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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 fulfil 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, health

Since 1950, UNICEF has supported the most important transformation for children and adolescents in Brazil. UNICEF Brazil with its main office in Brasília and nine field offices UNICEF works in close partnership with national and sub-national governments, corporate partners, youth, and civil society organizations. For information on the work of our organization in Brazil, please visit our website: UNICEF Brazil.

How can you make a difference?

Under the supervision of the Chief of Health, s/he will provide support, technical guidance, and advice in the implementation and monitoring of UNICEF Brazil’s health and nutrition strategy aligned with UNICEF's mission and objectives. The Health and Nutrition Specialist is accountable for facilitating the application and adaptation of UNICEF policies and strategies to achieve strategic priorities and objectives and expand UNICEF-assisted Health & Nutrition interventions. To achieve those results, your key functions will be:

• Conduct monitor and evaluation exercises, programme reviews and annual sectoral reviews with government, key stakeholders, knowledge institutions and other counterparts to assess programme and report on required action/interventions.
• Contributes to the development of intersectoral experience and establishment of partnerships to promote innovative approaches to address immediate and underlying determinants of maternal, newborn and child health and nutrition, recognizing that health and nutrition outcomes are not the results of action in the health and nutrition sectors alone.
• Develop integrated Health & Nutrition strategies by undertaking field visits to monitor programmes, as well as participate in periodic programme reviews with government counterparts and other partners. Identifies necessary action for programme adjustments.
• Provides technical advice and support to government officials and implementing partners in the planning and management of Health & Nutrition interventions and ensures their sustainability, including support to the maintenance of information system for monitoring gender-sex aggregated data.
• Provide coordinated emergency responses, adhering to Core Commitments for Children (CCCs) by assisting in monitoring and assessment of the emergency in the assigned area, and strengthening partnerships with the Health and Nutrition humanitarian actors within the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC).
• Facilitates partnership and collaboration with external counterparts, including those of the UN and national partners, to improve the ability to collect and disseminate relevant data, and to exchange information on programme/project development and implementation.
• Contributes to the identification and introduction of innovative approaches, methods and practices in project management for improving programme delivery with emphasis on sustainability of intervention and community participation.

• Monitor disbursement of programme funds for Health & Nutrition and report on the use of sectorial programme resources (financial, administrative, and other assets), and verify compliance with approved allocation and goals, organizational rules, regulations, procedures, as well as donor commitments, standards of accountability, and integrity. Report on issues identified to ensure timely resolution by management and stakeholders. Follow up on unresolved issues to ensure resolution.

To qualify as a champion for every child you will have:

Education: An advanced university degree in Public Health and Nutrition, Child Development, Water Sanitation, Public Administration, Social Policy, Social Development, Community Development, or other relevant disciplines.

Experience

• Five years of professional work experience in planning, programming, implementation monitoring and evaluation of technical cooperation programmes related to Health and Nutrition. Professional work experience in a managerial position, or a technical expert position in child survival & development, health and nutrition care.
• Professional work experience in a managerial position, or a technical expert position in child survival & development, health, and nutrition care.
• Knowledge of theories, principles and methods in the selective fields of the following: Public Health & Nutrition, International Health & Nutrition, Public Health & Nutrition Policy and Management, Child-Neonatal and Maternal Health & Nutrition Care, Family and Community Health & Nutrition, Health & Nutrition System  Management, Public Health & Nutrition Preparedness, Health & Nutrition Emergency Preparedness, Nutritional Epidemiology, Nutrition Research,  Health & Nutrition Education, Health & Nutrition Promotion and Disease Prevention, Educational Interventions in Health & Nutritional Care.
• General knowledge of: Methodology of programme/project management; Programmatic goals, visions, positions, policies and strategies in Health & Nutrition; Knowledge of global health and nutrition issues, specifically relating to children and women, and the current trends, methods and approaches. Policies and strategy to address national and global health and nutrition issues, particularly relating to conflicts, natural disasters, and recovery. Emergency programme policies, goals, strategies and approaches.

 Desirable:

• Knowledge of theories and practices in:

• Child and Maternal Nutrition and Health
• Nutrition and Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
• Public Health and Nutrition
• Educational Interventions in Health and Nutrition Care
• Environmental Health and Nutrition
• Knowledge Management
• Computer software application, including word processing, spreadsheet and corporate    software packages
• Gender equality and diversity awareness
• Experience in attending humanitarian emergencies at a local or international level is an asset.

Language: Fluency in English and Portuguese is required. Knowledge of Spanish is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

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

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are...

• 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);
• Nurtures, Leads and Manages People (1).

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 afro-descendants, indigenous, LGBTQIA+ and other minorities 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.

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.