TA -Health & Nutrition Officer, NOB Level Post # 125716 (364 days) ( Eligibility- Bhutanese National 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.

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 access to all health facilities

Emerging health and nutrition issues due to epidemiological transition have been identified during COVID-19 pandemic and post-pandemic phase. Health and Nutrition programme interventions have been expanded beyond routine programmes (Immunization, MNCAH, HIV/PMTCT, disability prevention, child nutrition/IYCF) to address the emerging health and nutrition issues i, e. Mental health and psychosocial disorders including substance abuse, environmental health (lead toxicity,

LACRO Revised November 2020 Page 2 of 3 climate effect on health), maternal nutrition, childhood overweight and obesity, and emergency response. Additional human resource is crucial to ensure quality management of new health and nutrition programme interventions (Mental health and psychosocial disorders including substance abuse, environmental health - lead toxicity, climate effect on health, childhood overweight and obesity, and emergency response). It will be challenging to ensure timely and quality implementation of new health and nutrition programme interventions with available limited human resource in the programme section.

How can you make a difference?

Under the general guidance of the supervisor, the Health & Nutrition Officer is accountable for providing professional technical, operational and administrative assistance throughout the programming process for health and nutrition programmes/projects (Health, Nutrition & WASH section), within the Country Programme from development planning to delivery of results, with a specific focus on nutrition, mental health, health system strengthening, primary health care, health emergency and prepardenss, and other emerging priorities in child health such as child environment health.

The responsibilities of the Health & Nutrition Officer includes researching, collecting, analyzing, and presenting information by applying theoretical and technical skills while learning organizational rules, regulations and procedures to support the development and formulation of the respective work plan in line with the Country Programme. He/She will prepare, execute, manage, and implement a variety of technical and administrative programme tasks to facilitate programme development, implementation, programme progress monitoring, evaluating and reporting. Further, the Health & Nutrition Officer will contribute to knowledge networking and capacity building, in support of achievement of planned objectives of the work plan, aligned with Health & Nutrition programme goals and strategy.

Key function, accountabilities and related duties/tasks

1. Support to programme development and planning
2. Conduct and update the situation analysis for the development, design and management of health and nutrition related programmes/projects. Research and report on development trends and data for use in programme development, management, monitoring, evaluation and delivery of results. Specificallly, support to develop and plan the nutrition, child health, health systems and Mental Health portofolios.
3. Contribute to the development and establishment of sectoral (and portfolio related) programme goals, objectives, strategies, and results-based planning through research, analysis and reporting of health and nutrition and other related information for development planning and priority and goal setting.
4. Provide technical and operational support throughout all stages of programming processes by executing and administering a variety of technical, programme, operational, and administrative transactions, preparing related materials and documentations, and complying with organizational processes and management systems, to support programme planning, results based planning (RBM) and monitoring and evaluating of results.
5. Prepare required programme documentations, materials and data to facilitate the programme review and approval process2.Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results

• Work closely and collaboratively with colleagues and partners to discuss implementation issues, provide solutions, recommendations and/or to alert appropriate officials and stakeholders for higher-level interventions and/or decisions. Keep records of reports and assessments for easy reference and/or to capture and institutionalize lessons learned.
• Participate in monitoring and evaluation exercises, programme reviews and annual sectoral reviews with government and other counterparts to assess programmes/projects, and to report on required action/interventions at the higher level of programme management.
• Monitor and report on the use of sectoral programme resources (financial, administrative and other assets), verifying compliance with approved allocations, organizational rules, regulations, procedures and donor commitments, standards of accountability and integrity. Report on critical issues and findings to ensure timely resolution by management and stakeholders. Follow up on unresolved issues to ensure resolution.
• Prepare regular and mandated sectoral programme/project reports for management, donors and partners to keep them informed of programme progress.

• 2. Technical and operational support to programme implementation

• Conduct regular programme field visits and surveys and 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 in health and nutrition, to support programme implementation.

1. Networking and partnership building

• Build and sustain close working partnerships with government counterparts and national stakeholders through active sharing of information and knowledge to facilitate programme implementation and build capacity of stakeholders to achieve and sustain results on health and nutrition.

• Participate in (UN) inter-agency meetings/events on programming to collaborate with inter-agency partners/colleagues on UNDAF/ UNSDCF operational planning and preparation of health and nutrition programmes/projects, and to integrate and harmonize UNICEF’s position and strategies with UNDSDCF development and planning processes.

• Research information on potential donors, development partners and prepare resource mobilization materials and briefs for fund raising and partnership development purposes.

• Draft communication and information materials for CO programme advocacy to promote awareness, establish partnership/alliances and support fund raising for health and nutrition programmes.

• 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 practices to support the implementation and delivery of concrete and sustainable programme results.

• Research and report on best and cutting edge practices for development planning of knowledge products and systems.

• Participate as a resource person in capacity building initiatives to enhance the competencies of clients and stakeholders.

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

• A minimum of university degree in one of the following fields is required: public health or medicine, nutrition, psychology, or another relevant social science field. A Masters degree in Health or related field will be an asset. A minimum of three years of professional experience in health, with exposure to the local health system, as well as active work in planning, implementing, coordinating and/or managing Health and nutrition related programe, or projects, including in health emergency
• Experience of at least three years working in the health system or health sector is required
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.
• Experience working in health / nutrition related programme/project management is essential
• Relevant experience in the following areas of expertise is an asset:
  • Planning, implementing and monitoring of projects with internal and external partners related to issues affecting health and nutrition of children in Bhutan
  • Generation of evidence, reserach and data collection on the situation of health and nutrition
  • Experience working or coordinating project or programmes with different sectors for multi-sectoral interventions in health and nutrition
  • Experience or exposure working with UN related programmes is considered as an asset. Relevant experience in programme development in health and nutrition related areas in a UN system agency internal and external partners or organization is considered as an advantage.
• Excellent writing and communication in English and local language is required.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and 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…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships (2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness (3) Drive to achieve results for impact (4) Innovates and embraces change (5) Manages ambiguity and complexity (6) Thinks and acts strategically (7) Works collaboratively with others.

[add the 8th competency (Nurtures, leads and manages people) for supervisory role]

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 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.