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.

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programs, 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. Equity 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.

International UN Volunteer will be working within nutrition staff in UNICEF Burundi. She/he will provide technical, operational and administrative assistance throughout the programming process through the application of theoretical and technical skills in researching, collecting, analyzing and presenting technical programme information while learning organizational rules, regulations and procedures to support the development and formulation of the nutrition Programme within the UNICEF Country Programme in Burundi.

Under the direct supervision and guidance of the Nutrition multisectoral project coordinator (P-3), the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

a) Support to Programme development and planning

• Support and contribute to the preparation, design and updating of the landscape analysis for diets for adolescents and school food environments, and complementary feeding. • Support the development of multisectoral framework and plans for maternal, adolescent and school age nutrition as well as for complementary feeding to ensure their alignment with the global/regional levels. • Support implementation of the plans and monitoring at all levels; • Work closely and collaboratively with colleagues and partners to discuss and to determine priorities/competencies to ensure the achievement of concrete and sustainable results.

b) Technical support to Programme implementation, monitoring, and delivery of results • Support the implementation of the multisectoral program to ensure a systemic and integrated approach for Nutrition through health, WASH, social protection, food, and education systems at all levels (community and all required levels) as stipulated in the project funded by the Government of Netherlands; • Participate in the preparation of relevant joint documents and ensure good information flow through regular reports, joint meetings and other relevant channels with all involved partners and local communities; • Undertakes field visits to monitor the implementation of the multisectoral program to ensure a systemic and integrated approach for Nutrition through health, WASH, social protection, food and education systems; • Participate in monitoring and evaluation exercises, project /program reviews and annual reviews with government and other counterparts to assess progress and to determine required action and interventions to achieve results; • Participate actively in monitoring of the programs and projects through field visits, assessments and/or exchange of information with partners and stakeholders to assess progress; • Contribute to Identify bottlenecks and potential problems to enable timely decisions to resolve issues and/or refer to the coordinator of the project for timely resolution; • In collaboration with the Nutrition officer in charge of data management, contribute to the adaptation of t tools for formative supervision / mentoring and routine follow-up / data collection. Make sure all relevant databases are regularly filled and submitted (awareness sessions database, database of counselled cases); • Contribute to the concurrent monitoring and reporting on performance indicators of NGO managed programs under the Project Co-operation Agreement; • Ensure follow up for timely reporting and liquidation of resources; • Contribute to regular and mandated project reports for management, donors, and partners to keep them informed of the progress; • Participate in donor field visits, when requested; • Participate in discussions with national partners, clients, and stakeholders on project progress and other issues related to the project; • Participate in emergency preparedness initiatives for program development, contingency planning and/or to respond to emergencies in the project implementation area.

c) Networking and partnership building

• Contribute to Drafting communication and information materials for CO programme advocacy to promote awareness, establish partnership/alliances and support fund raising for nutrition programmes; • Contribute to capacity building of stakeholders to achieve their goals; • Contribute to the elaboration of communication and information materials for project advocacy to promote awareness, establish partnership/alliances and contribute to the support for fund raising for nutrition program in general (maternal, newborn and child survival and development).

d) Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

 Apply innovative approaches and promote good practices to support the implementation and delivery of concrete and sustainable program results (“play to heal” and other new initiatives);  Identify, capture, synthesize, and share lessons learned from the innovative initiative for knowledge development, decision making to improve the program and to build the capacity of stakeholders;

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:

The UNV Nutrition Officer will contribute to obtain the following results:

• Project management support provided to specific and defined nutrition projects and activities, ensuring a coordinated approach with wider programmes/projects that complies with organizational standards and procedures; • Demonstrated technical knowledge and understanding of nutrition standards; • Timely and good quality contribution to knowledge products, reports and documents conducted as requested or assigned; • Field and monitoring visits, meetings and trainings attended and reported as requested;

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

• Builds and maintains partnerships Build a network of external stakeholders and alliances with government counterparts, civil society, the media and the private sector, in order to promote and advance the work of the organization. • Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness - Self-aware of own strengths, limitations, working style and deeply held convictions and - Ethical awareness through behaviours that are consistent and compliant with the standards ofconduct for international civil servants, UNICEF’s values and relevant UNICEF policies and procedures. • Drive to achieve results for impact Commits to action and assumes responsibility and ownership for own performance and the associated outcomes. • Innovates and embraces change Is open to and proposes new approaches and ideas. Adapts and responds positively to change • Manages ambiguity and complexity Demonstrate resilience and composure, get things done despite challenges and maintain performance levels in pressured, adverse and uncertain environments. • Thinks and acts strategically Understands the big picture and is able to identify potential opportunities for action and challenges that exist. Forms sound evidence-based judgements in the delivery of UNICEF’s results. • Works collaboratively with others Establish and maintain mutually supportive working relationships, demonstrating sensitivity to people of diverse backgrounds, respecting differences and ensuring that all can contribute and succeed.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse, and on any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Nutrition development programmes, public health nutrition, other nutrition-related activities.

Burundi is a generally stable country in terms of political and security. However, the border security is a concern in the provinces of Bubanza and Cibitoke due to the various violent clashes in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and occasional cross-border movement by armed groups. Also, for the past two years, the country has been facing a shortage of fuel and inflation with an increase in the price of goods and foods on the market.

Burundi is a nice country with both development and humanitarian context. It provides for an interesting and enriching environment, but also requires a mature level of cultural awareness, as well as more stamina and commitment than elsewhere to make life comfortable and affordable. Therefore, flexibility and the ability and willingness to live and work in harsh and potentially hazardous conditions, involving physical hardship and little comfort, are essential.