UNICEF Nutrition Specialist - Technical Support - Jobs in South Africa
UNICEF Nutrition Specialist - Technical Support - Jobs in South Africa
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, insert tagline
The Nutrition 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.
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.
The holder of this position will be in charge of providing technical support to nutrition officers locate in 3 – 4 Field offices.
He/She will provide technical support in the development of nutrition component of field office multi-year work plan and budget and supplies plan.
He/She will support the preparation of Multi-State nutrition programme document with implementing partners and ensure the quality of all programme documents before submission.
He/She will provide technical support to nutrition Officers in data analysis and in facilitating monthly sub-national nutrition cluster meetings.
He/She will support the preparation of quarterly performance scorecards for providing feed backs to implementing partners but also preparation of bottleneck analysis of key nutrition interventions.
He/She will support nutrition Officers in facilitating training session on CMAM/ IYCN and Bottleneck analysis workshops at the state level.
He/She is expected to travel 50% of the time.
Responsibilities
Contribute to and support 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, and the design and management of nutrition programmes/projects.
Keep abreast of development trends to enhance programme management, efficiency, and delivery.
Participate in strategic programme discussions on the planning of nutrition programmes/projects.
Formulate, design and prepare a sector of the nutrition programme proposal, 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 sector(s) based on results-based planning terminology and methodology (RBM). Prepare the 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.
Provide 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.
Programme management, monitoring, and delivery of 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 the assigned sector in nutrition programmes.
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.
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.
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.
Technical and operational support to programme implementation
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, strategies, processes, best practices, and approaches on nutrition and related issues to support programme development planning, management, 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 and maternal, newborn and child survival and development.
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 or where designated.
Networking and partnership building
Build and sustain effective close working partnerships with nutrition sector government counterparts and national stakeholders through active sharing of information and knowledge.
Facilitate programme implementation and build the capacity of stakeholders to achieve programme goals on maternal and child rights as well as social justice and equity.
Prepare communication and information materials for CO programme advocacy to promote awareness, establish partnership/alliances and support fundraising for nutrition programmes (maternal, newborn and child survival and development).
Participate and/or represent UNICEF in inter-agency discussions, ensuring that UNICEF’s position, interests, and priorities are fully considered and integrated with the UNDAF development planning and agenda setting.
Keep abreast, research, benchmark, and implement best and cutting edge practices in nutrition management and information systems. Assess, institutionalize and share best practices and knowledge learned.
Contribute to the development and implementation of policies and procedures to ensure optimum efficiency and efficacy of sustainable programmes and projects.
Organize and implement capacity building initiatives to enhance the competencies of clients and stakeholders to promote sustainable results on nutrition-related programmes and projects.
Qualifications
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) 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.
A minimum of 5 five years of relevant 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 Strong experience in complex emergency settings will be a must.
Strong experience in supervision and coaching of staff will be an asset.
Experience in coordinating and implementing a training programme.
Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.
For every Child, you demonstrate…
UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity 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.
How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should apply online by 29th May 2019
For more information and job application details, see; UNICEF Nutrition Specialist - Technical Support - Jobs in South Africa
