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.
For every child, survival
Under the general guidance of the Regional Advisor Health, the School Health and Nutrition Specialist is accountable for the provision of effective technical leadership, management guidance and programme support to integrated school health and nutrition strategies, initiatives and programmes in the region. A particular focus will be on the increased risks on food insecurity linked to the war in Ukraine and how those can be mitigated through school-based programmes. The incumbent provides strategic guidance and technical support to COs/Ts throughout the programming processes to facilitate the achievement of concrete and sustainable results in school health and nutrition programmes/projects supported by UNICEF offices in Europe and Central Asia within the framework of the UNICEF Strategic Plan, UNICEF Nutrition Strategy 2020-2030, and UNICEF ECA Regional Office Management Plan. The post contributes to creating synergy and partnerships in areas where UNICEF has primary responsibility or comparative advantage for nutrition, with strong linkages to maternal and child health, and WASH.
How can you make a difference?
The incumbent will report directly to the Nutrition Specialist in ECARO, under the overall guidance of the Regional Health Advisor. S/he works closely, in Humanitarian Action, with the Nutrition, WASH and Health clusters; in development programmes, in sustained close collaboration with the broader health and nutrition team, Social Protection, ECD and Education.
In brief, the key functions/accountabilities include but are not limited to:
Advisory support to the Regional Health Adviser
Regional strategies development and implementation for school health and nutrition
Programme monitoring in countries for delivery of results
Advisory services and technical support to COs/Ts
Advocacy, networking and partnership building at regional level, especially with WHO on the Health in Schools initiative
Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
An advanced university degree in one of the disciplines relevant to the following areas is required: Public Health & Nutrition, Health Sciences, International Health & Nutrition, Public Health & Nutrition Policy and Management, Family Health & Nutrition, Nutritional Epidemiology, Health & Nutrition Education, Health & Nutrition Promotion and Disease Prevention or other relevant discipline(s).
A minimum of eight years of professional experience in one or more of the following areas is required: nutrition public health; nutrition planning and management; or maternal, infant and child health and nutrition care.
Experience in health/nutrition programme/project development and management in a UN system agency or organization is an asset.
Experience in monitoring gender inequalities and in programming interventions that reduce these inequalities is an asset.
Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset.
Prior field experience and demonstrated professional achievements in the region or in a similar context is required.
Prior hands-on experience in middle and or high-income contexts is desirable.
Familiarity with humanitarian principles, policies and response actions is desirable.
Ability to plan, organize, prioritize, and deliver under pressure is a requisite.
Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively in a diverse organization tailoring language, tone, style, and format to match audience.
Ability and willingness to travel to emergencies countries if necessary.
Proficiency in English, written and verbal, is required. Working knowledge of another official UN Language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) and/or regional language as needed to perform the role is an asset.
