Health & Nutrition Officer at United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF)

United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (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. To help them fulfill their potential. Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Health & Nutrition Officer

Job no: 575811
Location: Kaduna
Level: NO-2
Contract type: Fixed Term Appointment
Categories: Health and Nutrition

How can you make a difference?
The candidate will report to the Nutrition and Health Specialists at the Field Office and work closely with the Health and Nutrition Sections as well as other stakeholders to ensure efficient and effective delivery of results. Specifically, the Health and Nutrition Officer will be responsible for the following:

• Support to health and nutrition programme development, planning and implementation
• Technical support and coordination for the efficient and effective implementation of health and nutrition programmes and results.
• Health and Nutrition programme management, monitoring and quality assurance
• Effective partnership and networking; advocacy and information sharing for resource mobilization and implementation of health and nutrition programmes
• Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

Responsibilities
Support to health and nutrition programme development, planning and implementation:

• Assist in designing, planning, monitoring, and evaluating the Health & Nutrition programmes implemented in the states.
• Provide technical assistance in integrating the Health & Nutrition programme with other sectors and programmes.
• Contribute to establishing partnerships to promote innovative approaches to address immediate and underlying determinants of maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health and nutrition.
• Support the improvement of programme delivery with emphasis on the sustainability of interventions, community participation and the Human Rights Based Approach to Programming.
• Assists government and other partners in the planning and management of the Health and Nutrition Programme.

Technical support and coordination for the efficient and effective implementation of health and nutrition programmes and results:

• Assist in the development of health and nutrition work plans and technical decisions, as well as the administration, implementation, and monitoring of planned activities.
• Analyse health and nutrition data and information for evidence-based decision-making whilst contributing to institutional and donor reports;
• Monitor results to ensure that targets are met through effective coordination and collaboration with government and other partners.
• Provide timely follow-up, including monitoring UNICEF resources, supply and non-supply assistance, and sharing feedback to supervisors for prompt actions.
• Assist in the implementation of emergency preparedness plans and programmes relating to health and nutrition in line with the Core Commitments for Children (CCCs) in Humanitarian Action, strengthen partnerships with the Health and Nutrition humanitarian actors.

Health and Nutrition programme management, monitoring and quality assurance:

• Conduct frequent monitoring of health and nutrition programmes in the states under the field office. 
• Analyze health and nutrition data and provide recommendations for adjustment as appropriate to ensure the achievement of the health and nutrition programme objectives.
• Assist in the timely preparation of programme, annual and donor reports, as required
• Coordinates with Operations and Supply colleagues on the timely procurement, management and distribution of health and nutrition supplies
• Ensure the timely and efficient utilization of grants within established plans and the health and nutrition programme priorities.

Effective partnership and networking; advocacy and information sharing for resource mobilization and implementation of health and nutrition programmes:

• Exchange health and nutrition information and knowledge with other programmes to contribute to the achievement of overall country programme objectives.
• Contribute to the development of communication materials and strategies to support advocacy and community participation in health and nutrition programmes;
• Establish and maintain partnerships with all stakeholders in the states, localities, communities, and the private sector for resource mobilization and to accelerate the achievement of health and nutrition goals.
• Identify and track the development of partnership agreements and their implementation.
• Assist in identifying capacity development needs and facilitate the orientation, training and learning/development activities for government and implementing partners for effective programme delivery.

Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building:

• Introduce innovation and best practices to ensure optimal and sustainable health and nutrition programmes.
• Keep abreast of and share state of the art research and implement best and cutting-edge practices in health and nutrition programming, especially in emergencies.
• Organize, plan and/or implement capacity-building initiatives to enhance the competencies of stakeholders to promote transformative and sustainable results in health and nutrition programmes.

Minimum Requirements

• Education: A university degree in one of the following fields is required: 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. An advanced university degree in any of the above programmes is an asset.
• Work Experience: A minimum of five years of relevant professional work experience in health and nutrition programmes. Experience in implementing adolescent health, RMCH and nutrition programming emergency context and duty location. Working experience for the UN or other international development organizations would be an asset.
• Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of a local language is an asset.

Desirables:

• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency.

Application Closing Date
10th October, 2024.