Nutrition Specialist - Nutrition Sensitive Agriculture, NO-C, Lilongwe, Malawi (open to nationals of Malawi only)

The post will lead to increased capacity of the district councils to coordinate, build partnership and resilient systems for a sustained community based nutrition-nutrition sensitive agriculture programming in the 10 target districts. *This appointment is for a period of 364 days.

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For 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children's survival, protection and development. The world's largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments.

Purpose of the Position

The Nutrition Specialist – NOC who shall be responsible for programme coordination and advocacy, partnership building, results monitoring including management of assigned budget of Afikepo in the PMU at national, district and community level. The post will lead to increased capacity of the district councils to coordinate, build partnership and resilient systems for a sustained community based nutrition-nutrition sensitive agriculture programming in the 10 target districts.

Key Expected Results

1.  Established and strengthened multi-sectorial governance of nutrition contributing both to national and district development planning and monitoring as well as informing national level policies.
2. Increased advocacy for diversified dietary intake of safe and nutritious foods to achieve optimal nutrition for women of childbearing age, adolescent girls, infants and young children in the targeted districts.
3. An effective nutrition-nutrition sensitive agriculture information system established at national and district levels, which complements other existing information systems and contributes to development planning and monitoring mechanisms.
4. An operational research initiative established on understanding how communities are resilient to socioeconomic shocks and disasters.

Key Accountabilities and Duties & Tasks

• Effective coordination mechanisms maintained at national, district and community level (40%)

• Maintain/ensure appropriate field coordination with District Executive Committees (DEC) and District Nutrition Coordination Committees (DNCCs) including liaising and working with health, livelihood and food security counterparts
• Support DNCCs with preparation of SMART district micro plans informed by community based project monitoring systems
• Identify and establish contact with relevant field-based national and international organizations, and representatives in the Afikepo programme 10 target districts. As appropriate invite these stakeholders to participate as partners in the work of the sector through DNCCs and related district service delivery decentralization structures.
• Jointly with Afikepo Programme Manager, convene and facilitate national meetings of Afikepo Programme (and/or joint meetings with GIZ and Governance Components of Afikepo Programme on an agreed schedule.
• Ensure that district coordination meetings are well managed and action and results-oriented, with decisions clearly communicated to relevant sector partners and stakeholders.  Attend the DNCC meetings regularly

• Support the DECs and DNCCs to establish and maintain appropriate district, area and village level cross-sector coordination mechanisms. Represent the sector in cross-sector coordination fora as appropriate at regional level.

3.2. Networking, advocacy and partnership building (15%)

• Build and sustain effective close working partnerships with nutrition sector government counterparts, national stakeholders /donors/academia through active networking, advocacy and effective communication to build capacity and exchange knowledge/expertise to facilitate the achievement of project goals and social justice and equity for the rights of mothers, new born and children;
• Participate and/or represent the project in appropriate inter-agency (UNCT) discussions and planning on nutrition and related issues to collaborate with inter-agency partners/colleagues on UNDAF planning and preparation of nutrition programs/projects ensuring organizational position, interests and priorities are fully considered and integrated in the UNDAF process in development planning and agenda setting.

3.3. Program management, monitoring and delivery of results (25%)

• Plan and/or collaborate with internal and external partners to establish monitoring benchmarks, performance indicators and measurement to assess/strengthen performance accountability, coherence and delivery of concrete and sustainable results for the project;
• Participate in monitoring and evaluation exercises, program reviews and annual reviews with government and other counterparts to assess progress and to determine required action/interventions to achieve results;
• Prepare/assess monitoring and evaluation reports to identify gaps, strengths/weaknesses in program and management, identify lessons learned and use knowledge gained for development planning and timely intervention to achieve goals;
• Actively monitor the project activities through field visits, surveys and/or exchange of information with partners/stakeholders to assess progress, identify bottlenecks and potential problems and take timely decisions to resolve issues and/or refer to relevant officials for timely resolution;
• Prepare regular/mandated project reports for management, donors and partners to keep them informed of project progress;
• Ensure improvement of programme efficiency, quality and delivery through a rigorous and transparent approach to programme planning, monitoring and evaluation.
• 3.4. Resilience Programming and harnessing lesion and best practices across wide partnership (10%)

• Provide technical support to operational research initiative on understanding how communities are resilient to socioeconomic shocks and disasters.
• Support and provide technical support to process documentation of resilience interventions to inform application of lessons and best practices across wide partnership in the 10 target district.

3.5 Budget planning and ensure the compliance and utilization of allocated nutrition funds effectively and efficiently (10%).

• Provide professional input in and contributes to the budget and programme review and planning process. Assists in the establishment of programme work plans, allocation of resources, and monitors progress and compliance.
• Take appropriate actions to utilize programme funds effectively and efficiently, by developing cost effective and cost benefits approach for both direct nutrition and nutrition sensitive interventions
• Monitor and verify the optimum/appropriate use project resources (financial, administrative and other assets) confirming compliance with organizational rules, regulations/procedures and donor commitments, standards of accountability and integrity and ensuring timely reporting and liquidation of resources;

Qualifications of Successful Candidate

Education

• Advanced University Degree or higher in nutrition, public health, food and nutrition security, global/international health and nutrition, health/nutrition research, policy and/or management, or other nutrition, food security and health related science field is required

Experience

• Minimum of five years of professional experience in nutrition, public health, and food and nutrition security related research or planning and management in relevant areas of maternal, infant and child nutrition, at the international level some of which preferably in a developing country is required;
• Relevant experience in health/nutrition program/project development and management in any UN system agency or organization is an asset;
• Preferred experience working with community based nutrition and agriculture programmes.
• Relevant experience in integrating nutrition into agricultural programmes and nutrition mainstreaming, policy analysis and advice related to food and nutrition security and/or sustainable agriculture;

Competencies of Successful Candidate

Core Values

• Commitment
• Diversity and Inclusion
• Integrity

Core competencies

• Communication
• Working with People
• Drive for Results

Functional Competencies

• Leading and supervising
• Formulating strategies and concepts
• Analysing
• Relating and networking
• Deciding and Initiating action
• Applying technical expertise

Technical Knowledge  

To view our competency framework, please click here. 

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.