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For every child, the right to Care

How can you make a difference?

Job organizational context:

The Nutrition Specialist, Maternal Nutrition position is located in the Nutrition Section of the UNICEF Ethiopia Country Office and reports to the Nutrition Manager, Level 4.

The position supports government-led implementation and scale-up of a comprehensive maternal nutrition programme across the life course, with emphasis on equitable access, service quality, essential commodities, sustainable financing, national capacity and evidence-informed decision-making.

Purpose for the job:

The Specialist provides authoritative technical guidance and management support across all stages of the programming process to facilitate achievement of concrete, equitable and sustainable results for women before and during pregnancy, and breastfeeding mothers.

The Specialist promotes integration of maternal nutrition across health, food, water, sanitation and hygiene, education, social protection and child protection systems and ensures appropriate linkages between development and humanitarian programming. The work is undertaken in accordance with national priorities, UNICEF's Strategic Plan, the UNICEF Nutrition Strategy 2020-2030, UNICEF programme policies and procedures, results-based management principles, standards of performance and accountability frameworks.

Key Functions, Accountabilities and Related Duties/Tasks

1. Support to maternal nutrition programme development and planning

Support evidence-based situation analysis, programme design, costing and periodic review of maternal nutrition policies, strategies, investment cases and implementation plans. Establish clear results frameworks, indicators, targets, implementation arrangements and risk-mitigation measures consistent with results-based management and UNICEF programming standards. Promote equitable integration of maternal nutrition across antenatal and postnatal care, primary and community health, adolescent health, food systems, education and social protection platforms. Apply gender-responsive, disability-inclusive and risk-informed approaches to address barriers affecting vulnerable and underserved women and adolescent girls. Coordinate with government, UNICEF sections, field offices and partners to ensure coherent, multisectoral and geographically prioritized programming.

2. Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results

Establish and maintain monitoring frameworks, baselines, indicators and targets for programme coverage, quality, equity, efficiency and accountability. Strengthen integration and use of maternal nutrition indicators in routine information systems and programme reviews at national and subnational levels. Monitor implementation, budgets and supplies through data reviews, field visits, joint monitoring and partner dialogue, and support timely corrective action. Provide technical support to evaluations, implementation research and learning focused on effectiveness, service quality, equity, sustainability and scale. Prepare timely, accurate and high-quality programme, donor and management reports on results, challenges, expenditure and priorities. Monitor and verify the appropriate use of financial, administrative and supply resources, ensuring compliance with UNICEF rules, donor commitments and standards of accountability. Prepare timely and high-quality programme reports, donor reports, briefing notes, dashboards and management updates on maternal nutrition results, challenges, expenditure and priorities.

3. Technical and operational support to programme implementation

Provide authoritative technical and operational support to government and partners for the design, institutionalization and quality delivery of comprehensive maternal nutrition services. Support national introduction and scale-up of evidence-based maternal nutrition interventions, including nutrition assessment and counselling, prevention and management of maternal undernutrition and anemia, and micronutrient supplementation. Strengthen policies, standards, guidance, referral pathways, workforce capacity, supportive supervision, community engagement and social and behaviour change. Strengthen forecasting, procurement planning, regulatory coordination, distribution and monitoring of essential maternal nutrition commodities through national systems. Support programme costing, expenditure tracking, financing strategies, investment cases and resource mobilization for sustainable scale-up. Provide context-appropriate technical support in urban, rural, pastoralist, conflict-affected and humanitarian settings, ensuring continuity and quality of essential services. Contribute to emergency preparedness, needs assessments, response plans, monitoring and coordination in line with UNICEF’s Core Commitments for Children and accountability to affected populations.

4. Networking and partnership building

Build and sustain effective relationships with government, United Nations agencies, development partners, civil society, academia, professional associations, donors and responsible private-sector actors. Support government-led coordination and technical dialogue to advance an evidence-informed, nationally owned maternal nutrition agenda. Use UNICEF’s convening and advocacy role to strengthen policy commitment, partner alignment, accountability and resource mobilization. Represent UNICEF in relevant national, inter-agency, donor and humanitarian forums and promote meaningful participation of women, adolescents, communities and frontline workers. Support government-led coordination mechanisms and technical working groups on maternal nutrition, micronutrient supplementation, anemia prevention, antenatal nutrition services and related areas. Strengthen coordination and alignment among United Nations agencies, development partners, civil society organizations, professional associations, academic institutions, donors and implementing partners.

5. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

Identify and support innovative, equitable and scalable approaches to improve service coverage, quality, uptake and sustainability. Lead or support implementation research, operational learning and responsible use of digital solutions for capacity development, service quality, commodities and programme monitoring. Document and disseminate good practices, programme results and lessons from Ethiopia for national, regional and global learning. Strengthen institutional and workforce capacity through updated guidance, tools, mentorship, learning networks and partnerships with academic and professional institutions. Support implementation research and operational learning on service delivery, counselling quality, supplementation adherence, community engagement, private-sector delivery, local production, digital monitoring and other programme priorities. Promote appropriate use of digital technologies to strengthen health-worker learning, counselling, supervision, commodity tracking, adherence support, data quality and programme monitoring.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here:  JD Nutrition Specialist NO3 00046839.pdf

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

Minimum requirements

• Education: Master or equivalent (Advanced University Degree) in Nutrition and Dietetics, Public Health, Nutritional Epidemiology, Global or International Health and Nutrition, Health or Nutrition Research, Health Policy and Management, Health sciences, Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn and Child Health, or another relevant health-related field.
• Work Experience: 5 years of relevant work experience in nutrition, public health, maternal and child health, monitoring and evaluation of maternal nutrition or other public health programmes, providing technical assistance to governments, supporting national or subnational health and nutrition systems, programme management, partner coordination, or related fields.
• Skills: Experience in Child Health, Maternal Health, Monitoring and Evaluation, Nutrition Care, Nutrition Planning, Public Health is required.
• Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required.

Desirables

• Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.
• Maternal nutrition service delivery.
• Maternal diets and micronutrient supplementation.
• Social and behavior change and community engagement.
• Nutrition commodities, supply chains and financing.
• Nutrition information systems, research and evidence.
• Humanitarian nutrition and vulnerable populations.
• Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings, and humanitarian contexts.

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

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.

This position has been assessed as an elevated risk role for Child Safeguarding purposes as it is either a role with direct contact with children, a role that works directly with identifiable children's data, a safeguarding response role, or an assessed risk role. Additional vetting and assessment for elevated risk roles in child safeguarding (potentially including additional criminal background checks) apply.

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

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, discrimination, fraud, corruption and other forms of serious misconduct.

UNICEF is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference, safeguarding and background verification checks. These checks may include verification of academic credentials and employment history, screening against relevant United Nations misconduct databases, and requests for misconduct disclosures from current and former employers, professional associations, other relevant organizations and participating organizations under inter-agency safeguarding initiatives, including the Misconduct Disclosure Scheme (MDS), where applicable.

Appointment, selection and continued engagement are subject to the satisfactory completion of all required checks. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information and consent to enable UNICEF to undertake these checks. 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 are conditional on the selected candidates' willingness to comply with current or future vaccination requirements, should UNICEF mandate it for personnel. Failure to comply with such requirements, where applicable and without a duly approved medical exemption from the relevant UN authority, will result in the cancellation of the selection or may lead to other administrative measures, including separation from service.

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 committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable female candidates and persons with disabilities 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.

Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF's Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.

Visa residence requirements: i.e. UNICEF shall not facilitate the issuance of a visa and working authorization for candidates under consideration for positions at the national officer and general service category.

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.