Nutrition Officer

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Application deadline 1 year ago: Friday 20 May 2022 at 21:59 UTC

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OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The mission of WHO’s Health Emergencies Programme (The Programme) is to help countries, and to coordinate international action, to prevent, prepare for, detect, rapidly respond to, and recover from outbreaks and emergencies.

The Programme seeks to promote and uphold the humanitarian and public health principles by leading a coordinated and effective health sector response together with the national and international community, with specific attention to vulnerable and marginalized populations, through effectuating WHO's commitment to work within the framework of the Interagency Standing Committee (IASC) and the cluster approach. The incumbent will be responsible for performing a dedicated coordination, health needs assessment, strategy development and resource mobilization, supporting the implementation and, monitoring the joint incident management system and advocacy function.

An exceptional three-season drought sequence has struck the Eastern Horn of Africa due to the poor rains in October-December 2020 and March-May 2021 followed by an extremely dry October-December 2021 season. In Ethiopia, millions are estimated to be in need of life saving humanitarian assistance affecting Somali region, Oromia and SNNP and southwest regions. To reduce excess morbidity and mortality resulting from the public health consequences of the drought-related humanitarian crisis in Ethiopia, WHO will be working with the Federal Ministry of Health, Ethiopian Public Health Emergencies Institute (EPHI) and health partners to respond to this emergency while building on existing health sector development programmes, enhancing preparedness for further deterioration of the humanitarian situation, boosting capacities and integrating risk reduction and resilience building components to foster long-term development solutions to the crisis.

PURPOSE OF THE POSITION

Reporting to the Health operations Lead, under the overall guidance of the incident manager, and the Head of WHO Country Office, the nutrition officer will have the responsibility for managing and supporting operations to ensure the timely delivery, effective and efficient implementation of the nutrition related activities, and the expansion of WHO-assisted nutrition interventions, in order to achieve the best attainable health and nutrition status for the populations. S/he incumbent will closely coordinate activities with Ministry of Health (MOH), United Nations (UN) partners, implementing Health/Nutrition partners, including Non-Government Organizations (NGOs), other stakeholders and development partners to create synergies and ensure harmonization in the implementation of the nutrition programme throughout the full cycle of the incident. During deployment, the duty station may change, and duties may be modified, based upon the technical needs of the Programme.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

During deployment, the duty station may change, and duties may be modified, based upon the technical needs of the Programme.

1. Advise on the planning, formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of nutrition programmes and activities, in compliance with WHO's overall strategy, and guidelines.

2. Participate and conduct nutrition assessments in collaboration with RHBs, UN agencies and implementing partners to develop response strategies and action plans based on the nutrition situation in the affected areas

3. Develop and implement strategies to improve capacity of health staff on the inpatient management of severe acute malnutrition (SAM) with medical complications

4. Develop and implement measures to improve capacity of health staff on appropriate infant and young child feeding in emergencies to prevent relapse.

5. Support strengthening nutrition surveillance, identify the constraints and gaps and provide technical solutions to improve the system.

6. Ensure necessary supplies for the inpatient treatment of SAM.

7. Facilitate measures to improve identification of those in need of nutrition interventions and appropriate referrals such as integrate nutrition screening at all levels of the health system (community, PHC, tertiary) including mobile clinics;

8. Ensure key nutrition interventions are conducted in the health facilities where appropriate (e.g. iron-folic acid supplementation/micronutrient supplementation in antenatal care, inpatient management of SAM) and that referral is conducted for nutrition interventions where needed (e.g. outpatient SAM, supplementary feeding programmes for MAM and pregnant and lactating women).

9. Monitor and evaluate inpatient management of SAM in health facilities.

10. Integrate nutrition and health surveillance. Technical support to strengthen the existing routine health information system to integrate key program performance indicators to monitor the outcome of nutrition services implemented at health facilities.

11. Represent WHO in the interagency Nutrition Cluster and contribute to the development and implementation of interagency SMART surveys and other nutrition assessment tools.

12. Perform any other related incident-specific duties, as required by the functional supervisor.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATION

Essential:

A University degree in one of the disciplines relevant to the following areas: Public Health & Nutrition, pediatrics and child health, International Health & Nutrition, Nutritional Epidemiology, Health & Nutrition Education, Nutrition Promotion and Disease Prevention.

Desirable:

Post graduate studies or specialized training in emergency management, international aid or humanitarian principles.

WORK EXPERIENCE

Essential:

At least five years of relevant experience, at the national and international levels, in development and management of nutrition programmes. Related working experience in outbreaks and/or health emergency operations in the area of nutrition. Experience in developing and promoting collaborative actions with national authorities.

Desirable:

Experience and skills in providing in-country technical support and building capacity in national Health and nutrition programing, preferably in developing countries. Relevant work experience in WHO, other UN agencies, relevant non-governmental, health cluster partners or recognized humanitarian organizations.

FUNCTIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

  • Excellent knowledge and understanding of international public health with focus on nutrition.
  • Independent judgment; the ability to anticipate new trends in the field of nutrition and take actions accordingly.
  • Managerial skills for the development, implementation and analysis of technical cooperation programs and activities, including monitoring and evaluation of programmes.

  • Excellent negotiation skills and ability to convene stakeholders and facilitate a policy process among UN, NGOs, national health authorities and donors.

WHO COMPETENCIES

  1. Communication
  2. Teamwork
  3. Producing result
  4. Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
  5. Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond

Use of Language Skills

Essential:

Excellent knowledge of English.

Other Skills (e.g. IT Skills)

Knowledge of Microsoft Office software applications. Excellent presentation skills.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

  • Remuneration – this is a Consultant contract at P3 Level, with a monthly remuneration of $ 8490
  • Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.
  • A written test may be used as a form of screening.
  • If your candidature is retained for interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.
  • For information on WHO's operations please visit: http://www.who.int.
  • WHO is committed to workforce diversity.
  • WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.
  • Applications from women and from nationals of non and underrepresented Member States are particularly encouraged.
  • WHO prides itself on a workforce that adheres to the highest ethical and professional standards and that is committed to put the WHO Values Charter into practice.
  • WHO has zero tolerance towards sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct (i.e., discrimination, abuse of authority and harassment). All members of the WHO workforce have a role to play in promoting a safe and respectful workplace and should report to WHO any actual or suspected cases of SEA, sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct. To ensure that individuals with a substantiated history of SEA, sexual harassment or other types of abusive conduct are not hired by the Organization, WHO will conduct a background verification of final candidates.
  • Consultants shall perform the work as independent contractors in a personal capacity, and not as a representative of any entity or authority. The execution of the work under a consultant contract does not create an employer/employee relationship between WHO and the Consultant.
  • WHO shall have no responsibility whatsoever for any taxes, duties, social security contributions or other contributions payable by the Consultant. The Consultant shall be solely responsible for withholding and paying any taxes, duties, social security contributions and any other contributions which are applicable to the Consultant in in each location/jurisdiction in which the work hereunder is performed, and the Consultant shall not be entitled to any reimbursement thereof by WHO.
Added 1 year ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: who.int