Nutrition Officer NOB FT Kayes, Mali # 94637 (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.

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For every child, hope

The region of Kayes, first administrative area of Mali covers an area of approximately 120,760 square kilometers located in the south-west of the country at the borders with Senegal, Guinea, and Mauritania.

Because of its geographical location, it has a high level of traffic of goods and people. However, there are many challenges the region face despite its high economic activities and relative stability. Based on the most recent nutrition survey conducted in September 2021, high prevalences of undernutrition (both acute and chronic with GAM of 11.5% and stunting of 22.3%) were reported well above the national average meaning 1 out of 10 children under-fives are wasted and 1 out 5 children have growth faltering in Kayes region (SMART, 2021). Compared to the previous year, there has been a serious deterioration of the nutritional situation particularly the acute malnutrition which has almost doubled. The humanitarian needs overview estimates that 144,283 children under-fives including 25,565 severely affected by acute malnutrition need nutrition rehabilitation in 2022.

Many factors are associated with the increase of malnutrition in Kayes. Low agricultural productivity due with poor investment and harsh climate conditions are linked to recurrent food insecurity the region face. The analysis of the integrated phase classification of food insecurity and malnutrition (IPC November 2021) identified Nioro as one of the six cercles currently under food security crisis in Mali during the first two quarters of 2022. Moreover, it projected that during lean season the number of affected people in this region will increase from 82,446 to 159 878 persons.

Other underlying factors include suboptimal feeding practices and common illnesses like diarrhea, fever, and acute respiratory infection. Although 99.3% of mothers breastfeed their babies, only 30.1% of children aged 0 to 6 months are exclusively breastfed while the remaining are exposed to unsafe water drinking and other fluids. For children aged 6 to 23 months, only less than a quarter (22,8%) receive a minimum acceptable diet (SMART 2021).

UNICEF provides technical and operational support to the nutrition programme in Kayes region from the Main office in Bamako and the field office in Kayes. Despite progress in increasing the offer of treatment services (256 URENAS and 11 URENI) and preventive services (scaling up IYCF counseling in health facilities and communities level through 4,276 Nutrition Support Groups), the weight of unfavorable social norms (food deprivation, health care seeking to traditional healers, etc.), the lack of human and organizational resources, the low access to social basic services and household poverty affect the offer and demand of health and nutrition services.

Purpose for the job: The Nutrition Officer NOB, # 94637 based in Kayes reports to the Chief Field Office. He / she provides professional technical, operational and administrative assistance throughout the programming process for the nutrition programs/projects (both treatment and prevention) within the Mali Country Programme from development planning to delivery of results, preparing, executing, managing and implementing a variety of technical and administrative program tasks to facilitate program development, implementation, and program progress monitoring, evaluating and reporting of results for Kayes Region.

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 programs/projects.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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 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 appreciated

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.