Current Job Openings at the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF)

How can you make a difference?

The Specialist contributes to the achievement of results according to plans, allocation, results based-management approaches and methodology (RBM), and UNICEF’s Strategic Plans, standards of performance and accountability framework.

Support to programme/project development and planning

• Support the preparation, design and updating of the situation analysis on the MHPSS response for the child protection programmes/projects to ensure that current and comprehensive data on child protection-MHPSS issues is available to guide UNICEF’s strategic policy advocacy, intervention and development efforts on child rights and protection, and to set programme priorities, strategies, and design and implementation plans. Keep abreast of development trends to enhance programme management, efficiency and delivery.
• Participate in strategic programme discussions on the planning of child protection programmes/projects with specific focus on MHPSS. Formulate, design and prepare MHPSS programme/project proposals for the sector, ensuring alignment with UNICEF’s overall Strategic Plans and the Country Programme, as well as coherence and integration with the UN Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF), regional strategies and national priorities, plans and competencies.
• Establish specific goals, objectives, strategies, and implementation plans on MHPSS for the child protection sector using results-based planning terminology and methodology (RBM). Prepare required documentations for programme review and approval.
• Work closely and collaboratively with colleagues, partners and the MHPSS working group to discuss strategies and methodologies, and to determine national priorities and 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 MHPSS into programmes/projects with other UNICEF sectors and achievement of results as planned and allocated.
• Support current MHPSS practices, reflecting on a cross-sectoral approach.   
• Structured MHPSS activities for girls, boys and their care givers, organized in age-appropriate groups with a clear methodology or curriculum to promote mental well-being. Such activities must align with donor commitments in already-funded projects

Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results

• Plan and collaborate with colleagues and external partners to establish MHPSS monitoring benchmarks, performance indicators, other 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 child protection programmes.
• Participate in monitoring and evaluation exercises, programme reviews and annual reviews with the government and other counterparts to assess progress and to determine required actions and interventions to achieve MHPSS 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 MHPSS goals.
• Actively monitor programmes/projects through field visits, surveys and exchange of information with partners to assess progress, identify bottlenecks and potential problems. 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, as well as standards of accountability and integrity. Ensure timely reporting and liquidation of resources.
• Prepare regular and mandated programme/project reports for management, donors and partners to keep them informed of programme progress.

Technical and operational support to programme implementation

• Provide technical guidance and operational support to government counterparts, NGO partners, UN system partners and other country office partners and donors on the interpretation, application and understanding of UNICEF policies, strategies, processes, best practices, and approaches on child protection related issues to support programme management, implementation and delivery of results.
• Supporting the strengthening of MHPSS in emergencies to meet UNICEF’s core commitments for children, including quality assurance of MHPSS material used by partners (NGOs and Gov), supporting trainings, measuring/monitoring MHPSS indicators for reporting (Sit rep, donor reporting, etc.), and other support needed to achieve results in emergency contexts
• Arrange and coordinate availability of technical experts with Regional Office/HQ to ensure timely and appropriate support throughout the programming process.
• Participate in child protection programme meetings, including programme development and contingency planning discussions on emergency preparedness in the country or other locations designated, to provide technical and operational information, advice and support.
• Draft policy papers, briefs and other strategic programme materials for management use, information and/or consideration.
• Support strengthened coordination, technical capacity of the MHPSS Technical Working Group involving government and humanitarian actors
• Provide technical review and inputs related to MHPSS related documentation, Programme Documents etc. developed by the country office/partners.
• Ensure a cross-sectoral approach to case management. This includes review and inputs to the sector specific capacity building materials/sector and identify approaches to help ensure linkages between MHPSS and case management in health, education and child protection.
• Provide support to design and implement MHPSS interventions in the context of humanitarian response

Networking and partnership building

• Build and sustain effective close working partnerships with relevant government counterparts, national stakeholders, global partners, allies, donors, and academia - through active networking, advocacy and effective communication - to build capacity, exchange knowledge and expertise, and to reinforce cooperation to achieve sustainable and broad results in child protection.
• Support, through the development and implementation of MoUs, greater collaboration across Government Ministries for integrated MHPSS through sectors, notably the access to MHPSS within the formal and informal education system.
• Prepare communication and information materials for CO programme advocacy to promote awareness, establish partnerships/alliances and to support fund raising for child protection programmes and emergency interventions.

Participate and/or represent UNICEF in appropriate inter-agency (UNCT) discussions and planning on child protection related issues to collaborate with inter-agency partners/colleagues on UNDAF planning and preparation of programmes/projects. Ensure organizational position, interests and priorities are fully considered and integrated in the UNDAF process for development planning and agenda setting.

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.
• Keep abreast, research, benchmark, and implement best practices in child protection 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 in child protection and related programmes/projects.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have

• An advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required: international development, human rights, psychology, sociology, international law, or another relevant social science field.
• A minimum of five years of professional experience in social development planning and management in child protection related areas is required.
• Experience working in a developing country is considered as an asset.
• Relevant experience in programme development in child protection related areas in a UN system agency or organization is considered as an asset.
• Experience in both development and humanitarian contexts is considered as an added advantage.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language including Hausa is an asset.

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This position contributes to evidence-based planning, improved program monitoring and analytics for enhanced quality assurance and accountability, and enhanced monitoring of changes in bottlenecks affecting the supply, demand, coverage, and quality of key integrated nutrition programmes.

How can you make a difference?

• The Nutrition Officer (Data, Analytics and Evidence) will be based in Sokoto under the overall supervision of the Nutrition Specialist based in the Sokoto Field Office, will work in close collaboration with Abuja’s Nutrition Section Information Management Officer (Data, Analytics and Evidence), and will ensure close collaboration with Government counterparts and Partners at State and Local Government Area (LGA) levels to strengthen data systems across the data value chain.
• The staff member will support programmes across the three focus States—Kebbi, Sokoto, and Zamfara—to achieve the outputs and activities underlined in the current 2023-2027 Country Programme. As an expert s/he will collaborate with State Governments to strengthen Nutrition Information System, provide support to State Partners for monitoring, evaluation, and supportive supervision, to ensure effectiveness and efficiency in nutrition programme.
• The Officer will be required to generate appropriate analytics to strengthen policies, guidelines/ protocols, and programmes for use within UNICEF, the UN, Implementing and Development Partners. The current position is for a duration of 12 months.
• The incumbent will be responsible for designing quality nutrition data collection methodologies, surveys, polling, KAPs, and Peer Data Quality Reviews, including both qualitative and quantitative data analysis.
• S/he will initiate, update and or maintain nutrition databases, while using a range of data platforms such as UNICEF internal databases, ENA for SMART, Excel, ODK platform, RapidPro, other monitoring tools and smart phone inventory for programme monitoring and supportive supervision. Further, the incumbent will be responsible for knowledge generation and development of the programme-appropriate products.

Main Responsibilities and Tasks

Data Systems Strengthening & Information Management

• Provide leadership on strengthening nutrition data systems (routine, surveys, and surveillance) at sub-national levels and in close collaboration with national partners, including enabling interoperability and digitization of data platforms
• Strengthen existing in-country data approaches and platforms for collecting, analysing, and reporting high quality nutrition data at national and sub-national levels, particularly coverage data.
• Maintain information databases and general Programme tools and consolidate, analyse and report/disseminate data collected throughout various assessments 
• Manage relevant nutrition data sets, including humanitarian and development data sets.
• Maintain a well-prioritized plan of information management activities.
• Coordinate with other Programme Sections to ensure data coherence.
• Prepare SitReps, identify information gaps geographically and programmatically whilst also ensuring regular programme pipeline analysis.
• Regularly update and maintain contact list of all Nutrition Partners and working groups.
• Provide support in planning and executing data collection activities, including reviewing documents, preparing survey protocols, and adopting standardized approaches and tools for Nutrition/Cash Based Transfer (CBT) programming.
• Provide analytics, assess trends, and measure outcomes relating to achievement of programme targets to support evidence-based programming.
• As and when needed, coordinate and plan for meetings, develop agendas, document minutes, and share action points with all relevant persons.
• Compile, clean and analyse nutrition/CBT data including Community-based Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM), Maternal, Infant and Young Child Feeding Nutrition, Micronutrients etc.

Programme Performance Monitoring & Reporting 

• Provide technical and operational support throughout all stages of programming processes by executing and administering a variety of technical programme transactions, preparing materials and documentation, and complying with organizational processes and management systems, to support programme planning, results-based management (RBM), and monitoring and evaluation of results.
• Support complete, quality, and timely reporting based on agreed monitoring frameworks.
• Generate high quality reports and knowledge products including presentations, publications, newsletters, etc.
• Support the preparation of quarterly, annual, and ad hoc reports and newsletters and share findings with stakeholders for informed decision making
• Consolidate data and draft relevant inputs for the progress and final reports for all nutrition reports and other UNICEF reports (mid-year and end-year activity monitoring, strategic monitoring questionnaires etc.).
• Conduct field visits to programme target areas to monitor the quality of data collection and reporting and provide supportive supervision as and when needed.
• Provide support for evaluation and documentation.
• Support resource mobilization activities for the Nutrition Programming.
• Present information in understandable, effective and visually appealing tables, charts, graphs, maps, visuals and reports (such as snapshots, dashboards, gap analysis, etc.).
• Provide any other relevant support as requested by the Nutrition Specialist.

Evidence Generation & Use

• Plan, Coordinate and conduct Standardized Monitoring and Assessment of Relief and Transitions (SMART) surveys and Integrated Food Security Phase Classification Acute Malnutrition (IPC AMN) in collaboration with IPC GNC, Nutrition partners and Government.
• Build and sustain effective close working partnerships with State Governments, Partners, and national stakeholders through active sharing of information and knowledge to facilitate programme response implementation and build the capacity of stakeholders to achieve programme goals on nutrition in relation to IPC AMN results.
• Support the coordination and conduct Cadre Harmonise (CH) analysis in collaboration with Food Security and Nutrition partners and the Government.
• In collaboration with FAO, State Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, and relevant Partners, build and sustain effective close working partnerships with nutrition partners, government counterparts and national stakeholders through active sharing of information and knowledge to facilitate response implementation and develop the capacity of stakeholders to achieve programme goals on Food Security and Nutrition in relation to CH analysis results.

Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

• Identify, capture, synthesize, and share lessons learned for knowledge development and to build the capacity of stakeholders.
• Apply innovative research approaches and promote good practices to support implementing and delivering concrete and sustainable programme results.
• Research, benchmark, and report on best and cutting-edge practices for planning knowledge products and systems development.
• Participate as a resource person in capacity-building initiatives to enhance the competencies of clients and stakeholders.

Education:

• Advanced University degree in in one of the following fields is required: Nutrition, Public Health, Statistics, Monitoring, Nutritional Epidemiology.
• Additional technical qualifications (supported with certificates) in SMART survey methodology, IPC Acute Malnutrition Analysis, geographic information systems, District Health Information Systems, Information Systems, Computer Science, data management or related field may be an added advantage.

Experience:

• A minimum of five years of relevant professional work experience including field work. Experience in nutrition data management, monitoring and evaluation, and workplan development.
• Proven statistical, analytic and technical skills including designing and administrating databases, database management and data analysis using statistical packages ((ENA, SPSS, STATA, etc.), high level of proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.), ability to maintain basic websites, ability to produce data summaries and visualizations, GIS knowledge an advantage.
• Experience with digital data platforms and District Health Information Systems-2 (DHIS-2) platforms, SMART surveys, Multi-Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS) and nutrition analysis including IPC AMN, and CH Analysis
• Experience of working in emergency and humanitarian contexts is an asset.