Mission and objectives

UNICEF is committed to realising the rights of all children to help them build a strong foundation and have the best chance of fulfilling their potential. We believe that ensuring a child is happy and healthy begins before birth: from ensuring their mother has access to good health care to reaching adulthood as a healthy, empowered and informed young person of the next generation. This journey relies on every child having access to quality health care, good nutrition, education, and growing up in a safe environment free from violence.

Context

Health & Nutrition Specialist provides professional technical assistance and support for programme/project design, planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and administration of programme/project activities, including data analysis, progress reporting, knowledge networking and capacity building, in support of the achievement of planned objectives of the work plan, aligned with Health & Nutrition programme goals and strategy. This assignment is reserved for UNICEF National staff (NO & GS) from East and Southern Africa (Regional Office and all Country Offices) and Middle East and North Africa (Regional Office and Yemen Country Office). Staff from contributing offices will be given priority.

Task Description

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES and DUTIES & TASKS Within the delegated authority and under the given organizational set-up, the incumbent may be assigned the primary, shared, or contributory accountabilities for all or part of the following areas of major duties and key end results. 1. Accurate information, data analysis, and documentation are timely made available to contribute to situation analysis, sectoral input and reporting. – Assists in the preparation and periodic update of the Situation Analysis by compiling Health & Nutrition data, analysing and evaluating relevant information and providing technical input in a timely and accurate manner. – Drafts chapters, prepares statistical data reports and assists with the preparation of sectoral input for the programme documents as required. – Contributes to the consultation and coordination with key partners at all levels. 2. Technical assistance is provided in the implementation of integrated Health & Nutrition approaches through participation and collaboration with internal and external partners. – Provides technical assistance in the integration of the Health & Nutrition programme with other sectors in collaboration with other UNICEF sectors, particularly Health, Nutrition, CSD, HIV/AIDS. WASH, and programme communication. – Contributes to building on intersectoral experience and establishing partnerships to promote innovative approaches to address immediate and underlying determinants of maternal, newborn and child health and nutrition, recognizing that health and nutrition outcomes are not the results of action in the health and nutrition sectors alone. – Assists in the design, planning, monitoring and evaluation of the Health & Nutrition programme to be implemented in the locality. – Supports the improvement of programme delivery with emphasis on sustainability of intervention and community participation based on the Human Rights framework and cross-sector approach to programming and Community Capacity Development. 3. Work plan and objectives are effectively implemented and planned results are timely delivered through technical support and coordination. – Assists in the development of the sectoral work plan and technical decisions as well as for administration, implementation, and monitoring of sectoral project activities. – Analyses data and information, and drafts progress reports; drafts changes in project work plans, as required. Monitors to ensure objectives and targets are timely met and achieved, through effective coordination and collaboration, by participating in a teamwork of professional and support staff. – Supports maintenance of info system for monitoring gender sex aggregated data. – Assists in the planning and organizing of training/development activities to upgrade the capacity of the Country Office staff as well as government and NGOs in the programme development, implementation, and management of the Health & Nutrition programme. – Assists in identifying training needs and conducts relevant orientation, workshop, training and learning/development activities for the staff as well as for government personnel and beneficiaries, in collaboration with knowledge institutions. 4. Project efficiency and effectiveness are enhanced through effective implementation follow-up. – Provides timely implementation follow-up, including monitoring UNICEF inputs, local conditions and resources, the flow of supply and non-supply assistance, and project status to build on project efficiency and effectiveness. – Assists in the identification and selection of Health & Nutrition supplies and equipment. – Follows up on delivery of cash assistance and liquidation of advances and proper planning, delivery and use of supply component of the project. Ensures that activities are in accordance with plans of action. – Records information on utilization of resources and distribution of supplies. 5. Project implementation progress is monitored for adjustment and improvement of program delivery and sustainability. Gender sex aggregated data and inputs provided relevant to the Health & Nutrition programme. – Participates in field visits to UNICEF project sites to monitor project activities and local conditions and follows up with local government counterparts and other partners on project implementation. – Assists in identifying necessary action for programme adjustments, acceleration, improvement and sustainability. – Assists government counterparts and other partners in the planning and management of the Health and Nutrition Programme. – Reports to supervisor and/or Head of Office the outcome of programme monitoring and review meetings with Government counterparts and all other relevant partners. – Draft changes in the programme work plan as required. 6. Transparency is ensured for supply and non-supply assistance and disbursement of programme funds for Health & Nutrition. – Coordinating with Operations and Supply staff on supply and non-supply assistance activities ensures UNICEF and Government partners and all implementing partners’ accountability. – Liaises with local authorities to ensure timely submission of financial requests and reports. – Monitors disbursements of funds, ensuring those activities are within established plans of action and programme budget allotments and orientates and trains Government and UNICEF implementing partners in UNICEF supply and non-supply policies and procedures. – Drafts financial status reports for management as required. 7. Effective partnership and working relationships are maintained for advocacy, technical coordination, information sharing and knowledge networking. – Exchanges information and knowledge with other programmes to contribute to the achievement of overall country programme objectives. – Assists in establishing effective monitoring, knowledge database/network and reporting systems to ensure the availability of current and accurate programme information/data, and contributes to the development of communication materials and strategies to support advocacy and community participation for Health & Nutrition; and to widen partnership with all stakeholder at national, regional, district, community and household levels as well as with funding partners including the private sector in order to accelerate the achievement of Health and Nutrition related MDGs goals. – Keeps close contact with external counterparts, including those of the UN and national partners, to improve the ability to collect and disseminate relevant data, and exchange information on programme/project development and implementation. – Shares knowledge, information, experience, and lessons learned. 8. Up-to-date programme information is kept available, and reports are prepared to support the Health & Nutrition programme through the effective implementation of the integrated monitoring system. – In consultation with monitoring and evaluation colleagues, conducts accurate and timely monitoring and data collection, and supports an integrated monitoring system, in consultation with all relevant stakeholders. – Assists with partners to ensure that monitoring systems are properly designed and that data collection and analysis from field visits are coordinated and standardised across programmes to feed into programme performance monitoring. – Analyses monitoring data and provides feed-forward or recommends adjustment as appropriate to ensure achievement of programme objectives. – Assists in the timely preparation of annual sector status reports in compliance with the established guidelines and procedures. – Assists in the drafting and preparation of programme reports for management, Board, donors, budget reviews, programme analysis, and annual reports, as required. 9. Emergency preparedness is maintained, and in emergencies, emergency responses are effectively provided. – Assists in the implementation of emergency preparedness plans relating to Health & Nutrition. – In case of emergency, assists in monitoring and assessing the nature and extent of the emergency in the assigned area. – Provides assistance to the Country Office as required. – In line with the Core Commitments for Children (CCCs) in Humanitarian Action, strengthens partnerships with the Health and Nutrition humanitarian actors s within the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC). 10. Other assigned duties and responsibilities are effectively accomplished. Performs any other duties and responsibilities assigned as appropriate to the purpose of this post, and delivers the results as required.

Competencies and values

Core Values – Care – Respect – Integrity – Trust – Accountability – Sustainability Core Competencies – Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (1) – Works Collaboratively with others (1) – Builds and Maintains Partnerships (1) – Innovates and Embraces Change (1) – Thinks and Acts Strategically (1) – Drive to achieve impactful results (1) – Manages ambiguity and complexity (1) Technical Knowledge a) Specific Technical Knowledge Required (for the job) – Programmatic goals, visions, positions, policies, and strategies for the Health & Nutrition programme – Mid-term Strategic Plan, Millennium Development Goals – Knowledge of some of the technical areas of UNICEF programmes (e.g., Health, Nutrition Health & Nutrition, CSD, PMTCT, HIV/AIDS, malaria, WASH, EPI) b) Common Technical Knowledge Required (for the job group) Knowledge of theories and practices in: – Child and Maternal Nutrition and Health – Nutrition and Health Promotion and Disease Prevention – Public Health and Nutrition – Educational Interventions in Health and Nutrition Care – Environmental Health and Nutrition – Knowledge Management – Computer software application, including word processing, spreadsheet and corporate. – software packages – Gender equality and diversity awareness General knowledge of: – Methodology of programme/project management – Programmatic goals, visions, positions, policies, and strategies in Health & Nutrition – Knowledge of global health and nutrition issues, specifically relating to children and women, and the current trends, methods, and approaches. – Policies and strategies to address national and global health and nutrition issues, particularly relating to conflicts, natural disasters, and recovery. – Emergency programme policies, goals, strategies, and approaches. c) Technical Knowledge to be Acquired/Enhanced (for the Job) – Knowledge of the latest developments and technology in related fields. – Knowledge of local conditions and country legislation relevant to UNICEF programmes – UN policies and strategies to address international humanitarian issues and the responses. – UN common approaches to programmatic issues and UNICEF positions – UN security operations and guidelines. – UNICEF strategic framework for partnerships and collaborative relationships.

Living conditions and remarks

The Republic of Namibia is in the southwestern part of Africa with an estimated population of 2.6 million and a surface area of 825,418 km². The capital city of Namibia is Windhoek situated at around 1,700 m above sea level with a population of 431,000, which is growing continually due to a continued migration from other regions in Namibia. The United Nations Office, housing all UN Agencies, including UNICEF, is based in Windhoek. Namibia shares borders with Angola, Zambia and Zimbabwe in the North, Botswana in the East and South Africa in the South. The currency in Namibia is the Namibian Dollar, which is fixed and equal in value to the South African Rand. The South African Rand is also a legal tender in Namibia. English is the official language in Namibia whilst other languages such as Afrikaans and German are widely spoken and enjoy a similar status as official languages in selected schools. (Details are availed to all new staff joining UNICEF as part of the standard welcoming package). The Security Level in Windhoek, Namibia is classified as Level 1 as per the UN security management system. There are limited security risks. However, all newly arriving staff members and international consultants get an appropriate briefing on security in the country from the UN Department of Security Services (UNDSS), based in Namibia. Different types of long-term accommodation are available in Windhoek: Apartments, standalone houses, and sectional titles (houses compounds). These could be furnished and/or fully serviced, or unfurnished. Some can be rented out including water and electricity, where the tenant is expected to pay for those on a monthly basis while some are rented out with water and electricity included in the rental fee. All UNICEF new staff arrivals MUST ensure that UNDSS has assessed his/her potential home before signing a lease with a landlord or a real estate company. UNICEF has a list of recommended estate agencies to use, and contacts are availed as part of a standard welcoming package available to all new staff. Several schools are available and provide good multicultural education (English or German language medium). In addition, most of the international staff’s children attend an international school with an academic system that is widely recognized abroad and there are a number of private schools providing high standards of education. Both private and international schools often include a kindergarten and pre-school classes for younger kids. It is advisable to ask your embassy in Windhoek which schools your compatriots prefer for their kids. You can check full entitlements at the duty station at https://app.unv.org/calculator The complete UN Volunteer Conditions of Service is available at https://explore.unv.org/cos