The Programme Research Associate supports the Health and Nutrition Sections in regional efforts to improve health and nutrition outcomes of children in the South Asia region. S/He will perform a variety of research and knowledge management, networking, coordination, and partnerships management, and administrative, and operational support tasks, to help develop, implement, and monitor the Nutrition Section and Health Section (Immunization Unit) programmes, ensuring timely and effective delivery that is consistent with UNICEF rules and regulations.
For the Nutrition Section, operational support will be provided across the maternal, adolescent, and early childhood nutrition portfolios. For the Health section, the operational support will be focused on advancing the Zero-Dose Immunization Agenda/missed communities, COVID-19 vaccination, polio, and integration agendas.
Key Functions, accountabilities, and related duties/tasks:
Under the supervision and guidance of the Regional Advisor Nutrition and Senior Health Specialist, the Programme Research Associate will be responsible for providing day-to-day support to the Nutrition and Health ( Immunisation Unit) Sections, and perform a variety of technical and administrative responsibilities related to research and knowledge management, networking, coordination, and partnerships management and support to programme planning, management, monitoring and reporting of results as detailed below:
Research and Knowledge Management:
Assists health and nutrition sections with basic research, literature and documentation searches, data analysis, and collation of information, and data, from a variety of sources on subject matters relevant to the work on maternal, adolescent, and child nutrition and immunization to facilitate programme delivery and knowledge exchange.
Supports organizing of key reference materials and research/other documents both electronically and physically for easy reference, and maintenance of health (immunization unit) and nutrition sections SharePoint knowledge management platforms, regular updating of materials, records, and files including the regional immunization and health systems strengthening (HSS) activity planner.
Supports in maintaining programme databases and dashboards for monitoring and tracking activities and progress being made by countries on nutrition and health with a focus on the zero-dose immunization agenda/missed children and ensuring comprehensive data is available to guide UNICEF ROSA strategic policy and programme efforts on nutrition and immunization programmes.
Supports preparation and dissemination of ROSA e-newsletters covering progress against nutrition and immunization priorities (including zero-dose agenda), regional events, country office, and regional office, web articles, and publications.
Participate and contribute to the exchange of data, analyses, lessons learned, better practices, innovations, and information on nutrition, immunization, and HSS with UNICEF country offices (COs), and strategic regional knowledge networks, including through social networks and communities of practice.
Networking, Coordination and Partnership Management:
Provides administrative support to nutrition and health (immunization unit) sections in convening and maintenance of strategic regional health and nutrition partnerships with public, private, and civil society stakeholders including regional networks, working groups, and taskforces.
Provides support to the Regional Working Group (RWG) on immunization and COVID-19-related activities with World Health Organisation (WHO) and partners including meeting preparation, record-keeping, electronic organization and filing, and dissemination of meeting records.
Supports development and maintenance of ROSA-led regional nutrition networks, working groups, and taskforces to enhance communication, coordination, and collaboration amongst regional development partners.
Supports health and nutrition sections in organizing regional events, including coordination meetings, and workshops, prepares meeting minutes, and circulates meeting outputs, presentations, reference materials, and minutes.
Provides support for the development and management of programme cooperation agreements (PCAs), and institutional contracts by providing information and drafting selected sections of it.
Programme Planning, Management, Monitoring and Reporting of Results:
Provides programme and administrative support for preparation and updating of work plans for the Nutrition and Health (immunization unit) programmes and ensures programme results, activities, and coding are appropriately entered and monitored in the VISION programme management platform.
Supports with regular monitoring and preparation of monitoring and reporting information for supervisor and team on agreed performance indicators to drive more efficient management and accountability for results.
Supports with the preparation of donor proposals, monitoring donor reporting schedule, tracking expiring programme grants, and preparing financial utilization reports for donor reporting for the nutrition section and health section (immunization unit).
Provides administrative support for management of PCAs, individual and institutional contracts
Manage travel arrangements for Nutrition section staff, contractors, and consultants, and coordinate with the operation section for timely processing.
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
Completion of secondary education. A university degree with training in public health, nutrition, global/international health and nutrition, health/nutrition research, policy and/or management, health sciences, and biostatistics is preferred. Academic qualifications acquired through research/thesis desirable.
Six years of programme, research knowledge management, and partnership management work or work in the context of public health research organizations. Required years of work experience may be replaced by additional studies. Experience in UN, NGOs, multi-or bilateral and research organizations would be an asset.
For this position, a bachelor’s degree from a recognized academic institution in a relevant field may replace three years of related work experience. A master’s degree may replace an additional two years.
Basic research (i.e., qualitative, and quantitative research methods), statistical analysis, and knowledge management experience
Excellent communication, verbal, writing, and presentation skills
Strong interpersonal skills to work with collaborators, stakeholders, and team members.
Strong attention to detail, excellent time management and organizational skills, experience prioritizing multiple tasks, goal, and detail-oriented work style, and follow through on projects
Commitment to maternal, new-born, and child health and nutrition
Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another UN language an asset.
