Specialist in Early Childhood Development and Maternal, Infant and Young Child Nutrition

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UNICEF - United Nations Children's Fund

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Application deadline 3 years ago: Wednesday 24 Mar 2021 at 23:59 UTC

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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.

Eligibility criteria

Minimum age: 25 years old. Nationals of the country of assignment are not eligible, except the assignments in Headquarters duty stations.

Description of task

The Early Childhood Development and Maternal, Infant and Young Child Nutrition (ECD-MIYCN) Specialist supports the development and preparation of the nutrition programme and is responsible for managing, implementing, monitoring, evaluating, and reporting the programme progress of a sector of the nutrition programme within the country programme. The Nutrition Specialist provides 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. The Nutrition Specialist will focus specifically, but not exclusively, on the development of the National ECD strategy as well as national and decentralized capacity strengthening in MIYCN practices and micronutrient supplementation. This is carried out according to plans, allocation, results based-management approaches and methodology, as well as UNICEF’s Strategic Plans, standards of performance, and accountability framework.

  • Work closely and collaboratively with colleagues and partners to discuss strategies and methodologies, and to determine national priorities/competencies to ensure the achievement of concrete and sustainable 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, data analysis and/or exchange of information with partners and stakeholders to assess progress. Identify bottlenecks and potential problems, and take timely and result-based decisions to resolve issues and/or refer to relevant officials for timely resolution.
  • 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.
  • Apply and introduce innovative approaches and good practices to build the capacity of partners and stakeholders, and to support the implementation and delivery of concrete and sustainable programme results.

Qualifications/Requirements

Required degree level:

Bachelor degree or equivalent

Education - Additional Comments:

Type of degree : Psychology, Early Childhood Development, Public health/nutrition, Social sciences, or similar field

Required experience:

24 Months

Experience remark:

The incumbent must be a dynamic, multi-functional person, who supports UNICEF with professionalism, dedication and client orientation, and who must be willing both to work on programmatic/substantive aspects and to provide operational/logistical services. The following qualifications are required:

  • Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including grassroots community members and authorities at different levels;
  • Excellent oral and written skills; excellent drafting, formulation, reporting skills;
  • Excellent ability to quickly grasp and synthesize inputs;
  • Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various MS Office applications (Excel, Word, etc.) and email/internet; familiarity with database management; and office technology equipment;
  • Desirable: experience with project development and management, monitoring and evaluation, human rights-based approaches, capacity development approaches, are all assets

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse, and on any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Language skills:

  • French(Mandatory), Level - Fluent
  • English(Mandatory), Level - Working Knowledge

Area of expertise:

Food safety and nutrition, Other educational, teaching or training experience, Other civil society or community development experience

Area of expertise details:

  • Experience in management, development and revision of national policies and norms related to ECD and MIYCN
  • Thorough knowledge and understanding the Nurturing Care Framework and the Essential Nutrition Actions as recommended by the World Health Organization
  • Experience in adapting and integrating ECD and nutrition multisectoral interventions (ECD, MIYCN, micronutrient supplementation, etc.)
  • Experience in training of trainers and training of health staff (medical and para-medical) and key actors from other nutrition related sector on the ECD and MIYCN counselling package developed by UNICEF in collaboration with WHO
  • Experience in behavior change communication strategy (BCC)
  • Knowledge of another official UN language or local language of the duty station is considered as an asset

Driving license:

No

Competencies values:

Commitment and Motivation, Communication, Integrity, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity, Working in Teams

Application procedure:

* Not yet registered in the UNV Talent Pool?

Please first register your profile at https://vmam.unv.org/candidate/signup. Important: After creating your account, complete all sections

of your profile and submit it. Then go to ‘My Page’ at https://vmam.unv.org/candidate/mypage and click on the ‘Special Calls’ hyperlink.

Lastly, select the special call to which you would like to apply.

* Already registered in the UNV Talent Pool?

Please first update your profile at https://vmam.unv.org/candidate/profile. Then go to ‘My Page’ at

https://vmam.unv.org/candidate/mypage and click on the ‘Special Calls’ hyperlink to select the special call to which you would like to

apply.

Application deadline: 24 March 2021

Added 3 years ago - Updated 3 years ago - Source: unv.org