UNOPS helps its partners in the United Nations system meet the world’s needs for building peace, recovering from disaster, and creating sustainable development.
UNOPS is known for its ability to implement complex projects in all types of environments around the globe.
In an effort to promote organizational excellence, UNOPS seeks highly qualified individuals for the following position:
Vacancy Details
Vacancy Code: VA/2009/AFO/KEOC/PRJ/01
Post Titles: Field Nutritionists (18 positions)
Post Levels: L-ICA 5 (Equivalent ICS 8 / NOA)
Project Title: Provision of technical support to through the recruitment of additional field nutrition officers
Org Unit: AFO/KEOC
Duty Stations: Arid and Semi Arid Kenyan Districts: Turkana, Marsabit, Moyale, Mandera, Wajir, Isiolo, Samburu, Tana River, Ijara, West Pokot, Baringo, Laikipia, Kajiado, Machakos, East Pokot, and Narok.
Duration: 1 year renewable
Closing Date: 22 December 2009
Background
Deteriorating household food security has contributed to a rise in acute malnutrition in most districts of Kenya. It is estimated that about 242,000 children below five years old are currently affected by moderate acute malnutrition and about 39,000 are affected by severe acute malnutrition.
As of July 2009 about 51,300 children below five years old had been admitted into supplementary feeding programmes and about 8,400 into therapeutic feeding programmes. UNICEF and partners will continue to scale-up critical nutrition interventions at health facility and community levels to prevent associated morbidities and mortality in children.
While lives saving interventions are crucial, it is essential that other sets of preventive interventions are considered and implemented.
In order to ensure timely and coordinated high-impact interventions, coordination mechanisms as well as nutrition surveillance and information management urgently need to be strengthened at sub-national level.
To achieve this, the nutrition sector main strategy is to support implementing critical nutrition interventions at health facility and community level and reach adequate coverage. UNICEF Kenya plays a major role in coordination of the nutrition sector, assessments, technical support, field monitoring, and resource mobilization.
Over the years, UNICEF has taken a lead role in supporting emergency nutrition interventions across the country. More recently, UNICEF has significantly scaled-up its partnership with NGO partners to increase the coverage of critical nutrition interventions in the most affected districts.
Therefore, in order to improve the quality and impact of nutrition interventions, UNICEF is proposing to provide additional technical support in the most affected districts through field based nutritionists.
Within the overall framework of the UNICEF activities UNOPS shall provide project administrative support through the contracting and administration of 18 national Nutritionists in the following Kenyan Districts: Turkana, Marsabit, Moyale, Mandera, Wajir, Isiolo, Samburu, Tana River, Ijara, West Pokot, Baringo, Laikipia, Kajiado, Machakos, East Pokot, and Narok.
Duties and Responsibilities
UNOPS is known for its ability to implement complex projects in all types of environments around the globe.
In an effort to promote organizational excellence, UNOPS seeks highly qualified individuals for the following position:
Vacancy Details
Vacancy Code: VA/2009/AFO/KEOC/PRJ/01
Post Titles: Field Nutritionists (18 positions)
Post Levels: L-ICA 5 (Equivalent ICS 8 / NOA)
Project Title: Provision of technical support to through the recruitment of additional field nutrition officers
Org Unit: AFO/KEOC
Duty Stations: Arid and Semi Arid Kenyan Districts: Turkana, Marsabit, Moyale, Mandera, Wajir, Isiolo, Samburu, Tana River, Ijara, West Pokot, Baringo, Laikipia, Kajiado, Machakos, East Pokot, and Narok.
Duration: 1 year renewable
Closing Date: 22 December 2009
Background
Deteriorating household food security has contributed to a rise in acute malnutrition in most districts of Kenya. It is estimated that about 242,000 children below five years old are currently affected by moderate acute malnutrition and about 39,000 are affected by severe acute malnutrition.
As of July 2009 about 51,300 children below five years old had been admitted into supplementary feeding programmes and about 8,400 into therapeutic feeding programmes. UNICEF and partners will continue to scale-up critical nutrition interventions at health facility and community levels to prevent associated morbidities and mortality in children.
While lives saving interventions are crucial, it is essential that other sets of preventive interventions are considered and implemented.
In order to ensure timely and coordinated high-impact interventions, coordination mechanisms as well as nutrition surveillance and information management urgently need to be strengthened at sub-national level.
To achieve this, the nutrition sector main strategy is to support implementing critical nutrition interventions at health facility and community level and reach adequate coverage. UNICEF Kenya plays a major role in coordination of the nutrition sector, assessments, technical support, field monitoring, and resource mobilization.
Over the years, UNICEF has taken a lead role in supporting emergency nutrition interventions across the country. More recently, UNICEF has significantly scaled-up its partnership with NGO partners to increase the coverage of critical nutrition interventions in the most affected districts.
Therefore, in order to improve the quality and impact of nutrition interventions, UNICEF is proposing to provide additional technical support in the most affected districts through field based nutritionists.
Within the overall framework of the UNICEF activities UNOPS shall provide project administrative support through the contracting and administration of 18 national Nutritionists in the following Kenyan Districts: Turkana, Marsabit, Moyale, Mandera, Wajir, Isiolo, Samburu, Tana River, Ijara, West Pokot, Baringo, Laikipia, Kajiado, Machakos, East Pokot, and Narok.
Duties and Responsibilities
- In collaboration with the District Nutritionist and stakeholders, develop a district nutrition plan (with budget, targets and monitoring systems) which will in turn contribute to the AOP.
- Support the DNO in facilitating monthly nutrition coordination meeting with key stakeholders.
- Ensure that nutrition issues are adequately represented in district level coordination forum and that related nutrition interventions are linked with Health, Food, Water and Education sectors
- Support DNOs to coordinate and monitor partners’ support to nutrition related interventions, including coverage of key interventions, performances of programs, supply/stock.
- Provide technical support to national and NGOs to effectively plan, monitor and implement nutrition interventions, including management of acute malnutrition, in order to reach planned targets.
- Compile monthly nutrition situation update, using all anthropometric and non-anthropometric related data sources as well as key factors influencing and/or likely to influence the nutrition situation.
- Support district level planning and development of concepts that aim to address causes of malnutrition and sustainable means to address them, also promoting coordination and collaboration among partners.
- Support district nutritional assessments (e.g. planning, training, supervision, analysis of data)
- Facilitate nutrition information sharing between district and national levels
Required Selection Criteria
Competencies
Competencies
- Sound Computer skills, in particular MS Word, Excel.
- Able to live and work in a multi-national/multi-cultural environment.
- Strong coordination and administration skills
- Very good written and oral communication skills.
- Proficiency in written and spoken English.
- Competency in word processing and spreadsheets.
Education/Experience/Language
- Bachelor degree in nutrition, public health or agriculture qualification.
- Experience in emergency nutrition and familiarity with latest developments in nutrition.
- Minimum five years relevant nutrition experience.
- Understanding of local culture and livelihoods issues.
- Experience with nutrition data collection and analysis
- Ability to design and deliver training activities in the nutrition sector
- Able to work well with local authorities, communities and stakeholders
- Awareness of community-based approaches to improving nutrition and food security
- Relevant practical experience in community-based nutrition programs
Submission of Applications
Qualified candidates may submit their application, including a letter of interest, complete Curriculum Vitae and an updated United Nations Personal History Form (P.11) (available on our website), to vacancieskeoc @ unops.org.
Kindly indicate the vacancy number and the post title in the subject line when applying by email.
Please note that this is a local post and is open to all nationals of the country of the duty station and to individuals who have a valid work permit.
Additional Considerations
Qualified candidates may submit their application, including a letter of interest, complete Curriculum Vitae and an updated United Nations Personal History Form (P.11) (available on our website), to vacancieskeoc @ unops.org.
Kindly indicate the vacancy number and the post title in the subject line when applying by email.
Please note that this is a local post and is open to all nationals of the country of the duty station and to individuals who have a valid work permit.
Additional Considerations
- Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
- Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
- Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
- UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a level below the advertised level of the post.
