Nutrition Officer NOB FT Bamako, Mali #72001 (Malian Nationals Only)

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 fulfil 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.

For every child, hope

Mali is a Sahelian landlocked west African country with an estimated population of 20,5 million people in 2020 (INSTAT, 2022) with more than half of them (57.3%) living in rural areas. Its economy is classified as low income with half of the population (50.3%) living below poverty line and a low human development index of 0.434 (UNDP, 2022) positioning the country on a rank of 184 out of 189 countries and territories of the world.

The nutritional situation in Mali has not much improved during the last decade. Prevalences of undernutrition are still high with stunting above 20% and wasting around 10%. The most recent SMART survey conducted in September 2021 shows elevated levels of global acute malnutrition (GAM), with a national prevalences of GAM of 10% and SAM of 1.8% compared to the previous year (GAM: 7.3% and SAM 1.3%) although the timing of the two surveys is not the same. Big disparities among the regions were also noticed with Ménaka (GAM: 17.9% and SAM: 3.9%) surpassing the emergency threshold of 15%. Five regions have a GAM prevalence of 10% and above which indicates a precarious nutritional situation namely Gao, Kayes, Koulikoro, Timbuktu and Segou. The prevalence of severe acute malnutrition is above 2% in Ménaka and Mopti regions. Only four regions (Sikasso, Mopti, Kidal and Bamako) reported a GAM of less than 10%.

Different structural and recurrent factors contribute to the lack of progress toward achieving different nutrition indicators including those of the WHA by 2025 and the SDGs by year 2030. Like most countries in the Sahel region, Mali has been affected by the effects of climate change with recurrent food and nutrition insecurity picking during the lean season. Results of the Integrated Phase classification of acute malnutrition analysis in January 2022 show that 19 cercles (second administrative entity) out of 55 in Mali are in a serious or an emergency status, and that this will increase to 42 cercles during the lean season (June to August 2022). To the above threats add the increasing level of insecurity caused by different non-governmental armed groups affecting northern and central regions with expansion to the South; and the economic sanctions imposed by ECOWAS on an already fragile economy.

UNICEF, in support of the Government of Mali, provide technical and operational support to the nutrition programme (IMAM, prevention, nutrition surveillance, emergency preparedness and response etc.) at national and subnational levels through its main office in Bamako and its five field offices in Kayes, Sikasso, Mopti, Gao, and Timbuktu.

The IMAM strategy which is integrated into the national nutrition policy and strategy is overseen by the Ministry of Health and Social development (MSDS). Currently it focuses on scaling-up timely access to quality treatment, while supporting innovative approaches for a holistic management of acute malnutrition (MAM and SAM), and the integration of IMAM into the health system to improve effectiveness.

Moreover, UNICEF continue to procure and provide essential supplies for treatment of SAM cases to the 75 health districts and has started support for strengthening the government capacity for management of RUTF integration into the national supply chain system.

Purpose for the job: The Nutrition Officer (NOB) # 72001 based in Bamako reports to the Nutrition specialist (P3) in charge of IMAM and emergency nutrition. He / she provides professional technical, operational, and administrative assistance throughout the programming process for the nutrition programme/projects with focus on IMAM and emergency preparedness and response within the Country Program from development planning to delivery of results, preparing, executing, managing, and implementing a variety of technical and administrative programme tasks to facilitate programme development, implementation, and progress monitoring, evaluation and reporting of results. He/She will also support regional implementation and scale-up of IMAM interventions including innovative approaches particularly in Koulikoro, Dioila, Nara and the district of Bamako.

How can you make a difference?

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

1. Support to program development and planning
2. Program management, monitoring and delivery of results
3. Technical and operational support to program implementation

4. Networking and partnership building

5. Support to program development and planning

• Conduct/update situation analysis for the program sector/s for development, design and management of nutrition related IMAM programs/projects. Research and report on development trends (e.g. political social, economic, nutrition, health) for higher management use to enhance program management, efficiency and delivery of results.
• Contribute to the development/establishment of sectoral program goals, objectives and strategies and results-based planning through analysis of nutrition needs and areas for intervention and submission of recommendations for priority and goal setting.
• Provide technical and operational support throughout all stages of programming processes by executing/administering a variety of technical program transactions, preparing materials/documentations and complying with organizational processes and management systems, to support program planning, results-based planning (RBM) and monitoring and evaluating results.
• Prepare required documentations/materials to facilitate the program review and approval process.

2. Program management, monitoring and delivery of results.

• Work closely and collaboratively with internal and external colleagues and partners to discuss operational and implementation issues, provide solutions, recommendations and/or alert appropriate officials and stakeholders for higher-level intervention and/or decision. Keep record of reports and assessments for easy reference and/or to capture and institutionalize lessons learned.

• Participate in monitoring and evaluation exercises, program reviews and annual reviews with government and other counterparts to assess programs/projects and to report on required action/interventions at the higher level of program management.

• Monitor and report on the use of sectoral program resources (financial, administrative and other assets), verify compliance with approved allocation/goals, organizational rules, regulations/procedures and donor commitments, standards of accountability and integrity. Report on issues identified to ensure timely resolution by management/stakeholders. Follow up on unresolved issues to ensure resolution.
• Prepare regular/mandated sectoral program/project reports for management, donors and partners to keep them informed of program progress.

3. Technical and operational support to program implementation

• Conduct regular program field visits and surveys and/or exchange information with partners/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 and related issues to support program implementation, operations and delivery of results

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 program implementation and build capacity of stakeholders to achieve program goals and social justice, equity and rights of mothers, newborn and children.
• Draft communication and information materials for CO program advocacy to promote awareness, establish partnership/alliances and support fund raising for nutrition programs.

5. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

• Identify, capture, synthesize and share lessons learned for knowledge development and to build the capacity of stakeholders.
• Apply innovative approaches such as simplified protocols for IMAM and Surge approach and promote good practice to support the implementation and delivery of concrete and sustainable program results.
• Research, benchmark and report on best and cutting-edge practices for development planning of knowledge products and systems.
• Participate as resource person in capacity building initiatives to enhance the competencies of clients/stakeholders.

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

• A University Degree or higher in nutrition, public health, nutritional epidemiology, global/international health and nutrition, health/nutrition research, policy and/or management, health sciences, nutritional epidemiology or other health related science field is required.
• A minimum of 2 years of professional experience in nutrition, public health, nutrition planning and management and/or in relevant areas of maternal, infant and child health/nutrition care at the international level and/or in a developing country is required. Experience in health/nutrition program/project development in UN system agency or organization is an asset.
• Experience in both development and humanitarian contexts is an added advantage.
• Fluency in French and English required. Knowledge of at least one local language of the duty station is highly desirable

For every Child, you demonstrate…

Core Values

• Care
• Respect
• Integrity
• Trust
• Accountability

Core competencies

• Builds and maintains partnerships
• Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness
• Innovates and embraces change
• Drive to achieve results for impact
• Manages ambiguity and complexity
• Thinks and acts strategically
• Works collaboratively with others

Functional Competencies:

• Formulating strategies and concepts (I)
• Analyzing (II)
• Applying technical expertise ((II)
• Learning and researching (II)
• Planning and organizing (II)

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 be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks:

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

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