Nutrition-Innovation Specialist

Volunteering Medical & Health Innovation

Overview

Develop innovative solutions for improving child nutrition in Benin.

You have:

• A university degree in health, nutrition/food technology, or be a nutrition researcher.
• A background in communication with a focus on infant and young child dietary diversity.
• The ability to work effectively in a team with stakeholders in health, nutrition, food security, social protection, and community actors.
• Proficiency in using and managing computer tools, including statistical applications and software, and digitalization.
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills.
• Strong organizational skills.
• Minimum Experience Required: 2 years in a related field.
• Experience with donor conditions from Japan is a strong asset.
• Information technology/innovative nutrition applications as other desired technical skills.
• Demonstrated interests and/or experience: innovative applications in the field of infant and young child nutrition.

Contract

This is a UNV contract. More about UNV contracts.

In Benin, despite the fact that between 96 and 98% of mothers and caregivers of children aged 0 to 23 months possess in-depth knowledge of best practices in maternal, infant, and young child nutrition (CAP Study, 2021), and despite intensive communication and education activities conducted for mothers and caregivers on good practices in maternal, infant, and young child nutrition in the intervention areas, these activities appear to have had little impact on the ultimate goal of improving diets, which would itself play a significant role in reducing stunting rates (MICS 2021-2022). This demonstrates that knowledge provision and attitudes change remain insufficient to address the issue of child undernutrition in Benin, particularly during the first 1,000 days of a child's life.

The UN Volunteer's (UNV) primary role will be to develop innovative, locally based food solutions to improve complementary feeding and dietary diversity for young children aged 6-23 months. This support will be delivered mainly in the communities targeted by the joint WFP- UNICEF project and Japan Natcom programme supporting the project aiming to tackle undernutrition among under 2 children through improved child infant complementary feeding diversity in Benin programme and will facilitate the creation of a peer-learning model to provide practical support to other parents through frequent, easily established, flexible, and supportive interactions. Peer support will focus on food choices, the use of available household foods, and the preparation of age-appropriate meals. During project implementation, each peer support worker will conduct bi-weekly, one-hour visits to five households with at least one child under the age of two.

Under the overall supervision of the Nutrition Unit Manager, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

1. Develop and implement innovative solutions focused on:

- The demand for nutritious food; - The production of affordable, nutritious food; Through interactive activities designed to improve women's knowledge and behaviors regarding complementary feeding for young children. This will be achieved through stimulating demand using innovative social approaches, including: - Using social media, artists, and online influencers to disseminate information on the importance of balanced nutrition for infants and young children; - Organizing social media challenges to encourage youth participation.

2. Establish community workshops for young people (especially young girls)

- Pre-selection of the best ideas from the challenges; - Creation of community workshops for the promotion, production, processing, and use of nutritious foods beneficial for young children and preschoolers; - Design of educational games and interactive activities that encourage active learning about nutrition and healthy eating practices in a fun and engaging way; - Use of an integrated approach that includes the use of social media through artists and influencers identified as ambassadors to promote healthy eating practices.

3. Promote peer learning approaches

- Use the peer learning model and “Mother Lights” to improve maternal, infant, and young child nutrition.

4. Propose and develop innovative, youth-led solutions

- Propose and develop innovative solutions, with the support of young Beninese people; - Provide and disseminate information tailored to target populations on good nutritional practices; - Promote the use of local, micronutrient-rich products for young children; - Develop engaging games adapted to the theme of complementary foods for young children.

RESULTS /EXPECTED OUTPUTS:

1. Improved women's knowledge and behaviors regarding complementary feeding for young children

- Developed and implemented innovative solutions focused on: • The demand for nutritious food; • The production of affordable, nutritious food; - Interactive activities designed to improve women's knowledge and behaviors regarding complementary feeding for young children.

2. Increased demand for nutritious and affordable foods and strengthened youth engagement in nutrition initiatives

- Stimulated demand through innovative social approaches by: • Using social media, artists, and online influencers to disseminate information on the importance of balanced nutrition for infants and young children; • Organizing social media challenges to encourage youth participation; • Young people, particularly girls, actively participating in promoting nutrition through social media, challenges, and community-based activities; - Establishment of community workshops for young people, especially young girls: • Pre-selection of the best ideas from the challenges;

3. Educational tools and activities are actively created and promoted

- Development of educational games on complementary feeding and healthy diets; - Interactive learning activities that promote behavior change in a fun and engaging way.

4. Peer learning and community support systems and community capacity for nutrition promotion are strengthened

- Development and implementation of peer learning approaches; - Establishment and strengthening of “Mothers Lights” (Mères Lumières) groups to support maternal and child nutrition; - Communities develop sustainable mechanisms (workshops, peer learning groups) to promote, produce, process, and use nutritious foods beneficial for young children and preschoolers; - Improved dissemination of nutrition information.

5. Youth-led innovative nutrition solutions are proposed and developed

- Co-creation of innovative solutions with young people in Benin; - Development of tailored communication tools on good nutrition practices; - Promotion of local, micronutrient-rich foods for young children through adapted and engaging games linked to complementary feeding for young children.

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to integrate the UN Volunteers programme mandate within their assignment and promote voluntary action through engagement with communities in the course of their work. As such, UN Volunteers should dedicate a part of their working time to some of the following suggested activities: • 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. • Provide annual and end-of-assignment self-reports on UN Volunteer actions, results, and opportunities. • 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.

☒ Adaptability and Flexibility ☒ Commitment and Motivation ☒ Communication ☒ Creativity ☒ Ethics and Values ☒ Planning and Organization ☒ Respect for Diversity ☒ Technology Awareness ☒ Teamwork

The volunteer must have the following qualifications: - A university degree in health, nutrition/food technology, or be a nutrition researcher. - A background in communication with a focus on infant and young child dietary diversity. - The ability to work effectively in a team with stakeholders in health, nutrition, food security, social protection, and community actors. - Proficiency in using and managing computer tools, including statistical applications and software, and digitalization. - Excellent interpersonal communication skills. - Strong organizational skills. - Experience with donor conditions from Japan is a strong asset.

Other Desired Technical Skills: - Information technology/innovative nutrition applications. - Demonstrated interests and/or experience in innovative applications in the field of infant and young child nutrition.

The Republic of Benin is a country located on the west coast of Africa. Its immediate neighbors are Nigeria, Togo, Burkina Faso, and Niger. Living conditions are relatively good. This mission is based in Cotonou, the country's capital. A significant portion of food is imported, but fresh food is readily available in the market. There are regular flights to/from Benin. The official language is French. An entry visa is required for anyone traveling with or without the United Nations laissez-passer and must be obtained before arrival in the country. Furnished or unfurnished houses are available for rent between USD 300 and 500 per month. The national currency is the CFA franc (1 Euro = 655,96 FCFA). Commercial banks exist. VISA credit cards are accepted in some hotels and large stores. Benin has a high incidence of malaria. The use of mosquito nets is highly recommended. Vaccination against yellow fever is required. Other vaccines, such as meningitis and hepatitis B, are also recommended. Basic medicines are available in Cotonou, but it is advisable to bring your specialized medications. The current situation in Benin is relatively calm, with a minimum-security level (SLS 1) according to the United Nations. The Volunteer will be based in Cotonou but will conduct field missions in intervention areas across Benin. As the economic capital and largest city of Benin, Cotonou offers all the usual amenities of large cities (electricity, running water, clinics, hospitals, leisure activities, etc.).

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Potential interview questions

Added 15 days ago - Updated 1 day ago - Source: unv.org