The Ugandan Jobline

Job Title: Nutrition Officer (Nutrition Information and Routine Data Integration in Health System)

Organisation: United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)

Duty Station:  Kampala, Uganda

About US:

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is mandated by the UN general assembly to advocate for the protection of children’s rights, to help meet their basic needs and expand their opportunities to reach their full potential. Together with our partners, we work in 190 countries and territories to translate that commitment into practical action, focusing special effort on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded children, to the benefit of all children, everywhere.

Job Summary:  Under the supervision and guidance of the Nutrition Specialist, the Nutrition Officer provides professional technical, operational, and administrative assistance throughout the programming process for the nutrition output workplans within the Country Programme, from development planning to delivery of results. In doing so, the incumbent implements a variety of technical and administrative programme tasks to facilitate programme development, implementation, programme progress monitoring, evaluation, and reporting of results, with focus on the Nutrition Information, Systems Strengthening. The efficiency and efficacy of support provided by the Nutrition Officer (Nutrition Information and Knowledge) to the preparation, planning and implementation of the specific component of the programme (Nutrition Information Systems) contributes to and accelerates the national development efforts to improve the nutritional status of mothers, infants, children and adolescents in Uganda. 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 the country.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

Support to programme development and planning.

• Contribute to and support the preparation, design and updating of the situation analysis for the nutrition sector(s) to ensure comprehensive and current data on maternal,adolescent and child nutrition are available to guide policy development, and the design and management of nutrition programmes/projects.
• Participate in strategic programme discussions on the planning of nutrition programmes/projects.
• Formulate, design and prepare a sector of the nutrition programme proposal, ensuring alignment with UNICEF’s Strategic Plans, Country Programme, and coherence/integration with the UN Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF), regional strategies, as well as national priorities, plans and competencies.
• Establish specific goals, objectives, strategies, and implementation plans for the nutrition sector(s) based on results-based planning terminology and methodology (RBM).
• Prepare required documentations and materials for programme review and approval.
• Work closely and collaboratively with 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 to ensure integration, coherence and harmonization of programmes/projects with other UNICEF sectors and achievement of results as planned and allocated.

Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results.

• Provide information management leadership in assessments and monitoring, including joint assessments and training for nutrition programme
• Work closely and collaboratively with colleagues and partners to discuss operational and implementation issues around Nutrition Information Systems. Keep record of reports and assessments for easy reference and/or to capture and institutionalize lessons learned.
• Plan and/or collaborate with internal and external partners to establish monitoring benchmarks, performance indicators, and UNICEF/UN system indicators and measurements, to assess and strengthen performance accountability, coherence and delivery of concrete and sustainable results for the assigned sector in nutrition programmes.
• Participate in monitoring and evaluation exercises, programme reviews and annual reviews with government and other counterparts to assess progress and to determine required action and interventions to achieve results.
• Prepare and assess monitoring and evaluation reports to identify gaps, strengths and/or weaknesses in programme management.
• Identify lessons learned and use knowledge gained for development planning and timely intervention to achieve goals.
• Actively monitor programmes and projects through field visits, surveys and/or exchange of information with partners and 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.
• Monitor and verify the optimum and appropriate use of sectoral programme resources (financial, administrative and other assets) confirming compliance with organizational rules, regulations, procedures, donor commitments, and standards of accountability.
• Ensure timely reporting and liquidation of resources.

Technical and operational support to programme implementation.

• Conduct regular programme field visits and surveys, and exchange information with partners and stakeholders to assess progress and provide technical support. Take appropriate action to resolve issues and/or refer to relevant officials for resolution. Report on critical issues, bottlenecks and potential problems for timely action to achieve results.
• Provide technical guidance and operational support to government counterparts, NGO partners, UN system partners and other country office partners/donors on the interpretation, application and understanding of UNICEF policies, strategies, processes, best practices, and approaches on nutrition and related issues to support programme development planning, management, implementation, and delivery of results.
• Participate in discussions with national partners, clients and stakeholders to promote nutrition and development issues especially in the areas of emergency preparedness and maternal, newborn and child survival and development.
• Draft policy papers, briefs and other strategic programme materials for management use,information and/or consideration.
• Participate in emergency preparedness initiatives for programme development, contingency planning and/or to respond to emergencies in country or where designated.
• Identify and address gaps in regular quality reporting against the Nutrition Sector indicators of service delivery (quantity, quality, coverage, continuity and cost) through communication and discussions with sector partners and provision of technical support for timely and quality reporting.

Networking and partnership building.

• Build and sustain effective close working partnerships with nutrition sector, government counterparts and national stakeholders through active sharing of information and knowledge to facilitate programme implementation and build capacity of stakeholders to achieve programme goals on maternal and child rights as well as social justice and equity.
• Facilitate programme implementation and build capacity of stakeholders to achieve programme goals on maternal and child rights as well as social justice and equity.
• Prepare communication and information materials for CO programme advocacy to promote awareness, establish partnership/alliances and support fund raising for nutrition programmes.
• Participate and/or represent UNICEF in inter-agency discussions, ensuring that UNICEF’s position, interests and priorities are fully considered and integrated in the UNDAF development planning and agenda setting.
• Draft communication and information materials for Country Office programme advocacy to promote awareness, establish partnership/alliances and support fund raising for nutrition programmes.
• Participate in appropriate inter-agency (UNCT) meetings and events on programming to collaborate with inter-agency partners and colleagues on UNDAF operational planning and preparation of nutrition programmes/projects, and to integrate and harmonize UNICEF’s position and strategies with the UNDAF development and planning process.
• Research information on potential donors and prepare resource mobilization materials and briefs for fund raising and partnership development purposes.

Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building.

• Apply and introduce innovative approaches and good practices to build the capacity of partners and stakeholders, and to support the implementation and delivery of concrete and sustainable programme results, with the focus on Nutrition Information Systems and Knowledge Management.
• 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 programmes and projects.
• Organize and implement capacity building initiatives to enhance the competencies of clients and stakeholders to promote sustainable results on nutrition related programmes and projects.
• Identify, capture, synthesize, and share lessons learned for knowledge development and to build the capacity of partners and stakeholders in Nutrition Information Systems.
• Apply innovative approaches and promote good practices to support the implementation and delivery of concrete and sustainable in Nutrition Information Systems and Knowledge Management.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

• A University degree in one of the following fields is required: nutrition, public health, nutritional epidemiology, global/international health and nutrition, health/nutrition research, policy and/or management, health sciences, or another health-related science field.
• At least two years of progressively responsible professional work experience at national level in nutrition programme planning, management, monitoring, and evaluation, in nutrition or any related field.
• A strong experience in establishing and maintaining national nutrition information systems and M&E frameworks is an advantage.
• Current knowledge of the latest developments and technology, in the field.
• Good analytical, negotiating, communication and advocacy skills. Computer skills, including internet navigation and various office applications.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a multi-cultural environment and establish harmonious and effective working relationships both within and outside the organization.
• Fluency in English and knowledge of the local working language of the duty station.
• Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language or local language of the duty station is considered as an asset.

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are

• 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)

How to Apply:

All suitably qualified candidates should apply online at the link below

Click Here

Deadline: 27^th April 2022

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