Nutrition Specialist (Food Systems, Overweight Prevention and School Age and Adolescent Nutrition), P4, Fixed Term, Nairobi, Kenya (Eastern & Southern Africa Regional Office) #128905

The Eastern & Southern Africa Regional Office (ESARO) Nutrition Section has a newly established role of Nutrition Specialist (Food Systems, Overweight Prevention and School Age and Adolescent Nutrition). Under the overall supervision of the Regional Adviser Nutrition, the Nutrition Specialist will be responsible for technical support and strategic direction on food systems for children, overweight prevention and school age and adolescent nutrition (abbreviated as “FS/OW/SACA-N”), across all the country offices in Eastern and Southern Africa Region. The food systems aspect focuses on food environments but also supports the broader food systems for children’s agenda of the regional office. The Nutrition Specialist will provide substantive support to the Regional Adviser Nutrition for leadership on the entire Nutrition agenda in the region.
If you are interested and believe that you have the experience and skills for this role, we would like to hear from you.

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built.  We offer our staff diverse opportunities for personal and professional development that will help them develop a fulfilling career while delivering on a rewarding mission. We pride ourselves on a culture that helps staff thrive, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, a hope…

The Nutrition Section in the Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office (ESARO) provides technical and strategic assistance, quality assurance and oversight for 21 country office nutrition programmes in the region, based on the UNICEF global nutrition strategy, strategic plan and regional office priorities. The ESARO nutrition section contributes to country office results in preventing all forms of maternal, child and adolescent malnutrition and ensuring treatment for wasted children; supports evidence generation, data analysis, knowledge management and the strengthening of information systems, and pursues strategic partnerships with RECs, UN agencies, NGOs, academic institutions, donors and other stakeholders to advance the nutrition agenda in the region and mobilize resources. The ESARO Nutrition Section provides technical assistance to country offices to apply the systems approach to nutrition outlined in the global nutrition strategy, encompassing the food, social protection, health, WASH and education systems. 

How can you make a difference? 

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here:  Specific JD _ Nutrition Specialist, P-4 #128905 ESARO Kenya.pdf

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

Minimum requirements:

Education: 

Advanced university degree in Public Health, Nutrition (preferably with specialized training in one or more of the following: public health and nutrition planning, health and nutrition education, health care system management, epidemiology, food systems, food policy, overweight and NCD prevention), Epidemiology, Social Policy, Social Development, Social Anthropology, Community Development, Food Policy, or other relevant disciplines.

Work Experience:

• 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. Professional work experience in a managerial/leadership position, or a technical expert position.
• Developing country work experience.
• Relevant experience in program/project development and management in any UN system agency or organization is an asset.
• Background/familiarity and specific work experience on food systems, overweight prevention and school age and adolescent nutrition.

Language Requirements:  Fluency in English and another UN language 

Desirables:

• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency.

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

The 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 

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

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 candidates are encouraged to apply.

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.

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

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.