Nutrition Officer (Micronutrients and Maternal Nutrition), (NO-2), Fixed Term, Lilongwe, Malawi #8747, (Open to Malawian Nationals Only)

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, a future…

The UNICEF Malawi Country Programme (2024-2028) works through a One-UN approach based on the new United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSCDF) Strategic Priorities. 2024-2028).  All four strategic priorities of the UNSCDF2024-2028 hold significance to UNICEF and the priorities identified for children: i) Economic Development, ii) Governance, iii) Human Capital Development, and iv) Climate Change. UNICEF co-leads the further elaboration and results in developing the Human Capital Development strategic priority. The intent of the UNICEF CPD 2024-2028 is fully aligned with these priorities, which are also directly linked to the pillars of Malawi Vision 2063, and the Malawi Implementation Plan (MIP, 2030). To this extent, UNICEF’s strategy for the CPD includes Child Survival and Development (Health, Nutrition and WASH), Education, Learning and Child Protection, Social Policy (Social Protection and Public Finance for Children), Gender Equality, Inclusion and Innovation within a robust evidence-informed environment. These are focus areas under the Human Capital Development Enabler of the MIP (2030). The Country Programme envisages the progressive fulfilment of the rights to survival, development, education, protection and participation of all children, including adolescents, especially the most vulnerable and those at risk of being left behind, in an inclusive, resilient and protective environment. Besides Malawi’s 2063 vision and 2021–2030 implementation plan (MIP), the African Union’s Agenda 2063; UNICEF’s Strategic Plan, Gender Action Plan III, Innovation Strategy; and the SDGs. The country programme includes child survival and development, learning, skills development and protection, and social policy. All components are supported by the programme and operational effectiveness and efficiency imperatives. Risk-informed programming across the humanitarian and development nexus in all three outcome areas will strengthen disaster preparedness, enhance climate adaptation/mitigation and response, and increase the resilience capacity of institutions, communities and young people. Programming aligns with UNICEF Core Commitments for Children in Humanitarian Action and the Inter-Agency Standing Committee’s Transformative Agenda.

The Nutrition programme is a key component of the Country Programme’s component one Child survival and development.  This component seeks to ensure that children and mothers, especially the most vulnerable, in both development and humanitarian settings, have access to and utilize equitable, high-quality services in primary health care, HIV/AIDS, nutrition, ECD and climate-resilient WASH; and that they adopt positive health-seeking, dietary, parenting and hygiene practices. The outcome aligns with national health, nutrition and WASH sector frameworks and will contribute directly to UNSDCF outcomes on human capital development. The micronutrient and maternal nutrition programme is an integral part of Child survival and development, and as the Nutrition Officer (Micronutrients and Maternal Nutrition), you will be at the forefront of supporting the micronutrient and maternal nutrition programme’s overall strategic direction of the country by providing technical, operational and administrative assistance throughout the programming cycle which follows the life cycle approach. In doing so, you will carry out a variety of technical and administrative tasks to facilitate programme development, implementation, programme progress monitoring, evaluation, and reporting of results.

How can you make a difference?

The Malawi Country Office offers an exciting and rewarding career opportunity for you to join our dynamic Nutrition team, where you will be responsible for leading the implementation of a wide range of micronutrient and maternal nutrition activities and thereby contributing to the prevention of micronutrient deficiencies among young children and promotion of maternal health and nutrition in Malawi.

This job, therefore, presents a unique and significant opportunity for a qualified, vibrant, motivated, and committed person to contribute to the overall achievement of transformative results for children with professional excellence by delivering on the following key responsibility areas, but not limited to the following:

1. Support the Ministry of Health on programme development and planning.
2. Work closely and collaboratively with colleagues and partners to support programme management, monitoring and delivery of results.
3. Provide technical and operational support to programme implementation.
4. Build and sustain effective close working partnerships with nutrition sector government counterparts and national stakeholders.
5. Contribute to innovation, knowledge management and capacity building for implementing partners and districts frontline workers.

You are however encouraged to read the attached and detailed job description  Job Description_NOB Nutrition Officer (Micronutrients).pdf to view the full role and its requirements.

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

Education:

• A university degree 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, nutritional epidemiology, or another health-related science field.

Experience:

• A minimum of two years of professional experience in one or more of the following areas is required: nutrition, public health, nutrition planning and management, or maternal, infant, and child health/nutrition care.
• Experience in nutrition programme/project implementation is required.
• Experience working with national and sub-national nutrition coordination and governance structures is a requirement.
• Experience in a developing country is required.
• Experience in health/nutrition programme/project development within a UN system agency is an asset.

Technical knowledge and skills:

• Knowledge of Malawi’s nutrition landscape is required.
• Background and/or familiarity with emergency is considered as an asset.
• Technical skills in programme planning, support and implementation are required.
• Proven networking and partnership-building skills are an asset.

Language:

• Fluency in English and a local language (particularly Chichewa), both strong verbal and written skills, are essential.

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:

The position is not considered an elevated-risk role. However, UNICEF reserves the right to conduct further vetting/assessment within the scope of child safeguarding as appropriate.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

UNICEF’s active commitment towards diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable, women are encouraged to apply.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (COVID).

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.

UNICEF only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/.

The vacancy announcement is open to all candidates – both internal UNICEF staff holding permanent, continuing and fixed term appointments and external candidates.

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

To effectively contribute to the delivery of results for the children of Malawi, the UNICEF Malawi Country Office operates within a dynamic and results-oriented setting. We foster an environment characterized by creativity, innovation, collaboration, teamwork, a commitment to professional growth, and a safe workspace. Consequently, we are actively searching for individuals who are driven to enact tangible change and dedicated to serving Malawi’s children with resourcefulness, resilience, agility, and a commitment to professional excellence.