Organization: UN Children"s Fund
Country: United States of America
Closing date: 11 Sep 2015
Purpose of the Position
Under the overall direction of Senior Nutrition Advisor:
- development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of UNICEF"s emergency preparedness and response in activities and results related to Nutrition; ensuring overall efficiency, effectiveness and delivery of results in accordance with UNICEF"s (CCCs) and national and international humanitarian standards. This includes working with Headquarters, Regional and Country offices as well as the Global Nutrition Cluster and Supply Division in developing plans and activities to strengthen UNICEF"s capacity to deliver effective Nutrition support in emergency situations; provision of technical assistance to Regional Offices and Country Offices so that there is adequate and appropriate support, both in addressing acute emergencies and in programming to mitigate the Nutrition impact of chronic and complex emergencies; and contributing to improved systems for emergency Nutrition response within UNICEF.
- support to the work of the NIE/SAM Unit in improving operational response options in emerging areas, with an emphasis on Infant and Young Child Feeding in Emergencies and linking WASH and Nutrition responses.
Key Expected Results
Support improved country level preparedness and response for nutrition
- In coordination with EMOPS, HATIS, Regional Offices and the Global Nutrition Cluster, monitor the nutrition situation in emergency countries, and provide guidance on priority actions to be taken for preparedness, response and recovery. This includes but is not limited to supporting development of emergency preparedness and response plans for incipient crisis countries; reviewing strategic response documents, SRPs, HNOs and project proposals for nutrition in emergencies.
- In coordination with EMOPs, Global Nutrition Cluster and RO, provide direct technical support (remote and in person) to countries for nutrition in emergency activities (emergency preparedness, response and recovery) based on organizational directives (L2 and L3 procedures), Unit priorities, and on request from regional and country offices.
- Facilitate technical dialogue and exchange in order to promote optimal nutrition responses, in particular in emerging and often under resourced areas. This may include but is not limited to facilitating development of operational guidance where it does not exist (eg. Nutrition in context of Ebola) and mobilization of additional technical expertise through facilitating technical dialogue and transfer of country level technical needs to relevant global for a, in coordination with RO and Global Nutrition Cluster.
- Participate in the monitoring and evaluation of the nutrition component of emergency responses to ensure achievement of the organization"s objectives in this area (e.g. documentation of the response, lessons learned, good practices monitoring and evaluation frameworks) as well as liaising with donors and contribute to donor/response reporting to ensure that the emergency response is adequately resourced and documented for future planning and strategy development.
Strengthen UNICEF"s emergency response and preparedness systems
- Contribute to improvements UNICEF technical capacity for emergency preparedness, nutrition in emergencies and risk informed programming. This includes but is not limited to liaising with DHR, designing capacity development activities, developing and delivering training/induction packages, coordination of global capacity development activities with partners including the Global Nutrition Cluster, development of enhanced sectoral coordination networks, and on ground training support for UNICEF and partners in collaboration with HQ (GCCU and EMOPS), RO and CO.
- Identify institutional bottlenecks in delivery of the emergency response, and liaise with other Divisions and Sections within UNICEF (eg Health, Education, WASH, HATIS, EMOPS- in particular the GCCU-Supply Division) in order to improve UNICEF systems and standards for emergency response. Areas of emphasis to include Infant and Young Child Feeding capacity, and supply bottlenecks that undermine emergency response and risk informed nutrition programming.
- Act as an Emergency Focal Point (EFP) and ensure that nutrition considerations are represented in relevant cross-sectional collaboration and institutional directives and guidance for emergencies.
- Generate donor interest in the area of nutrition in emergencies, including proposal development, and oversee supplementary funding provided for this area.
Contribute to improved global practice and partnership for nutrition in emergencies, including WASH-nutrition linkages in preparedness and response.
- In collaboration with relevant departments, engage with other UN agencies and academic institutions the development of global guidance, policies, tools and lessons learned for nutrition in emergencies. This will include but is not limited to supporting the documentation of lessons learnt from UNICEF Nutrition programmes with an emphasis on Infant and Young Child Feeding and WASH-Nutrition programming for UNICEF; development of operational guidance; and identification of priority areas for advocacy, analysis and research in emergency context.
- Cultivate working relationships with relevant partner agencies, donors and stakeholders in order to ensure UNICEF"s contribution and engagement is reflected in global Nutrition policies, standards and guidelines including the Global Nutrition Cluster.
- In collaboration with WASH and relevant departments, contribute technical inputs into WASH-Nutrition partnerships, networks and advocacy initiatives.
Qualifications of Successful Candidate
- 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 social science field is required.*
- A minimum of eight (8) years of relevant work experience in programme management or advisory support in the area of nutrition assessment, programming or policy work at national level, at least 3 years of which at international level, is required.
- Relevant experience in health/nutrition program/project development and management in any UN system agency or organization is an asset.
- Experience in Emergency settings (preparedness and response) and the IASC Cluster approach desired.
- Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language or a local language is an asset.*A first level university degree with a relevant combination of academic qualifications and experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Competencies of Successful Candidate
- Communicates effectively to varied audiences, including during formal public speaking.
- Able to work effectively in a multi-cultural environment.
- Sets high standards for quality of work and consistently achieves project goals.
- Has good leadership and supervisory skills; co-ordinates group activities, ensuring that roles within the team are clear.
- Translates strategic direction into plans and objectives.
- Analyzes and integrates diverse and complex quantitative and qualitative data from a wide range of sources.
- Quickly builds rapport with individuals and groups; maintains an effective network of individuals across organizational departments.
- Identifies urgent and potentially difficult decisions and acts on them promptly; initiates and generates team – and department – wide activities.
- Demonstrates, applies and shares expert technical knowledge across the organization.
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 organization.
How to apply:
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.
If you want a challenging career while improving the lives of children around the world UNICEF, the leading children’s rights organization, would like to hear from you.
Visit us at www.unicef.org/about/employ to register in our new e-Recruitment system and apply to this and other vacancies. Applications must be received by 18-September-15
Vacancy position link:
Please note that only candidates who are under serious consideration will be contacted.
In the selection of its staff, UNICEF is committed to gender balance and diversity without distinction as to race, sex or religion, and without discrimination of persons with disabilities: well qualified candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
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