Nutrition Officer

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WFP encourages female candidates and people with disabilities to apply. WFP seeks candidates of the highest integrity and professionalism who share our humanitarian principles. Selection of staff is made on a competitive basis. We are committed to promoting diversity and the principle of equal employment opportunity for all our employees and encourages qualified candidates to apply irrespective of religion or belief, ethnic or social background, gender, gender identity and disability.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Job Title: Nutrition Officer Grade: SC8 Type of contract: Service contract Duration: One year Duty Station: BRECSA PMU, Samtenling, Sarpang Vacancy Number: 829869 Date of Publication: 11 October 2023 Deadline of Application: 05 Nov 2023 at 23:59 Bhutan time

This vacancy announcement is for Nationals from Bhutan only.

BACKGROUND AND JOB PURPOSE

The World Food Programme (WFP) has been in Bhutan since 1974. After almost 50 years of support to school meals in Bhutan, WFP, through the country strategic plan (2024–2028), will strengthen and support government efforts to deliver equitable and inclusive economic growth and support human capital development. Key contributions will include expanding investments and capacities in resilient food systems, integrating food security and nutrition considerations into social protection, and strengthening systems for emergency preparedness and response. All WFP activities will continue to operate with and through WFP’s partnerships with the Government. A prominent feature of the country strategic plan will be to expand WFP’s capacity strengthening of government institutions and engagement of private sector partners while adopting a sharper gender focus.

The WFP is partnering with IFAD and the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MOAL) in implementing the Building Resilient Commercial Smallholder Agriculture (BRECSA) Project. The project is supported by the Global Agriculture and Food Security Program (GAFSP) and IFAD and aims to to catalyze a 30% increase in resilient commercial agricultural production and improve food and nutrition security in 4 target Districts if Bhutan (Trongsa, Tsirang, Sarpang and Zhemgang) by 2030. The objective is to transform smallholder agriculture into inclusive and resilient agri-food systems that are increasingly profitable and food and nutrition secure. BRECSA targets subsistence, semi-commercial and commercial farmer households. The total direct beneficiaries of BRECSA interventions are 12,074 farmer households (47088 beneficiaries), out of which 60% will be women and 30% youth.

Under sub-component 1.3 of the project – Support to vulnerable groups to improve income and nutrition status, the project will target vulnerable households to promote nutrition-sensitive agriculture interventions such as, home gardens, small-scale poultry production, selected on-farm and off-farm activities, and awareness raising on food-based nutrition.

Although 98 percent of households in Bhutan are food secure, dietary diversity within Bhutanese households is inadequate. Child malnutrition and vitamin and mineral deficiencies persist, and the country faces an increase in obesity and chronic diseases among its population. Targeting food security alone is insufficient for improving nutritional status. To improve nutritional outcomes, there is a need to improve access to, and availability of, and consumption of nutritious food to enhance dietary diversity through combining the income pathway with (i) diversified food production (nutrition sensitive value chain), (ii) enhanced nutrition awareness and food habits, and (iii) intensified linkages between local farmers and schools. WFP seeks a suitable national nutrition officer for a period of 12 months. The nutrition specialist will provide on-going technical support to the National Inclusion and Nutrition Officer and implement the activities under nutrition sub-component in close collaboration with implementing agencies. The project document and annual work plan and budget will guide the main areas of work and activities.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

Under the guidance of WFP Programme Manager, the candidate will carry out following responsibilities:

1. Establishment of a baseline for nutrition indicators: a. Lead the development and implementation of a quantitative baseline, mid-term and endline survey methodology and questionnaires to ensure it covers assessment of the minimum dietary diversity of women (MDD-W) and other key nutrition indicators. b. Support the international nutrition consultant to develop a methodology and protocol for implementation of qualitative formative research of vulnerable groups. Research will cover four target groups: adolescent girls (15-17), youth (18-35), pregnant and lactating women, and other women in the reproductive age group (36 to 49) and explore the dynamics of food availability, accessibility, affordability, and consumption in relation to the ten food groups and socio-economic activities these women are involved in. c. Implement the qualitative formative research and support the international nutrition officer in the data analysis. 2. Collaborate with the international nutrition consultant to develop a detailed social behavior change (SBC) action plan for the BRECSA project including interpersonal communication activities and development of accompanying information, education, and communication (IEC) materials. The action plan should be based on the results of the baseline quantitative survey, the qualitative behavioral research and in keeping with the FSAPP GAFSP-supported SBC strategy (2019-2022). 3. Collaborate with the international consultant to work with the PMU Nutrition Officer, MOH’s district nutritionists and other implementing partners to develop a nutrition-sensitive agriculture SBC training package for gewog extension agents and extension staffs/ Sanam Jabjorpa to train youth, women and people with disabilities on nutrition, promotion of cultivation, processing and consumption of healthier foods and effective communication techniques. The package may include nutrition awareness, integrated homestead food production, cooking demonstrations of low-cost nutritious recipes from garden produce, backyard farms, food combinations, and small-scale household level agro-processing aiming at enhancing micronutrient content of foods. SBC outputs will include manuals, field-based materials and messaging for social media. 4. Lead the Training of Trainers (TOT) of district nutritionists/dietitians, extension workers and Sanam Jabjorpa who will train youth, women and people with disabilities on the SBC package to enhance household consumption of more nutrient-dense foods. 5. Participate in development and implementation of a monitoring plan to ensure the SBC package is rolled out in the four Dzongkhags as planned and that messages are effectively communicated at the gewog level. 6. Build the capacity of the MOH district level nutritionists and other government staff on nutrition-sensitive agriculture and SBC. Identify needs and develop and share resources through formal and informal activities. 7. Develop the nutrition garden model and in collaboration with district nutritionists and agriculture extension officers, organize demonstration at selected venues. Identify and organize the tools and equipment to be supplied for the home garden activity.

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

Master’s or bachelor’s degree in the field of nutrition, dietetics, or public health preferred. Bachelor’s in other related social sciences will be considered.

Experience:

• At least 1 year of professional experience for master’s degree and 3 years of professional experience for bachelor’s degree in implementing or supervising nutrition interventions, especially those involving nutrition-sensitive agriculture.

• Experience planning and implementing SBC programs in nutrition or public health including advocacy and interpersonal communication.

• Experience in designing and conducting research and monitoring and evaluation related to nutrition, nutrition-sensitive agriculture and rural development programs.

• Experience developing and implementing a training package for extension agents working with farmers.

• Exposure to the nutrition and / or health environment in Bhutan would be an asset.

Knowledge & Skills:

• Excellent interpersonal skills required, including strong professional communication skills. • Understanding of food systems and drivers of the triple burden of malnutrition in a nutrition transition context • Knowledge of research methods, including qualitative and quantitative methods • Strong analytical and report writing skills. • Ability to work within tight deadlines and manage multiple tasks simultaneously independently. • Proven ability to conceptualize, develop, plan, and manage small to medium sized projects. • Excellent leadership and teamwork skills, good analytical, communication, negotiation, and advocacy skills • Ability to work in a team and establish effective working relationships with people of different national and cultural backgrounds. • Advanced computer skills with mastery of Windows and Microsoft Office • General knowledge of UN programs is an advantage. • Experience in producing and delivering quality results on time.

Languages:

Fluency in both oral and written communication in English (Level C) and Dzongkha

HOW TO APPLY

To be considered, interested candidates are invited to apply via (https://www.wfp.org/careers/job-openings). Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

WFP will not request payment at any stage of the recruitment process including at the offer stage. Any requests for payment should be refused and reported to local law enforcement authorities for appropriate action.

Request for Disability related Reasonable Accommodations: It is important to WFP to create an accessible and inclusive workplace for everyone. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions. If you require reasonable accommodation in completing this application, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, or otherwise participating in the selection and hiring process, please direct your request and inquiries to the Diversity and Inclusion team on: [email protected] or [email protected] . A member of the reasonable accommodation team will contact you to confidentially discuss your needs.

This email is only to be used for any disability related accessibility requirements, and not for sending the application itself. Due to volume of applications, any applications or CVs sent through this email address will not be considered as a formal application and will not receive a reply from WFP.

ABOUT WFP

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide. The mission of WFP is to help the world achieve Zero Hunger in our lifetimes. Every day, WFP works worldwide to ensure that no child goes to bed hungry and that the poorest and most vulnerable, particularly women and children, can access the nutritious food they need.

WFP is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce. WFP has zero tolerance for ****sexual**** ****exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including**** sexual harassment, abuse of authority or discrimination. All selected candidates will, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

No appointment under any kind of contract will be offered to members of the UN Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), International Civil Service Commission (ICSC), FAO Finance Committee, WFP External Auditor, WFP Audit Committee, Joint Inspection Unit (JIU) and other similar bodies within the United Nations system with oversight responsibilities over WFP, both during their service and within three years of ceasing that service.