Nutrition Specialist – Climate Change & Food Security

Volunteering Environment

Contract

This is a UNV International Specialist contract. This kind of contract is known as International UN Volunteer. It is normally internationally recruited only. More about UNV International Specialist contracts.

The impact of climate change is already visible in Kenya. The changes in rainfall patterns are causing floods, droughts, and desertification. Climate-related economic shocks push communities towards negative coping mechanisms. UNICEF Kenya would like to engage the services of UNV to promote UNICEF’s agenda and its actions to contribute to preventing chid malnutrition amid the climate crisis. Working closely with the climate task force, the UNV will support the Nutrition section to mainstream climate action into its various programmes and will build the capacity of the nutrition section staff in the area of climate change and food security. This is aimed at improving children’s access to nutritious and sustainable diets, prevention and lifesaving nutrition services and healthy food environments and food and nutrition practices. The actions target populations affected by the climate crisis nationally, and especially vulnerable communities to ensure protection of children’s rights to food and nutrition, women and young people and leaving no one behind.

Under the direct supervision of Nutrition Specialist Governance and System strengthening, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks: 1.Support the functioning of the UNICEF climate change taskforce. 2.Enhance climate change integration/mainstreaming in nutrition programmes including nutrition policies, strategies and guidelines under development. 3.Develop capacity of the nutrition section to analyze and interpret the linkages of nutrition and climate change. 4.Support in setting up of a volunteer network for climate change in collaboration with UNICEF global and regional teams with a focus on mainstreaming nutrition in this initiative. 5.Support the national and local government to identify climate change risks, vulnerabilities and capacities to inform nutrition preparedness and response plans to climate shocks. 6.Strengthen the coordination and monitoring of the nutrition response to climate shocks, within and across sectors, and among partners to ensure that no child is left behind. 7.Support building back better through the development of climate shock-responsive nutrition policies, programmes and systems, supported by lessons learned and knowledge. 8.Contribute to advocacy efforts towards climate action in nutrition including development of an advocacy brief on climate actions in nutrition. 9.Contribute information and reporting on nutrition section actions on climate change.

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are required to: •Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day); •Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country. •Reflect on the type and quality of voluntary action that they are undertaking, including participation in ongoing reflection activities. •Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc. •Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly arrived UN Volunteers. •Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.

☒ Accountability ☒ Adaptability and Flexibility ☒ Building Trust ☒ Commitment and Motivation ☒ Commitment to Continuous Learning ☒ Communication ☒ Creativity ☒ Empowering Others ☒ Ethics and Values ☒ Integrity ☒ Judgement and Decision-making ☒ Knowledge Sharing ☒ Planning and Organizing ☒ Professionalism ☒ Respect for Diversity ☒ Self-Management ☒ Working in Teams

programme and/or policy support in the area of nutrition and climate change. Specific experience working in nutrition and climate change and/or in relevant sectors such as environmental conservation and management, climate change mitigation and adaptation, or related fields is desirable. Sound understanding of climate change related issues both at the local and global levels including sector policies, plans, strategies and key related international conventions and agreements.

The Republic of Kenya is an equatorial nation on the coast of East Africa, neighboring Somalia, Ethiopia, Sudan, Uganda, Tanzania, and the Indian Ocean. Kenya has two levels of Government; National Government and 47 sub-national Governments called Counties. Counties are further divided into sub-counties. Kenya is a multi-party state with Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches. Kenya’s population of more than 40 million is growing at an annual rate of 2.2%. The country’s GNP per capita estimated at purchasing power parity (PPP) is $975, and the GNP is growing at an average rate of 0.1% annually. More than 26% of Kenya’s people live below the international poverty line of $1 per day. Kenya’s main food crops are “maize, wheat, pulses, roots and tubers.” (FAO).

Nairobi is a modern metropolitan city where most basic goods and services, health facilities, public transport, telecommunication and banking services and educational facilities are readily available. The city is widely connected through its main airport, Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and the smaller Wilson Airport. Air transport is also available to many up-country destinations. The city is home to some 3,000 UN personnel mainly attributed to the fact that it serves as the headquarters for both the UN HABITAT and UNEP.

The socio-economic and cultural background of the immediate society the UNV would be living and working in is diverse and prevailing security conditions at the place of assignment is modest. The topographic and climatic features of the assignment location is highland cool and warm tropical climate.

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Added 21 days ago - Updated 5 hours ago - Source: unv.org