Nutrition Officer, NOB at the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF)

United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (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.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Nutrition Officer, NOB

Job no: 554404
Location: Abuja
Contract type: Fixed Term Appointment
Level: NO-2
Categories: Nutrition

How can you make a difference?

Reporting to the Nutrition Manager, L4, the Nutrition officer will provide professional technical, operational and administrative assistance throughout the programming process for the nutrition programs/ projects through the application of theoretical and technical skills in collecting, analyzing and presenting technical program information while learning organizational rules, regulations and procedures to support the development and formulation of the Nutrition programs.
At the same time, support the nutrition team on advocacy, policy formulation, and creating an enabling environment for the implementation of nutrition programs in Nigeria.
The candidate will equally track budgetary allocation and financing of nutrition interventions (Nutrition specific and Nutrition sensitive) in Nigeria, collaborate with internal and external stakeholders on policy strengthening activities and will represent UNICEF in advocacy platforms (e.g., Scaling Up Nutrition Movement) and activities as appropriate.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have
Support to programme development and planning:

Conduct and update the situation analysis for the programme sector(s) for the development, design and management of multi-sectoral nutrition related policies and financing. Research and report on development trends (e.g., political social, economic, nutrition, health) for higher management use to enhance cross sectoral co-ordination, efficiency and delivery of results.
Contribute to the development/ establishment of section program goals, objectives and strategies including in emergencies, and results-based planning through analysis of nutrition needs and areas for intervention and submission of recommendations for priority and goal setting.
Provide technical and operational support throughout all stages of programming processes by executing/administering a variety of technical program transactions, preparing materials/documentations and complying with organizational processes and management systems, to support program planning, results-based planning (RBM) and monitoring and evaluating results.
Work closely and collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders to ensure the achievement of concrete and sustainable results for nutrition, including, to prepare required documentations/materials to facilitate the program review and approval process.

Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results:

Provide technical support and analytics on the preparation, design, and financing for the nutrition sector, alongside, plus collaborate with internal and external colleagues and partners to discuss operational and implementation issues, provide solutions, recommendations and/or alert appropriate officials and stakeholders for higher-level intervention and/or decision.
Ensure availability of comprehensive and current data on maternal and child nutrition to guide policy development as well as design and management of nutrition programmes/projects while keeping record of reports and assessments for easy reference and/or to capture and institutionalize lessons learned.
Participate in strategic programme discussions on the planning of nutrition programmes/projects to ensure increases in domestic resource allocation for nutrition as well as radical improvements in quality and coverage of nutrition interventions
Ensure alignment of UNICEF’s Strategic Plans and Country Programme with national priorities, plans, and competencies. and coherence/integration with the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) formerly named United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF), regional and global strategies.
Establish specific goals, objectives, strategies, and implementation plans for the sector(s) based on results-based planning terminology and methodology (RBM). Prepare required documentation for programme review and approval.
Participate in monitoring and evaluation exercises, program reviews and annual reviews with government and other counterparts to assess programs/projects and to report on required action/interventions at the higher level of program management.
Monitor and report on the use of section program resources (financial, administrative and other assets), verify compliance with approved allocation/goals, organizational rules, regulations/procedures and donor commitments, standards of accountability and integrity.
Report on issues identified to ensure timely resolution by management/stakeholders. Follow up on unresolved issues to ensure resolution.

Technical and operational support to programme implementation:

Conduct regular programme field visits and surveys, and exchange information with partners and stakeholders to assess progress and provide technical support. Take appropriate action to resolve issues and/or refer to relevant officials for resolution. Report on critical issues, bottlenecks, and potential problems for timely action to achieve results.
Support the government to increase financing and coverage of services for the nutrition interventions especially prevention services at both national and sub-national levels.
Efficiently manage internal and externally generated program funds.

Advocacy, networking and partnership building:

Build and sustain effective close working partnerships with nutrition sector government counterparts and national stakeholders through active sharing of information and knowledge to facilitate program implementation and build capacity of stakeholders to achieve program goals and social justice, equity and rights of mothers, newborn and children.
Prepare communication and advocacy products to highlight programme goals, achievements and/or needs to promote awareness, establish partnerships/alliances and support fund raising for nutrition programmes (maternal, newborn and child survival and development).
Participate in appropriate inter-agency meetings/events on programming to collaborate with nutrition partners.

Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building:

Promote critical thinking, innovative approaches and good practices for sustainable nutrition programme/project initiatives through advocacy and technical advisory services.
Keep abreast, research, benchmark, and implement best and cutting-edge practices in nutrition management and information systems. Institutionalize and share best practices and knowledge learned.
Contribute to the development of policies and procedures and introduce innovation and best practices to ensure optimum efficiency and efficacy of sustainable programmes and projects.
Organize, plan and/or implement capacity building initiatives to enhance the competencies of clients and stakeholders to promote transformative and sustainable results on /nutrition-related programmes/projects.

Competencies
Competencies required for this post are: