Nutrition Specialist (Project Coordinator), NO-3 at UNICEF

Job Number: 529793
Work Type: Temporary Appointment

Background

• The Northeast region of Nigeria has been facing protracted violent conflict due to clashes between the Nigerian military and the non-state armed groups from 2009 with Borno state as its hottest spot. With Humanitarian Emergency declared in 2016, Borno has remained central in the humanitarian crisis and the situation has remained volatile and fragile notwithstanding the modest improvement in the security and humanitarian situation, relative to the status in 2016.
• There is a high level of aid dependency and unpredictable episodes of violent attacks occur in the state especially in the northern and central-local government areas (LGAs).  Coordinated humanitarian response is going on in the conflict-affected states of Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe-BAY states and UNICEF is implementing the Department for International Development (DFID) funded “Flexible, integrated and timely response to nutrition and WASH-related humanitarian needs in Borno state (FIT-Response)”.

Project

• The FIT Response project is being implemented in an integrated multisectoral approach to demonstrate result for Nutrition and WASH outcomes and UNICEF is actively collaborating with the sectors, the government and partners to respond timely by delivering an integrated package of nutrition-specific and sensitive interventions.
• The FIT project is unique as it is designed to be a need-based and flexible in approach to deliver a variable mix of packages to different locations at different times. This is enabled by evidence generated from a data-driven surveillance system which is central in the FIT Response for decision making on location, content, and duration of intervention in those locations. On this premise, the FIT response has no fixed location but responds in locations of increased or worsening nutrition and WASH situations and modifies packages or exits location with improvement and stabilization of the situation.
• Under the FIT Response also, the implementation of the INP+ Pilot in Shani is being extended from April 2019 to March 2020 to enable adequate time for a demonstration of impact during the end line survey at the end of the pilot in March 2020
• The desired impact of the project is to contribute to the reduction of morbidity and mortality related to undernutrition 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.
• Proactive surveillance – Strengthening monitoring and surveillance systems for early detection and timely response to increased humanitarian needs.

Key Functions, Accountabilities, and Related Duties / Tasks
Program Management and coordination for effective partnership and project implementation:

• Ensure functional leadership of the project through, Chief of sections meeting and project Steering Committee
• Coordinate Technical team of section focal persons and proactively engage in the implementation of key recommendations from the donor, the steering committee, and the technical committee
• Organize and participate in biannual state review meeting/workshop for Multisectoral Coordination Committee with State and LGA to share information, review assessments and situational analysis and discuss common issues
• Attend the state levels and national nutrition sector coordination meeting and report on FIT progress and achievements
• Harness and harmonize inputs and responses from integrating sections and respective government agencies and ministries
• Regularly track financial management with program associate for the financial status of project and section allocations and ensure participating sections are up to date and comply with their financial spending as agreed in the quarterly breakdown of budgets as well. Anticipate underspending/overspending and alert sections and Chief of nutrition on financial issues.

Support implementation and Supervision of Field team and knowledge management of the FIT Response:

• Ensure coordination of the Shani Pilot project and facilitate a comprehensive end-line survey of the INP+ pilot
• Attend quarterly TAG meetings and monthly operations meeting in Borno as the case may be
• Support surveillance team on decision making for response
• Conduct field monitoring visit to FIT Response sites and provide regular feedback and insights gained from facility and community monitoring to the project team for technical assistance and share good practices of the implementation across sections
• Support IMOs to put in place adequate practices and channels of communication and interaction between consortium members
• Support the circulation of Agenda and minutes of meetings provide regular updates on FIT Response management, project performance and provide timely alerts of key challenges
• Support information sharing and networking among project stakeholders through establishment/strengthening of knowledge exchange mechanisms, development, facilitation, and knowledge dissemination Work with communications unit to increase visibility for UNICEF and DFID through media representations, press releases, publications and branding
• Coordinate with communication colleagues the collection and documentation of lessons learned, good practices and innovations that come from monitoring the project and using the community platform.
• Develop and manage strong relationships with key partners and stakeholders and sustain dialogue, mutual learning, and engagement during all phases of the FIT Response project.
• Facilitate comprehensive end of project learning
• Complete, quality and timely reporting to donor on FIT response project implementation
• Ensure and oversee timely and quality reporting and adherence to reporting schedule and harmonized reporting templates agreed with the donor
• Provide feedback on progress, quarterly reports from the donor and the technical committee to relevant focal persons
• Oversee updating of the common project log frame if needed in consultation with donor and technical team
• Oversee consolidation of log frame filled, reviewed and updated as needed
• The above-stated responsibilities are not exhaustive, and the specialist may be required to discharge other duties and responsibilities as the needs arise based on the advice of the Chief of Section.

Requirements
Education:

• Advanced university degree (MSc / Ph.D.) in Health and Nutrition, Policy and / or Management, Public Health, Epidemiology, Management or Business Administration, or other related fields

Work Experience:

• Minimum of 5 years of professional experience in program/project development and management and/or coordination of partnerships and programs. Relevant experience in health/nutrition programs and projects and in UN system agency or international NGO. Experience in humanitarian response activity management will be an added advantage
• Proven experience in effectively managing grants
• Ability to analyze, synthesize information and communicate outcomes clearly to different stakeholders
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, ability to work independently and in a team, high-level report-writing skills
• Capacity to manage various tasks simultaneously in planning, implementing, and monitoring a complex project over an extended period.
• Experience coordinating with other organizations in the collation of information, analysis and development of recommendations.
• Ability to work in an international or multicultural environment and knowledge of DFID project management is a plus

Language Proficiency:

• Fluency in English required.
• Knowledge of the local language widely spoken in the North East region is an advantage

For every Child, you demonstrate:

• UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.
• View our competency framework at: http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf