UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.
At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.
UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.
Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.
For every child, the right to nutritious food,
The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programmes, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias, or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic, and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, nutrition, education, and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.
How can you make a difference?
Purpose of the job:
Under the guidance of Chief Nutrition, the Specialist, supports in the development and technical oversight, systems strengthening, innovation, research, and knowledge leadership related to early childhood nutrition under the UNICEF Pakistan country office and Field Offices. S/He is responsible for managing, implementing, monitoring, evaluating, and reporting the programme progress and managing complex, early childhood nutrition programmes (infant nutrition programme, young children’s diets, early detection, and management of infants and children at risk of poor growth and development and child wasting) including early stimulation in child nutrition programmes, thereby contributing to improved infant and young child feeding practices, a reduction in stunting and other forms of malnutrition, lower neonatal and infant mortality rates, as well as a decrease in obesity and diet-related non-communicable diseases.. The Early Childhood Nutrition Specialist provides technical guidance, and management support throughout the programming processes to facilitate the administration and achievement of concrete and sustainable results in early childhood nutrition programmes/projects. This is carried out according to plans, allocation, results based-management approaches and and Rights and Results Programming’ (RRP), as well as UNICEF’s Strategic Plans, standards of performance, and accountability framework.
Summary of key functions/accountabilities:
- Programme development and planning
- Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results.
- Technical guidance and operational support to programme implementation
- Networking, Advocacy, and partnership building
- Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building
If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: Nutrition Specialist (ECN)_NO-3, PCO.docx
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
Minimum requirements:
Education:
- An advanced university degree related to Nutrition, Public Health, Nutritional Epidemiology, Global/International Health and Nutrition, Food Policy, Health/Nutrition Research, Policy and/or Management, Health Sciences, Nutritional Epidemiology, or Another relevant Science Fields is required.
- A first University Degree in a relevant field combined with 2 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree
Work Experience:
- A minimum of five (5) years of professional work experience on early childhood nutrition (infant nutrition, young children’s diets, early detection and management of infants and children at risk of poor growth and development and child wasting) is required.
- Technical and knowledge leadership experience on early childhood nutrition including policy, capacity strengthening and coordination is required.
- Experience in formulating and leading capacity development initiatives in early childhood nutrition is required
- Experience in a developing country in managerial and technical roles at the following areas is required: early childhood nutrition, public health, infant and young child feeding, prevention and management of wasting, emergency preparedness and response
- Experience in health/nutrition programme/project development and management in a UN system agency or organization is an asset.
- Experience in emergency nutrition preparedness and response is an asset.
Language Requirements:
- Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset
Desirables:
- Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts.
For every Child, you demonstrate...
UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values
The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…
(1) Nurtures, leads and manages people for a supervisory role
(2) Builds and maintains partnerships
(3) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness
(4) Drive to achieve results for impact
(5) Innovates and embraces change
(6) Manages ambiguity and complexity
(7) Thinks and acts strategically
(8) Works collaboratively with others
Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.
UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.
UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.
UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.
UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.
Remarks:
As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.
UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable female candidates are encouraged to apply.
Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.
UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.
Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF’s Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian
Visa residence requirements: i.e.: UNICEF shall not facilitate the issuance of a visa and working authorization for candidates under consideration for positions at the national officer and general service category.]
All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.
Verbal Feedback shall be provided to unsuccessful internal candidates upon the completion of the recruitment process.
Please note that the flexibility clause shall not be applied to external applicants, including TAs and affiliate staff
This vacancy announcement is open to internal staff members (staff holding Permanent, Continuing, or Fixed Term contracts) and other UNICEF personnel (TAs, UNVs, and other personnel); however, priority will be given to staff in abolished posts and internal staff members.
Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.
