Child Nutrition & Development Specialist
Organizational Context
Pakistan, a signatory to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, faces significant challenges for its children and adolescents. UNICEF Pakistan collaborates with government, communities, and partners to accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals and uphold children's rights. The organization prioritizes vulnerable children, aiming for their survival, development, and protection. The Child Nutrition and Development Programme specifically focuses on improving access to quality nutrition services and promoting healthy practices for women, children, and adolescents by 2027, addressing malnutrition through strengthened systems and targeted interventions.
Job Purpose
This role supports the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination (MoNHSR&C) in Pakistan, a key UNICEF partner, to enhance child nutrition and development initiatives. The assignment aims to strengthen policies, governance, and programme implementation for maternal, adolescent, infant, and young child nutrition (MAIYCN), and Early Childhood Development (ECD). The UNV will contribute to cross-sectoral coordination, integration of nutrition services, and scale-up of interventions like wasting treatment and Vitamin A supplementation. The position is crucial for improving nutrition data management and fostering partnerships to ensure vulnerable populations, particularly children and women, have access to essential nutrition services, ultimately contributing to optimal growth and reduced malnutrition.
Responsibilities
The UNV will provide technical and coordination support to the Director General Health and Director Nutrition on child nutrition and development. Key responsibilities include facilitating multisectoral collaboration, supporting the implementation of nutrition interventions in development and humanitarian contexts, and contributing to policy development for MAIYCN and BMS legislation monitoring. The role involves assisting cross-sectoral coordination with government and development partners, collaborating on ECD initiatives, and facilitating the integration of wasting treatment and SBC activities. Additionally, the UNV will support the rollout of DHIS-2 health and nutrition modules, strengthen partnerships with stakeholders like BISP, organize technical meetings, and build collaborative relationships with ECD and nutrition partners. The UNV will also support information and knowledge management, including data collection, reporting, documentation, and research.
Work Experience
Requires 3 years of professional experience in Nutrition, Health, and the development sector, with at least 1 year specifically in health sector nutrition interventions. Previous experience working with government or development partners at senior levels is considered an asset.
Skills
Competencies include building and maintaining partnerships, demonstrating self-awareness and ethical awareness, driving for results, innovating and embracing change, managing ambiguity and complexity, strategic thinking, and collaborative work. Expertise in Nutrition is required.