Nutrition Specialist (Early Childhood Nutrition), P-4, UNICEF Regional Office for South Asia, Kathmandu Nepal, Fixed Term # 107575

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, every right

 ROSA Culture Book.pdf

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programmes, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, nutrition, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

How can you make a difference? 

As the Nutrition Specialist (Early Childhood Nutrition), you will support the Regional Advisor Nutrition in:

• Managing the section, contributing to strategic technical support and direction, programme oversight, innovation, research as well as providing knowledge leadership support to UNICEF country offices in South Asia and their development partners.
• Developing, preparing and managing complex, early childhood nutrition and development programmes (infant nutrition, young children’s diets, early detection and management of child wasting and infants at risk of poor growth and development). This includes early stimulation in child nutrition programmes. 
• Providing authoritative technical guidance, research leadership and management support throughout the programming processes to facilitate the administration and achievement of concrete and sustainable results in early childhood nutrition programmes/projects. This is carried out according to plans, allocation, results based-management approaches and methodology (RBM), as well as UNICEF’s Strategic Plans, standards of performance, and accountability framework. 

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

1. Management and advisory support to the Regional Advisor Nutrition
2. Programme development and planning
3. Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results
4. Advisory services and technical support
5. Advocacy, networking and partnership building
6. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

Impact of results

The efficiency and efficacy of support provided by the Nutrition Specialist (Early Childhood Nutrition) to the preparation, planning and implementation of nutrition programmes/projects contributes to and accelerates the regional development efforts to improve infant nutrition, young children’s diets, early detection and management of child wasting, including infants at risk of poor growth and development in South Asia. This in turn contributes to maintaining and enhancing the credibility and ability of UNICEF to continue to provide programme services to mothers and children hence promoting greater social equity in the region.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here:  Nutrition Specialist (Early Childhood Nutrition) – Vacancy Anncouncement.pdf

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

• At least Eight (8) years of professional work experience at the national and international levels in planning, programming, implementation, research, monitoring and evaluation of-nutrition programmes.
• Experience in health/nutrition programme/project development and management in a UN system agency or organization is an asset.
• Professional work experience leading on early childhood nutrition (infant nutrition, young children’s diets, early detection and management of infants and children at risk of poor growth and development) is required.
• Experience in  leading research and knowledge in qualitative, and quantitative research methods and data analysis skills on early childhood nutrition including policy and systems research and publication experience for a range of audiences (technical, academic, research and non-technical) is required.
• Experience in formulating and leading on capacity development initiatives in the area of early childhood nutrition is  desirable
• Experience in leading on strategic partnerships with nutrition sector global, regional and national partners, allies, donors, and academia to advance early childhood nutrition policy and programme action  an added advantage
• Experience in emergency nutrition preparedness and response is desirable.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

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

Core Values

• Care
• Respect
• Integrity
• Trust
• Accountability

Core Competencies

• 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)

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 measures to include a more diverse workforce, such as paid parental leave, time off for breastfeeding purposes, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). 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 promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. 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.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be 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 canceled.

Remarks:

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

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

Nationals of the country are eligible to apply for IP positions in an RO provided they have at least two (2) years of international work experience: gained through international assignments with other offices outside the country of nationality of at least one year duration. 

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions 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 does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.