Nutrition-Innovation Specialist

Since 70 years, UNICEF has been on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote the survival, protection and development of children. The world's largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence and abuse and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments.

In Benin, despite the fact that between 96 and 98% of mothers and caregivers of children aged 0 to 23 months possess in-depth knowledge of best practices in maternal, infant, and young child nutrition (CAP Study, 2021), and despite intensive communication and education activities conducted for mothers and caregivers on good practices in maternal, infant, and young child nutrition in the intervention areas, these activities appear to have had little impact on the ultimate goal of improving diets, which would itself play a significant role in reducing stunting rates (MICS 2021-2022). This demonstrates that knowledge provision and attitudes change remain insufficient to address the issue of child undernutrition in Benin, particularly during the first 1,000 days of a child's life.

The UN Volunteer's (UNV) primary role will be to develop innovative, locally based food solutions to improve complementary feeding and dietary diversity for young children aged 6-23 months. This support will be delivered mainly in the communities targeted by the joint WFP- UNICEF project and Japan Natcom programme supporting the project aiming to tackle undernutrition among under 2 children through improved child infant complementary feeding diversity in Benin programme and will facilitate the creation of a peer-learning model to provide practical support to other parents through frequent, easily established, flexible, and supportive interactions. Peer support will focus on food choices, the use of available household foods, and the preparation of age-appropriate meals. During project implementation, each peer support worker will conduct bi-weekly, one-hour visits to five households with at least one child under the age of two.

Under the overall supervision of the Nutrition Unit Manager, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

1. Develop and implement innovative solutions focused on the demand for nutritious food and the production of affordable, nutritious food through interactive activities designed to improve women's knowledge and behaviors regarding complementary feeding for young children. This will be achieved through: Stimulating demand through innovative social approaches by:
- Using social media, artists, and online influencers to disseminate information on the importance of balanced nutrition for infants and young children.
- Organizing social media challenges to encourage youth participation.

2. Establishment of community workshops for young people, especially young girls:
- Pre-selection of the best ideas from the challenges,
- Creation of community workshops for the promotion, production, processing, and use of nutritious foods beneficial for young children and preschoolers.
- Design of educational games and interactive activities that encourage active learning about nutrition and healthy eating practices in a fun and engaging way.
- Use of an integrated approach that includes the use of social media through artists and influencers identified as ambassadors to promote healthy eating practices.

3. Use the peer learning model and "Mother Lights" to improve maternal, infant, and young child nutrition.

4. To propose and develop innovative solutions, with the support of young Beninese people, to provide and disseminate information tailored to target populations on good nutritional practices and the use of local, micronutrient-rich products for young children, as well as engaging games adapted to the theme of complementary foods for young children.


RESULTS /EXPECTED OUTPUTS:

1. Improved women's knowledge and behaviors regarding complementary feeding for young children through
- Developed and implemented innovative solutions focused on the demand for nutritious food,
- Production of affordable, nutritious food through interactive activities designed to improve women's knowledge and behaviors regarding complementary feeding for young children.

2. Increased demand for nutritious and affordable foods and enhanced youth engagement in nutrition initiatives with stimulated demand through innovative social approaches by:
- Using social media, artists, and online influencers to disseminate information on the importance of balanced nutrition for infants and young children.
- Organizing social media challenges to encourage youth participation.
- Young people, particularly girls, actively participate in promoting nutrition through social media, challenges, and community-based activities
- The establishment of community workshops for young people, especially young girls:
- Pre-selection of the best ideas from the challenges,

3. Educational tools and activities are actively created and promoted
- Development of educational games on complementary feeding and healthy diets
- Interactive learning activities that promote behavior change in a fun and engaging way

4. Peer learning and Community Support systems models and community capacity for nutrition promotion are strengthened
- Development and implementation of peer learning approaches
- Establishment and strengthening of “Mothers Lights” (Mères Lumières) groups to support maternal and child nutrition
- Communities develop sustainable mechanisms (workshops, peer learning groups) to promote, produce, process and use nutritious foods beneficial for young children and preschoolers.
- Improved dissemination of nutrition information

5. Youth-Led innovative nutrition solutions are proposed and developed.
- Co-creation of innovative solutions with young people in Benin
- Development of tailored communication tools on good nutrition practices
- Promotion of local, micronutrient-rich foods products for young children through adapted and engaging games to the theme of complementary foods for young children.


Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to integrate the UN Volunteers programme mandate within their assignment and promote voluntary action through engagement with communities in the course of their work. As such, UN Volunteers should dedicate a part of their working time to some of the following suggested activities:
• Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day).
• Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country.
• Provide annual and end of assignment self- reports on UN Volunteer actions, results, and opportunities.
• Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.
• Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly arrived UN Volunteers.
• Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.