Deadline: 18 June, 2021

Location: Maputo, Mozambique

United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) is seeking to fill the role of Nutrition Specialist, Governance.

Across 190 countries and territories, UNICEF works for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to and support situation analyses for the nutrition-related sectors, to ensure comprehensive and current data on maternal and child nutrition is available to guide policy development, and the design and management of nutrition programmes/project
• Formulate, design and prepare nutrition programme proposals, ensuring alignment with UNICEF’s strategic plans, 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 nutrition programme based on results-based planning terminology and methodology (RBM)
• Prepare required documentation for programme review and approval
• 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
• Plan and/or collaborate with internal and external partners to establish monitoring benchmarks, performance indicators, and UNICEF/UN system indicators and measurements, to assess and strengthen performance accountability, coherence and delivery of concrete and sustainable results for nutrition across multiple sectors, particularly those which are supported by the UNICEF country programme, including health, WASH, social action and policy, education, etc
• Participate in monitoring and evaluation exercises, programme reviews and annual reviews with government and other counterparts to assess progress and to determine required action and interventions to achieve results
• 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
• Monitor and verify the optimum and appropriate use of programme resources (financial, administrative and other assets) confirming compliance with organisational 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
• Provide technical guidance and operational support to government counterparts, NGO partners, UN system partners and other country office partners/donors on the interpretation, application and understanding of UNICEF policies and processes to support timely programme implementation and delivery of results
• Participate in discussions with national partners, clients and stakeholders to promote nutrition and development issues especially in the areas of emergency preparedness
• Draft policy papers, briefs and other strategic programme materials for management use, information and/or consideration
• Participate in emergency preparedness initiatives for programme development, contingency planning and/or to respond to emergencies in country
• Build and sustain effective close working partnerships with nutrition sector government counterparts and national stakeholders through active sharing of information and knowledge, particularly in the context of the Nutrition Partners Forum, and the UN/Donor Network for Nutrition
• Prepare communication and advocacy materials to promote awareness, establish partnership/alliances and support fund raising for nutrition programme
• Participate and/or represent UNICEF in interagency discussions, ensuring UNICEF’s position, interests and priorities are fully considered and integrated in the UNDAF development planning and agenda setting

Requirements

• Advanced university degree in Nutrition, Public Health, Public Policy, Political Science, or a related field
• Five years, minimum, of progressive and relevant professional experience in a developing country in one or more of nutrition, public health, nutrition planning and management, social/public policy, or maternal, infant and child health/nutrition care
• Experience in high level advocacy, specific experience in policy development and national level multisector engagement related to stunting reduction, financial tracking for nutrition, and/or institutional capacity strengthening on policy and coordination
• Experience in health/nutrition/food security programme/project development and management in a UN system agency or organisation will be a plus
• Fluency in Portuguese and strong working knowledge of English (spoken and written)

To apply and for more information, click here.

Photo source: Simon Berry