Health and Nutrition Specialist, P3, FT #112186, Rabat, Morocco - MENA

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. 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 personal and professional development that will help them develop a fulfilling career while delivering on a rewarding mission. We pride ourselves on a culture that helps staff thrive, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package. 

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

For every child, Health…

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programs, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations. 

Morocco is a middle-income country. UNICEF’s programme of cooperation across sectors works to achieve the right balance between decentralized programme interventions and technical support for national programmes and policies. Morocco accords significant importance to primary health care strengthening including for optimal maternal, child and adolescent health outcomes.  It increasingly seeks opportunities to scale-up evidence-based interventions to address inequities and to engage with regional and global partners to share programme experience and lessons learned in a rapidly changing global context.

How can you make a difference?

You report to the supervision of the Deputy Representative for general guidance and supervision. You are responsible for the development, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation and administration of the Health and Nutrition programme within the country programme. Accountable for effective technical and programme support to facilitate the application and adaptation of UNICEF policies and strategies to achieve strategic priorities and objectives and expansion of UNICEF assisted Health and Nutrition interventions, including the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Summary of keys functions/accountabilities: 

• Timely sectoral analysis, input and support to contribute to the Situation Analysis and its periodic update for effective project planning, development and management. Collaborate with cross-sectoral teams and with regional teams to share country updates and support advocacy efforts.
• Quality technical contributions are made to the development and implementation of integrated Health and Nutrition strategies, at national and decentralized levels through a variety of institutional and civil society partnerships.
• Work plan and objectives are strategically established, implementation support is effectively provided, and planned results are timely delivered through application of technical expertise.
• Project implementation progress and technical advice is monitored and evaluated for adjustment, acceleration and improvement of program delivery and sustainability.
• Technical support is provided to government and NGOs at various stages of programme implementation, monitoring and evaluation, including capacity building of government service providers. Increasingly, technical support is provided to ensure community engagement for effective programme delivery at decentralized levels.
• The capacities of Country Office staff are strengthened through cross-sectoral collaboration and emerging priorities of the health and nutrition programme are shared in accordance with an integrated programme that is responsive to life-cycle approaches.
• UNICEF and Government accountability is ensured for supply and non-supply assistance and disbursement of programme funds for Health & Nutrition. Technical and policy support is provided to partners around supply and procurement responsive to Morocco’s growing domestic capacities.
• Pro-active working relationships with internal units and teams, UN partners, and regional and global teams. Partnerships are leveraged for advocacy, technical coordination, information sharing and knowledge networking.
• Contribute to scanning to the funding landscape, helping to identify potential partners, contributing to funding proposals and to strategic advocacy efforts.
• Contribute to documentation, visibility, and advocacy around programme milestones, achievements, and challenges.
• Relevant and strategic information is kept available to support the Health and Nutrition Programme through the effective implementation of UNICEF monitoring processes and systems.
• Required programme/project reports are timely prepared in compliance with the established guidelines and procedures.
• Emergency preparedness is reinforced both internally and with partners; emergency response with effective coordination is provided.
• Other assigned duties and responsibilities are effectively accomplished.

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

• Education: Advanced university degree in Public Health or Nutrition, Child Development, Water Sanitation, Public Administration, Social Policy, Social Development, Community Development, or other relevant disciplines.
• Work Experience: Five years of professional work experience at the national and international levels 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.
• Developing country work experience
• Background/familiarity with Emergency
• Language Requirements: Fluency in French and working knowledge in English and/or Arabic are required.

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… 

1. Nurtures, Leads and Manages People (1)
2. Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (2)
3. Works Collaboratively with others (2)
4. Builds and Maintains Partnerships (2)
5. Innovates and Embraces Change (2)
6. Thinks and Acts Strategically (2)
7. Drive to achieve impactful results (2)
8. Manages ambiguity and complexity (2)

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 benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, 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 Male candidates from both industrial and programme countries are encouraged to apply.

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

“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/”

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

“ 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.  

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.