Nutrition Surveillance Officer

Job Posting Organization:
The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health. Established on April 7, 1948, WHO's mission is to promote health, keep the world safe, and serve vulnerable populations. The organization operates in over 150 countries and has a workforce of more than 7,000 employees. WHO aims to ensure that all people can attain the highest possible level of health, focusing on health systems strengthening, disease prevention, and health promotion.

Job Overview:
The Nutrition Surveillance Officer will play a crucial role in reducing nutrition-related mortality and morbidity among mothers, newborns, children, and adolescents in Afghanistan. This position involves promoting healthy nutrition practices and preventing chronic malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies. The officer will coordinate with the Ministry of Public Health and other stakeholders to integrate nutrition interventions within reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health (RMNCAH) programs. The role requires technical support for implementing nutrition-related activities, ensuring alignment with national strategies, and improving the quality and impact of nutrition interventions. The officer will also be responsible for data collection, analysis, and dissemination to enhance decision-making in nutrition and health sectors.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Coordinate with the Ministry of Public Health and other stakeholders to embed nutrition interventions within RMNCAH programs.
• Provide technical support for implementing nutrition-related activities and adapting WHO standards to local contexts.
• Support implementers in scaling up integrated nutrition-RMNCAH interventions.
• Improve the quality of therapeutic feeding services through the provision of necessary resources.
• Collaborate with government counterparts and international agencies to maintain data reporting systems.
• Support data triangulation and integrated analysis for enhanced decision-making.
• Train local personnel in nutrition surveillance data collection and reporting.
• Evaluate and refine the Nutrition Surveillance System (NSS) and integrate it into RMNCAH monitoring frameworks.
• Revise data collection tools and training packages. 1
• Convene monthly taskforce meetings and provide timely reports on NSS status. 1
• Advocate for the use of data generated by the NSS. 1
• Support the development of guidelines for nutrition data dissemination and analysis. 1
• Mobilize additional resources for nutrition activities. 1
• Actively participate in relevant coordination platforms and technical working groups.

Required Qualifications:
Essential: University Degree in Medicine with specialization in Nutrition. Desirable: Postgraduate studies in Public Health. Candidates should possess a good understanding of nutrition and RMNCAH interlinkages, particularly in fragile settings. Strong interpersonal and communication skills are essential for engaging with health professionals and policymakers.

Educational Background:
Candidates must hold a University Degree in Medicine with a specialization in Nutrition. Postgraduate studies in Public Health are desirable, indicating a higher level of expertise in public health issues related to nutrition.

Experience:
Essential: At least 2 years of relevant experience in nutrition and security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">food security. Desirable: Experience working with UN organizations, which would provide familiarity with international health standards and practices.

Languages:
Essential: Expert knowledge of English, Dari, and Pashto. These language skills are crucial for effective communication with local stakeholders and international partners. Desirable language skills may include additional local dialects or languages relevant to the region.

Additional Notes:
This position is classified as a National Professional Officer role, meaning only applications from nationals of Afghanistan will be accepted. The remuneration package includes an annual base salary starting at USD 45,101, with mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance. Employees are entitled to 30 days of annual leave. The position may involve a written test or video assessment as part of the screening process. Candidates must provide scanned copies of their educational qualifications prior to the interview. WHO emphasizes diversity and inclusion in its hiring practices and encourages applications from women and underrepresented groups. The organization has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and abuse, and all candidates will undergo background verification.