Assistant Nutrition and Food Security Officer - L-ICA 8 under UNOPS

This position is advertised open to internal and external applicants. Assistant Nutrition and Food Security Officer

1. Organizational Context

The Assistant Nutrition and Food Security Officer will be under the direct supervision of the Nutrition and Food Security Officer at the Sub-Office. H/she plays a key role in planning, organising, implementing, monitoring and evaluation UNHCR's Nutrition and food security programmes for all persons of concern in Gambella refugee camps.  This will include undertaking regular field trips in order to monitor and support the implementation of Nutrition and food security activities to refugees; monitor refugee access to nutrition services and ensure feedback relating to key nutrition data is provided by partners, relevant UN agencies, Regional Health Bureau at local level; develop project activities to address identified needs.  This will be done in consultation with Ministry of Health authorities, NGO partners in the Nutrition and food security r and through liaison with other sectors within UNHCR (WASH, protection, programme, livelihood etc.) to ensure a multi-sectoral approach. The staff will work closely with the Public Health Officer to enable results in the preventive and curative aspects especially the community-based activities, Reproductive health, epidemic preparedness and response.

2. Accountability
¿ The incumbent will be responsible to provide strategic direction for the food and nutrition sector operation in coordination with ARRA, UNICEF, WFP, GRHB and the implementing and operational partners as well as for monitoring, capacity building in different sector themes to keep notch of desired results.

3. Responsibility 
Coordination, Leadership and Partnership
¿ Assist with the coordination of nutrition and food security activities for Persons of Concern (POC) with other government, UN agencies, donors, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and other humanitarian partners including development actors to ensure nutrition and food security is in line with the Global Compact on Refugees and in support of the Sustainable Development goals, including SDG 2.
¿ Support operational collaboration with WFP including the design and implementation of Joint Assessment Missions and corresponding Joint Plans of Action in line with global commitments on targeting of assistance to meet basic needs and data sharing to support assistance distribution (in collaboration with programme and protection colleagues),
¿ Support inter-sector collaboration throughout all stages of programme cycle between nutrition and food security with public health, WASH, education, environment, shelter, and protection etc. in order to promote synergies and maximise impact.
¿ In collaboration with public health staff, provide assistance in the development and monitoring of country specific medium to long term inclusion plans in support of the Ministry of Health and other relevant Ministries (e.g. Social Welfare) and in partnership with development and other actors including the World Bank, International Labour Organisations, UNICEF, WFP, WHO and major donors.
¿ Work with stakeholders, including UN agencies, NGOs, Ministries of Health and academic institutions in the development of nutrition and food security plans associated with refugee movements (including in repatriation programmes).
¿ Maintain and update contingency plans for potential outbreaks, refugee and returnee movements.
¿ Advocate with government and partners for refugees, returnees and other POC¿s access to local public health and nutrition services as well as for their inclusion as a specific group in government policies, plans and social protection programmes.

Strategic planning and development
¿ Implement UNHCR¿s Strategic Plan for Public Health and its adaptation at Sub-office level.
¿ Ensure that Nutrition and Food Security strategies address known gaps in nutrition and food security programming based on country-specific needs assessment with due consideration to multi-sectoral linkages and existing national nutrition and social protection programmes.
¿ Assist in the development of country public health, nutrition and food security strategies (including targeting of basic food and non-food assistance) based on up-to-date assessment and identification of needs, recognizing the contributions of governments and other actors and in support of national health systems as much as possible; recognise the different approaches required for the stage of the humanitarian response (preparedness, emergency, stabilisation, transition and long term inclusion) as well as for settlement or camp based POCs and those in urban or non-camp situations.
¿ Support the design, implementation and reporting on Joint Assessment Missions with WFP and the resulting Joint Plan of Action.
Technical Support
¿ Provide technical assistance on nutrition and food security to UNHCR's staff and partners.
¿ Advise Field Offices on matters related to procurement of sector-related materials and equipment, and regular update on new developments and specifications of such items.
¿ Ensure dissemination and implementation of internationally accepted technical standards, policies, and guidelines within UNHCR and among partners; adapt accordingly to the unique situation of refugee populations.
¿ Advocate on all issues relating to refugees¿ and other POC¿s nutrition and food security including adequate access to services, inclusion in national systems and services and identification of development and international funding sources.
Assessment, analysis and monitoring
¿ Contribute to the planning and implementation of the UNHCR Standardized Expanded Nutrition Surveys.
¿ Coordinate and participate in joint needs assessments (including Joint Assessment Missions with WFP), nutrition and food security assessments of refugees and returnees.
¿ Assist in the design and implementation of the monitoring and evaluation system for nutrition and food security programmes within the Area of Responsibility (AoR).
¿ Provide guidance to staff and partners to implement the Health Information Systems, Post Distribution Monitoring and ensure linkages with nutrition cluster assessment tools and process in out of camp or host populations.
¿ Support the exchange and analysis of information on nutrition and food security at the national level with government and other partners.
Capacity Strengthening
¿ Undertake and/or support capacity strengthening of UNHCR and its implementing partners to ensure the technical integrity of nutrition and food security programmes in a co-ordinated, multi-sectoral way.
¿ Share relevant guidelines and information materials on programming relating to refugee nutrition and food security with staff and partners.
¿ Perform other related duties as required.

Reporting relationships
¿ The incumbent of this position will report to the Nutrition Officer, there is no supervisee under this position. 

Minimum Qualifications
Education & Professional Work Experience
Years of Experience / Degree Level
For P1/NOA - 1 year relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or no experience with Graduate degree; or no experience with Doctorate degree

Field(s) of Education
Human Nutrition, or other relevant field.
(Field(s) of Education marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Certificates and/or Licenses
Public Health;         Food Security;                                          Food Assistance;
Reproductive Health; Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF);   
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience
Essential

Expertise in the area of nutrition and food security assessments including surveys, rapid screenings and rapid assessments. Experience in use of health and nutrition monitoring tools such as the Health Information System. Ability to work under pressure and in hardship conditions. Ability to promote good working relationships among colleagues, supervisors, and supervisees. Analytical and creative thinking abilities with solutions oriented approach. Ability to coordinate a range of diverse actors and activities to achieve a common objective in the area of Nutrition and Food Security. Knowledge and experience of working with partner agencies with a capacity to provide formal and informal technical training. Strong communication skills both verbal and in writing. Proficiency in computer software such as MS Access, Epi Info, Excel, PowerPoint, Word and other statistical programmes required for nutritional survey data analysis.

Desirable
Previous professional work with refugees and other populations of concern to UNHCR with UNHCR, NGO's and / or UN agencies. Experience in multi-sector programming for nutrition outcomes. Experience, advanced training and combined knowledge in various related fields: e.g. public health, food assistance/food security, IYCF, reproductive health, WASH. Demonstrated experience in Community Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM), Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) practices, targeting food assistance, small scale agriculture and livelihoods interventions, cash assistance to meet basic needs. Experience in project cycle management and working with diverse range of partners.

Functional Skills
IT-Computer Literacy
PG-Programme Management (project formulation, programme cycles and reporting standards)
MD-Experience with food aid/food security (incl. Survey, screening, assessment)
MD-Nutrition
MD-Nutrition-Food Supplm, SMART methodology, CMAM, IYCF, Voucher/Cash transfer
EX-Experience in hardship duty stations
EX-Field experience in emergency and/or large-scale settings
MG-Partnership Development
TR-Training/Coaching/Facilitation
(Functional Skills marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Core Competencies
Accountability
Communication
Organizational Awareness
Teamwork & Collaboration
Commitment to Continuous Learning
Client & Result Orientation

Managerial Competencies
Empowering and Building Trust
Judgement and Decision Making

Cross-Functional Competencies
Analytical Thinking
Planning and Organizing
Stakeholder Management
Language Requirements

For National Professional jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English and local language. Competencies as defined in Job Profile Knowledge of "English" is Essential. Please note that UNHCR does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process (application, interview, meeting, travelling, processing, training or any other fees).

An eliminatory or complementary written test for shortlisted candidates may be conducted which will be followed by competency-based interview.

Female candidates are encouraged to apply.

Applicants must be nationals of the country and be locally recruited within the country of their employment. The Closing Date for Submission of Applications is Thursday 22 April 2021 (Mid-Night Ethiopia Time).