Temporary Appointment: Nutrition Specialist, (NO-3) ESARO, Nairobi, Kenya #105771 (Open to Kenyan Nationals Only)

The incumbent will provide technical support on SAM management programming to FFP supported countries and contribute to regional efforts to scale-up quality SAM programming. In addition, the incumbent will contribute to FFP Regional Office grant management and oversight in ESAR. Finally the incumbent will support programme monitoring and documenting lessons learned in Eastern and Southern 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, work to improve the coverage and quality of SAM programming regionally with a focus to FFP supported countries in ESA, including Burundi, Ethiopia Malawi, Mozambique, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Zimbabwe among other in ESAR.

How can you make a difference?

Severe wasting is a key contributor (12.6%) to child deaths due to nutritional disorders (Lancet 2013) and children suffering from severe acute malnutrition face a higher risk of deaths (9 fold) when compared with non-malnourished children (Lancet 2008). HIV infection and undernutrition often affect the same populations, particularly in resource-limited settings, and moderate or severe acute malnutrition commonly affects HIV-infected children.

According to the most recent estimates (UNICEF-WHO-WB, 2017), the regional wasting prevalence averages 6.1% in the region (4.7 million children under 5 years); The 2017 Joint Malnutrition Estimates indicated that in Eastern and Southern Africa Region (ESAR) the prevalence of severe wasting stands at 1.7% and that 1.3 million under fives are affected by severe wasting.

The regional focus on nutrition under the UNICEF Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA) Regional Priority #2 on reducing stunting is marked by a need for more strategic and technical focus on reducing diarrhea (WASH), scaling up infant and young child feeding strategies (and actions) and scaling up the management of severe acute malnutrition.

In ESA, it is estimated that about 2 million children under the age of five need treatment for SAM on an annual basis in ESAR. Acute and chronic food insecurity and poverty-related deprivations in young children contributes to significant level of SAM burden and children suffering from SAM are more susceptible to diseases and have weakened immune systems, which can cause cyclical illness as well as long-term developmental delays. The management of severe acute malnutrition occurs at various scale, using treatment protocol requiring adjustments to the most up to date recommended practices.

In 2017, the number of SAM admissions reached 1 million similar to 2016. However, a considerable gap between the need for SAM treatment and the actual number of children reached and treated, remains across countries including those supported by USAID Food For Peace (FFP). Gaps to reach more children can be explained by a series of factors that include limited outreach capacities and activities, funding constraints and dependency to external donors, SAM scale-up plan not in available or in use for all countries, etc. In addition, the management of SAM services is at varying levels of scale and integration in to the health system or government systems in ESA.

UNICEF ESARO and FFP have been partnering to improve the coverage and quality of SAM programming regionally with a focus to FFP supported countries in ESA, including Burundi, Ethiopia Malawi, Mozambique, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Zimbabwe among other in ESAR.

With the recognition that there is a need to help accelerate regional progress for SAM management in ESA, the management of severe acute malnutrition is among three key focus areas under regional priority 2 on reducing stunting. Supporting the provision of timely and strategic support to countries and enhanced oversight on programming for SAM management demands greater capacity in the regional office. This translates into a need to further enhance UNICEF capacities to provide additional support to countries offices toward this common target of improving SAM management services and programming for greater efficiency in ESA under the partnership with FFP.

Major duties and responsibilities

Under the supervision and guidance of the the Regional Nutrition Specialist, P4 (Emergency and SAM Management), the incumbent will provide technical support on SAM management programming to FFP supported countries and contribute to regional efforts to scale-up quality SAM programming. In addition, the incumbent will contribute to FFP Regional Office grant management and oversight in ESAR. Finally the incumbent will support programme monitoring and documenting lessons learned in Eastern and Southern Africa.

Key Expected Results 

Support country office annual for the scaled-up implementation of SAM services 

• Provide technical support to country offices in  the implementation of SAM services;
• Support the consolidation of country office annual plans supporting SAM scale-up;
• Support RO nutrition section on the need and feasibility analysis of a regional RUTF warehouse / hub for improved RUTF commodities management in collaboration with ESARO Supply and Logistics Section;
• Support COs SAM management services readiness to emergencies in close collaboration with ESARO Nutrition section NiE Specialists (P4 and NOC);
• Provide technical support to regional and national SAM scale-up advocacy and fund mobilisation strategies in close collaboration with the No Wasted Live regionally supported Advocacy and Partnership Specialist.

Oversight of the implementation of SAM management services and grant management 

• Support the review of the current state and progress of SAM programme delivery and identification of barriers for the implementation of SAM management programme;
• Support to the development and update of scale-up plan and framework in ESA and work with COs to develop appropriate supportive strategies for improvement;
• Support the review and provide quality assurance support related to consistency, technical quality and appropriateness of country level SAM services and communication materials;
• Plan and undertake grant management activities including the monitoring and tracking of financial and programmatic activities, and supporting annual proposal development processes with COs. 

Capacity development support on SAM management services 

• Support the identification and review of capacity strenghtening needs among UNICEF COs nutrition and supply staff in terms of programming for SAM;
• Assist in the planning of capacity development initiatives (need assessment, outreach and community development planning, supplies monitoring) for CO’ staff;
• Support the adaptation or development of relevant training materials;

Monitoring, evaluation and knowledge management for SAM management services

• Undertake regular field visits to support programme planning and monitor programme implementation;
• Analyze and review regional SAM management data to ensure compliance (database, NutriDash) and achievement of project objectives;
• Assist in the review and of SAM management monitoring systems and support monitoring system enhancement (coverage and quality);
• Support dissemination of SAM programming practices and ensure sharing of experiences, lessons, promising practices using innovative methods for programme staff and other UNICEF partners;
• Organize as appropriate learning and knowledge exchange sessions on technical issues through knowledge sharing platforms accessible to COs and regional staff;
• Develop and maintain a regional knowledge management resource for SAM management including regional brief updates, bulletins, webinars, etc.

To qualify as a/an [champion or advocate] for every child you will have…

Education

• An Advanced University Degree in nutrition, nutritional epidemiology, public health, global/international health and nutrition, health/nutrition research, policy and/or management, or other health related science field is required.

Work Experience

• At least 5 years of progressively responsible professional work experience in nutrition at international level, some of which preferably in a developing country;
• Relevant experience in the planning, implementation including scaling-up of SAM management programme at country level;
• Desirable experience in strengthening demand creation for nutrition services, including on SAM services linkages with Infant and Young Child Feeding and HIV programming;
• Demonstrated experience in grant management and knowledge management in Public Health;
• Knowledge and experience in health and nutrition determinants/bottleneck analysis is desirable;
• Knowledge in emergency programming and supply management for SAM services is desirable;
• Civil Society and UN system agency or organization is an asset.

Language Proficiency

• Fluency in English (verbal and written);
• Good written and spoken skills and knowledge of another UN language 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.

The technical competencies required for this post are….

• Formulating strategies and concepts
• Analyzing
• Applying technical expertise
• Deciding and Initiating Action
• Relating and Networking

View our competency framework at

http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/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.

Remarks:

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.