Nutritionist

Organizational Context

The World Food Programme (WFP) is the world's largest humanitarian organization, dedicated to saving lives in emergencies and building pathways to peace and prosperity through food assistance. WFP operates globally, focusing on diverse, skilled, and high-performing teams committed to integrity, collaboration, commitment, humanity, and inclusion. In Tajikistan, WFP supports national capacities for food security and nutrition outcomes, aligning with the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework.

Job Purpose

The Nutritionist NOA will serve as the activity manager for WFP's nutrition portfolio in Tajikistan, encompassing both nutrition-specific and sensitive programs, and ensuring nutrition integration across all operations. This role involves supporting coordination with government stakeholders and partners, contributing technical inputs to nutrition plans, and conducting context-specific analyses to inform program design and targeting of vulnerable populations. The incumbent will foster collaboration with government entities, development partners, NGOs, and the private sector to strengthen nutrition initiatives, including social protection, school meals, health, and food systems. A key responsibility includes developing and implementing Social and Behavior Change (SBC) strategies, utilizing behavioral research to inform program design and improvement. The position also supports large-scale food fortification activities and contributes to project management, monitoring, and reporting, while building the capacity of WFP staff, partners, and government counterparts on nutrition approaches.

Responsibilities

The World Food Programme (WFP) is the world's largest humanitarian organization dedicated to saving lives in emergencies and building pathways to peace, stability, and prosperity. WFP operates in Tajikistan, a country facing persistent food and nutrition security challenges due to limited arable land, high import dependence, rural poverty, and natural hazards exacerbated by climate change. The WFP Country Strategic Plan (CSP) 2023–2026 focuses on strengthening national capacities for food security and nutrition outcomes, shifting from direct implementation to supporting national systems. The organization supports Sustainable Development Goals 2 (Zero Hunger) and 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) through programs in emergency preparedness, resilience, livelihoods, nutrition, and school meals. Emphasis is placed on anticipatory action, shock-responsive social protection, evidence generation, and supporting national systems for risk-informed planning. As WFP Tajikistan transitions to its next CSP, it aims to be a stronger technical and operational partner to the Government, focusing on nationally led solutions and early action ahead of crises. The role of a Nutritionist involves managing the WFP nutrition portfolio, including nutrition-specific and sensitive programs, and ensuring nutrition integration across all operations. Key responsibilities include external cooperation with government stakeholders and partners, contributing technical inputs to nutrition plans, conducting context-specific analyses, strengthening collaboration on nutrition, and supporting Social and Behavior Change (SBC) activities. This involves developing materials, strategies, and utilizing behavioral research to inform program design. The role also entails managing external partners, providing SBC support to field offices, fostering external relationships, and building capacity of WFP colleagues and national government on SBC. Additionally, the position supports large-scale food fortification activities. Project management and implementation involve contributing to nutrition project development, providing project management support, integrating nutrition across programs, monitoring implementation, and ensuring adherence to WFP standards. Capacity development includes building the skills of WFP staff, partners, and government counterparts on nutrition approaches. Coordination and internal support involve liaising with internal stakeholders for cohesive implementation and supporting meetings and workshops. Cross-cutting responsibilities include supporting emergency preparedness and response, maintaining information systems, and contributing to resource mobilization efforts.

Work Experience

The role requires at least one year of professional experience in public health, food security, or nutrition-related activities. Experience with national/international development programs, understanding of emergency contexts, and identifying nutrition issues are essential. The candidate should have experience working in large, diverse teams on nutrition projects, contributing to functional practices and policies, and collaborating with various humanitarian actors like governments, NGOs, and UN agencies.

Skills

Public Health, Nutrition, Food Security, Project Management, Coordination, Capacity Development, Social and Behavior Change (SBC), Data Analysis, Reporting, Partnership Building, Emergency Preparedness, Food Fortification, Research, Monitoring and Evaluation

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