Nutrition Specialist, NO-D, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia-RE-ADVERTISEMENT

UNICEF Ethiopia Country Office is looking for a committed, qualified and experienced professional in Nutrition programmes/ projects management , implementation, monitoring, evaluating and reporting progress within the country program . Taking up this assignment is interesting and rewarding, so if you have the required profile, you are encouraged to apply. NOTE: THIS IS A NATIONAL PROFESSIONAL POSITION OPEN FOR ETHIOPIAN NATIONALS ONLY!

If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world's leading children's rights organization would like to hear from you.

For 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children's survival, protection and development. 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, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments.

Purpose of the Position

The Nutrition Specialist reports to the Chief of Nutrition and Food Security for guidance and general supervision. The Specialist is accountable for policy level engagement to create an enabling environment to increase effective coverage of nutrition sensitive and nutrition specific interventions aiming at accelerating progress toward reduction of stunting among young children in Ethiopia. He/She is also accountable for ensuring that all aspects of the Nutrition project/programme promote gender equality, and for collaborating to mainstream key features across all related sectors of the country programme.

ACCOUNTABILITIES and DUTIES & TASKS

Within the delegated authority and under the given organizational set-up, the incumbent may be assigned the primarily, shared, or contributory accountabilities for all or part of the following areas of major duties and key end-results.

1. Project Planning, Development and Management.

Enhance effective project, sectoral or inter-sectoral planning, development and management by leading, guiding, coordinating and supporting the timely completion of the Situational Analysis and its periodic update through accurate and complete monitoring and analysis, addressing gender inequality and determinants of gender equality; ensure the timely preparation or finalization of sectoral input.

 2. Knowledge Management.

Further promote knowledge management by drafting or finalizing sectoral documents and reports such as the Country Programme Recommendation and Plans of Action as well as through orientation and training programmes targeted to Government authorities. Ensure exchange of knowledge, information, experience or lessons learned; provides solid technical recommendations on major programme directions and on introduction of new initiatives in the country. 

1. Rights-Based Projects through Results-Based Approach. 

Promote the quality of rights-based Nutrition projects and programmes through participation in the formulation of programme/project goals, strategies and approaches, especially those that increase gender equality. Bring coherence, synergy and added value to sectoral or project management processes using a gender-sensitive, results-based management approach to planning and design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation. 

1. Sectoral Work Plan Development, Implementation, and Monitoring.

Takes primary responsibility for the development of the sectoral work plan and technical decisions as well as for project management, implementation and monitoring of assigned project/sectoral activity, in compliance with the defined project strategies and approaches, with an emphasis on promoting a shared understanding and approach to reducing gender inequalities and achieving gender mainstreaming. Ensure alignment of nutrition sensitive sectoral plans with NNP and Seqota Declaration implementation plan goal and objectives.

Ensure the appropriateness of financial, administrative and supply documentation; verify that Nutrition project expenditures are within allotments and that data is consistent with the project information and database (e.g., FLS, ProMS). Follow up on queries or initiate corrective action on discrepancies.

 5. Project Delivery, Evaluation and Reporting 

Ensure project, sectoral or inter-sectoral efficiency and delivery through a rigorous and transparent approach to evaluation. Participate in major evaluation exercises, programme reviews and annual sector review meetings with government counterparts, ensuring that quantitative and qualitative lessons learned in gender equality in nutrition are included as a standard feature. Ensure the preparation of annual Nutrition sector status reports. 

1. Promotion of UNICEF's Global Goals

Promote the organization goals of UNICEF through advocacy and policy dialogue through active engagement in communication, networking and participation at every opportunity inside and outside UNICEF, leveraging the strength of UNICEF mission, goals and programmes and focusing on the contributions of gender equality in achieving these goals.

1. UNICEF and Government Accountability.

Coordinates with Operations and Supply staff on supply and non-supply assistance activities ensuring proper and timely UNICEF and Government accountability. Certifies disbursements of funds, monitors and submits financial status reports to management in compliance with the regulations and guidelines. 

1. Communication, Collaboration, Networking and Partnership.

Ensure exchange of information, experience, identify new strategies and courses of action to accelerate/improve delivery of services and achieve Nutrition programme requirements and objectives. Conduct field visits to monitor programmes and conduct periodic programme reviews with Government counterparts and other partners, employing qualitative as well as quantitative gender sensitive monitoring methods as useful.

Ensure functionality of multisectoral nutrition systems at national and subnational level through the National Nutrition Coordination Body (NNCB) and technical committee, Nutrition Development partners Forum (NDPF), Health Partners Network (HPN), Nutrition Cluster under the Federal Ministry of health's Directorate for Child and Maternal Health, and other UNDAF mechanisms. Strengthen the UN Network for SUN and for mutual accountability for nutrition by tracking UN collective efforts in support of national nutrition priorities

Collaborate with Communication and Programme Communication groups to ensure development of effective communication materials and strategies to support advocacy and social mobilization efforts.

Coordinate with Regional Advisers and HQ Officers. Collaborate with other Project or Programme Officers to ensure the integration of the project/sectoral programme with other sectors, ensuring that interventions to reduce gender inequalities are mainstreamed across the sectors.

Collaborate with the Operations and Supply Sections and Government authorities to establish and maintain sound internal controls supportive of Nutrition project or sectoral planning and implementation, to coordinate financial and supply management requirements as well as to ensure accountability.

Interact with Government and other partners, NGOs, UN and bilateral agencies in the different stages of Health and nutrition programme/project implementation to follow up on agreements and recommendations. Provide technical support and guidance on appropriate technical, financial and institutional capacity building measures to achieve Nutrition programme goals.

Qualifications of Successful Candidate

• Advanced university degree in one of the disciplines relevant to the following areas: Public Health & Nutrition, Health Sciences, International Health & Nutrition, Public Health & Nutrition Policy and Management, Family Health & Nutrition, Nutritional Epidemiology, Health & Nutrition Education, Health & Nutrition Promotion and Disease Prevention, Public Health, Health Emergency Preparedness, or other relevant discipline(s). Training in gender and in nutrition programmes that promote gender equality an asset.

• Eight years of relevant professional work experience. Developing country work experience (for IP) or field work experience (for NO) Background/familiarity with Emergency. Experience in monitoring gender inequalities and in programming interventions that reduce these inequalities an asset. Background/familiarity with emergency operations and staff security.
• Fluency in English is required.  Knowledge of another official UN language or a local language is an asset

Competencies of Successful Candidate

Core Values

• Commitment
• Diversity and Inclusion
• Integrity

Core competencies

• Communication
• Working with People
• Drive for Results

Functional Competencies

• Leading and supervising
• Formulating strategies and concepts
• Analyzing
• Relating and networking
• Deciding and Initiating action
• Applying technical expertise

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organisation.