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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 health

The nutrition programme applies on a life-cycle approach to address the triple burden of malnutrition. The Nutrition Specialist provides professional, technical, operational and managerial support throughout the programming process for the nutrition and selected health interventions within the Country Programme. The role also contributes to the broader goal areas of the UNICEF Strategic Plan 2026-2029, UNICEF Nutrition Strategy 2020–2030, and UNICEF Health strategies to advance nutrition and environmental health agenda.

Reporting to the Deputy Representative Programme and in consultation with the Regional Advisor, the Nutrition Specialist is responsible for providing technical guidance and management support for programme and project design, planning, implementation, monitoring, reporting, data analysis, coordination, resource mobilisation, and capacity development. The role also involves strengthening strategic partnerships with academia, UN agencies and other development partners.

How can you make a difference? 

The successful incumbent will provide strategic direction with a focus on overweight and obesity, micronutrient deficiencies, child environmental health, childhood noncommunicable disease, selected immunization and MNCAH interventions. A key priority is strengthening the Primary Health Care (PHC) as a platform to address the triple burden of malnutrition and to achieve national health targets.

To qualify as an advocate for every child, you will have…

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

1. Support to programme development and planning
2. Programme monitoring and delivery of results
3. Technical and operational support to programme implementation
4. Networking, effective partnership building and working relationships
5. Innovation, evidence generation, knowledge management and capacity building
6. Resource mobilization and donor engagement
7. Emergency preparedness and response

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here:  JD-Nutrition Specialist-P3 (TA)_final.doc

Minimum requirements:

• Education: 

Master or equivalent (Advanced University Degree) in Nutrition, Public Health and Nutrition, Medicine, Child Development, or other relevant disciplines. Specialized training in nutrition, health planning, health economics or public policy preferred and will be prioritized in the recruitment.

A Bachelor or equivalent (First Level University Degree) in a relevant area combined with 2 additional years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.

• Work Experience: 

At least 5 years of relevant work experience in technical leadership and managerial positions related to planning, programming, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of technical cooperation programmes specifically related to multisectoral nutrition programme, environmental health, immunization, MNCAH with knowledge of other Health and Nutrition programmes.

• Skills:

1. Specific Technical Knowledge Required

• Programmatic goals, visions, positions, policies, and strategies for the multisectoral nutrition programme and environmental health programmes.
• Global strategies and Strategic Plan, Sustainable Development Goals

2. Common Technical Knowledge Required

Knowledge of theories and practices in:

• Child, adolescent and Maternal Nutrition and Health
• Public Health and Nutrition
• Educational Interventions in Nutrition and Health Care
• Nutrition and Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
• Knowledge Management
• Computer software applications, including word processing, spreadsheet/ excel, power point and corporate software packages
• Gender equality and diversity awareness

General knowledge of:

• Methodology of programme/project management
• Programmatic goals, visions, positions, policies, and strategies in Health & Nutrition
• Knowledge of global health and nutrition issues, specifically relating to children and women, and the current trends, methods and approaches.
• Policies and strategy to address national and global health and nutrition issues, particularly
  relating to conflicts, natural disasters, and recovery.
• Emergency programme policies, goals, strategies and approaches.

3.Technical Knowledge to be Acquired/Enhanced

• Knowledge of the latest developments and technology in related fields
• Knowledge of local conditions and country legislation relevant to UNICEF programmes
• UN policies and strategy to address international humanitarian issues and responses.
• UN common approaches to programmatic issues and UNICEF positions
• UN security operations and guidelines.
• UNICEF strategic framework for partnerships and collaborative relationships.

• Language Requirements:

Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language or local language of the duty station is considered as an asset.

Desirables:

A demonstrated experience in nutrition policy advocacy and programming is required. Background/familiarity with nutrition and health emergencies would be an asset.

Experience in nutrition/ health programme/project development in a UN system agency or organization is an asset

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) Builds and maintains partnerships

(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness

(3) Drive to achieve results for impact

(4) Innovates and embraces change

(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity

(6) Thinks and acts strategically

(7) Works collaboratively with others 

(8) Nurtures, leads and manages people for a supervisory role. 

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 [Insert candidates from targeted underrepresented groups] 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.

UNICEF staff members holding fixed-term, continuing, or permanent appointments who are considered to be on abolished post status may apply for this temporary position and, if selected with a start date before 31 December 2025, may take it up as a temporary assignment, in line with UNICEF guidance on separation due to the abolition of posts or staff reduction. They will retain their fixed-term entitlements but will not hold a lien to their abolished post. For other scenarios where a Temporary Assignment may be possible, please refer to Additional guidance on IP to IP temporary assignments after completion of the full TOD.pdf (accessible to UNICEF personnel only).

The conditions of a temporary assignment, including relocation entitlements, will depend on the status of the staff member’s original appointment and may be limited in accordance with applicable UNICEF policies, procedures, and practices in force.

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 response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.

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.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.