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For every child, the right to health

On 24 June 2026, Venezuela was struck by two earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude, occurring only seconds apart and considered among the most severe seismic events recorded in the country in more than a century. The impact primarily affected the Capital District and the states of La Guaira, Miranda, Aragua, Carabobo, Yaracuy, and Falcón, resulting in loss of life, significant damage to health, education, and basic service infrastructure, as well as the displacement of thousands of people.

The emergency exacerbated pre-existing vulnerabilities related to access to essential health, nutrition, water, sanitation, and hygiene services. Damage to health facilities, disruptions in the supply of safe drinking water, limitations in the supply chains for medicines and medical supplies, and the displacement of families increased the risks of morbidity and mortality among children, adolescents, and pregnant and lactating women.

At present, authorities report a toll of 5,346 deaths and 16,740 injuries since the onset of the emergency. In addition, 17,907 people are reported to have lost their homes.

The Government’s response continues to focus on the management of temporary settlements and the provision of assistance to affected populations. The United Nations and its partner organizations, in coordination with national authorities, are implementing multisectoral actions for affected communities and will continue scaling up the response. On 10 July, the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Tom Fletcher, announced an addendum to the 2026 Humanitarian Response Plan amounting to US$299 million to address the multisectoral needs of 1.3 million people affected by the earthquakes over the next six months. This addendum complemented the Humanitarian Response Plan by increasing the target population to be assisted from 5.5 million to 6.2 million people and raising total financial requirements from US$632 million to US$931 million.

How can you make a difference?

In line with UNICEF’s mandate and its equity-focused approach, the response seeks to ensure that the most vulnerable children, particularly those affected by the disaster, have timely access to quality services that contribute to safeguarding their survival, health, nutrition, and overall development. In this context, strengthening technical and operational capacity through the recruitment of Health and Nutrition Officers is essential to support the planning, implementation, monitoring, and coordination of interventions targeting populations most affected by the emergency.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

1. Coordination and implementation of outreach health services
2. Community-based primary health care support
3. Monitoring and field supervision
4. Community engagement and risk communication
5. Capacity building and technical support
6. Community Recovery of Essential Health and Nutrition Services
7. Community empowerment and response to public health risks

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: Download File JD_Health & Nutrition Officer_NO-1 TA.pdf

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

Minimum requirements:

Education: Completed first level university degree (Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent) in Public Health, Nutrition and Dietetics, Child Development, Social Development, Community Development or other relevant disciplines is required.
Work Experience: A minimum of one year of professional work experience in planning, programming, implementation monitoring and evaluation of health programmes is required.
Professional work experience in a programme management function or a technical expert capacity in child survival & health care is required.
Field work experience is required.
Background/familiarity with Emergency is required.
Skills: Knowledge of programme/project management methodology.
Knowledge of global health and nutrition issues, specifically relating to children and women, and current trends, methods, and approaches.
Knowledge of emergency programme policies, goals, strategies, and approaches, including health and nutrition interventions in conflict, natural disaster, recovery, and humanitarian settings.
Knowledge of Educational Interventions in Health and Nutrition Care.
Knowledge of Environmental Health and Nutrition.
Knowledge of one or more technical areas of health and nutrition programmes (e.g., Nutrition, HIV/AIDS, Malaria, WASH, EPI, PMTCT).
Proficiency in computer software applications, including word processing, spreadsheet, and corporate software packages.
Gender equality and diversity awareness.
Language Requirements: Fluent Spanish and intermediate English are required.

Desirables:

Language: Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian) or a local language is considered an asset.
Fluent/proficient English is desirable.
Familiarity with UNICEF programme goals, visions, policies, and strategies.
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

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

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.

Eligible staff members on fixed-term, continuing or permanent contracts applying to IP TA positions in a duty station designated as L2/L3, may be able to retain a lien and their fixed-term entitlements, subject to approval by their Head of Office. The conditions of the temporary assignment will vary depending on the status of their post and relocation entitlements may be limited as per the relevant policies.

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 are conditional on the selected candidates willingness to comply with current or future vaccination requirements, should UNICEF mandate it for personnel. Failure to comply with such requirements, where applicable and without a duly approved medical exemption from the relevant UN authority, will result in the cancellation of the selection or may lead to other administrative measures, including separation from service.

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 candidates 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.

Health & Nutrition Officer (NO-1), TA, 6 months, #00138216, Caracas – Venezuela, LACR