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, health :
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 favouritism. 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 fulfil 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.
How can you make a difference?
The Chief, Nutrition reports to the Deputy Representative – Programmes for general guidance and direction. The Chief is responsible for managing and supervising all stages of the nutrition programme, from strategic planning and formulation to delivery of results. The Chief is also responsible for leading and managing the Nutrition team. The Chief is accountable for ensuring that concrete and sustainable results in maternal, infant and child nutrition programmes are achieved in accordance with plans, allocation, results based-management approaches and methodology (RBM), as well as UNICEF’s Strategic Plans, standards of performance, and accountability framework.
Summary of key functions/accountabilities :
1. Managerial leadership :
- Establish the nutrition programme’s annual work plan with the nutrition team in the section and field offices and set priorities and targets. In coordination with Chief of Field Offices, monitor work progress and ensure results are achieved according to schedule and performance standards ;
- Establish clear individual performance objectives, goals and timelines; and provide timely guidance to enable the section team to perform their duties responsibly and efficiently. Plan and ensure timely performance management and assessment of the team. Coordinate with Chief of Field Office’s to support performance management of Nutrition Officers based in field offices ;
- Supervise section team members by providing them with clear objectives, goals, direction, and guidance to enable them to perform their duties responsibly, effectively and efficiently. Provide technical guidance and mentorship to Nutrition Officers in field offices.
2. Programme development and planning :
- Lead and support the planning and updating of the situation analysis to ensure comprehensive and current data on maternal and child nutrition is available to guide policy development and design and management of nutrition programmes and projects ;
- Keep abreast of development trends to enhance programme management, efficiency and delivery to achieve sustainable, effective and equitable coverage of maternal, newborn and child health and nutrition programme results ;
- Lead, coordinate and supervise the formulation and design of nutrition programme/project recommendations and related documentations as a component of the Country Programme, establishing clear programme goals, objectives, strategies and results based on results-based planning terminology and methodology (RBM) ;
- Oversee the timely preparation of nutrition programme recommendation to ensure the alignment of nutrition programmes with the overall UNICEF Strategic Plan, Country Programme, and coherence and integration with the UN Cooperation Framework (UNCF), regional strategies, and national priorities, plans and competencies ;
- Consult and collaborate with colleagues and external partners to provide technical and operational support on programme planning, management and implementation, and to ensure integration, coherence and harmonization of programmes/projects with UNICEF Strategic Plans, donors’ development strategies, policies, country level national priorities and competencies, and UN system development interventions and initiatives.
3. Programme management, monitoring and quality control of results :
- Coordinate, 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 in nutrition programmes ;
- Participate in monitoring and evaluation exercises, programme reviews and annual health reviews with the government and other counterparts to assess progress and to determine required action/interventions to achieve results ;
- 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 ;
- Monitor programmes and projects 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, approve, monitor and control the use of programme resources (financial, administrative and other assets) confirming compliance with organizational rules, regulations, procedures, standards of accountability and integrity, donor commitments. Ensure timely reporting, use and liquidation of resources ;
- Prepare programme/project reports for submission to donors and other partners to keep them informed on programme progress and critical issues.
4. Advisory services and technical support :
- Advise key government officials, NGO partners, UN system partners and other country office partners on policies, strategies, best practices and approaches on nutrition and 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 health/nutrition interventions, especially in the areas of gender, emergency preparedness and maternal/newborn/child health and nutrition ;
- Prepare policy papers, briefs and other strategic programme materials for management use, information and/or consideration ;
- Participate in emergency preparedness initiatives programme development and 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 nutrition/health sector government counterparts, national stakeholders, 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 maternal and child rights as well as social justice and equity ;
- Develop communication and information materials to highlight programme goals, achievements and/or needs to promote awareness, establish partnerships/alliances and support fund raising for nutrition programmes (maternal, infant and child survival and development) ;
- Participate and/or represent UNICEF in appropriate inter-agency (UNCT) discussions and planning on nutrition-related issues to ensure organizational position, interests and priorities are fully considered and integrated in the UNCF process in development planning and agenda setting. Collaborate with inter-agency partners/colleagues on UNCF planning and preparation of nutrition programmes/projects.
6. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building :
- Promote critical thinking, innovative approaches and good practices for sustainable nutrition programme/project initiatives through advocacy and technical advisory services ;
- Keep abreast, research, benchmark, and implement best and cutting-edge practices in health management and information systems. Institutionalize and share best practices and knowledge learned.
- Lead the development of policies and procedures and introduce innovation and best practices to ensure optimum efficiency and efficacy of sustainable programmes and projects ;
- Lead, plan and/or implement capacity building initiatives to enhance the competencies of clients and stakeholders to promote sustainable results on health/nutrition related programmes/projects
Impact of Results :
The efficiency and efficacy of support provided by the Chief, Nutrition to the preparation, planning and implementation of nutrition programmes/projects contributes to and accelerates the national development efforts to improve the nutritional status of mothers, infants and children in the country. 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 promote greater social equity in the country.
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
- An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in 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 ten 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 required ;
- Experience in managing nutrition programming in entrenched humanitarian contexts is strongly desirable ;
- Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset ;
- Fluency in English and French is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, Russian or Spanish) 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.
Core Competencies :
- Nurtures, Leads and Manages People (2) ;
- Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (3) ;
- Works Collaboratively with others (3) ;
- Builds and Maintains Partnerships (3) ;
- Innovates and Embraces Change (3) ;
- Thinks and Acts Strategically (3) ;
- Drives to achieve impactful results (3) ;
- Manages ambiguity and complexity (3).
Functional competencies :
- Analysing (3) ;
- Deciding and initiating action (3) ;
- Persuading and influencing (2).
View our competency framework at : UNICEF_Competencies.pdf
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.