Nutrition Specialist – NOC, Fixed Term, Karachi, Pakistan # 99005

UNICEF Pakistan is looking for Nutrition Specialist to join the wonderful Nutrition team would base in Karachi. Under the general guidance of the Chief of Field Office and technical direction from the Chief of Nutrition, the Nutrition Specialist is responsible for planning/designing, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating Nutrition and Early Childhood Development (ECD) programs in Sindh Province.

UNICEF works in some of the world’s most challenging 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.

For every Child, Health!

Pakistan was the sixth country in the world to sign and ratify the Convention on the Rights of the Child less than one year after it was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1989. However, children and adolescents living in Pakistan still face acute challenges.

UNICEF supports the Government of Pakistan to accelerate progress for children, work to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and help children realize their rights under the Convention on the Rights of Children. This will be made through, among other things, strong partnerships with provincial authorities, teachers and health professionals, frontline workers and social mobilisers, communities and families, and of course the children and adolescents themselves. 

In particular, UNICEF will work so that:

• Every Child survives and thrives — being in good health, immunized, protected from polio and accessing nutritious food.
• Every Child learns.
• Every Child is protected from violence and exploitation and registered at birth.
• Every Child lives in a safe and clean environment, with access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation. 

To learn more about UNICEF work in Pakistan, please visit the country website www.unicef.org/pakistan and videos on YouTube and Vimeo

 The Nutrition Specialist supports the development and preparation of the nutrition program and is responsible for managing, implementing, monitoring, evaluating, and reporting the program progress of the nutrition program in Punjab Province within the country program. S/he provides technical guidance and management support throughout the programming processes to facilitate the administration and achievement of concrete and sustainable results in maternal, adolescent, infant and Child nutrition programmes, as well as ECD. This is carried out according to plans, allocation, results based-management approaches and methodology (RBM), and UNICEF’s Strategic Plans, standards of performance, and accountability framework.

To make a difference, the incumbent shall be responsible for following key strategic functions, accountabilities and related duties/ tasks;

 1.      Support to Programme Development and Planning:

• Contribute to and support the preparation, design and updating of the situation analysis for the nutrition sector(s) to ensure comprehensive and current data on maternal, adolescent and child nutrition is available to guide policy development, and the design and management of nutrition programmes.
• Keep abreast of development trends to enhance programme management, efficiency, and delivery.
• Participate in strategic programme discussions on the planning of nutrition programmes.
• Formulate, design and prepare a sector of the nutrition programme proposal, ensuring alignment with UNICEF’s Strategic Plans, Country Programme, and coherence/integration with the UN
• Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF), regional strategies, as well as national and provincial priorities, plans and competencies.
• Establish specific goals, objectives, strategies, and implementation plans for the nutrition sector(s) based on results-based planning terminology and methodology (RBM). Prepare required documentations for programme review and approval.
• Work closely and collaboratively with colleagues and partners to discuss strategies and methodologies, and to determine national and provincial priorities/competencies to ensure the achievement of concrete and sustainable results.
• Provide technical and operational support throughout all stages of programming processes to ensure integration, coherence and harmonization of programmes with other UNICEF sectors and achievement of results as planned and allocated.                                     2.  Programme Management, Monitoring and Delivery of Results:

• Plan and/or collaborate with internal and external partners to establish monitoring benchmarks, performance indicators, and UNICEF/UN system indicators and measurements, to assess and strengthen performance accountability, coherence, and delivery of concrete and sustainable results for the assigned sector in nutrition programmes.
• Participate in monitoring and evaluation exercises, including field monitoring, monthly, quarterly, mid-year programme reviews and annual reviews with government and other counterparts to assess progress and to determine required action and interventions to achieve results.
• Prepare and assess monitoring and evaluation reports to identify gaps, strengths and/or weaknesses in programme management. Identify lessons learned and use knowledge gained for development planning and timely intervention to achieve goals.
• Actively monitor programmes and projects through field visits, surveys and/or exchange of information with partners and stakeholders to assess progress. Identify bottlenecks and potential problems and take timely decisions to resolve issues and/or refer to relevant officials for timely resolution.
• Monitor and verify the optimum and appropriate use of sectoral programme resources (financial, administrative and other assets) confirming compliance with organizational rules, regulations, procedures, donor commitments, and standards of accountability. Ensure timely reporting and liquidation of resources.
• Prepare regular and mandated programme/project reports for management, donors and partners to keep them informed of programme progress.
• In close collaboration with the Chief of Field Office, coordinate the design/planning, implementation, technical assistances, as well as monitoring and reporting of ECD programmes in Punjab Province. 

3.  Technical and Operational Support to Programme Implementation:

• Provide technical guidance and operational support to the provincial government counterparts, NGO partners, UN system partners donors and others on the interpretation, application and understanding of UNICEF policies, strategies, processes, best practices, and approaches on nutrition and related issues to support programme development planning, management, implementation, and delivery of results.
• Participate in discussions with provincial partners, clients and stakeholders to promote nutrition, ECD and development issues especially in the areas of emergency preparedness and response, maternal, adolescent, newborn and Child survival and development initiatives.
•  Draft relevant policy papers, briefs and other strategic programme materials for management use, information and/or consideration, as relevant to the province.
• Provide operational and technical support to relevant Provincial Government Departments in the institutionalization, capacity strengthening and rollout of ECD interventions at scale and with concrete results.
• Support in emergency preparedness. response, and recovery initiatives for programme development, contingency planning and/or to respond to emergencies in country or where designated. 

4.      Networking and Partnership Building: 

• Build and sustain effective close working partnerships with nutrition sector government counterparts, community representatives and provincial stakeholders through active sharing of information and knowledge.
• Facilitate programme implementation and build capacity of stakeholders to achieve programme goals on maternal and Child rights as well as social justice and equity.
• Prepare communication and information materials for CO programme advocacy to promote awareness, establish partnership/alliances and support fund raising for nutrition programmes (maternal, newborn and Child survival and development).
• Participate and/or represent UNICEF in provincial level inter-agency discussions, ensuring that UNICEF’s position, interests and priorities are fully considered and integrated in the UNSDCF development planning and agenda setting. 

5.  Innovation, Knowledge Management and Capacity Building:

• Apply/introduce, and support rollout of innovative approaches and good practices to build the capacity of community, partners and stakeholders, and to support the implementation and delivery of concrete and sustainable programme results.
• Keep abreast, research, benchmark, and implement best and cutting-edge practices in nutrition management and information systems. Assess, institutionalize, and disseminate/share best practices and knowledge learned.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of policies and procedures to ensure optimum efficiency and efficacy of sustainable programmes, with community engagement and ownership.
• Organize and implement capacity building initiatives to enhance the competencies of community, partners, government and other stakeholders to promote sustainable results on nutrition and ECD related programmes.

To qualify as an advocate for every Child you will have…

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or above) 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, Or another Nutrition- Related Field.
• *A first University Degree (Bachelor’s) in a relevant field combined with 2 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree.
• A minimum of five years of professional experience in a developing country in one or more of the following areas is required: nutrition, public health, nutrition programme planning and management, or maternal, infant and Child health/nutrition care.
• Relevant experience in health/nutrition programme/project development and management in a UN system agency or organization is an asset.
• Additional experiences and or trainings on nutrition information system management will be asset.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language or a local language is an asset.
• Experience working in a developing country is considered an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate..

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust,  Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS).

• Nurtures, Leads, and Manages People (1), Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (2), Works Collaboratively with others (2), Builds and Maintains Partnerships (2), Innovates and Embraces Change (2), Thinks and Acts Strategically (2), Drive to achieve impactful results (2)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (2)

View our competency framework at  Competency Framework Brochure.pdf

Click here to learn more about UNICEF’s values and competencies.

 Life at UNICEF

Working at UNICEF is highly rewarding. With attractive remuneration package encompassing competitive pay and benefits, a culture that helps staff thrive and diverse opportunities for personal and professional development, we aim to help you maintain a fulfilling life both at and outside the office.

We make sure you and your loved ones receive the resources and care that you need to thrive. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. Our contracts, wellbeing policies and initiatives ensure that you are well equipped to effectively deliver for children such as;

• Tax exemption, family allowances, hardship benefits, 10 UN holidays and annual leave allowance, maternity, paternity, adoption leave, medical and dental insurance, pension etc.
• Career support, staff wellbeing programme, breastfeeding policy, flexible work arrangements, childcare room, family support, policies & initiatives, security etc.
• UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. 

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict Child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks:

• The VA is re-opened to internal and external candidates to expand the pool of candidates. 
• Verified educational certificates/HEC Attested Degrees are a pre-requisite for employment at UNICEF. 
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.
• UNICEF’s active commitment towards diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable female candidates will be prioritized.
• UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Appointments are also subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Government employees considered for employment with UNICEF usually are required to resign from their government before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. Without compensation, UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment if medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met within a reasonable period for any reason.