Nutrition Officer

Job Title: Nutrition Officer

Organization: United Nations Volunteers (UNV)

Host entity: UNICEF

Assignment country: Angola

Expected start date: 01/08/2023

Sustainable Development Goal: 2. Zero hunger

Volunteer category: International UN Volunteer Specialist

DoA reserved for persons with disabilities: No

Accessibility measures in place: -

Type: Onsite

Duration: 12 months (with possibility of extension)

Number of assignments: 1

Duty stations: Luanda

Reasonable accommodation: No

Additional accessibility info: -

Details

Mission and objectives

UNICEF is mandated by the United Nations General Assembly to advocate for the protection of children's rights, to help meet their basic needs and to expand their opportunities to reach their full potential. UNICEF is guided by the Convention on the Rights of the Child and strives to establish children's rights as enduring ethical principles and international standards of behaviour towards children. UNICEF insists that the survival, protection and development of children are universal development imperatives that are integral to human progress. UNICEF mobilizes political will and material resources to help countries, particularly developing countries, ensure a "first call for children" and to build their capacity to form appropriate policies and deliver services for children and their families. UNICEF is committed to ensuring special protection for the most disadvantaged children – victims of war, disasters, extreme poverty, all forms of violence and exploitation, and those with disabilities. UNICEF responds in emergencies to protect the rights of children. In coordination with United Nations partners and humanitarian agencies, UNICEF makes its unique facilities for rapid response available to its partners to relieve the suffering of children and those who provide their care. UNICEF is non-partisan and its cooperation is free of discrimination. In everything it does, the most disadvantaged children and the countries in greatest need have priority. UNICEF aims, through its country programmes, to promote the equal rights of women and girls and to support their full participation in the political, social and economic development of their communities. UNICEF works with all its partners towards the attainment of the sustainable human development goals adopted by the world community and the realization of the vision of peace and social progress enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations.

Context

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children, to save their lives, to defend their rights and to help them fulfil their potential. Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone. UNICEF has a footprint in Angola since 1976 when it first opened its office in Luanda. Nutrition programme activities are spread across the country, with particular focus on the provinces of Luanda, Huila, Cunene, Namibe, Benguela and Bie. Under the supervision of the Nutrition Specialist, the Nutrition Officer will provide technical, operational, and administrative assistance and support for the nutrition programme activities. Responsibilities will be focused on supporting the southern provinces of Angola and supporting nutrition activities at national level in Luanda. Responsibilities will include supporting the planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and administration of nutrition programme activities, including data analysis, progress reporting, knowledge management and capacity building. The goal is to support the achievement of planned objectives in the work plan with the Government of Angola, aligned with the country programme goals and strategy while adhering to organizational rules, regulations, and procedures. In addition to duty station specific vaccine requirements, appointments are subject to confirmation of fully vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the appointment. It does not apply to UN Volunteers who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations, or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their contracts. UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for UN Volunteers with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the recruitment process and afterwards in your assignment.

Task description

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of the Nutrition Specialist or his/her designated mandated representative(s), the UN Volunteer Nutrition Officer will: •Support programme development and planning: Provide technical and operational support throughout all stages of programming processes by supporting a variety of technical programme transactions; preparing materials and documentations and complying with organizational processes and management systems. •Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results: Support results-based management (RBM), and monitoring and evaluation of results for the nutrition programme. •Technical and operational support to programme implementation: Support regular programme field visits and surveys, and exchange information with partners and stakeholders to assess progress and provide technical support. Refer and report critical issues and bottlenecks to relevant officials for timely resolution. •Networking and partnership building: Build and sustain effective close working partnerships with nutrition sector government counterparts and national stakeholders through active sharing of information and knowledge to facilitate programme implementation and build capacity of stakeholders to achieve programme goals and deliver sustainable results. Build relationships with local organizations, groups or individuals and supporting and/or participating in local volunteering initiatives. •Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building: Draft communication and information materials for country programme advocacy and visibility and apply innovative approaches and promote good practices to support the implementation and delivery of concrete and sustainable programme results. •Encourage, mobilize, and support co-workers, fellow UN Volunteers, and members of the local community to play an active part in development on a voluntary basis.

Eligibility criteria

Age

27 - 80

Nationality

Candidate must be a national of a country other than the country of assignment.

Requirements

Required experience

3 years of experience in --at the national and/or international level in nutrition, health or epidemiology or other relevant programmes; experience with programming for malnutrition is an asset, as is experience working in the UN or other international development organization. •Excellent oral and written skills; excellent drafting, formulation, reporting skills. •Accuracy and professionalism in document production and editing. •Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including grassroots community members, religious and youth organizations, and authorities at different levels; familiarity with tools and approaches of communications for development. •Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel. •Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various MS Office applications (Excel, Word, etc.) and email/internet; familiarity with database management; and office technology equipment. •Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines. •Sound security awareness. •Have affinity with or interest in children’s rights and volunteerism as a mechanism for durable development, and the UN System.

Area(s) of expertise

Health

Driving license

-

Languages

Portuguese, Level: Working knowledge, Required English, Level: Working knowledge, Required

Required education level

Bachelor degree or equivalent in Nutrition, public health, nutritional epidemiology, global/international health and nutrition, health/nutrition research, policy and/or management, health sciences, nutritional epidemiology, or another health-related science field.

Competencies and values

• Accountability • Adaptability and flexibility • Judgement and decision-making • Planning and organising • Professionalism • Self-management

Other information

Living conditions and remarks

Angola was on the path to graduate to a middle-income country in February 2021 before the COVID-19 pandemic however public resource allocation for the social sectors is insufficient, compromising the availability and quality of services and qualified personnel. Traditional donor assistance continues to decline resulting in a very challenging, yet promising funding environment with a vivid and growing private sector stimulated by the government push to diversify the economy. Sixty-four per cent of the total population (30.4 million in 2018) is below the age of 24, with 48 per cent children under the age of 15. Angola remains prone to natural disasters and health emergencies, including floods, droughts, and disease outbreaks. The country is also affected by migration, conflict, and other regional crises, which have detrimental impacts on the affected populations, particularly the most vulnerable women and children, while undermining access to services and pushing the population deeper into poverty. Luanda is a sprawling city, and reasonably calm, though like many big cities it is susceptible to crimes and other security and safety related problems. During the last three years more frequent robberies have been reported, while the authorities continually reinforce the commitment to maintain law and order. Living conditions are as in many other advanced cities and accommodation of high quality is not difficult to find. Living costs are not dissimilar to most big cities in Europe. Luanda experiences a warm climate year-round, the summers are short and hot, and can be overcast while the winters are more comfortable, dry, and mostly clear. Angola is a unique country, and the UNICEF Angola nutrition programme offers the opportunity to learn at both upstream and downstream levels in a supportive environment. It provides for an interesting and enriching experience, but also requires tenacity, stamina, and commitment. Therefore, flexibility and the ability and willingness to live and work under changing and sometimes challenging conditions is essential.

Inclusivity statement

United Nations Volunteers is an equal opportunity programme that welcomes applications from qualified professionals. We are committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, care protected characteristics. As part of their adherence to the values of UNV, all UN Volunteers commit themselves to combat any form of discrimination, and to promoting respect for human rights and individual dignity, without distinction of a person’s race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.

Reasonable accommodation

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for UN Volunteers with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the recruitment process and afterwards in your assignment.

Note on Covid-19 vaccination requirements

In addition to duty station-specific vaccine requirements, appointments are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the appointment. It does not apply to UN Volunteers who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their contracts.

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