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.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, the right to health.

How can you make a difference?

Surveys conducted in the Pacific Island Countries (PICs) over the past 5 years consistently show alarming rates of various forms of malnutrition among both children in adults. In Tonga, nearly six in every ten children and adolescents (5-19 years) are overweight and obese, while over a third of the children have been reported to be anemic. Sub-optimal diets are considered as the main key immediate driver for malnutrition in all its forms. Poor nutrition is a crucial risk factor for non-communicable diseases (NCDs). In Tonga, NCDs are the leading cause of mortality and take up a significant proportion of the health expenditure. Overall purchases from imported items are the main source of food access followed by small-scale agriculture production. Households in the lowest socio-economic quartile have the lowest food expenditure which is mostly on unhealthy foods as these are less expensive. In order to address the multi-faceted burden of malnutrition in Tonga, as the first pacific country to release a national NCD strategy in 2004, the public health efforts have progressed well, notably with the promotion of physical activities and tobacco cessation/control. However, nutrition services at primary health care level, other sectors and in the communities are not well supported partly due to the constraints related to institutional set up. In Tonga, the MoH is the ministry expected to offer technical support in the delivery of nutrition services within health and other social services sectors such as agriculture, trade as well as social assistance. In this context, UNICEF seeks a consultant to provide technical assistance for Ministry of Health in Tonga to review the existing institutional framework and capacity to deliver, coordinate or steer nutrition services across different sectors and in communities; and recommend an organizational / human resource structure for optimal delivery of nutrition services. The consultant needs to travel to Tonga to perform most of the assignment which involves extensive stakeholder consultation, while s/he can work remotely at the beginning (on an inception report) and end of the assignment (on a final report).

If you would like to know more about this consultancy, please review the complete Terms of Reference here: TMC0005607 TOR.pdf

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have...

Minimum requirements:

Education: Master University Degree in Nutrition, Public Health Nutrition, Dietetics, Public Health, Health Policy, Health Systems, Health Workforce Development, Organizational Development, Public Administration, Governance or a related field is required. Additional academic training or demonstrated expertise in health systems strengthening, workforce planning, public sector reform, or nutrition policy and programming would be an asset
Work Experience: A minimum of 10 years of professional experience in nutrition programming, including at policy level - Experience with nutrition governance review, organizational review, public sector reform, and institutional strengthening work - Experience in working with government institutions
Skills: Strong understanding of contemporary nutrition programming across the life course, including maternal, infant and young child nutrition, school-aged nutrition, adolescent nutrition, adult nutrition, and nutritionrelated NCD prevention and management

• Strong understanding of nutrition transition and the changing role of nutrition programmes in countries facing a high burden of overweight, obesity, and diet related NCDs alongside persistent forms of undernutrition and micronutrient deficiencies.

• Strong understanding of nutrition governance, multisectoral coordination mechanisms, and institutional arrangements for nutrition.

• Strong understanding of health workforce planning, workforce development, competency frameworks, staffing norms, career pathways, and public sector human resource management systems.

• Familiarity with government structures, civil service regulations, establishment processes, and workforce governance mechanisms in the health and social sectors.

• Ability to translate technical nutrition priorities into practical organizational and workforce solutions.

• Clear and concise communication and ability to work effectively with senior government officials and technical counterparts.

• Excellence analytical and conceptual skills.

• Proven ability to work independently and manage complex assignments involving multiple sectors and agencies

Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required

Desirables: Work experience in the Oceania / Asian region, particularly in the Pacific and small island developing states is an asset.

• Experience working in UNICEF or a UN system agency is an asset

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

Qualified candidates are invited to submit the following documents via the online recruitment portal, TMS (Talent Management System):

An up-to-date TMS profile and curriculum vitae (CV)
Cover letter
A separate financial proposal (only acceptable in the format of the linked template) TMC0005607 Financial proposal.xlsx
A detailed technical proposal: A technical proposal outlining a consultant’s proposed methodology and work plan for delivering the assignment. The proposal should be concise and clearly demonstrate the consultant’s understanding of the assignment and approach to delivery.

Remarks: If the TOR or financial proposal documents are not downloadable on certain recruitment platforms, please visit our official page Vacancies | UNICEF Careers.

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.

Nutrition Governance (institutional framework) consultant for Tonga, Nuku’alofa, Tonga, 3 Months, Remote (With Travel)#595469