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 care.

How can you make a difference?

The consultancy applies the UNICEF Programming Guidance on Maternal Nutrition (2021), which operationalises Results Area 3 of the UNICEF Nutrition Strategy 2020–2030. Its five programming priorities cover women’s nutrition before pregnancy, during pregnancy and while breastfeeding. They also cover adolescent mothers and other nutritionally at-risk women, and innovations for maternal nutrition

Under the supervision of the Nutrition Manager, the consultant will support development of:

Situation analysis and policy
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Adolescent mothers and at-risk women.
Before pregnancy
Systems, capacity and supply
SBC and gender
Data, learning and innovation
Coordination and reporting

If you would like to know more about this consultancy, please review the complete Terms of Reference here: ToR TMC0007093.pdf

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

(Qualifications/Experience/ Knowledge/Expertise/Skills)

Education:

Advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in Nutrition, public health, global health, maternal and child health, or a related field. A first university degree with two additional years of relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of a Master’s degree.

Work Experience:

Minimum five years of relevant professional experience in nutrition or public health programming in a developing country, including maternal nutrition (ANC/postnatal nutrition counselling, IFA or MMS) and/or adolescent nutrition.

Skills:

Sound knowledge of the UNICEF Maternal Nutrition Programming Guidance and WHO recommendations on antenatal and postnatal nutrition, including MMS, calcium and BEP. Understanding of the nutritional needs of pregnant adolescents and of how gender and social norms affect nutrition. Ability to design formative research and translate findings into programme packages. Strong analytical and writing skills.

Language Requirements:

Fluency in English and Portuguese, written and spoken.

Desirables:

Experience with BEP, SQ-LNS or anaemia management; adolescent sexual and reproductive health, gender-transformative approaches and/or human-centred design; government and community health systems; the UN system. Knowledge of a northern Mozambique language.

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

This position has been assessed as an elevated risk role for Child Safeguarding purposes as it is either a role with direct contact with children, a role that works directly with identifiable children’s data, a safeguarding response role, or an assessed risk role. Additional vetting and assessment for elevated risk roles in child safeguarding (potentially including additional criminal background checks) apply.

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) Financial proposal template TMC0007093.docx
Brief technical proposal (max. 3 pages) setting out the approach to the formative research and the adolescent-friendly package, plus one writing sample.

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.

International Consultant – Maternal and Adolescent Nutrition, Maputo, Mozambique, Office-based + travel, 11 months, #596624