job in Kenya - UNICEF Regional Adviser

UNICEF Regional Adviser, Nutrition Job in Nairobi Kenya Purpose of the Position

You will support and advise the Regional Director, the Regional Management Team and Country Offices and Governments in developing policies, strategies, programmes and systems for the designated areas of responsibilities, in light of the MTSP priority on Nutrition. Support development of harmonized regional strategies, analysis of nutrition trends, synthesis and dissemination of best practices in nutrition and capacity development of country teams and partner organisation – in close coordination with the African Union and regional bodies – such as ECSA and SADC. You will be responsible for providing technical leadership, management advice, and programme support and capacity building to country offices throughout the Region. Provide UNICEF Nutrition programmes with innovative leadership including expert advice, vision, oversight, knowledge management, articulating policies and strategies, situation appraisal, harmonization of programme strategy, capacity building, support for monitoring and evaluation, representation, networking and strategic partnership creation. This technical support has to be anchored in the reality of high Stunting burden in the Eastern and Southern Africa region, which is aggravated by prevailing food insecurity and poverty, emergencies due to recurring droughts/floods, conflict and persisting HIV and AIDS pandemic. As head of the nutrition unit, direct, lead and manage a group of professional and support staff to develop, manage and administer the sectoral or inter-sectoral project/programme. Key Expected Results 1. Programme policies, strategies, and guidelines for the region are developed and advocated. Regional Director, Deputy Director, the Regional Management Team and Country Offices are advised on policy, strategy and advocacy. UNICEF’s regional policy strategy, programme guidelines and advocacy are developed and disseminated to Country Office programme staff. 2. Strategy coordination to facilitate harmonization and implementation of regional and country strategies is formed in collaboration with management at country, regional, and HQ levels as well as key partners. Guidance and support are provided to form strategic alliances with regional and national partners to influence on programme strategy and plan. 3. Up-to-date technical expertise is maintained, expanded and disseminated throughout the Organization, and shared with regional/national institutions/partners.


4. Country Offices, Regional Office staff and national partners lead regional programme development, implementation and management processes due to continual, effective capacity building. 5. Regional and Country Offices expand, lead and deliver programmes at a high quality standard in area of expertise due to strong technical leadership. 6. Regional financial resources are enhanced by effective advocacy and leveraging. 7. Accurate, coherent and reliable regional information is collected, analysed and reported for monitoring and evaluation purposes. 8. UNICEF is effectively represented and programme goals and strategies are widely advocated with high level and senior government officials, multi-lateral agencies, bi-lateral agencies, NGOs, other UN agencies, and donors. 9. Effective communication, partnerships, representation and networking are forged to develop harmonized programme interventions and expand programmes and networks. 10. Emergency preparedness is assessed, needs for emergency support are identified, and emergency responses with effective coordination involving the key public sectors (health, agriculture, education, social welfare and protection) as well as involving the private sector (e.g. food processors, manufacturers of vitamin and mineral supplements / fortificants etc) are provided. Qualifications of Successful Candidate Advanced university degree in the combination of the selective disciplines relevant to the following areas: Public Health & Nutrition, Health Sciences, International Health & Nutrition, Public Health & Nutrition Policy and Management, Family and Community Health & Nutrition, Nutritional Epidemiology, Health & Nutrition Education, Health & Nutrition Promotion and Disease Prevention, Public Health Preparedness, Health Emergency Preparedness, or other relevant discipline(s). Twelve years of progressively responsible professional work experience in all aspects of programme policy development, planning, management, and/or advisory support, in the technical area or programme sector resulting in recognized expertise in the technical area. Expert knowledge of the technical areas of UNICEF programmes. Expert technical leadership and knowledge of theories, principles and methods in the combination of selective fields of the following: Public Health & Nutrition, International Health & Nutrition, Public Health & Nutrition Policy and Management, Family and Community Health & Nutrition, Public Health & Nutrition Preparedness, Health & Nutrition Emergency Preparedness. Nutritional Epidemiology, Nutrition Research, Biostatistics, Biochemistry, Socio-medical Sciences. Health & Nutrition Education, Health & Nutrition Promotion and Disease Prevention, Educational Interventions in Health & Nutritional Care. Fluency in English and another UN language. Knowledge of the local language of the duty station an asset. Competencies of Successful Candidate * Has highest-level communication skills, including engaging and informative formal public speaking. * Consistently achieves high-level results, managing and delivering projects on-time and on-budget.

* Creates and encourages a climate of team-working and collaboration in a multi-cultural environment. * Has high-level leadership and supervisory skills; provides others with a clear direction; motivates and empowers others; recruits staff of a high caliber; provides staff with development opportunities and coaching. * Sets, develops and revises organizational strategy and develops clear visions of the organization’s future potential. * Analyzes and integrates diverse and complex quantitative and qualitative data from a wide range of sources. * Quickly builds rapport with individuals and groups. Actively nurtures good relationships with people across all organizational levels and boundaries, and with government leaders and stakeholders. * Identifies urgent and potentially risky decisions and acts on them promptly; initiates and generates organization-wide activities. * Negotiates effectively by exploring a range of possibilities. UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organisation.

How to apply If you want a challenging career while improving the lives of children around the world UNICEF, the leading children’s rights organization, would like to hear from you. Visit us at www.unicef.org/about/employ to register in our new e-Recruitment system and apply to this and other vacancies, quoting E-VN-2010-002496. Applications must be received by 17 December 2010. Please note that only candidates who are under serious consideration will be contacted. In the selection of its staff, UNICEF is committed to gender balance and diversity without distinction as to race, sex or religion, and without discrimination of persons with disabilities: well qualified candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.