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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 for as long as we are needed. 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 professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

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

For every child, a voice

As of January 2026, over 1.2 million Rohingya refugees, primarily from Myanmar, are residing in Bangladesh,

with about 35,000 of these in Bhasan Char Island and the rest in 33 refugee camps in Cox Bazar. The Rohingya refugees remains one of the world's largest protracted refugee crisis in the world with numerous humanitarian needs and solely dependent on humanitarian support. Since the large-scale influx of the Rohingyas in 2017, the humanitarian community closely worked with the Government of Bangladesh (GOB) to respond to the humanitarian needs caused by the large-scale displacement.

Eight years later, the Rohingya refugees in Cox’s Bazar continue to face a critical and deteriorating nutritional situation, driven by interlinked challenges across food security, health, WASH, social protection, and ongoing population pressures. Despite sustained nutrition interventions since 2017, wasting prevalence has increased and remains a serious public health concern, particularly among children under five years of age, while stunting levels remain persistently high. Although anemia prevalence has shown some improvement, it remains close to very high levels and requires sustained attention. Findings from the Standardized Expanded Nutrition Survey (SENS) 2023 indicate that 66.7 per cent of children aged 6–59 months are affected by at least one form of malnutrition, and one in four children experiences multiple forms of malnutrition, most commonly stunting (41 percent and anemia 38 percent), with the highest burden among children aged 6–23 months. Wasting prevalence stands at 15.1 per cent, classified as very high according to WHO thresholds, and disproportionately affects younger children.

The nutrition situation has worsened in recent years, with severe wasting admissions increasing by 13 per cent in 2024 compared to 2023 and by 10 percent in 2025 compared to 2024. This trend is compounded by erratic General Food Assistance distributions since 2023, limited livelihood opportunities, and the continued influx of new Rohingya arrivals, increasing vulnerability among children under five and pregnant and lactating women. Dietary quality remains poor, with only 26.9 per cent of children aged 6–23 months meeting minimum dietary diversity, reflecting widespread food poverty and low consumption of nutrient-dense foods such as pulses, eggs, dairy products, and fruits and vegetables. A nutrition causal analysis conducted in May 2025 identified key drivers of malnutrition, including suboptimal infant and young child feeding practices, constrained household income, inadequate access to safe water, poor sanitation, and insufficient food and environmental hygiene, which together perpetuate recurrent illness, reduced nutrient absorption, and weakened immunity among children and mothers.

Job organizational context:

The Nutrition Specialist GJP is to be placed in the Cox’s Bazar Filed office where the Nutrition Programme is a component of the Country Programme (or UNDAF). The Nutrition Specialist reports to the Child Survival and Development Manager who is at level 4. 

How can you make a difference? 

Purpose for the job:

The Nutrition Specialist supports the development, preparation and operationalization of the emergency nutrition response in a humanitarian and development nexus and is responsible for managing, implementing, monitoring, evaluating, and reporting the programme progress in the Rohingya response and host community. The Nutrition Specialist provides technical guidance and management support throughout the programming processes to facilitate the administration and achievement of concrete and sustainable results in maternal, infant and child nutrition programmes/projects within the emergency response and host community. 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. Support to programme development and planning
2. Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results
3. Technical and operational support to programme implementation
4. Networking and partnership building
5. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building
6. Harmonized coordination tasks

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here:  JD_Nutrition Specialist NO3 FT Cox's Bazar ..pdf

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

Minimum requirements:

• Education: An advanced 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, or another health-related science field.
• Work Experience: A minimum of five years of professional experience in nutrition, public health, related research or planning and management in relevant areas of maternal, infant and child nutrition in a developing country is required.
• Relevant experience in health/nutrition program/project development and management in any UN system agency or organization is an asset.
• At least two (2) years of substantive relevant experience in emergencies dealing with major natural and humanitarian emergencies.
• Specialized training/experience in emergency response management highly desirable. 
• Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

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…

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

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic background, and persons with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. To create a more inclusive workplace, UNICEF offers paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. Click here to learn more about flexible work arrangements, well-being, and benefits.

According to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. In its Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy 2022-2030, UNICEF has committed to increase the number of employees with disabilities by 2030. At UNICEF, we provide reasonable accommodation for work-related support requirements of candidates and employees with disabilities. Also, UNICEF has launched a Global Accessibility Helpdesk to strengthen physical and digital accessibility. If you are an applicant with a disability who needs digital accessibility support in completing the online application, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF.

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 based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, 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, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

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 is an equal-opportunity employer, we actively encourage applications from female candidates, gender-diverse individuals and people with disabilities.

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 VA is open to all (internal and external candidates)

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. Do not pay to submit your application. If there is a charge, then it is not a genuine UNICEF position.

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.

Internal candidates may be given preference over external candidates. The term "Internal" refers to all staff members with fixed term, continuing or permanent appointments. Internal candidates who are legally permitted to work for UNICEF in Bangladesh, independently of UNICEF appointment, will also be considered.

Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their candidate profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in the Applicant system in order to be considered.  The information submitted will be used for administrative purposes, salary/step determination and conditions of employment. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be accepted for applications that have already been submitted for this position.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.