UNICEF recruits 01 Chief Child Survival & Development (Nutrition)
Chief Child Survival & Development (Nutrition), P-4, Windhoek, Namibia (For Internationals only)
Job Number: 520004 | Vacancy Link
Locations: Africa: Namibia
Work Type : Fixed Term Appointment
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This Chief, Child Survival and Development heads the Child Survival and Development Program in Namibia Country Office where the Representative is at the P5 level and the Child Survival and Development Program is a key component of the Country Program and UNPAF. In light of the particular challenges in the area of Nutrition in the country, the Chief CSD will simultaneously act as the Manager of the Nutrition pillar of the CSD programme, which constitutes 60% of the function. S/he is responsible for developing, preparing and managing complex, key and integrated CSD with a focus on nutrition programmes.
The Chief reports to the Deputy Representative. As Chief of Child Survival and Development (CSD), s/he is responsible for the management of the entire CSD programme. S/He is technically authoritative in providing programmatic advisory services, as well as for overall contribution to innovation and knowledge management. The efficiency and efficacy of support provided by the Chief, Child Survival and Development (Nutrition) to the preparation, planning and implementation of nutrition programmes/projects contributes to and accelerates the national development efforts to improve the nutritional status of mothers, infants and children in the country. This in turn contributes to maintaining and enhancing the credibility and ability of UNICEF to continue to provide programme services to mothers and children that promotes greater social equity in Namibia.
Key functions, accountabilities and related duties/tasks
1. Managerial leadership
Establish the section’s annual work plan with the Child Survival and Development team, and set priorities and targets. Monitor work progress and ensure results are achieved according to schedule and performance standards.
Establish clear individual performance objectives, goals and timelines; and provide timely guidance to enable the team to perform their duties responsibly and efficiently. Plan and ensure timely performance management and assessment of the team.
Supervise team members by providing them with clear objectives and goals, direction and guidance to enable them to perform their duties responsibly, effectively and efficiently.
2. Programme/project Planning, Development and Management on CSD with a strong emphasis on nutrition
Enhance effective programme, sectoral or inter-sectoral, planning, development and management by leading, guiding, coordinating and supporting the timely completion of the Situational Analysis and its periodic update in the area of child survival and development in the first decade with a particular emphasis on nutrition, addressing gender and determinants of inequalities through accurate and complete monitoring and analysis, and the timely preparation or finalization of sectoral input. Provide technical support and guidance on the preparation, design and updating of the situation analysis for the nutrition sector/s to ensure comprehensive and current data on maternal and child nutrition is available to guide policy development as well as design and management of nutrition programmes/projects.
Ensure inclusion, coordination and delivery on sectoral leadership responsibilities and participation to the Maternal, neonatal, child health including PMTCT of HIV, WASH, Early Childhood Development [pre-primary and primary education up to grade 5] and child protection [within the first decade], immunization and community based health care) program, with a strong emphasis on improving nutrition indicators.
Prepare, coordinate and/or supervise the formulation of Child Survival and Development program recommendations and related documentations, in particular in light of improving nutrition status in the country, as a component of the Country Programme, establishing clear program goals, objectives, strategies, and results based on results-based planning terminology and methodology (RBM).
Evaluate program recommendation for CSD with a strong focus on nutrition to ensure alignment of the sectoral program with UNICEF’s Strategic Plans, Country Programme, UN Partnership Framework (UNPAF), regional strategies as well as national priorities, plans and competencies.
Consult and collaborate with colleagues and partners to provide technical and operational support on programs planning, management and implementation, and to ensure integration, coherence and harmonization of programs/projects with other UNICEF sectors throughout all stages of programming processes for CSD with a strong focus on nutrition.
3. Innovation, Knowledge Management and capacity building
Promote knowledge management by exchange of knowledge, information, situation analysis, experience or lessons learned; promote knowledge sharing and technical input or recommendations on major CSD programme directions, with a strong emphasis on nutrition and on introduction of new initiatives in the country.
Promote lessons learned in addressing inequalities and gender inequalities.
Advise the Representative / Deputy Representative on appropriate training and professional development opportunities for Child Survival and Development section staff.
Keep abreast, research, benchmark, and implement best and cutting-edge practices in health management and information systems. Institutionalize and share best practices and knowledge learned.
Contribute to the development of policies and procedures and introduce innovation and best practices to ensure optimum efficiency and efficacy of sustainable CSD programs and projects, with a strong emphasis on nutrition.
Lead, plan and implement capacity building initiatives to enhance the competencies of stakeholders to promote sustainable results on health and nutrition related program/projects.
4. Rights-Based Programme with Results-Based Approach
Promote the quality of rights-based Child Survival and Development programme, with a strong emphasis on nutrition through participation in the formulation of programme/project goals, strategies and approaches.
Bring coherence, synergy and added value to programme management processes using a results-based management approach to planning and design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.
5. Sectoral Work Plan Development, Implementation, and Monitoring
Takes primary responsibility for the development of the sectoral work plan and technical decisions as well as for project management, implementation and monitoring of nutrition activity, in compliance with the defined project strategies and approaches, with an emphasis on promoting approaches to reducing gender inequalities and achieving gender mainstreaming.
6. Programme Management, Delivery, Evaluation and Reporting
Establish the annual work plans with the Child Survival and Development team; set priorities/targets and performance measurement, with a strong emphasis on nutrition. Monitor work progress and ensure results are achieved according to schedule and performance standards.
Ensure programme efficiency and delivery through a rigorous and transparent approach to evaluation. Participation in major evaluation exercises, program reviews and annual sector review meetings with government counterparts with preparation of sector reports.
Support the Office of the Deputy Representative for adequate and transparent evaluation of emergency preparedness and response.
7. Promotion of UNICEF’s Global Goals
Promote the organization goals of UNICEF through advocacy and policy dialogue through active engagement in communication, networking and participation at every opportunity inside and outside UNICEF, leveraging the strength of UNICEF mission, goals and programmes, and with reference to sectoral strategies (Maternal, newborn, child health including PMTCT of HIV, WASH, Early Childhood Development [pre-primary and primary education up to grade5] and child protection [within the first decade], immunization and community based health care), with a particular emphasis on nutrition indicators.
8. UNICEF and Government Accountability
Coordinates with Operations and Supply staff on supply and non-supply assistance activities in relation to CSD program ensuring proper and timely UNICEF and Government accountability. Certifies disbursements of funds, monitors and submits financial status reports to management in compliance with the regulations and guidelines.
Advocate for due attention and support to be given to Child Survival and Development in all sectors and line ministries, with considerable attention to technical support in the area of nutrition.
9. Communication, Collaboration, Networking and Partnerships
Ensure exchange of information, experience, identify new strategies and courses of action to accelerate/improve delivery of services and achieve Child Survival and Development programme requirements and objectives, in particular related to nutrition. Conduct field visits to monitor programmes and collect information. Conduct periodic programme reviews with Government counterparts and other partners.
Collaborate with Communication 4 Development and Communication team to ensure development of effective communication materials and strategies to support advocacy and social mobilization efforts.
Overall coordination with Regional Advisers and HQ Officers. Collaborate with other Project or Program or Humanitarian or Emergency Officers to ensure the integration of the project/sectoral program with other sectors.
Participate and/or represent UNICEF in appropriate inter-agency platforms such as Health Development Partners Forum (HDPF) and other UN MNCH, Nutrition and ECD forums- (UNCT) discussions and planning on CSD-related issues to collaborate with inter-agency partners/colleagues on UNPAF planning and preparation of Child Survival and Development program/projects, ensuring organizational position, interests and priorities are fully considered and integrated in the UNPAF process in development planning and agenda setting.
Interact with Government and other partners, NGOs, UN and bilateral agencies in the different stages of Child Survival and Development programme/project implementation to follow up on agreements and recommendations.
Provide technical support and guidance on appropriate technical, financial and institutional capacity building measures to achieve Child Survival and Development programme goals, in particular related to nutrition indicators.
Ensure active participation to the MNCH, Nutrition, PMTCT of HIV, ECD and Health sector coordination, whilst simultaneously ensuring delivery on the CCCs by the UNICEF Child Survival and Development programme.
Impact of Results
The efficiency and efficacy of program preparation planning and implementation of Child Survival and Development programs/projects, and in particular nutrition-related interventions, contributes to the delivery of concrete and sustainable results that directly impact the improvement of the MNCH including PMTCT of HIV, Nutrition and ECD including child protection in the first decade of life of the most marginalized and vulnerable women and children in the country. It will also accelerate the national development efforts to improve the nutritional status of mothers, infants and children. This in turn contributes to maintaining and enhancing the credibility and ability of UNICEF to continue to provide program services to protect the rights of children, promote greater social equality to enable children to survive, develop and reach their full potential in society.
Qualifications
Education: An advanced university degree in one of the disciplines relevant to the following fields is required: nutrition, public health, nutritional epidemiology, global/international health and nutrition, health/nutrition research, policy and/or management, health sciences, nutritional epidemiology, or another health-related science field. Additional training in Health, Communication for Development (Programme Communication), ECD, or social policy an asset.
Experience: A minimum of eight years of progressively responsible professional experience in a developing country in the area of nutrition and in one or more of the following areas is required: public health, nutrition planning and management, or maternal, infant and child health/nutrition care. Experience in ECD, WASH and social policy is an asset Experience in health/nutrition programme/project development and management in a UN system agency or organization is an asset. Experience in humanitarian contexts is an added advantage.
Languages: Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language or a local language is an asset.
For every Child, you demonstrate…
UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.
Competencies and level of proficiency required
Core Values: Commitment, Diversity and inclusion, Integrity
Core competencies: Communication (II), Working with people (II), Drive for results (II)
Functional Competencies: Leading and supervising (II), Formulating strategies and concepts (II), Analyzing (III), Relating and networking (II), Deciding and Initiating action (II), Applying technical expertise (III)
View our competency framework at http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf
UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.
UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.
Remarks:
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.
Closing Date Sun Mar 10 2019 22:55:00 GMT+0100 (Afr. centrale Ouest)