Nutrition Officer(Information Management) , NO-2, Abuja #112011

Job Number: 527930 | Vacancy Link

Locations: Africa: Nigeria

Work Type : Temporary Appointment

UNICEF 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.

Background:

Since 2009, states in northeast region of Nigeria have been troubled by a violent conflict stemming from clashes between the Nigerian military and non-state armed groups though a humanitarian emergency was not declared in the region till 2016. Borno – the state hardest-hit by the conflict – remains the epicentre of the humanitarian crisis. Although the security and humanitarian situation have slightly improved in comparison to when the humanitarian emergency was declared in 2016, the situation remains volatile and fragile given the high levels of aid dependency and sporadic episodes of violent attacks experienced in the state especially in the northern and central local government areas (LGAs).  As part of the integrated humanitarian response for conflict affected states, UNICEF with funding provided by the Department of International Development (DFID) is implementing a project titled “Flexible, integrated and timely response to nutrition-related and WASH humanitarian needs in Borno state (FIT-Response)”.

Through the FIT project, UNICEF is actively collaborating with the sector partners and the government detect emerging/deteriorating nutrition-related crises in Borno through an agile nutrition surveillance system and provide timely response through the implementation of an integrated basic package of nutrition-specific and sensitive interventions. The project is flexible – package of interventions to be implemented and particular locations (local governments areas (LGA)or wards) of implementation are based on evidence and can change from time to time based on needs. All the programme sections in UNICEF Nigeria are involved in the implementation (integrated) and the project is expected to respond to worsening nutrition or health situations such as cholera or measles outbreak, in a matter of days (timely). The major pillar of the evidence-based decision making for the FIT project is the FIT surveillance system. The surveillance system collects and analyses monthly data on selected multisectoral variables that of interest to nutrition and based on agreed cut off points in the surveillance protocol, accessible areas (at the LGA and even the ward levels) in the state are classified into different phases – acceptable, alert, serious and critical. Intervention packages to be implemented at these levels will be based on the phase within which the LGA or ward has been classified.

The desired impact of the project is to contribute to the reduction of morbidity and mortality related to under nutrition and poor water, sanitation and hygiene conditions amongst boys and girls under five years in Borno State.  The project commenced in April 2019 and over a period of 3 years, the project will deliver the following outputs:

Government coordination – Strengthening coordination, collaboration and advocacy among government and other relevant stakeholders; leading to effective and timely humanitarian response

Integrated service delivery – Improving access to integrated services at the health facilities, communities and IDP camps with gaps and

Proactive surveillance – Strengthening monitoring and surveillance systems for early detection and timely response to increased humanitarian needs

In the light of the large-scale integrated humanitarian programming and the importance of DFID as a major donor for nutrition programs in Nigeria especially in the nutrition response to the humanitarian crisis in Northeast Nigeria, the recruitment of a Nutrition Information Management Officer becomes imperative. The main role of this position is to regularly compile and manage data for the project to better monitor and evaluate the performance of the project.

Key functions, accountabilities and related duties/tasks:

The information management officer will be responsible for the delivery of the core functions below:

 Information Management

Support complete, quality and timely reporting on the project based on agreed monitoring frameworks.

Work with field office to have a well-prioritized plan of information management activities

Provide support in reviewing documents, preparing survey protocols and adopting standardized approaches and tools for nutrition/CBT programming

Maintain information databases and general project IM tools including consolidation, analysis and report/disseminate of data collected throughout various assessments

Assess trends and measures outcomes relating to achievement of project targets to support evidence-based programming.

As and when needed, coordinate and plan for meetings, develop agenda, document minutes and share action points with all relevant persons.

Support other IMOs in the section to compile, clean and analyse nutrition/CBT data including Community Based Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM), Vitamin A supplementation, Infant and Young Child Feeding Practice (IYCFP), Micronutrients etc.

FIT Surveillance System

Takes lead in operationalization of the FIT surveillance protocol.

Under the leadership of the Chief of Nutrition and in partnership with other IMOs (in nutrition and other sectors/sections) and relevant colleagues, review the protocol, data collection templates, reporting tools and reporting dashboards to adapt to changing needs

With the support of the Borno Field Office Surveillance IMO, effectively and efficiently manage the FIT surveillance team

Manage the data management process for FIT surveillance system ensuring that timely and quality surveillance data is available according to the protocol

Ensures that timely and accurate information from the FIT surveillance system is displayed on the web-based platform and shared with all sector partners to support planning and response.

Preparation of survey reports and newsletters and share findings with partners for improved action in nutrition.

Prepare briefs and presentations as and when needed for decision making and prioritization of nutrition interventions.

Project Performance Monitoring and Reporting

Support the preparation of quarterly, annual and adhoc reports and newsletters and share findings with stakeholders for informed decision making on the project and the humanitarian nutrition situation.

Conduct field visits to project target areas to monitor the quality of data collection and reporting and provide supportive supervision as and when needed.

Provide support to the Shani and Nangere pilot evaluation and documentation

Support resource mobilization activities for the nutrition section

Provide any other relevant support as requested by the Chief of Nutrition.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have:

Education

A first university degree (Bachelors) in public health, epidemiology, information systems/information management, statistics/mathematics, data management or related field is required. Advanced university degree (MSc/PhD) in the mentioned fields is highly desirable.

Work Experience

Minimum of 2 years of professional experience in public health, public policy, nutrition, information/knowledge/data management or related field in developing country context.

Experience in results-based management especially in developing and reporting on log frames.

Experience in data collection, with extensive experience, compiling and analysing quantitative data and producing relevant graphical representations of analysed data.

Proven experience in synthesizing relevant information and developing reports on time against set deadlines for the dissemination of key findings to technical and non-technical audiences.

Language Proficiency

Fluency in written and oral English is required; fluency in another UN working language is an asset

Fluency in Hausa and/or Kanuri is desirable

Technical Competencies

Ability to synthesize information from different sources into a coherent document

Professional technical knowledge in data management

Advanced knowledge of Microsoft office (MS Excel, MS Word, MS PowerPoint etc.)

Experience in survey methodologies, nutrition assessment and skills to use different software to manage data properly such as EpiData, EpiInfo, STATA, ENA, SPSS, R

Current knowledge of the latest developments and technology in the field.

Detail-oriented ability to work at a fast pace and meet deadlines

Ability to plan, coordinate and manage multiple tasks and adjust to changing priorities.

Leadership and ability to work with people.

Strong drive for result

Strong and effective communication and writing skills

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.

The competencies required for this post are….

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:

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Closing Date Mon Dec 02 2019 23:55:00 GMT+0100 (Afr. centrale Ouest)