Nutrition Specialist P3

Job Posting Organization:
UNICEF, established in 1946, operates in over 190 countries and territories with a mission to save children's lives, defend their rights, and help them realize their potential from early childhood to adolescence. The organization is committed to promoting the rights of every child, offering diverse opportunities for personal and professional development to its staff, and fostering a culture that supports employee growth alongside attractive compensation and benefits. UNICEF's work is guided by its core values of care, respect, integrity, trust, accountability, and sustainability, which are fundamental to its operations and interactions.

Job Overview:
The position of Nutrition Specialist P3 is crucial for providing technical and strategic support for the monitoring and evaluation of the holistic 1000 Days program within the country program. This role involves ensuring that the implementation of the program aligns with UNICEF's strategic plans, resource allocation, and result-oriented management methodologies. The specialist will be responsible for developing monitoring and evaluation tools, supporting research-action initiatives to assess the impact of high-impact programs in Benin, and fostering strategic partnerships to ensure governance and accountability for sustainable results. The position also requires integration and harmonization of the 1000 Days program with other UNICEF and government initiatives, as well as supporting communication efforts to raise public awareness and mobilize resources for nutrition agendas.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide technical and strategic support for the implementation of the 1000 Days program and food diversity initiatives.
• Assist in the development and planning of monitoring and evaluation tools for the 1000 Days program.
• Support research-action initiatives to progressively evaluate the effects and impacts of ongoing high-impact programs in Benin.
• Develop strategic partnerships to establish governance frameworks and accountability for concrete and sustainable results of the 1000 Days program.
• Ensure integration, coherence, and harmonization of the 1000 Days program with other UNICEF and government programs.
• Assist in documenting the experience of systematic supplementation of children aged 6-23 months with SQ-LNS in Benin.
• Prepare communication and information materials for advocacy to raise public awareness and support resource mobilization for nutrition agendas.

Required Qualifications:

• Advanced university degree (Master's or equivalent) in nutrition, public health, nutritional epidemiology, global/international health and nutrition, research, health/nutrition policy and management, health sciences, nutritional epidemiology, or other related scientific fields.
• At least five years of professional experience in developing countries in one or more of the following areas: nutrition, public health, nutrition planning and management, or maternal, infant, and child health and nutrition.
• Proven experience in program or project development and management in health/nutrition within a UN agency or organization is an asset.
• Experience in supporting client-oriented work units is an asset.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree, equivalent to a Master's degree, in relevant fields such as nutrition, public health, nutritional epidemiology, global health, health policy, or related scientific disciplines. This educational background is essential for understanding the complexities of nutrition and health interventions in a global context.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of five years of professional experience in a developing country context, specifically in areas related to nutrition, public health, or maternal and child health. This experience should include practical involvement in planning and managing nutrition programs, as well as familiarity with the challenges and strategies relevant to health and nutrition in low-resource settings.

Languages:
Fluency in French is mandatory, with practical knowledge of English being an asset. Proficiency in both languages is crucial for effective communication and collaboration within the international context of UNICEF's operations.

Additional Notes:
The position is full-time and involves working closely with government partners and other stakeholders to ensure the successful implementation of the 1000 Days program. Candidates should be prepared for a rigorous background check, including verification of academic credentials and professional history. The role may require compliance with vaccination requirements, including for COVID-19, and candidates must be willing to relocate if necessary. UNICEF promotes a diverse and inclusive workforce and encourages applications from all qualified individuals, regardless of personal characteristics.