Nutrition Specialist (Resilience and Emergency) P4 Fixed Term, WCARO Dakar Senegal

Contract

This is a P-4 contract. This kind of contract is known as Professional and Director staff. It is normally internationally recruited only. It's a staff contract. It usually requires 7 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 131,270 USD and 169,245 USD.

Please keep in mind that the salary displayed here is an estimation by UN Talent based on the location and the type of contract. It may vary depending on the organization. The recruiter should be able to inform you about the exact salary range. In case the job description contains another salary information, please refer to this one.

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!

I. Organizational Context and Purpose for the job

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programmes, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, nutrition, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

Job organizational context:

The Nutrition Manager reports to the Chief of Nutrition who is at Level 5.

Level 4 as opposed to a level 3 nutrition professional should be used to manage large, complex and/or integrated programmes/projects; and to provide substantive support to the Chief for the management of the entire Nutrition Programme. In addition, positions at this level are more technically authoritative in providing programmatic advisory services, as well as for overall contribution to innovation and knowledge management.

Purpose for the job:

The Nutrition Manager supports the Chief in managing the section, contributing to innovation and knowledge management. S/He is responsible for developing, preparing and managing complex, key and integrated nutrition programmes, with special attention to fragile and emergency settings. The Nutrition Manager provides authoritative technical guidance and management support throughout the programming processes to facilitate the administration and achievement of concrete and sustainable results in maternal, infant and child nutrition programmes/projects. This is carried out according to plans, allocation, results based-management approaches and methodology (RBM), as well as UNICEF’s Strategic Plans, standards of performance, and accountability framework.

II. Key function, accountabilities and related duties/tasks

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

• Management and advisory support to the Chief
• Programme development and planning
• Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results
• Advisory services and technical support
• Advocacy, networking, coordination and partnership building
• Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

1. Management and advisory support to the Chief

• Provide advice to the Chief in establishing the annual work plan, including developing strategies and determining priorities, targets and performance measurements with special attention to building the resilience and response capacities of fragile countries
• Coordinate work progress monitoring and ensure results are achieved according to schedule and performance standards, and report to Chief critical issues for timely action.
• Provide technical assistance and advice to colleagues in the section and in countries on all aspects of programming and implementation in fragile contexts to enable them to achieve performance objectives in a sustainable manner
• Perform the full duties of the Chief in his/her absence.

2. Programme development and planning

• Provide technical support and guidance on the preparation, design and updating of the situation analysis for the nutrition sector/s to ensure comprehensive and current data on maternal and child nutrition is available to guide policy development as well as design and management of nutrition programmes/projects, with special attention to fragile and emergency settings.
• Keep abreast of development trends to enhance programme management, efficiency and delivery.
• Participate in strategic programme discussions on the planning of nutrition programmes/projects, with special attention to fragile and emergency settings.
• Formulate, design and prepare a sector of the nutrition programme proposal, ensuring alignment with UNICEF’s Strategic Plans, Core Commitment for Children, Country Programme, and coherence/integration with the UN Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF), regional strategies, as well as national priorities, plans, and competencies.
• Establish specific goals, objectives, strategies, and implementation plans for the sector(s) based on results-based planning terminology and methodology (RBM). Prepare required documentations for programme review and approval.
• Provide authoritative technical and operational support throughout all stages of programming processes to ensure integration, coherence and harmonization of programmes/projects with other UNICEF sectors and achievement of results as planned and allocated.

3. Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results

• Plan and/or collaborate with internal and external partners to establish monitoring benchmarks, performance indicators and other UNICEF/UN system indicators and measurements to assess and strengthen performance accountability, coherence, and delivery of concrete and sustainable results for resilience and emergency in nutrition programmes.
• Participate in monitoring and evaluation exercises, programme reviews and annual nutrition reviews with the government and other counterparts to assess progress and to determine required action and interventions to achieve results.
• Prepare and assess monitoring and evaluation reports to identify gaps, strengths and/or weaknesses in programme management. Identify lessons learned and use knowledge gained for development planning and timely intervention to achieve goals.
• Actively monitor programmes and projects through field visits, surveys and/or exchange of information with partners and stakeholders to assess progress, identify bottlenecks and potential problems, and take timely decisions to resolve issues and/or refer to relevant officials for timely resolution.

• Plan, monitor and verify the optimum and appropriate use of sectoral programme resources (financial, administrative and other assets) confirming compliance with organizational rules, regulations, procedures, donor commitments, and standards of accountability. Ensure timely reporting and liquidation of resources.

• Prepare regular and mandated programme/project reports for management, donors and partners to keep them informed of programme progress.

4. Advisory services and technical support

• Provide advice to country offices, NGO partners, UN system partners, and other regional office partners/donors on policies, strategies, best practices and approaches on nutrition-related issues to support programme development planning, management, implementation, and delivery of results.
• Participate in strategic programme discussions and planning to provide technical advice, contribute to policy discussions and agendas, and promote interventions, especially in the areas of child health and nutrition, resilience, emergency preparedness and response.
• Prepare policy papers, briefs and other strategic programme materials for management use, information and/or consideration.
• Provide advice and coordinate participation in resilience, emergency preparedness and response initiatives for programme development, contingency planning and/or to respond to emergencies in country or where designated

5. Advocacy, networking and partnership building

• Build and strengthen strategic partnerships with, regional stakeholders, regional and global partners, allies, donors, and academia, through active networking, advocacy and effective communication. Build capacity, exchange knowledge and expertise, and/or promote cooperation and alliances to achieve programme goals on resilience and emergency preparedness and response.
• Prepare communication and information materials to highlight humanitarian contexts and needs, programme goals, achievements to promote awareness, establish partnerships/alliances and support fund raising for nutrition programmes (maternal, newborn and child survival and development).
• Participate and/or represent UNICEF in appropriate inter-agency discussions and planning on nutrition-related issues to ensure organizational position, interests and priorities are fully considered and integrated in regional policies, strategies and plans.

6. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

• Promote critical thinking, innovative approaches and good practices for sustainable nutrition programme/project initiatives, especially in fragile and emergency contexts, through advocacy and technical advisory services.
• Keep abreast, research, benchmark, and implement best and cutting-edge practices in health and nutrition management, information systems, resilience and emergency preparedness and response. Institutionalize and share best practices and knowledge learned.
• Contribute to the development of policies and procedures and introduce innovation and best practices to ensure optimum efficiency and efficacy of resilience and emergency programmes and projects.
• Organize, plan and/or implement capacity building initiatives to enhance the competencies of clients and stakeholders to promote sustainable results on nutrition related programmes/projects.

III. Impact of Results

The efficiency and efficacy of support provided by the Nutrition Manager to the preparation, planning and implementation of resilience and emergency programmes/projects for nutrition contributes to and accelerates regional and national development efforts to improve the nutritional status of mothers, infants and children.. This in turn contributes to maintaining and enhancing the credibility and ability of UNICEF to continue to provide programme services to mothers and children that promotes greater social equity in the country.

IV. UNICEF values and competency Required (based on the updated Framework)

i) Core Values

• Care
• Respect
• Integrity
• Trust
• Accountability

ii) Core Competencies

• Nurtures, Leads and Manages People (2)
• 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)
• Drive to achieve impactful results (2)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (2)

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

Click here to learn more about UNICEF’s values and competencies.

V. Recruitment Qualifications

How can you make a difference?

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

Education:

An advanced 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.

Experience:

A minimum of eight 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 and management in a UN system agency or organization is an asset.

Experience in emergencies and fragile contexts is an asset for this position.

Language Requirements:

Fluency in French is required. Good reading and writing knowledge in English is required

Knowledge of another official UN language or a local language is an asset.

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.

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.