Nutrition Specialist (Nutrition sensitive Agriculture)

The Nutrition Specialist P3 shall provide technical contribution to the following Afikepo Project Key Expected Outcomes and Results. *This is a temporary position with duration of 364 days

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Purpose of the Position

FAO and UNICEF formulated a project jointly known in Malawi Chichewa language as "Afikepo", which literally means "they (children) should reach their full potential". The project aims addresses Malawi's problems of undernutrition, particularly in the under-5 children, and their negative consequences on cognitive, social and economic development in line with priorities and policy commitments of the Government of Malawi, the European Union (EU) and other associated development partners (DPs).

Prevalence of stunting in under-5 children in Malawi is at 42.4% and 12.9% babies are born with low birth weights[1]. Micronutrient deficiencies are also wide spread. Fifty eight percent of primary school children suffer from vitamin A deficiency and twenty five percent have anaemia. Under-nutrition has characterised the nutrition situation in Malawi for decades, and is a prominent factor leading to an annual loss in productivity and economic growth estimated at 10.3% annually[2].

In order to improve coherence and complementarity of support to the nutrition sector, a holistic 'Four Pillars Approach' was adopted by the National Nutrition Committee in July 2015 namely: 1) Agriculture for nutrition security and improved maternal, infant and young child feeding and care Practices; 2) Primary health care, therapeutic care, support and treatment; 3) Integration of behavioural change and communication for optimal maternal and young child feeding and care (knowledge, attitudes and practices) among communities, learners, professional and frontline workers through nutrition education and 4) Governance, human capacity building, research, monitoring & evaluation and

FAO and UNICEF formulated a project jointly known in Malawi Chichewa language as "Afikepo", which literally means "they (children) should reach their full potential". The project aims addresses Malawi's problems of undernutrition, particularly in the under-5 children, and their negative consequences on cognitive, social and economic development in line with priorities and policy commitments of the Government of Malawi, the European Union (EU) and other associated development partners (DPs).

Prevalence of stunting in under-5 children in Malawi is at 42.4% and 12.9% babies are born with low birth weights[1]. Micronutrient deficiencies are also wide spread. Fifty eight percent of primary school children suffer from vitamin A deficiency and twenty five percent have anaemia. Under-nutrition has characterised the nutrition situation in Malawi for decades, and is a prominent factor leading to an annual loss in productivity and economic growth estimated at 10.3% annually[2].

In order to improve coherence and complementarity of support to the nutrition sector, a holistic 'Four Pillars Approach' was adopted by the National Nutrition Committee in July 2015 namely: 1) Agriculture for nutrition security and improved maternal, infant and young child feeding and care Practices; 2) Primary health care, therapeutic care, support and treatment; 3) Integration of behavioural change and communication for optimal maternal and young child feeding and care (knowledge, attitudes and practices) among communities, learners, professional and frontline workers through nutrition education and 4) Governance, human capacity building, research, monitoring & evaluation and fortification. The concept of the AFIKEPO Nutrition Programme in Malawi is underpinned by these four pillars approach.

In line with the EU Global Action Plan on Nutrition launched in 2014, AFIKEPO is a joint effort with other DPs to address nutrition issues through a multi-sector integrated approach that scales up successful previous and existing initiatives. EU resources will focus on Pillar 1, 3 and 4 activities of which FAO and UNICEF will jointly implement Pillar 1 and Pillar 4 whereas GIZ will implement Pillar 3 activities. This entails that AFIKEPO will be implemented in a joint and coordinated approach and in close complementarity to interventions from the other DPs on Pillar 2 that will target the same 10 AFIKEPO districts: Chitipa, Karonga, NkhataBay, Mzimba, Kasungu, Nkhotakota, Salima, Chiradzulu, Thyolo and Mulanje.

FAO and UNICEF will jointly provide technical and operational support to the DNHA and all other relevant ministries and departments at both national and local levels with a view to implementing a community-based nutrition-sensitive agriculture approach in the 10 target districts. FAO and UNICEF will establish Programme Management Units (PMU) at national and district levels that will be able to provide the required technical and operational support to the concerned government institutions to roll out the community outreach activities and facilitate the community-based monitoring mechanisms. As a result, technical capacity of District Councils and other relevant stakeholders to engage in and contribute to support nutrition-sensitive agriculture will be enhanced.

An operational research initiative on understanding how communities are resilient is planned to be conducted by UNICEF Social Policy Team using co-financing. This initiative will build on the monitoring system that FAO and UNICEF will implement and will inform the refinement of project process, approaches and strategies with a view to ensuring scaling up.

Overall management and administration of Afikepo is under the FAO as an administrative agent. Consequently will establish and populated PMUs with technical and administrative staff at national and district levels. UNICEF will provide three technical staff positions (Nutrition Specialist-NOC/D, Nutrition Specialist P3 and Communication for Development – NOC) at national level to enhance the capacity of the PMU to deliver a comprehensive integrated direct maternal and child nutrition and nutrition sensitive agriculture project in the 10 target districts. These Terms of Reference (TORs) are for the post of Nutrition Specialist – P3 who shall be responsible for programme needs assessment and situation analysis, programme planning and development, innovations and knowledge management including assigned programme budget management of Afikepo in the PMU at national, district and community level. The post will lead to increased capacity (knowledge and kills) of the district councils to plan and implement innovatively the community based nutrition-nutrition sensitive agriculture programme in the 10 target districts.

With an overall objective of contributing to the enhancement of nutrition security in Malawi, the Nutrition Specialist P3 shall provide technical contribution to the following Afikepo Project Key Expected Outcomes and Results:

Key Expected Results

1. Enhanced programme needs assessment, planning and development
2. Increased capacity in 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 taking into account of seasonality, cultural acceptability and preferences.
3. Enhanced linkages of Afikepo with other nutrition-nutrition sensitive interventions for synergy and complementarity.
4. An effective nutrition-nutrition sensitive agriculture information management and innovation to inform nutrition-sensitive agriculture programming in the 10 target districts.

Key Accountabilities and Duties & Tasks

3.1. Support to program/project development and planning (20%)

• Contribute to/support the preparation/design and conduct/update of food and nutrition situation analysis in AFIKEPO targeted districts ensure timely comprehensive and current data on maternal and child nutrition are available to guide development, design and management of the AFIKEPO project. Keep abreast of development trends to enhance program management, efficiency and delivery;
• participate in strategic program discussion on the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the project;
• Establish specific goals, objectives and strategies and implementation of multi-sectoral plans for the project based on results-based planning terminology and methodology (RBM). Prepare required documentations for project review and approval;
• work closely and collaboratively with internal and external colleagues and partners to discuss strategies and methodologies and to determine national priorities/competencies to ensure the achievement of concrete and sustainable results;
• provide technical and operational support throughout all stages of project cycle processes to ensure the achievement of results as planned and allocated;
• collaborate with other colleagues for integration, coherence and harmonization and to ensure that nutrition is addressed in other projects linked to AFIKEPO;
• Ensure enhanced linkages of Afikepo with other nutrition-nutrition sensitive interventions for synergy and complementarity

• 3.2 Technical and operational support to program implementation (25%)

• provide technical guidance and facilitate district councils in strengthening programme coordination and reporting mechanisms from village, area to district level in support of Afikepo using results based programming;
• provide technical guidance and facilitate district councils and frontline workers to create demand for Afikepo intervention through innovative household and community mobilization, adoption and replication of best practices that impact directive nutrition and nutrition sensitive outcomes;
• ensure capacity development of government and partners to promote appropriate household social and behaviour change for maternal and child nutrition as well as to strengthen resilience of households;
• support the development of nutrition related materials pertaining to the AFIKEPO project;

• Lead and guide nutrition sector needs assessment and situation analysis, prioritization of programme intervention and sector planning (35%)

• Support Afikepo District Programme Managers to participate in district joint cross-sector needs assessment exercises as appropriate to ensure that identified needs, gaps and priorities are as evidence-based as possible.
• Raise awareness of and promote the integration of agreed priority cross-cutting issues and nutrition sensitive interventions (e.g. Child Care for Development (CCD), early marriage, school health and nutrition, WASH, gender, etc.) in Afikepo cross-sector needs assessments, analysis, planning, implementation and monitoring.  Ensure integration of cross-cutting issues in district coordination strategies and activities
• Attend relevant national meetings on cross-cutting issues and particularly.
• Jointly with C4D and Afikepo District Management Team, and DNCCs, identify core strategic advocacy areas for Afikepo and the food and nutrition sector and contribute to the national development of key messages and the advocacy strategy.

3.4 Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building (10%)

• apply/introduce innovative approaches and good practice to build the capacity of government partners and stakeholders and to support the implementation and delivery of concrete and sustainable project results;
• keep abreast, research, benchmark and implement best and cutting edge practices in nutrition management and information systems. Assess, institutionalize and share best practices and knowledge learned;

• facilitate the documentation and sharing of lessons learned and good practices on how AFIKEPO's integrated nutrition specific and nutrition sensitive agriculture and food based approaches improve nutrition;
• contribute to the development and implementation of policies and procedures to ensure optimum efficiency and efficacy of sustainable programs and projects;
• 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.
• Takes 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

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 of Successful Candidate

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

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.