD Situation Analysis, Sitreps and other emergency documents, their periodic update, and all programme documents to formulate effective goals, strategy, and project planning and development for the emergency program

• Leads and provides technical supports to ensure the timely preparation and completion of the relevant components of emergency related documents, including HRP, CPD, Sitreps, and other emergency documents and/or Situational Analysis and its periodic update through accurate monitoring and analysis and timely preparation and finalization of sectoral input. Ensures effective project, sectoral or inter-sectoral planning, development and management.
• Formulates sectoral programme goals, objectives, and strategies as they relate to emergency. Supervises preparation of the sectoral inputs to the Country Programme Document and related documents, ensuring coherence of the sectoral programme with National priorities and policies and with Transitional Engagement Framework ( TEF) 2022 and any subsequent United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF).

2. Integrated Nutrition emergency strategies, methodologies and innovative approaches are developed and implemented based on results-based approach and Human Rights framework by broad participation and collaboration with internal and external partnerships.

• As a member of the nutrition team ensures the integration of the emergency elements of the program with other UNICEF sectors in all stages of the programming process. Maintains close working relationships with other UNICEF sectors, particularly Health, Child Protection, Social Protetion, Adolscents, Gender, Education , and WASH, and programme communication and social behaviour change to ensure integration with other sectors.
• Supports in the formulation and development of emergency-related Nutrition goals, strategies and approaches for UNICEF Participates with UNICEF, government, donors and other partners in the development of integrated emergency strategies, methodologies and identification of innovative approaches for improving programme delivery, with emphasis on advocacy, community participation and social mobilization based on the Human Rights framework and cross sector approach to Programming and Community Capacity Development.
• Monitors latest Nutrition developments at the international, regional and national levels; identifies/develops new methodologies and approaches for managing and improving emergency programme effectiveness and efficiency of delivery.
• Facilitates and promotes active and participatory partnerships with key stakeholders (Cluster partners, Government, other UN agencies, NGOs, bilateral agencies, donors and national and international academic institutions) for collaboration at various stages of emergency programme design and implementation.

3. Technical support is provided to zonal teams, program partners/potential program partners and government and non-government organizations at all stages of the programme cooperation, including capacity building of government personnel and beneficiaries.

• Provides technical support field offices, to government and non-government organizations at the national and provincial levels in the planning, development and implementation stages of the programmes/projects. Plans, organizes and conducts training and orientation activities for implementing and government personnel and beneficiaries, for the purpose of institutional capacity building and expansion of coverage of services.

4. Monitoring and evaluation of emergency programme performance is properly undertaken for adjustment, acceleration and improvement of program delivery.

• In collaboration with other colleagues, including the Nutrition Cluster, establishes effective information and reporting systems to monitor and evaluate the impact of the emerency programme and achievement of targeted goals.

• Undertakes field visits to monitor and evaluate project implementation. Participates in monthly EMTs, biweekly in country emergency reviews and other planning meeting on the country programme to assess and evaluate programme effectiveness, identifying problems and adopting remedial measures to accelerate/improve programme delivery. Support maintenance of information system for monitoring gender/sex disaggregated data.

  5. Working with zonal teams, support in the development and monitoring of emergency plans and objectives and provide technical support to the zonal teams to ensure quality, effective programming .

• Supports the zonal office teams in their development of the results-based sectoral work plans with emphasison the emergency elements of the program. Support zonal colleagues, government colleagues and implementing partners in developing strong technical aptitudes in regards to emergency programs.

• Ensures that objectives and targets are reviewed and providing advice, guidance oversight, coordination, and support to professional and support staff.

6. The capacities of zonal and Country Office staff are strengthened through effective capacity building programme in the development, implementation and management emergency Nutrition programmes.

• Supports individually and collectively where applicable, staff training/development programme with Regional and HQ Advisers to upgrade the capacity of UNICEF Country Office staff enabling them to progressively engage in and lead in the programme development, implementation and management of the emergenc programmes.

7. Effective partnership and collaboration are achieved and maintained both amongst other agencies delivering emergency programs as well as interagency in the advancement of advocacy, technical cooperation, programme coordination, information sharing and knowledge networking.

• Makes a substantive contribution to technical cooperation, programme coordination and advocacy in the emergency nutrition, ensuring knowledge networking and experience sharing with other programmes for identification of new strategies and approaches to improve delivery of programme results and promote effective advocacy.
• Working in close coordination with cluster IMO and other partners, participates in establishing effective monitoring, knowledge database/network and emergency reporting systems to ensure the availability of current and accurate programme information/data, and contributes to the development of communication materials and strategies to support advocacy and community participation.
• Maintains close working relationships and forges partnership and collaboration with external counterparts, including those of the UN and national partners, in order to improve the ability to collect and disseminate relevant data, exchange information on programme/project development and implementation. Ensures exchange of knowledge, information, experience and lessons learned.

8. Support to the initiation of a nutrition surveillance system as well as various surveys at provincial and national level as they relate to emergency context.

• Working with WHO, Nutrition Cluster and others, support the development of a nutrition surveillance system which will allow for the real time monitoring of the current nutrition situation.
• Provides technical support to ensure that a set of programme performance indicators is identified and adjusted as necessary.
• Coordinates with partners to ensure that monitoring systems are properly designed, and that data collection and analysis from field visits are coordinated and standardised across programmes to feed into programme performance monitoring.
• Participates in major evaluation exercises, programme mid-term review, annual sector review and preview meetings. Analyses and evaluates emergency data to ensure achievement of objectives and recommends corrective measures as appropriate.
• Drawing on monitoring and analysis of key program performance and management indicators, provides expert input to management reports, including relevant sections of the annual reports. Provides technical advice to programme staff, government counterparts and other partners on planning and management of integrated monitoring and evaluation as appropriate.

9. All required programme reports are reviewed and finalized as needed and timely prepared in compliance with the established guidelines and procedures.

• Reviews zonal level and national inputs into annual sector status reports in compliance with the established guidelines and procedures. Makes technical contributions to the preparation of all programme reports for management, Board, donors, budget reviews, programme analysis, annual reports, and provides guidance and assistance in programme related reporting.

10. Emergency preparedness is maintained, and in emergencies, emergency responses with effective coordination are provided.

• Collaborates in forming emergency preparedness plan relevant to Nutrition., Participates in monitoring and assessing the nature and extent of the emergency in the assigned area. Coordinates and provides assistance to the Country Office in identifying where support is required in terms of immediate response as well as long-term strategy and plan.

11. Other assigned duties and responsibilities are effectively accomplished.

• Assumes any other duties and responsibilities assigned as appropriate to the purpose of this post, and delivers the results as required.

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

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in Public Health and Nutrition (preferably with specialized training in public health and nutrition planning, health and nutrition education with specialized emergency training ideally.
• A minimum of eight years of relevant professional experience at the national and international levels in planning, programming, implementation monitoring and evaluation of health and nutrition programmes in at least one or more emergency environment. In a technical capacity.
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language (Pashto or Dair) 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.

* Kindly note that this is a non-family duty station.

* 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.

Potential interview questions