Organization: UN Children's Fund
Country: India
Closing date:
13 Jun 2018UNICEF 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.
Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.
And we never give up.
For every child, AN ADVOCATE:
India is home to 18.3 million wasted children, representing 37% of global wasting burden; this includes nearly 8 million severely wasted children (severe acute malnutrition – SAM), representing half of the global severe wasting burden. One of the committed results of the UNICEF India Nutrition Program is related to supporting state government provide timely and quality services for the care and treatment of severe acute malnutrition. UNICEF India will support the Government of India to implement facility and community-based management of children with SAM in states where UNICEF has field presence, in a phased manner.However, initial program experience indicates that the issue of wasting in India needs a more nuanced understanding and its responses a more nuanced design:
The high prevalence and high burden of childhood wasting/severe wasting in India is taking place in a context characterized by a changing pattern in childhood mortality with significant improvements observed in child mortality indicators at National Level and in States. However, there continue to be disparities in the distribution of childhood mortality within pockets highlighting the vast inequalities that still exists in the country. The wasting distribution is India is skewed towards the early age. Wasting peaks at birth and prevalence as high as 32% in children under 6 months of age. Its link with low birth weight is still being explored. In India, mortality is also higher in the younger age groups. Thus, addressing early wasting is a priority. Models suited for addressing acute malnutrition in children with SAM below 6 months in India have not yet been tried.
In India, there exist a multitude of social safety nets and programs that are designed to address household food security, and prevent occurrence of acute malnutrition. The Integrated Child Development Services Scheme and the National Health Mission includes provisions for supplementary nutrition, micronutrient supplementation, growth monitoring and health care for all children in the country. Designing the CMAM intervention in India thus requires contextualization within the existing program provisions. For example – appropriate discharge criteria, optimal duration of treatment, options of energy and nutrient dense therapeutic foods, linkages with existing programs, need to be re-considered for CMAM programs in Indian context.
How can you make a difference?
If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children in the world's thereby ensuring a better future for every child, this is the chance to make a difference. The incumbent of the post will support the development and preparation of the nutrition program especially in the evidence generation around wasting and Integrated Management of children with Severe Acute Malnutrition (IMSAM) and will be responsible for managing, implementing, monitoring, and reporting of progress of the IMSAM evidence program component. The Nutrition Specialist provides technical guidance and management support throughout the programming processes to facilitate the administration and achievement of concrete and sustainable results on IMSAM, especially in the evidence generation and dissemination around wasting and the scaling up of the community-based management of children with SAM according to plans, allocation, results based-management approaches and methodology (RBM) and UNICEF’s Strategic Plans, standards of performance and accountability framework. The Specialist reports to the Chief of Nutrition Section for guidance and general supervision.
Major duties and responsibilities:
1. Support to program development and planning:
Contribute to/support the preparation/design and conduct/update of situation analysis for the nutrition sector/s to ensure timely comprehensive and current data and evidence on IMSAM is available to guide policy and development, design and management of nutrition programs.Establish strong relation with Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) and Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD), state and district authorities and partners for their collaboration in evidence generation.Establish specific goals, objectives and strategies and implementation plans for IMSAM program based on results-based planning terminology and methodology (RBM). Prepare required documentations for program review and approval.Work closely and collaboratively with internal and external colleagues and partners to discuss strategies and methodologies and to determine national priorities/competencies to ensure the achievement of concrete and sustainable results.Provide technical and operational support throughout all stages of programming processes and to ensure integration, coherence and harmonization of IMSAM program with other UNICEF sectors and achievement of results as planned and allocated.2. Program management, monitoring and delivery of results:
Regular monitoring and evaluation activities are undertaken according to the work plan to ensure maximum impact and continuous improvement of country communication efforts. Results and reports are prepared and shared on a timely basis.Plan and/or collaborate with internal and external partners to establish monitoring benchmarks, performance indicators and other UNICEF/UN system indicators and measurement to assess/strengthen performance accountability, coherence and delivery of concrete and sustainable results of the pilots and the evidence from them to influence subsequent scale-ups.Participate in monitoring and evaluation exercises, program reviews and annual reviews with government and other counterparts to assess progress and to determine required action/interventions to achieve results around evidence from IM-SAM.Prepare/assess monitoring and evaluation reports to identify gaps, strengths/weaknesses in program and management, identify lessons learned and use knowledge gained for development planning and timely intervention to achieve goals.Actively monitor the IMSAM program around evidence generation through field visits, surveys and/or exchange of information with partners/stakeholders to assess progress, identify bottlenecks and potential problems and take timely decisions to resolve issues and/or refer to relevant officials for timely resolution.Prepare regular/mandated program/project reports for management, donors and partners to keep them informed of program progress on evidence for IM-SAM.3. Technical and operational support to program implementation:
Provide technical guidance and operational support to government counterparts, NGO partners, UN system partners and other country office partners/donors on interpretation, application and understanding of the evidence around management of children with SAM and related issues to support program development planning, management, implementation and delivery of results.Handling all IMSAM evidence related matters at the national and state level together with the UNICEF Section and State colleagues.Draft policy papers, briefs and other strategic program materials for management use, information and/or consideration.4. Networking and partnership building:
Build and sustain effective close working partnerships with nutrition sector government counterparts, national stakeholders and global partners/allies/donors/academia through active networking, advocacy and effective communication to build capacity and exchange knowledge/expertise to facilitate the achievement of IM-SAM evidence related goals and equity for the rights of mothers and children.Prepare communication and information materials for CO program advocacy to promote awareness, establish partnership/alliances and support fund raising for IMSAM evidence program component.Participate and/or represent UNICEF in appropriate inter-agency discussions and planning on IMSAM evidence related issues to collaborate with inter-agency partners/colleagues ensuring organizational position, interests and priorities are fully considered and integrated.5. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building:
Apply/introduce innovative approaches and good practice to build the capacity of UNICEF staff, partners and stakeholders and to support the implementation and delivery of concrete and sustainable IMSAM evidence related program results.Keep abreast, research, benchmark and implement best and cutting edge practices in nutrition management and information systems. Assess, institutionalize and share best practices and knowledge learned.Contribute to the development and implementation of policies and procedures to ensure optimum efficiency and efficacy of sustainable programs and projects.Organize and implement capacity building initiatives to enhance the competencies of clients/stakeholders to promote sustainable results on IM-SAM evidence related programs.To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
Education:An Advanced University Degree or higher in nutrition, public health, nutritional epidemiology, global/international health and nutrition, health/nutrition research, policy and/or management, or other health related science field is required.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 in community based management of acute malnutrition programme planning and management in any UN system agency or organization is required. Relevant experience at national level in leading and managing integration of community based management of acute malnutrition programmes in Government health systems. Relevant experience in operational/implementation research and planning and implementing nutrition anthropometric and coverage monitoring surveys is an asset. Authored and Published scientific papers in peer reviewed journals an asset. Familiarity with the South Asian context an asset.Language Proficiency:Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language or a local language is an asset.For every Child, you demonstrate…
i)Core Values (Required)•Commitment • Diversity and Inclusion • Integrity
ii)Core Competencies (Required)• Communication [ II ] • Working with People [ II ] • Drive for Results [ II ]
iii)Functional Competencies (Required)•Leading and Supervising [ I ]• Formulating strategies and concepts [ I ]•Analyzing [ III ]•Relating and Networking[ II ]•Deciding and Initiating action[ II ]•Applying technical expertise [ III ]
iv)Technical Knowledgea) Specific Technical KnowledgeRequired • Community based Management of Children with Severe Acute Malnutrition•Evidence reviews on the epidemiology and consequences of wasting/severe wasting on child survival, growth and development
b) Common Technical Knowledge Required • Nutrition Epidemiology• Operational/implementation research and planning and implementing nutrition anthropometric and coverage monitoring surveys
c) General knowledge of: • Program planning and management• Government health systems in developing country context• Processes for Publication in Peer Reviewed Journals
UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified candidates from all national, religious, gender and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organization.
Remarks:
This is a Temporary Appointment for 364 days.Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments.UNICEF does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process including application, interview, meeting, traveling, processing, training etc. UNICEF is a non-smoking working environment.******************
How to apply:UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organization. To apply, click on the following link http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/?job=513691