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 Dedication

How can you make a difference?

The Nutrition Specialist supports the development and preparation of the nutrition programme related to UNICEF engagement into improving Children diet through nutrition sensitive value chain and food systems development and is responsible for managing, implementing, monitoring, evaluating, and reporting the programme progress within the country programme.

The Nutrition Specialist provides technical guidance and management support throughout the programming processes to facilitate the administration and achievement of concrete and sustainable results on children diet (output 3 under the Nutrition Outcome of the UNICEF 2024-2027 country programme). The Nutrition Specialist (NoC level) will focus specifically, but not exclusively, on strategic thinking, analysis and innovation at national and sub-national levels related to solution to improve diet for children through value chain and food systems approaches. The Nutrition specialist will also focus on nutrition policy and governance; She/he will coordinate UNICEF works across systems with a specific emphasis on UNICEF support to agriculture sector and food systems. This is carried out according to plans, allocation, results based-management approaches and methodology (RBM), as well as UNICEF’s Strategic Plans, standards of performance, and accountability framework.

Under the supervision of the Nutrition Specialist, you will contribute to the design, implementation, monitoring and continuous improvement of UNICEF's nutrition programme, ensuring that evidence-based, equitable and high-impact interventions reach the most vulnerable children, adolescents and women. Working closely with government counterparts, development partners, civil society and communities, you will help strengthen national systems and deliver sustainable results in both development and humanitarian settings.

In this role, you will contribute to:

Programme development and planning by supporting situation analysis, evidence generation, strategic planning and the design of nutrition programmes aligned with national priorities and UNICEF's strategic objectives.
Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results by overseeing programme implementation, monitoring progress, analysing performance, managing resources and ensuring timely reporting to achieve measurable results for children and women.
Technical and operational support to programme implementation by providing technical expertise to government and partners, promoting quality nutrition services across sectors, supporting emergency preparedness and response, and contributing to policy dialogue and strategic programme documents.
Networking and partnership building by strengthening collaboration with government institutions, UN agencies, donors, civil society and other stakeholders to advance nutrition outcomes, mobilize resources and promote advocacy for children's rights.
Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building by promoting innovative approaches, documenting and sharing best practices, strengthening partner capacities and contributing to continuous learning and improved programme performance.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: Download File Nutrition Specialist Level 3- Food Value Chain.doc

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

Minimum requirements:

Education: An advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required: nutrition, agriculture, food science, policy and/or management.
Work Experience: A minimum of five years of professional experience in a developing country in one or more of the following areas is required: nutrition, agriculture, food science/food technology, agro-business. Experience in development and management of program related to agriculture and nutrition, food systems, food technology applied to human nutrition. Understanding of nutrition positioning across system (social protection, agriculture, health, WASH and education).
Skills: To be considered for this role, candidates are required to have experience in nutrition programmes, food systems, value chains, results-based management, technical leadership, and strategic partnership development.
Language Requirements: Fluency in French and English is required.

Desirables:

1. Language: Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language
2. Experience in nutrition programme/project development and management in a UN system agency or organization is an asset
3. Experience in nutrition and agriculture governance is an asset
4. Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts.

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 competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships
(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness
(3) Drive to achieve results for impact
(4) Innovates and embraces change
(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity
(6) Thinks and acts strategically
(7) Works collaboratively with others
(8) Nurtures, leads and manages people

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

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 a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation 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.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable [Insert candidates from targeted underrepresented groups] are encouraged to apply.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

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.

Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF's Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.

Visa residence requirements: i.e. UNICEF shall not facilitate the issuance of a visa and working authorization for candidates under consideration for positions at the national officer and general service category.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.

Nutrition Specialist (Value Chain), NO-3, FT, #00092548, Antananarivo, Madagascar - ESAR