Nutrition Specialist – P3  

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.

And we never give up.

For every child, Nutrition

The 2024 -2025 UNICEF Programme of Cooperation with the Government is designed to support national efforts to improve service delivery in the key areas of child health, HIV/AIDS, nutrttion, quality basic education, water, sanitation and hygiene, child protection, social inclusion, gender equality, humanitarian actions, and advocacy.

The nutrition component of the Country Programme is built in line with the country commitment for Nutrition and current regional and global guidance. The programme focuses on increasing coverage of nutrition-specific priority interventions, such as infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices promotion and support, control of micronutrient deficiencies, Integrated Management of Acute Malnutrition (IMAM), as well as the mainstreaming of nutrition-sensitive interventions in relevant sectors.

Since January 2019, Burkina Faso is facing an aggravation of the security situation affecting mostly six regions of the country (Sahel, Centre North, North, East, Boucle du Mouhoun and Centre Est). The situation expanded to others regions and exacerbated during 2022 and 2023 with increasing of the total number of displaced population from 93,000 to 2,062 534 since January 2019 to 31th March 2023. Most of them are located in Sahel (24.3per cent) and Centre North (23.9 per cent), North (12.4per cent) and East (10.7 per cent) regions

Management of acute malnutrition had been integrated in all public health facilities of Burkina Faso, to increase the coverage of the program. In May 2023, the national guidelines for the implementation of the management of acute malnutrition in a context of insecurity based on community approaches were revised in order to extend their implementation to allow the most vulnerable children to have access to quality nutritional care and thus ensure their survival and well-being. The estimated severely acute malnourished children to be treated during year 2024 is 146,547 in the 13 regions of the country with almost 83 per cent in the six regions most affected by insecurity. The deterioration of security situation with increase of population displacements, closure of health facilities, limited access to social services, impassability of certain roads, increased of hard-to-reach areas, as well as the occurrence medical epidemic such as measle, by impacting the coverage and quality of nutritional interventions, worsens the already worrying nutritional situation of children and women in these regions. The supply of nutrition therapeutic products as well as the deployment of health workers in hard-to-reach areas, is one of the most challenge in delivery of nutrition services.

Since January 2019, OCHA had activated sectoral coordination groups to reinforce humanitarian response considering increased insecurity. The nutrition sectoral humanitarian group had been working under UNICEF leadership, on improving capacities of response despite the reduction of humanitarian acces to save lives of children at risk of mortality due to malnutrition.

Considering the current humanitarian situation in Burkina Faso, added to increased of challenges faced in implementation of nutrition interventions that affected quality and coverage of management of malnutrition program, there is a need to reinforce UNICEF nutrition team. The Temporary Assignment Nutrition Specialist P-3 will reinforce technical support to the MoH and partners to improve emergency nutrition response.

How can you make a difference?

The Nutrition Specialist, P3/TA (CMAM and Emergency), will report to the Nutrition Manager P-4, in the Health and Nutrition Section. S/he will provide technical guidance and support to improve quality and coverage of management of acute malnutrition programme, prevention of malnutrition in emergency settings and coordination of the nutrition sectoral group. The Nutrition P3/TA will support the Responsible of nutrition program in continuous evaluation of the nutrition situation, implementation of corrective actions to address bottlenecks identified to improve performances of the CMAM program, ensure availability of timely nutrition information and monitoring and evaluation.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities

• Provide technical guidance for analysis, assessment, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of community management of acute malnutrition program to improve performances and prevention of malnutrition with focus on emergency affected areas.
• Participate in the evaluation of the emergency Provide technical support to the MoH for implementation of corrective actions plans developed by health regions to address bottlenecks identified in the area of CMAM program.
• Contribute to the development of the humanitarian needs overview (HNO) and the humanitarian response plan (HRP) in the framework of nutrition cluster coordination. .
• Facilitate development of partnership for nutrition emergency response in affected areas.
• Provide technical support on introduction of new approaches, methods and practices to ensure community participation and ownership of the nutrition problems and solutions (ex.: approach MUAC at household level, and simplified protocol).
• Undertake field visits to monitor programme implementation, provide assistance to the field teams as requested and travel to the field to fill gaps as required.
• Identify training needs of national health and nutrition staff in terms of management of acute malnutrition. Support the development/revision of relevant training modules and follow-up tools. Develop plans for capacity reinforcement, facilitate and coordinate the implementation of these plans.
• Prepare mandated and key program/ project reports for donors and other partners to keep them informed of program progress. 
• Ensure timely and monthly availability of updated nutrition information.
• Participates in evaluation exercises and program review. Analyses and assesses data to ensure achievement of objectives and recommends corrective measures as appropriate as well as preparing reports to donors as may be required.
• Undertake any other assignments as provided by in charge of the nutrition program.

To be qualified as a champion for every Child, you must….

• Have an Advanced University Degree in nutrition, nutritional epidemiology, public health, global/international health and nutrition, health/nutrition research, policy and/or management, or other health related science field is required.
• Have a minimum of 5 years of professional experience in public health/nutrition planning and management and/or in relevant areas of community management of acute malnutrition program, and nutrition emergency response, at the international level some of which preferably in a developing country is required. Relevant experience in health/nutrition program/project development and management in any UN system agency or organization is an asset
• Background/familiarity with emergency operations and staff security.
• Excellent report writing and strong facilitation skills.
• Good communication and negotiation skills.
• Ability to work with minimum supervision.
• Developing country work experience and good computer skills.
• Be fluent in French and good working knowledge in English. Knowledge of a local language is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships (2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness (3) Drive to achieve results for impact (4) Innovates and embraces change (5) Manages ambiguity and complexity (6) Thinks and acts strategically (7) Works collaboratively with others.

During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: competency framework here.

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.
We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.
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 is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. 

Remarks:

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 are encouraged to apply.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments are also subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be cancelled.

All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. 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.

Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

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