Health & Nutrition Specialist (Primary Health Care & Nutrition)
Organizational Context
UNICEF works in over 190 countries to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential. The Caribbean Multi-Country Office (MCO) serves twelve English- and Dutch-speaking Caribbean countries, focusing on equitable access to primary health care, child protection, and poverty reduction. The MCO employs an impact-driven, effective, agile, grounded, and people-centered management strategy.
Job Purpose
The Health & Nutrition Specialist (Primary Health Care & Nutrition) is a key member of the Equitable and Resilient Services for Primary Health Care, Learning and Skills working group. This role is instrumental in implementing the Country Programme Document (CPD) outcome focused on enhancing children's nutrition, mental health, learning, and skills. The specialist will achieve this by strengthening health and education systems to deliver integrated Primary Health Care (PHC), nutrition, Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS), and quality basic and secondary education for all children and adolescents. The core function involves translating this priority into comprehensive policy packages, innovative service delivery models, and scalable solutions that span the entire subregion. A critical aspect of this role is ensuring that principles of equity, inclusion, and climate-resilience are fundamentally embedded within the expansion of health and education services, thereby contributing to UNICEF's mission of achieving universal access to essential services for children.
Responsibilities
Contribute to the development and implementation of integrated policy packages and scalable solutions for primary health care and nutrition across the Caribbean MCO. Strengthen health and education systems to deliver equitable and resilient services, focusing on nutrition, mental health, and psychosocial support (MHPSS). Ensure that equity, inclusion, and climate-resilience are central to all programming and policy recommendations. Support the design and implementation of innovative service delivery models that address the specific needs of vulnerable children and adolescents in the region. Provide technical expertise and guidance to country offices and partners on PHC and nutrition interventions. Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of interventions, ensuring alignment with CPD outcomes and UNICEF's global strategies. Foster partnerships with governments, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders to advance health and nutrition goals. Contribute to resource mobilization efforts by supporting proposal development and donor engagement. Facilitate knowledge sharing and capacity building among national and sub-national stakeholders. Stay abreast of emerging trends and best practices in primary health care, nutrition, and child well-being in Small Island Developing States (SIDS). Support the MCO's transition to a new business model, emphasizing shared regional services and complementary expertise. Ensure that work contributes to the overall goal of improving child survival, development, and well-being across the 12 Caribbean countries.
Work Experience
At least five years of professional experience in public health, nutrition, or a related field, with a focus on primary health care. Experience working in developing countries or Small Island Developing States (SIDS) is highly desirable. Experience in programme planning, implementation, and monitoring is essential.
Skills
Public Health, Nutrition, Primary Health Care (PHC), Programme Management, Policy Analysis, Capacity Building, Stakeholder Engagement, Monitoring and Evaluation, Child Development, Climate Resilience, Interpersonal Skills, Communication Skills