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.

Job Purpose:

Guided by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the UNICEF Nutrition Strategy 2020-2030 aims to prevent maternal and child malnutrition in all its forms across the life cycle and ensure the early detection and treatment of children suffering from life-threatening malnutrition. The Nutrition Specialist will work collaboratively with colleagues across UNICEF and external partners to strengthen UNICEF’s leadership in preparedness and response to humanitarian crises.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Support UNICEF Regional and Country Offices to prepare for and respond to the nutritional needs of children living in humanitarian contexts.
2. Monitor the nutrition situation in emergency countries and provide guidance on priority actions for preparedness, response, and recovery.
3. Support Regional and Country Offices during complex emergencies and/or Level 3 (L3) emergencies, including developing and revising nutrition response plans, supporting resource mobilization, and identifying strategic opportunities.
4. Lead human resource and financial needs assessment and support countries in meeting identified needs.
5. Lead UNICEF’s technical engagement with internal and inter-agency preparedness and response mechanisms for nutrition in humanitarian contexts.
6. Ensure that Nutrition humanitarian responses are climate-sensitive, taking into account climate risks and actions for preparedness and response to mitigate and adapt to climate shocks.
7. Participate in child nutrition and development in humanitarian action capacity-building efforts.
8. Support the roll-out of UNICEF’s Core Commitments to Children (CCC) in humanitarian contexts.
9. Support countries to understand climate risks and strategies that can ensure that services and practices can be adapted, and investments made to mitigate the impact on child nutrition as part of humanitarian response.
10. Participate in the monitoring and evaluation of the nutrition component of the emergency response and ensure that agency commitments under the CCC are met.

UNICEF Requirements:

• – Advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in nutrition, nutritional epidemiology, public health, global/international health and nutrition, health/nutrition research, policy, international development, or other health-related social science field.
• – Minimum eight (8) years of progressively responsible professional work related to public health nutrition, public health, humanitarian assistance and development, health/nutrition research, policy and/or management, or other health-related social science field.
• – Prior experience in nutrition in humanitarian contexts preparedness and response.
• – Prior experience in nutrition program/project development and management in any UN system agency or organization is an asset.
• – Demonstrated analytical and persuasive writing skills, as well as editing skills, including the ability to convey complex information in a clear manner to a diverse audience.
• – Fluency in English (written and verbal) is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

Competencies:

• Builds and maintains partnerships
• Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness
• Drives to achieve results for impact
• Innovates and embraces change
• Manages ambiguity and complexity
• Thinks and acts strategically
• Works collaboratively with others

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 UNICEF’s standards and principles.

If you possess the required qualifications and experience, we encourage you to apply for this exciting Nutrition Specialist role at UNICEF. Join our team and contribute to strengthening UNICEF’s leadership in preparedness and response to humanitarian crises.

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