Republication Internal/External Vacancy: Nutrition Specialist (Food System), P3-TA, Abidjan-Cote d'Ivoire

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

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For every child, the right to Champion! 

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programmes, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — will not only give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

UNICEF in Cote d’Ivoire works with the Government and Development Partners to ensure that every child in the country is healthy, well nourished, educated, has access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene, is safe from neglect, abuse and exploitation and free from poverty, therefore having the best start in life and a fair chance to reach her or his full potential and benefit from the country’s transition from a lower middle-income to an upper middle-income country. Children have the right to live in a more equitable society, where their voices are heard, and needs met as a matter of priority in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

How can you make a difference? 

The Nutrition Specialist reports to the Chief of Nutrition (P4) and is responsible for leading the implementation of the First Foods component within the Nutrition Programme. This role encompasses strategic planning, technical support for implementation, monitoring and evaluation, documentation, advocacy, and communication.

The incumbent will work closely with UNICEF Programme and Operations teams to ensure that interventions related to food systems and nutrition are effectively designed and executed to achieve results for children. The position provides technical and advisory support to government counterparts and partners - including the private sector - on strengthening food systems, promoting access to diverse, locally-produced, safe and nutritious foods, and advancing policies and regulations that support optimal infant and young child feeding practices as well as adolescent nutrition. For the duration of the assignment, the Nutrition Specialist will focus on accelerating the scale-up of First Foods initiatives, addressing implementation challenges, and fostering innovative approaches to improve food environments. Additionally, the incumbent will contribute to the design of new strategies and partnerships that enhance sustainable food systems and support the prevention of malnutrition for children and adolescents in Côte d'Ivoire.

SUMMARY OF KEY FUNCTIONS AND ACCOUNTABILITIES

1. Preparation of Nutrition/Food Systems Component Annual Workplan

• Contribute to the development of the annual work plan for the Food Systems including the “First Foods Africa initiative” portfolio, ensuring alignment with UNICEF’s nutrition priorities for children and adolescents.
• Define targets and performance indicators that promote optimal diets and feeding practices for infants, young children, and adolescents.
• Collect and analyze data on ongoing and planned nutrition interventions, including those addressing adolescent nutrition and food environments.