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Nutrition Specialist, P3, Amman, Jordan Country Office, #125665 [Temporary Appointment 364 Days] [ [Non-Jordanians only]

Amman

  • Organization: UNICEF - United Nations Children’s Fund
  • Location: Amman
  • Grade: Mid level - P-3, International Professional - Internationally recruited position
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Nutrition
  • Closing Date: Closed

The UNICEF Jordan Country Office is looking for an internationally experienced, innovative, and results-driven Nutrition Specialist to drive and create partnerships in championing the Nutrition Programme agenda.

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, healthy living

The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is a leader in the region for the rights of its children. Working closely with the Government of Jordan, civil society and, the private sector, the UNICEF Jordan Country Office aims to sustain results achieved for children to date, and strives to improve  the well-being of every child in Jordan, especially the most vulnerable. UNICEF’s contribution to the country is in line with the Economic Modernization Vision that contributes to  achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. UNICEF’s programmes focus on improving the lives of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged children in the country, irrespective of their nationality, gender, religion or background.

How can you make a difference?

The Nutrition Specialist supports the national Nutrition Specialist in the development and preparation of the nutrition programme and will support the national nutrition specialist in managing, implementing, monitoring, evaluating, and reporting the progress of the nutrition programme.

The nutrition programming context in Jordan requires UNICEF to work on addressing the triple burden of malnutrition with specific actions in the areas of nutrition in middle childhood and adolescence, maternal nutrition, micro-nutrient deficiencies, overweight prevention and school-age and adolescent nutrition. The food, health, and social protection systems aspect links closely to various other areas of work in the Nutrition Section, including maternal and early childhood nutrition and development to prevent child food poverty and malnutrition. 

The Nutrition Specialist, along with the National Staff will provide 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. 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 incumbent will report to the National Nutrition Specialist with oversight from the Deputy Representative in the absence of the Health & Nutrition Chief.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities: 

  1. Support to programme development and planning
  2. Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results
  3. Technical and operational support to programme implementation
  4. Networking and partnership building
  5. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building
  1. Support to programme development and planning
  • 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.
  • Specific support areas relate to: (i) food system strengthening by creating an enabling environment at the national level to advocate for addressing nutrition challenges in the country- starting with micronutrient deficiencies; Health System strengthening by supporting the Ministry of Health to convene partners and the government stakeholders from relevant ministries to facilitate a systematic process and Education System Strengthening by supporting the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Education to enhance policies, standards/guidance, and services to improve the availability of nutritious, safe, and affordable foods in schools, including fortified foods. 
  • 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 required documentations 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.
  1. 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.
  1. 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.

 4. 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 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 fund raising 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 in the UNDAF development planning and agenda setting.
  1. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building
  • 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.
  • 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.

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

  • An advanced university degree 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 first University Degree in a relevant field combined with 2 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree.

  • A minimum of five years of professional experience 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. Experience in working on systems strengthening and policy development is an asset as is working on addressing obesity and overweight as part of the triple burden of malnutrition.

  • Developing country work experience internationally and/or familiarity with emergency contexts is considered an asset.

  • Fluency in English is required and fluency in Arabic is highly desired

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.

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. 

Remarks:

UNICEF’s active commitment towards diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. UNICEF encourages all candidates who meet the minimum requirements to apply.

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). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be cancelled.

All selected candidates will 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.

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.

This vacancy is now closed.
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