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National Professional Officer (Nutrition)

New Delhi

  • Organization: WHO - World Health Organization
  • Location: New Delhi
  • Grade: Junior level - NO-B, National Professional Officer - Locally recruited position
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Nutrition
    • SE_IND WR Office, India
  • Closing Date: Closed

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

With a view to accelerate the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and targets, the goal of the WHO is to support in the area of health through the life course. This would enable India to better confront the changing epidemiological environment and further strengthen and improve services in the areas of reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health through the development of evidence-based health policies and strategies. Through policy and technical support at National and State level, the activities of the WHO Country office more specifically aiming to\: - Facilitate the adaptation and uptake of WHO policies, strategies, guidelines, Standard OperatingProcedures and other normative work related to Nutrition; - Develop and improve pre and in-service training and capacity building for relevant staff; - Support the definition and implementation of strategies to address childhood malnutrition and promote earlychildhood development; and- Improve the management of reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health services. Underlying Values and Core Functions of WHOAll the Member States of WHO South East Asia Region share the common value of the highest attainable standard of health as a fundamental human right. All of WHO actions are based on this and rooted in the underlying values of equity, solidarity and participation.WHO's Twelfth General Programme of Work (2014-19) focuses on six (6) leadership priorities specifying (i)advancing universal health coverage (ii) health related millennium development goals (iii) addressing the challenge of non-communicable diseases and mental health, violence and injuries and disabilities (iv)implementing the provisions of the International Health Regulations (2005) (v) increasing access to quality, safe, efficacious and affordable medical products (vi) addressing the social, economic and environmental determinants of health.WHO's mandate revolves around six core functions\: (i) providing leadership on global health matters; (ii) shaping the health research agenda; (iii) setting norms and standards; (iv) articulating evidence-based policy options; (v) providing technical support to countries; and (vi) monitoring and assessing health trends.The South - East Asia Region of WHO is made up of 11 countries, with over 1.8 billion people, with India's population of 1.2 billion. The diversity of people and health situations requires, on the demand side, a solid understanding of the emerging socio-economic, epidemiologic and demographic patterns and trends at both aggregate as well as national and sub-national levels, with due sensitivity to disadvantaged populations and vulnerable segments of society. On the supply side, it is equally crucial to have a solid understanding of the commonalities and divergences of the health systems as well as of the circumstances and political economy under which they have evolved and operate.The 7 Regional Flagship Priority Areas for WHO South-East Asia Region include the unfinished Millennium Development Goal agenda to end preventable maternal, newborn and child deaths with a focus on neonatal deaths.Mission of the WHO Country Office for India Within the framework of WHO's Country Cooperation Strategy (CCS), the mission of the WHO Country Office is to support India in\: (i) developing and sustaining its own health policies, health systems and public health programmes; (ii) working to prevent and overcome threats to health; (iii) anticipating future challenges; and (iv) advocating public health.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Under the overall guidance of the WHO Representative to India, the Deputy Head of Office and under the direct supervision of Team Leader (Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health), with a view to achieve the expected results set out in the relevant WCO-India biennial work plans in accordance with WHO's Country Cooperation Strategy with India, as part of the WCO-India team working on Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH), the incumbent will have the following responsibilities\:

1. Provide technical and managerial support to the WHO country office for India in the area of nutrition, facilitating the development and the implementation of the relevant work plans under the WHO-GOI collaborative programme, supporting monitoring and evaluation of related activities and documenting successful interventions and synthesizing lessons learnt for wider dissemination.

2. Assist MOH&FW and Ministry of Women & Child Health on technical matters related to Nutrition (to both under-nutrition and over-nutrition, though with an emphasis on the prevention and management of under nutrition).

3. Provide technical assistance and support for the development and adaptation to the country context of WHO's normative work in the area of nutrition in health and development (including the production and/or adaptation of reports, guidelines, Standard Operating Procedures).

4. Liaise and coordinate with concerned technical units/ departments of MOH&FW, WHO/SEARO and WHO/HQ and with donor and development partners (UN and bilateral) to harmonise recommendations on policies and strategies related to nutrition.

5. Promote the generation of evidence on nutrition in health and development and contribute to informed policy level decisions by government providing cutting edge policy advice.

6. Promote operational research in priority areas of nutrition in collaboration with WHO Collaborating Centers, national research institutes and disseminating new research findings.

7. Collaborate with MOH&FW in the area of nutrition including undertaking gap analysis wherever needed; support capacity building in this area.

8. Provide support to monitoring and evaluation of programme effectiveness, including programme review and synthesis of data and information.

9. Support information brokering/exchange function of WCO India through contributions to the health information repository at the WCO India by collation, analysis and sharing of relevant health information and statistics pertaining to Nutrition and related areas.

10. Prepare administrative and technical reports and undertake any other tasks as may be assigned bythe supervisors.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential\: University degree in medicine or other health related subject obtained from a recognized university.

Desirable\: Advanced degree in Nutrition (Master's degree or PhD). Postgraduate diploma or degree in related areas like maternal and child health, public health, community medicine will be an asset.

Experience

Essential\: At least two years of professional experience in the development and implementation of health programmes at national level in the field of nutrition.

Desirable\: Working experience with WHO or other UN Agencies at the national and international level will be an advantage. Experience in public health research, data analysis and management will be an asset. Recognized expert in the field with ability to lead and guide expert technical groups in Nutrition

Skills

The incumbent should identify with the core values of the World Health Organization.

Thorough knowledge of the situation in India with regard to Nutrition. Good understanding of country's needs and priorities, issues and policies and main stakeholders and actors involved in the related areas. Very good knowledge of WHO policies, programmes and guidelines in the related areas. Good knowledge of the administrative functioning of government institutions and related departments/agencies and of the other partners in India.

Sound technical and policy advisory skills, based on evidence. Leadership, coordination and supervision skills with demonstrated ability to work effectively with government and colleagues in a team setting at national and subnational levels, to share information and data and make oral and written presentations on technical issues. Very good ability to build and maintain relations and network with national authorities and other stakeholders across relevant sectors. Understanding of the potential motivating factors within national context and ability to adjust to new approaches in an increasingly complex environment.

Modern management skills (planning and evaluation, etc. Capacity to prepare terms of reference and to prepare and monitor and manage the implementation of contractual agreements. Capacity to convey information and options in a structured and credible way; ability to speak and write clearly. Proficiency in computer applications and ability to draft reports.

Knowledge of WHO /UN agencies programmes and practices will be an advantage.

WHO Competencies

  • Teamwork
  • Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
  • Communication
  • Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond
  • Producing results

Use of Language Skills

Essential\: Expert knowledge of English.


REMUNERATION

Remuneration comprises an annual base salary starting at INR 2,001,058 (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance, as applicable) and 30 days of annual leave.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

  • This vacancy notice may be used to fill other similar positions at the same grade level
  • Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.
  • A written test may be used as a form of screening.
  • In the event that your candidature is retained for an interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link\: http\://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.
  • Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to WHO Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and Manual.
  • Staff members in other duty stations are encouraged to apply.
  • WHO is committed to workforce diversity.
  • WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.
  • This is a National Professional Officer position. Therefore, only applications from nationals of the country where the duty station is located will be accepted. Applicants who are not nationals of this country will not be considered.
This vacancy is now closed.
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