UNITED NATIONS CHILDREN’S FUND (UNICEF)
KENYA COUNTRY OFFICE
VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT“KCO/NUT/2014-016”
Duty Station – Nairobi
Posts: NUTRITION SPECIALIST (MIYCN), NO-C
Reference # KCO14025
Date of Issue: 20 June 2014
Type of Contract: Fixed Term
Closing Date: 04 July 2014
Applications are hereby invited from suitably qualified candidates to fill the above Fixed Term position
of Nutrition Specialist (MIYCN) in UNICEF Kenya Country Office.
Purpose of the Post: Under the supervision of the Nutrition Manager, responsible for
formulation, design, planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluation of Maternal, Infant and
Young Child Nutrition project(s) to ensure overall efficiency and effectiveness of the project
management, delivery and accomplishment of project goals and objectives. Accountable for
ensuring that all aspects of the Nutrition project/programme promote gender equality, and for
collaborating to mainstream key features across all related sectors of the country programme.
Major Duties and Responsibilities:

Project Planning, Development and Management
Enhance effective project, sectoral or inter-sectoral planning, development and management by
leading, guiding, coordinating and supporting the timely completion of the Situational Analysis
and its periodic update through accurate and complete monitoring and analysis, addressing
gender inequality and determinants of gender equality; ensure the timely preparation or
finalization of sectoral input with a technical focus on Maternal, Infant and Young Child
Nutrition.

Knowledge Management
Further promote knowledge management by drafting or finalizing sectoral documents and
reports such as the Country Programme Recommendation and Plans of Action as well as through
orientation and training programmes targeted to Government authorities. Ensure exchange of
knowledge, information, experience or lessons learned; provides solid technical
recommendations on major programme directions and on introduction of new initiatives in the
country with relation to Maternal, Infant and Young Child Nutrition.

Rights-Based Projects through Results-Based Approach
Promote the quality of rights-based Nutrition projects and programmes through participation in
the formulation of programme/project goals, strategies and approaches, especially those that
increase gender equality. Bring coherence, synergy and added value to sectoral or project
management processes using a gender-sensitive, results-based management approach to planning
and design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.

Sectoral Work Plan Development, Implementation, and Monitoring
Takes primary responsibility for the development of the sectoral work plan and technical decisions
as well as for project management, implementation and monitoring of assigned project/sectoral
activity, in compliance with the defined project strategies and approaches, with an emphasis on
promoting a shared understanding and approach to reducing gender inequalities and achieving
gender mainstreaming.
Ensure the appropriateness of financial, administrative and supply documentation; verify that
Nutrition project expenditures are within allotments and that data is consistent with the project
information and database (e.g. VISION, IPSAS). Follow up on queries or initiate corrective
action on discrepancies.

Project Delivery, Evaluation and Reporting
Ensure project, sectoral or inter-sectoral efficiency and delivery through a rigorous and
transparent approach to evaluation. Participate in major evaluation exercises, programme reviews
and annual sector review meetings with government counterparts, ensuring that quantitative and
qualitative lessons learned in gender equality in nutrition are included as a standard feature.
Ensure the preparation of annual Nutrition sector status reports with specific inputs on Maternal,
Infant and Young Child Nutrition.

Promotion of UNICEF’s Global Goals
Promote the organization goals of UNICEF through advocacy and policy dialogue aligned with
the Global Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding and the International CODE for
Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes through active engagement in communication, networking
and participation at every opportunity inside and outside UNICEF, leveraging the strength of
UNICEF mission, goals and programmes and focusing on the contributions of gender equality in
achieving these goals.

UNICEF and Government Accountability
Coordinates with Operations and Supply staff on supply and non-supply assistance activities
ensuring proper and timely UNICEF and Government accountability. Certifies disbursements of
funds, monitors and submits financial status reports to management in compliance with the
regulations and guidelines

Communication, Collaboration, Networking and Partnership
Ensure exchange of information, experience, identify new strategies and courses of action to
accelerate/improve delivery of services and achieve Nutrition programme requirements and
objectives. Conduct field visits to monitor programmes and conduct periodic programme reviews
with Government counterparts and other partners, employing qualitative as well as quantitative
gender sensitive monitoring methods as useful.
Collaborate with Communication and Programme Communication groups to ensure development
of effective communication materials and strategies to support advocacy and social mobilization
efforts.
Coordinate with Regional Advisers and HQ Officers. Collaborate with other Project or
Programme Officers to ensure the integration of the project/sectoral programme with other
sectors, ensuring that interventions to reduce gender inequalities are mainstreamed across the
sectors.
Collaborate with the Operations and Supply Sections and Government authorities to establish
and maintain sound internal controls supportive of Nutrition project or sectoral planning and
implementation, to coordinate financial and supply management requirements as well as to
ensure accountability.
Interact with Government and other partners, NGOs, UN and bilateral agencies in the different
stages of Health programme/project implementation to follow up on agreements and
recommendations. Provide technical support and guidance on appropriate technical, financial and
institutional capacity building measures to achieve Nutrition programme goals.
Required Qualifications:
Advanced university degree in one of the disciplines relevant to the following areas: Public Health &
Nutrition, Health Sciences, International Health & Nutrition, Family Health & Nutrition, Nutritional
Epidemiology, Health & Nutrition Education, Health & Nutrition Promotion and Disease Prevention,
Public Health, Health Emergency Preparedness, or other relevant discipline(s).
Training in gender and in nutrition programmes that promote gender equality an asset.
Experience:
Five years of relevant professional work experience. Developing country work experience (for IP) or
field work experience (for NO). Background/familiarity with Emergency.
Experience in monitoring gender inequalities and in programming interventions that reduce these
inequalities an asset.
Language:
Fluency in English and another UN working language required. Knowledge of local working language of
the duty station an asset.
Competencies:
i) Core Values (Required)
• Commitment
• Diversity and Inclusion
• Integrity
ii) Core Competencies (Required)
• Communication [Level II ]
• Working with People [Level II ]
• Drive for Results [ Level II ]
iii)Functional Competencies (Required)
• Leading and Supervising [Level I ]
• Formulating Strategies and Concepts [ Level II ]
• Analyzing [ Level III]
• Relating and Networking [ Level II ]
• Deciding and Initiating Action [ Level II ]
• Applying Technical Expertise [ Level III ]
Interested and suitable candidates should ensure they forward their applications along with their
curriculum vitae, P11 (internal candidates should attach copies of their last two Performance Evaluation
Reports), to:
The Human Resources Manager
UNICEF Kenya Country Office
Email address: kenyahrvacancies@unicef.org
Please indicate Reference No. “KCO/NUT/2014-016” in the email subject.
“QUALIFIED FEMALE CANDIDATES ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY”
ZERO TOLERANCE FOR SEXUAL EXPLOITATION AND ABUSE
UNICEF IS A SMOKE-FREE ENVIRONMENT