UNICEF Nutrition Specialist Job in Lodwar, Kenya

United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
 

Kenya Country Office

Vacancy Announcement “KCO/NUTR/2014-084”  

Duty Station: Lodwar

Nutrition Specialist, NO-C, Post#90643

Type of Contract: Fixed Term

Date of Issue: 05 December 2014

Applications are hereby invited from suitably qualified candidates to fill the above Fixed Term position in UNICEF Kenya Country Office (KCO), Lodwar Field Office.

Purpose of the Post:  Under the supervision of the Chief, Nutrition, and general supervision of the Chief Field Office this post is Accountable for formulation, design, planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluation of Nutrition project(s) in selected counties to ensure overall efficiency and effectiveness of the project management, delivery and accomplishment of project goals and objectives.

Accountable for ensuring that all aspects of the Nutrition project/programme promote gender equality, and for collaborating to mainstream key features across all related sectors of the country programme.

Major Duties and Responsibilities:
 

Project Planning, Development and Management

• Enhance effective project, sectoral or inter-sectoral planning, development and management by leading, guiding, coordinating and supporting the timely completion of the Situational Analysis and its periodic update through accurate and complete monitoring and analysis, addressing gender inequality and determinants of gender equality; ensure the timely preparation or finalization of sectoral input.

Knowledge Management

• Further promote knowledge management by drafting or finalizing sectoral documents and reports such as the Country Programme Recommendation and Plans of Action as well as through orientation and training programmes targeted to Government authorities.
• Ensure exchange of knowledge, information, experience or lessons learned; provides solid technical recommendations on major programme directions and on introduction of new initiatives in the country.

Rights-Based Projects through Results-Based Approach

• Promote the quality of rights-based Nutrition projects and programmes through participation in the formulation of programme/project goals, strategies and approaches, especially those that increase gender equality. 
• Bring coherence, synergy and added value to sectoral or project management processes using a gender-sensitive, results-based management approach to planning and design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.

Sectoral Work Plan Development, Implementation, and Monitoring

• Takes primary responsibility for the development of the sectoral work plan and technical decisions as well as for project management, implementation and monitoring of assigned project/sectoral activity, in compliance with the defined project strategies and approaches, with an emphasis on promoting a shared understanding and approach to reducing gender inequalities and achieving gender mainstreaming.
• Ensure the appropriateness of financial, administrative and supply documentation; verify that Nutrition project expenditures are within allotments and that data is consistent with the project information and database). Follow up on queries or initiate corrective action on discrepancies.

Project Delivery, Evaluation and Reporting

• Ensure project, sectoral or inter-sectoral efficiency and delivery through a rigorous and transparent approach to evaluation. 
• Participate in major evaluation exercises, programme reviews and annual sector review meetings with government counterparts, ensuring that quantitative and qualitative lessons learned in gender equality in nutrition are included as a standard feature. 
• Ensure the preparation of annual Nutrition sector status reports.

Promotion of UNICEF’s Global Goals

• Promote the organization goals of UNICEF through advocacy and policy dialogue through active engagement in communication, networking and participation at every opportunity inside and outside UNICEF, leveraging the strength of UNICEF mission, goals and programmes and focusing on the contributions of gender equality in achieving these goals.

UNICEF and Government Accountability

• Coordinates with Operations and Supply staff on supply and non-supply assistance activities ensuring proper and timely UNICEF and Government accountability.  
• Certifies disbursements of funds, monitors and submits financial status reports to management in compliance with the regulations and guidelines.

Communication, Collaboration, Networking and Partnership

• Ensure exchange of information, experience, identify new strategies and courses of action to accelerate/improve delivery of services and achieve Nutrition programme requirements and objectives. 
• Conduct field visits to monitor programmes and conduct periodic programme reviews with county Government counterparts and other partners, employing qualitative as well as quantitative gender sensitive monitoring methods as useful.

• Collaborate with Communication and Programme Communication groups to ensure development of effective communication materials and strategies to support advocacy and social mobilization efforts.

• Coordinate with Regional Advisers and HQ Officers. Collaborate with other Project or Programme Officers to ensure the integration of the project/sectoral programme with other sectors, ensuring that interventions to reduce gender inequalities are mainstreamed across the sectors.

• Collaborate with the Operations and Supply Sections and Government authorities to establish and maintain sound internal controls supportive of Nutrition project or sectoral planning and implementation, to coordinate financial and supply management requirements as well as to ensure accountability.

• Interact with county Government and other partners, NGOs, UN and bilateral agencies in the different stages of Health programme/project implementation to follow up on agreements and recommendations. Provide technical support and guidance on appropriate technical, financial and institutional capacity building measures to achieve Nutrition programme goals.

Required Qualifications: Advanced university degree in one of the disciplines relevant to the following areas: Public Health & Nutrition, Health Sciences, International Health & Nutrition, Family Health & Nutrition, Nutritional Epidemiology, Health & Nutrition Education, Health & Nutrition Promotion and Disease Prevention, Public Health, Health Emergency Preparedness, or other relevant discipline(s).

Training in gender and in nutrition programmes that promote gender equality an asset.

Experience:

• Five years of relevant professional work experience.
• Developing country work experience (for IP) or field work experience (for NO)
• Background/familiarity with Emergency.
• Experience in monitoring gender inequalities and in programming interventions that reduce these inequalities an asset.

Language: Good knowledge of English language and knowledge of the working language of the duty station.

Competencies: 
 

Core Values (Required)
 

i) Commitment

• Diversity and Inclusion
• Integrity

ii)  Core Competencies (Required)

• Communication [II]
• Working with People [I]
• Drive for Results [I]

iii) Functional Competencies (Required)

• Formulating Strategies and Concepts [I]
• Relating and Networking [I]  
• Applying Technical Expertise [I]                      
• Learning and Researching   [II]
• Leading and Supervising [I]
• Analyzing [III]        

Interested and suitable candidates should ensure they forward their applications along with their P11, curriculum vitae, P11 (CLICK HERE to download) (internal candidates should attach copies of their last two Performance Evaluation Reports), to:   

The Human Resources Manager
UNICEF Kenya Country Office
Email address: kenyahrvacancies@unicef.org

Please indicate reference No. “KCO/NUTR/2014-084” in the email subject.

Closing Date: 18 December 2014

“Qualified female candidates are encouraged to apply”
 

UNICEF practices zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse

UNICEF office is a smoke-free environment