Nutrition Officer, NO2, TA, Manila, Post no. 00114562

Contract

This is a NO-2 contract. This kind of contract is known as National Professional Officers. It is normally only for nationals. It's a staff contract. More about NO-2 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. 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.

And we never give up.

UNICEF has been an active partner of the Government of the Philippines and civil society in realizing the rights of every Filipino child, in line with priorities to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. UNICEF efforts have been focused on the most vulnerable regions identified by the Government of the Philippines Development Plan, particularly in the regions of Visayas and Mindanao. To ensure that interventions are sustainable and scaled up, UNICEF primarily supports local government units (LGUs) as the main instruments of delivering services and building systems. The level of engagement with government institutions will take into account capacities, economies of scale and sector issues.

Visit this link for more information on UNICEF in the Philippines https://www.unicef.org/philippines/

How can you make a difference?

The Nutrition Officer is responsible for supporting the coordination, planning, monitoring and reporting of the UNICEF-KOICA integrated project aimed at reducing stunting in Samar, Northern Samar, and Zamboanga del Norte. The four-year UNICEF-KOICA partnership has completed 2 years of implementation and has been adjusted with adaptation made to address the impact of COVID-19 on nutrition outcomes, ensuring that previous gains made are not reversed due to the pandemic.

Reporting to the Nutrition Manager, the Nutrition Officer will support to ensure overall efficiency and effectiveness of the project and facilitate the administration and achievement of concrete and sustainable results in health systems strengthening maternal, infant and child nutrition. He/she will also support regular review of project plans and adjustment of implementation modalities in the current rapidly changing COVID-19 context.

Under the direct Supervision of the Nutrition Manager, the post shall undertake the following tasks and responsibilities:

1. Support programme development and planning

• Conduct and update the situation analysis for the development, design and management of an integrated health and nutrition project in the first 1000 days. Keep the section and management abreast on development trends (e.g. political social, economic, nutrition, health and ongoing COVID-19 pandemic) to enhance programme management, efficiency and delivery of results.

• Analyze nutrition needs and areas for intervention enabling the development and establishment of results-based planning, sectoral programme goals, objectives and strategies.

• Execute and administer a variety of technical programme transactions, to support programming processes.

• Prepare required documentations and materials to facilitate the programme review and approval process.
• Regularly review the UNICEF-KOICA nutrition and first 1000 days project ensuring planning assumptions and implementation is adjusted in the rapidly changing COVID-19 context.

2. Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results

• Work and collaborate cross sector teams and partners to ensure smooth operation and implementation of programmes by proposing appropriate interventions and recommendations to appropriate officials and stakeholders for higher-level decision-making.
• Participate in monitoring and evaluation exercises, programme reviews and annual reviews with the government and other counterparts to assess programmes/projects and to report on required action and interventions at the higher level of programme management.
• Monitor and report on the use of sectoral programme resources (financial, administrative and other assets), verifying compliance with approved allocation, goals, organizational rules, regulations/procedures, donor commitments, standards of accountability, and integrity. Report on issues identified to ensure timely resolution by management and stakeholders. Follow up on unresolved issues to ensure resolution.
• Prepare regular and mandated sectoral programme/project reports for management, donors and partners to keep them informed of programme progress.

3. Technical and operational support to programme implementation

• Conduct regular programme field visits and surveys, and exchange information with partners and stakeholders to assess progress and provide technical support. Take appropriate action to resolve issues and/or refer to relevant officials for resolution. Report on critical issues, bottlenecks and potential problems for timely action to achieve results.
• Provide technical and operational support to government counterparts, NGO partners, UN system partners, and other country office partners/donors on the application and understanding of UNICEF policies, strategies, processes, and best practices on nutrition-related issues to support programme implementation, operations and delivery of results.
• Participate in discussions with national partners, clients and stakeholders to promote nutrition and development issues especially in the areas of emergency preparedness, PIMAM, ECCD and maternal, newborn and child survival and development.

4. 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 on maternal and child rights as well as social justice and equity.
• Draft communication and information materials for country office programme advocacy to promote awareness, establish partnership/alliances and support fund raising for nutrition programmes.
• Participate in appropriate inter-agency (UNPFSD) meetings and events on programming to collaborate with inter-agency partners and colleagues on UNPFSD operational planning and preparation of nutrition programmes/projects, and to integrate and harmonize UNICEF’s position and strategies with the UNPFSD development and planning process.
• Research information on potential donors and prepare resource mobilization materials and briefs for fund raising and partnership development purposes.

5. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

• Apply innovative approaches and promote good practices to support the implementation and delivery of concrete and sustainable programme results.
• Research, benchmark and report on best and cutting-edge practices for development planning of knowledge products and systems.
• Participate as a resource person in capacity building initiatives to enhance the competencies of clients and stakeholders.
• Keep record of reports and assessments for easy reference and/or to capture and institutionalize lessons learned.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• A university degree in one of the following fields is required: nutrition, public health, nutritional epidemiology, global/international health and nutrition, health/nutrition research, policy and/or management, health sciences, nutritional epidemiology, or another health-related science field
• A minimum of two years of professional experience in a developing country in one or more of the following areas is required: nutrition, public health, nutrition planning and management, or maternal, infant and child health/nutrition care.
• Experience in health/nutrition programme/project development in a UN system agency or organization is an asset.
• A good grasp and understanding of development and humanitarian work is a plus.

How to apply

Qualified candidates are requested to complete an online candidate profile in http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/ by 14 October 2020. Only applications sent through the e-recruitment portal under requisition no. 534760 will be considered.

By applying through our Talent Management System (TMS) you agree to our privacy statement which is in line with the Philippines’ Data Privacy Act. You are strongly advised to read carefully through the privacy statement before submitting your application.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce and encourages qualified candidates from all backgrounds to apply.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

The competencies required for this post are:

Core Competencies

• Nurtures, Leads and Manages People (1)
• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (2)
• Works Collaboratively with others (2)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (2)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (2)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (2)
• Drives to achieve impactful results (2)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (2)

Functional Competencies

• Analyzing (2)
• Applying technical expertise (2)
• Learning and researching (2)
• Planning and organizing (2)

View our competency framework at http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

Remarks:

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Temporary Appointment (TA) staff, consultants, UNVs are all considered internal as per the definition of internal candidates.