Nutrition Specialist (Program)- Temporary Appointment ( Open to Kenyan Nationals only)

Applications are hereby invited from suitably qualified Kenya Nationals to fill the above Temporary Appointment in the Nutrition Section, UNICEF Kenya Country Office (KCO).

Purpose of the Post: Under the guidance of the Chief of Nutrition and NDMA Technical Director, the incumbent will provide technical assistance on nutrition at both strategic and operational levels.

Purpose of the Position

Under the general supervision of the of NDMA CEO reporting to NDMA Technical Director and with the technical support of the UNICEF- Kenya Nutrition Specialist Emergencies, this post will provide technical assistance support to the NDMA on nutrition at both a strategic and an operational level. This support will strengthen the nutrition-sensitivity and nutritional outcomes of the Ending Drought Emergencies Common Programme Framework (EDE CPF), focusing on both the immediate drought mitigation, response and recovery activities (under Pillar 5 on drought risk management) as well as the long-term investments to reduce drought vulnerability (under Pillars 1-4). The incumbent of the position will also contribute to the monitoring, evaluation and knowledge management goals of EDE Pillar 6.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

Coordination

• Support the Chair and Co-chair of the EDE Human Capital Pillar 3 on nutrition issues, and act as the NDMA’s nutrition representative on the Human Capital Pillar Steering Committee

• Ensure effective links with other sectors within NDMA sectors for improved nutrition outcomes though promoting a multi sectoral response to tackling under- nutrition

• Support all pillars of the EDE especially Pillar 3 to deliver improved nutrition outcomes through their programming, including through stronger cross-pillar and cross-sectoral coordination.

• Represent the interests of the nutrition sector in EDE discussions in various forums.

• In collaboration with the MoH Nutrition Unit act as the focal point for inquiries on NDMA and EDE nutrition response plans and operations in national and coordination fora (e.g KFSSG, KFSM, etc)

• Support the nutrition sector coordination team to coordinate all nutrition-related drought mitigation, response and recovery activities at national and county levels.

Monitoring, Reportingand Knowledge Management

• In collaboration with the MoH Nutrition Unit ensure an analytical interpretation of the best available information in order to benchmark progress towards the EDE goal over time.

• Contribute specialist input to EDE impact assessment and evaluation exercises from a nutrition perspective

Response

• Work with the National Drought Contingency Planning and Response manager and the Nutrition sector Coordinator to ensure updated nutrition response strategies and action plans are incorporated in the overall multi-sectoral drought contingency plans

• Support NDMA in developing standards and guidelines for nutrition-related response under the NDCF ensuring links to a multi-sectoral approach through consultation with the nutrition and food security sectors

• Facilitate the operationalization of the nutrition response scalability model.

• Draw lessons learned from past response and revise strategies and action plans accordingly.

Required Qualifications and Experience:

Education

Advanced university degree in one of the disciplines relevant to the following areas: Public Health & Nutrition, Health Sciences, International Health & Nutrition, Family Health & Nutrition, Nutritional Epidemiology, Health & Nutrition Education, Health & Nutrition Promotion and Disease Prevention, Public Health, Health Emergency Preparedness, or other relevant discipline(s).

Work Experience

A minimum of five years of professional experience in nutrition, public health, related research or planning and management in relevant areas of maternal, infant and child nutrition, at the international level some of which preferably in a developing country is required. Relevant experience working with government structures at a programme management level.
Background/familiarity with Emergency response within sector and development contexts.

Working experience in the ASALs or in comparable dryland environments.

Language:Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of the local working language at the duty station is desirable.

Competencies:

· Functional Competencies

• Leading and supervising (I)


• Formulating strategies and concepts (II)


• Analyzing (III)


• Relating and networking (II)


• Deciding and Initiating action (II)


• Applying technical expertise (III)