Current vacancies

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, Safety...

The Donor Nutrition Security Group (DoNUTS) is a platform for dialogue, coordination and cooperation for the development partner (DP) nutrition response in Malawi bringing together the United Nations (UN) network and Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Donor network partners. DoNUTS aims to support coordination and harmonization of DP resources and efforts to the government of Malawi, while advancing the national nutrition agenda, even within the respective member agencies. Members of the DONUTS include representatives from bilateral and multilateral donors and UN agencies supporting implementation of nutrition programmes. Depending on agenda, however, the group could invite other resource organizations and/or foundations as deemed appropriate. Led by a Chair and Co-Chair selected on an annual rotational basis, DoNUTS interfaces with the government through the Troika, an arrangement that includes representation from the current, outgoing and incoming DoNUTS chair.  Germany through GIZ FNSP has been leading the DoNUTS group since 2020 with Embassy of Ireland financing the position of the DoNUTS coordinator. Currently, chairmanship is led by UNICEF and Germany remained part of the troika as outgoing chair and has been financing the coordinator position through GIZ FNSP.

It is against this background that UNICEF in collaboration with EU, the in-coming Chair of DoNUTS would like to engage a consultant to support coordination of the Donor Nutrition Security Group.

How can you make a difference? 

1. Enhancing coordination among members of the DoNUTS group, and, between the DoNUTS and government and other key stakeholders. 

Key activities:

1. Maintain and update a comprehensive database of development partners (DPs) and other relevant nutrition stakeholders as needed. Help to increase the membership of DoNUTS.
2. Organize and document quarterly DoNUTS meetings (or as frequent as agreed) and other events, such as retreats and missions. The task will include confirmation of venues, agendas, facilitation of content and discussion, follow up on DPs presentations and action points, dissemination of relevant documents, flagging out emerging issues and action points to inform DoNUTS.
3. Support the development and maintenance of a donor resource and programmatic mapping matrix, capturing financing and geographical coverage and including current and planned projects, for improved district support and national response.
4. Consolidate DPs inputs and/or responses on identified strategic and policy issues of advocacy interest with a view to facilitate a common position of the DoNUTS, e.g. in a form of rolling talking points to be used by Heads of Cooperation (HoCs)/ Heads of Mission (HoMs).
5. Regularly share news of government and development partner nutrition key events. Key messages required DoNUTS action and updates.
6. Support engagements between DoNUTS and other donor coordination groups, including the Donor Committee in Agriculture and Food Security (DCAFS) &Trade, Industry and Private Sector Development Partners (TIPDeP), and SUN networks, through information exchange and/or joint meetings as deemed necessary.
7. Engage with the government for enhancing effective communication and open dialogue with DPs, civil society, academia, private Sector and other relevant groups in the nutrition sector.

2. Improve DoNUTS visibility and representation in key nutrition groups and platforms

Key activities:

1. Regularly, but at least monthly, communicate key sector events and meetings, in particular National nutrition committee, SUN learning forum, national nutrition joint monitoring visits and annual reviews, national research dissemination conference, food systems dialogues, partner webinars, and SUN, N4G, Food Systems national and global gatherings and policy launch events.
2. Facilitate DoNUTS representation at key sector events and meetings, in particular nutrition Technical Working Groups and other sector working groups.
3. Support the preparation of inputs for the Heads of Cooperation (HOCs) meetings to support a joint DPs position for engagement with the Government.
4. Support the organisation of visibility materials around DoNUTS work in Malawi for use in its engagements with other stakeholders.

3. Improved learning and sharing of best practices within and outside the coordination platforms

Key activities:

1. Support organisation of thematic meetings on topics of interest, including the identification and coordination of presenters.
2. Regularly update on upcoming national, regional, and international learning events, publications, research findings and other related developments, and share summarised salient issues for DoNUTS information and actions where necessary.
3. Support the organisation of DoNUTS learning visits for inter-agency learning, including the identification of learning themes and sites, and the preparation of the agenda and travel itineraries and mission reports.
4. Facilitate DoNUTS representation at relevant learning platforms at national, regional, and global level as deemed appropriate.
5. Disseminate learning resources and opportunities on emerging nutrition related topics of interest e.g. food systems, to enhance understanding for actions.

4. Provide technical support to the DoNUTS and Troika to strengthen the efforts of DoNUTS to support the implementation of sector policies and strategies

Key activities:

1. Prepare and circulate meeting agendas, minutes, and key action points.
2. Participate in all relevant Sector Groups, Joint Sector Reviews and various sector dialogue forums e.g. National Nutrition Committee (NNC) and corresponding Technical Working Groups (TWGs), SUN Taskforce meetings, relevant Sector Wide Approaches groups, Nutrition joint review meetings etc; flag out emerging issues, provide updates from such meetings to the DoNUTS and suggest strategic actions for DPs; ensure DoNUTS priorities inform sector discussions.
3. Facilitate greater effectiveness and efficiency of DoNUTS coordination and engagement with the government by among others preparing monthly sector briefs (summarizing key news and updates), background papers, policy analysis, fact sheets and timely updates on key issues relevant to nutrition for DoNUTS.
4. The services will exclude individual support to members of DoNUTS, government or other institutions, private sector and civil society, except when agreed with the Chair in consultation with Troika.

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

Academic qualification:

• A minimum of a master’s degree in food and nutrition, public health or any other related subject.

 Work experience:

• At least more than 5 years’ experience in operationalizing nutrition specific and sensitive interventions is required.
• Work experience in Malawi and sound understanding of the cultural context is required.
• Experience in donor coordination in Nutrition is an advantage.
• Experience in coordinating work with UN and donors in health/nutrition/ agriculture/ food security related areas is MUST and an asset.

Technical knowledge and skills:

• Technical skills in programme management, conceptualization, critical analysis, and strategic thinking are required.
• Proven networking and partnership-building skills are an asset.

Language:

• Fluency in English and a local language (particularly Chichewa), both strong verbal and written skills, are essential.

Please refer to the attached full Terms of Reference  Terms of Reference_DONUTS Coordinator Consultant .pdf for more details on the consultancy and requirements.

For every Child, you demonstrate… 

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

To view our competency framework, please visit  here. 

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.

HOW TO APPLY...

Interested consultants should provide the following:

1. Curriculum Vitae
2. Brief technical proposal (no longer than five pages) demonstrating the consultant’s understanding of the assignment and approach/methodology to the assignment
3. Financial proposal including a breakdown of their all-inclusive fees (including professional fees, travel, living cost, visa and other costs). Financial Proposal for Consultancy.xlsx Complete the attached form.
4. References details

Remarks:  

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. 

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws. 

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.