Nutrition Officer

Contract

This is a UNV International Specialist contract. This kind of contract is known as International UN Volunteer. It is normally internationally recruited only. More about UNV International Specialist 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 and 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.

UNICEF has a footprint in Angola since 1976 when it first opened its office in Luanda. Nutrition programme activities are spread across the country in the provinces of Luanda, Huila, Cunene, Namibe, Cuando Cubango, Benguela and Bie.

Angola is facing the fifth consecutive year of drought conditions in the southern provinces, exacerbating the prevalence of acute malnutrition, and increasing food insecurity. In Huila, Cunene, Namibe, Benguela and Cuando Cubango, UNICEF is supporting the scale-up of malnutrition treatment activities. In Luanda province, COVID-19 and the economic downturn has had a negative impact on the nutritional status of the most disadvantaged households, here, UNICEF has established nutrition services in over 40 health facilities across five municipalities to support the treatment of children with severe acute malnutrition.

Under the supervision of the Nutrition Specialist, the Nutrition Officer will provide technical operational and administrative assistance and support for the nutrition programme activities. Responsibilities will be focused on supporting the southern provinces of Angola and supporting nutrition activities at national level in Luanda. Responsibilities will include supporting the planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and administration of nutrition programme activities, including data analysis, progress reporting, knowledge management and capacity building. The goal is to support the achievement of planned objectives in the work plan with the Government of Angola, aligned with the country programme goals and strategy while adhering to organizational rules, regulations, and procedures.

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of the Nutrition Specialist or his/her designated mandated representative(s), the UN Volunteer Nutrition Officer will:

• Support programme development and planning: Provide technical and operational support throughout all stages of programming processes by supporting a variety of technical programme transactions; preparing materials and documentations, and complying with organizational processes and management systems. • Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results: Support results-based management (RBM), and monitoring and evaluation of results for the nutrition programme. • Technical and operational support to programme implementation: Support regular programme field visits and surveys, and exchange information with partners and stakeholders to assess progress and provide technical support. Refer and report critical issues and bottlenecks to relevant officials for timely resolution. • Networking and partnership building: Build and sustain effective close working partnerships with nutrition sector government counterparts and national stakeholders through active sharing of information and knowledge to facilitate programme implementation and build capacity of stakeholders to achieve programme goals and deliver sustainable results. Build relationships with local organizations, groups or individuals and supporting and/or participating in local volunteering initiatives. • Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building: Draft communication and information materials for country programme advocacy and visibility and apply innovative approaches and promote good practices to support the implementation and delivery of concrete and sustainable programme results. • Encourage, mobilize, and support co-workers, fellow UN Volunteers and members of the local community to play an active part in development on a voluntary basis.

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.

Results/expected outputs

• As an active UNICEF team member, efficient, timely, responsive, client-friendly and high-quality support rendered to UNICEF and its beneficiaries in the accomplishment of her/his functions, including: o 10 monthly nutrition bulletins prepared for review o 10 monthly human-interest stories prepared for review o Minutes of 10 nutrition coordination meetings and technical working group activities for nutrition documented o Support data collection for nutrition at provincial and national level, producing 10 monthly data reports o Support national stakeholders and implementing partners with nutrition programme activities in a timely fashion o Support the organization of programmatic and field visits o Contribute to the review of technical nutrition policies, strategies, terms of reference and concept notes. o final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for development during the assignment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in and capacities developed. • Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) perspective is systematically applied, integrated and documented in all activities throughout the assignment • A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for peace and development during the assignment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in and capacities developed.

• Professionalism: demonstrated understanding of operations relevant to UNICEF; technical capabilities or knowledge relevant or transferrable to UNICEF procedures and rules; discretion, political sensitivity, diplomacy and tact to deal with clients; ability to apply good judgement; ability to liaise and coordinate with a range of different actors, especially in senior positions; where appropriate, high degree of autonomy, personal initiative and ability to take ownership; resourcefulness and willingness to accept wide responsibilities and ability to work independently under established procedures; ability to manage information objectively, accurately and confidentially; responsive and client-oriented; • Integrity: demonstrate the values and ethical standards of the UN and UNICEF in daily activities and behaviours while acting without consideration of personal gains; resist undue political pressure in decision-making; stand by decisions that are in the organization’s interest even if they are unpopular; take prompt action in cases of unprofessional or unethical behaviour; does not abuse power or authority; • Teamwork and respect for diversity: ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; excellent interpersonal skills; ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and harmonious working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, mixed-gender environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity; sensitivity and adaptability to culture, gender, religion, nationality and age; commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of UN operations; ability to achieve common goals and provide guidance or training to colleagues; • 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; • 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; capacity to transfer information and knowledge to a wide range of different target groups; • Flexibility: adaptability and ability to live and work in potentially hazardous and remote conditions, involving physical hardship and little comfort; to operate independently in austere environments for protracted periods; willingness to travel within the area of operations and to transfer to other duty stations within the area of operations as necessary; • Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance; and commitment towards UNICEF’s mission and vision, as well as to the UN Core Values.

• one or more of the following areas is required: nutrition, public health, nutrition planning and management, or maternal, infant and child health/nutrition care, data management. • 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 MS Office applications (Excel, Word, etc.) and email/internet; familiarity with database management; and office technology equipment; • Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines;

Angola was on the path to graduate to a middle-income country in February 2021 before the COVID-19 pandemic however public resource allocation for the social sectors is insufficient, compromising the availability and quality of services and qualified personnel. Traditional donor assistance continues to decline resulting in a very challenging, yet promising funding environment with a vivid and growing private sector stimulated by the government push to diversify the economy. Sixty-four per cent of the total population (30.4 million in 2018) is below the age of 24, with 48 per cent children under the age of 15. Angola remains prone to natural disasters and health emergencies, including floods, droughts and disease outbreaks. The country is also affected by migration, conflict and other regional crises, which have detrimental impacts on the affected populations, particularly the most vulnerable women and children, while undermining access to services and pushing the population deeper into poverty.

Luanda is a sprawling city, and reasonably calm, though like many big cities it is susceptible to crimes and other security and safety related problems. During the last three years more frequent robberies have been reported, while the authorities continually reinforce the commitment to maintain law and order.

Living conditions are as in many other advanced cities and accommodation of high quality is not difficult to find. Living costs are not dissimilar to most big cities in Europe. Luanda experiences a warm climate year round, the summers are short and hot, and can be overcast while the winters are more comfortable, dry, and mostly clear.

Angola is a unique country and the UNICEF Angola nutrition programme offers the opportunity to learn at both upstream and downstream levels in a supportive environment. It provides for an interesting and enriching experience, but also requires tenacity, stamina and commitment. Therefore, flexibility and the ability and willingness to live and work under changing and sometimes challenging conditions is essential.