Nutrition Officer NOB, TA Tombouctou, Mali #124463 (Malian Nationals Only) 364 days

Entry Programme & Policy

Overview

Provide technical support for nutrition programmes in Mali

You have:

• A university degree in Public Health and Nutrition, Child Development, Water Sanitation, Community Development, or other relevant disciplines.
• A minimum of two years of professional work experience at the national or international levels in planning, programming, implementation monitoring, and evaluation of technical cooperation programmes related to Nutrition.
• Developing country work experience or field work experience.
• Background/familiarity with Emergency.
• Fluent in spoken and written French and working proficiency in written and spoken English are required.

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.

For every child, Hope

In Mali, children under 5 represent 17 per cent of the 19.8 million inhabitants. With a demographic annual growth rate of 3.6 per cent, the under-5 population is expected to reach 4.6 million children in 2030. While some results have been achieved in the past years, children under 5 continue to face challenges that affect their survival, development and thrive. In terms of vulnerability, children under five still suffer from multiple deprivations with 3.3 million children living with 3 deprivations. Children suffer from deprivations in nutrition, protection, and safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene services. Furthermore, the insecurity and worsening conflict affecting the country limit the improvement and sustainability of social services provided to children under 5.

Moreover, the child mortality is not behind, under five mortality has increased by 6 points from 2012 and 2018 (101‰). Subsequently, newborn mortality represented 61 per cent of under one-year mortality and 33 per cent of under-five mortality in Mali in 2018. Newborn mortality rate is higher in young mothers below the age of 20 in a context of high adolescent fecundity (151‰). Regarding, the maternal mortality, it remains a serious public health problem. Maternal mortality is at 325 per 100,000 live- births and one in fifty women is at risk of dying from maternal causes during her life span.

According to the Mali’s Investment Case on maternal, newborn and child care , child mortality is predominantly linked to three main causes: i) neonatal (33 per cent), ii) malaria (24 per cent), and iii) vaccine preventable diseases (22 per cent). Malnutrition however is the underlying causes of 30 per cent child mortality in Mali. In addition, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene related diseases are underlying causes of 43 per cent of the child mortality. For newborn mortality, asphyxia and septicemia represent respectively 27 per cent and 24 per cent of the causes. As for maternal mortality, the main causes are pre- and post-natal hemorrhages (42%), followed by pre-eclampsia (26%). Other indirect causes of maternal mortality are respectively malaria (56%) and anemia (30%). Moreover, there is no significant variations in the child mortality rates in emergency and non-emergency affected regions.

The nutritional status of under-five children remains precarious and progress over the past decades have been mixed, with boys generally more affected by malnutrition than girls. Indeed, the prevalence of anemia in this age group has remained stagnant at more than eighty per cent since the early 2000s (DHS Mali 2001 to 2018). Between 2012 and 2018, the prevalence of stunting among children aged 0 to 59 months decreased from 38 per cent to 27 per cent. However, this overall progress conceals important regional and sociodemographic disparities (e.g. 28 per cent among boys vs. 25.7 among girls and three times as high in lowest quintile as in highest quintile). This represents a 21 percent reduction towards the 2025 target of 40 percent reduction in the number of stunted children (DHS, 2018). Wasting remains high, at 9 per cent (DHS, 2018) and affects more boys (10.3 per cent) than girls (7.6 per cent). Case management of child malnutrition continues to be a challenge linked to limited community mobilization. The 2015 coverage surveys report only 27% of SAM children reached. There is regional disparity and inequity in terms of vulnerability of children between 0 to 5 years according to 2018 MODA report.

UNICEF Country Programme 2020-2024 has five key programmatic shifts that will help achieving key results for children in Mali: i) the Programme will be structured based on the life cycle approach with all interventions organized according to the specific needs of children from the conception up to the second decade (age of 18 years) including empowerment and participation; ii) the holistic and intersectoral approach for key results for children; iii) the links between humanitarian and development interventions continuum ; iv) the central role of adolescent girls and boys as a transformation agents, including their empowerment and participation and v) strengthening systems in an integrated way at the community level.

The pillar 1 vision of UNICEF Country Programme 2020-2024 is that by 2024, all children under 5 years in Mali, particularly the most disadvantaged / deprived and those living in hard-to-reach areas, live in a safe environment promoting, protecting, respecting and realizing their rights to survival, development and thrive. By 2024, young girls and boys (0–5 years of age), particularly the most disadvantaged/ deprived and hard-to-reach, will be immunized, well nourished, healthy (treated against common illnesses), protected, registered at birth, and prepared for school, including in humanitarian situations

These key results will be achieved in collaboration with the Government of Mali, in conjunction with other UN agencies (common chapter, UN reform), civil society organizations and community groups.

Purpose for the job: Under the supervision of the Health & Nutrition Specialist - NOC, the The Nutrition Officer provides professional technical, operational and administrative assistance

throughout the programming process for the nutrition programmes/projects within the Country

Programme, from development planning to delivery of results. In doing so, the incumbent

implements a variety of technical and administrative programme tasks to facilitate programme

development, implementation, programme progress monitoring, evaluation, and reporting of

results.

How can you make a difference?

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

Within the delegated authority and under the given organizational set-up, the incumbent may be assigned the primary, shared, or contributory accountabilities for all or part of the following areas of major duties and key end-results.

1.1. Timely sectoral analysis, input and support contribute to the Situation Analysis and its periodic update for effective project planning, development, and management.

- Contributes to the preparation of the Situation Analysis by compiling, analyzing and evaluating information and providing the technical input and support to Nutrition interventions and its periodic update.

- Contributes to the consultation and coordination with key partners at all levels.

- Contributes to identify bottlenecks in the synergistic implementation of activities, and included in gender and gender mainstreaming, and propose solutions.

1.2. Quality technical contributions are made to the development and implementation of Integrated Nutrition strategies and approaches through participation and collaboration with internal and external partnership.

- Works with other UNICEF sectors, particularly Health, Nutrition, CSD, HIV/AIDS, WASH and programme communication to ensure integration of the Nutrition programme with other sectors.

- Contributes to build on intersectoral experience and establish partnerships to promote innovative approaches to address immediate and underlying determinants of maternal, newborn and child nutrition, recognizing that nutrition outcomes are not the results of action in the nutrition sectors alone.

- Monitors status to ensure achievement of strategic results in line with agreed Annual and Country Programme objectives and adopts corrective action to meet programme/project objectives.

- Contributes to the development, update and implementation of Nutrition strategy in regional COVID response Plan Ensures follow-up and coordination of the implementation of the work plan with the CBZ and the Gender Working Group (Gender Focal Points).

- Contributes to the identification and introduction of new approaches, methods and practices in project management for improving programme delivery with emphasis on sustainability of intervention and community participation.

1.3.****Work plan implementation support is effectively provided, and planned results are timely delivered.

- Contributes to the development and implementation of the results-based sectoral work plan and objectives as well as for administration and monitoring of sectoral project activities, consistent with the defined project strategic priorities and approaches.

- Ensures objectives and targets are timely achieved, through coordination between activities and collaboration with implementing partners.

1.4. Project implementation progress is monitored and evaluated for adjustment, acceleration and improvement of program delivery and sustainability.

- Undertakes field visits to monitor programmes, as well as participates in periodic programme reviews with government counterparts and other partners. Identifies necessary action for programme adjustments.

- Provides technical advice and support to government officials and implementing partners in the planning and management of the Nutrition interventions and ensures their sustainability.

- Support maintenance of information system for monitoring gender sex aggregated data.

1.5. Technical support is provided to government and NGOs at various stages of the project implementation, monitoring and evaluation, including capacity building of government personnel and beneficiaries.

- Provides technical support to government and NGOs in the planning, development, implementation, and evaluation stages of the programmes/projects.

- Contributes to identify training needs; designs and conducts training and orientation activities for government personnel and beneficiaries and other relevant partners, for the purpose of capacity building, sustainability of programme/projects and expansion of coverage of services.

1.6. UNICEF and Government accountability is ensured for supply and non-supply assistance and disbursement of programme funds for Nutrition.

- Coordinating with Operations and Supply staff on supply and non-supply assistance activities, ensures UNICEF, Government partner and all implementing partners accountability.

- Contributes to monitor the overall allocation and disbursement of programme funds, making sure that funds are properly coordinated, monitored, and liquidated.

1.7. Required programme/project reports are timely prepared in compliance with the established guidelines and procedures.

- Contributes to the timely preparation of annual sector status reports and shares information with relevant partners as required in compliance with the established guidelines and procedures.

- Participates in the preparation of all programme reports for management, Board, donors, budget reviews, programme analysis, and annual reports.

1.8. Emergency preparedness is maintained, and in emergencies, emergency responses are provided.

- Contributes to the emergency preparedness plan relating to Nutrition. In case of emergency, assists in monitoring and assessing the nature and extent of the emergency in the assigned area, as required. In line with the Core Commitments for Children (CCCs) in Humanitarian Action, strengthens partnerships with the Nutrition humanitarian actors s within the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC).

- Contributes to the preparation of emergency strategic response documents (Health Cluster Plan and Reports, COVID Response Plan) including the country office monthly SitRep …)

1.9.****Other assigned duties and responsibilities are effectively accomplished.

Assumes any other duties and responsibilities assigned as appropriate to the purpose of this post, and delivers the results as required.

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

• A university degree in Public Health and Nutrition, Child Development, Water Sanitation, Community Development, or other relevant disciplines.
• A minimum of two years of professional work experience at the national or international levels in planning, programming, implementation monitoring, and evaluation of technical cooperation programmes related to Nutrition.
• Developing country work experience or field work experience.
• Background/familiarity with Emergency.
• Fluent in spoken and written French and working proficiency in written and spoken English are required.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

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

UNICEF competencies required for this post are...

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

During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: competency framework here.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. 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 is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. 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:

UNICEF’s active commitment towards diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable female candidatures are encouraged to apply.

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

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments are also subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

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

Apply now

Potential interview questions

Added 3 years ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: unicef.org