Nutrition Officer (Diets & Practices) at United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF)

Posted on: Mon 06-10-2025

United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential. Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Nutrition Officer (Diets & Practices)

Job no: 584568

Location: Abuja

Contract type: Temporary Appointment

Duration: 364 days

Level: NO-2

Categories: Nutrition

Job Summary

Under the direct supervision of the Nutrition Manager, the Nutrition Officer- Diets & Practices will support the implementation of the National Nutrition SBC Strategy, First Food Africa Initiative and Food System interventions aimed to contribute to enhancing dietary diversity, preventing common childhood illnesses and improving MIYCN; diets, services and care practices.
The position will be responsible for initiating, implementing, monitoring, evaluating, and reporting the progress of key deliverables of the nutrition programme within the country programme.
The Nutrition Officer will provide technical guidance throughout the programming processes to facilitate the administration and achievement of concrete and sustainable results in maternal, infant and child nutrition programmes/ projects.

Key functions / Accountabilities

Summary of Key Functions / accountabilities:

Support to programme development and planning
Programme management, monitoring, and delivery of results
Technical and operational support to programme implementation
Networking and partnership-building
Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

Support to programme development and planning:

Generate and utilize research, data, and evidence to inform the design, measurement, and monitoring of dietary diversity programs and outcomes in both development and emergency contexts and to build the evidence base
Contribute to and support the preparation, design, development, and state-level adoption of a robust gender transformative behavior change communication strategy to improve maternal, infant, and young child nutrition.
Participate in strategic programme discussions on the planning of gender-sensitive nutrition programmes/ projects, on behavior change communication, and on First Food Africa, Complementary Feeding and Food System interventions, with both internal and external stakeholders.
Formulate, design, and contribute to the development of high-quality nutrition programme proposals, ensuring alignment with UNICEF’s Strategic Plans, Country Programme, and coherence/ integration with the UN Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF), regional strategies, as well as national priorities, plans and competencies.
Establish specific goals, objectives, strategies, and implementation plans based on results-based planning terminology and methodology (RBM). Prepare high-quality documentation for programme review and approval.
Work closely and collaboratively with colleagues and partners to discuss gender and nutrition transformative strategies and methodologies and to determine national priorities/ competencies to ensure the achievement of concrete and sustainable results.
Provide technical and operational support throughout all stages of programming processes to ensure integration, coherence, and harmonization of programmes/ projects with other UNICEF sectors and achievement of results as planned and allocated.
Identify, disseminate, and adopt best practices and innovative approaches and technology in SBC, integrate them in programme approaches across food system, social protection, WASH and ECD interventions and support SBC and sectoral teams in implementing them.

Programme management, monitoring, and delivery of results:

Plan and/ or collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to establish gender transformative monitoring benchmarks, performance indicators, and UNICEF/ UN system indicators and measurements, to assess and strengthen performance accountability, coherence, and delivery of concrete and sustainable results for the assigned sector in nutrition programmes.
Participate in monitoring and evaluation exercises, programme reviews and annual reviews with government and other stakeholders to assess progress and to determine required action and interventions to achieve results.
Prepare and assess monitoring and evaluation reports to identify gaps, strengths and/or weaknesses in programme management. Identify lessons learned and use the knowledge gained for development planning and timely intervention to achieve goals.
Actively monitor programmes and projects through field visits, surveys and/ or exchange of information with partners and stakeholders to assess progress. Identify bottlenecks and potential problems and take timely decisions to resolve issues and/ or refer to relevant officials for timely resolution.
Monitor and verify the optimum and appropriate use of sectoral programme resources (financial, administrative, and other assets) confirming compliance with organizational rules, regulations, procedures, donor commitments, and standards of accountability. Ensure timely reporting and liquidation of resources.
Prepare regular high-quality programme/ project reports and databases for management, donors, and partners to keep them informed of programme progress.

Technical and operational support to programme implementation:

Supported by the Nutrition Manager, conduct in-depth analysis of current food system and dietary diversity, SBC interventions and recommend corrective actions to guide and inform programme strategies across the country.
Implement food system interventions, dietary diversity and SBC activities that are backed by evidence and strong engagement and participation mechanisms in both development and humanitarian contexts.
Coordinate with stakeholders and partners for the implementation of community engagement and food system interventions, dietary diversity and SBC in humanitarian actions
Work with nutrition stakeholders to build consensus on a harmonized national behavior change communication strategy, plans and materials as well as food system interventions
Provide technical guidance and operational support to government counterparts, NGO partners, UN system partners and other country office partners/ donors on the interpretation, application and understanding of UNICEF policies, strategies, processes, best practices, and behavior change communication approaches on nutrition and related issues to support programme development planning, management, implementation, and delivery of results.
Participate in discussions with national and sub-national stakeholders to promote nutrition and development issues, especially in the areas of diets and practices
Draft policy papers, briefs, and other strategic programme materials for management use, information and/ or consideration.

Networking and partnership-building:

Build and sustain effective close working partnerships with nutrition sector government counterparts and national stakeholders through active sharing of information and knowledge.
Represent UNICEF in external meetings as appropriate
Facilitate programme implementation and build the capacity of stakeholders to achieve programme goals on maternal and child rights as well as social justice and equity.
Prepare high-quality communication and information materials for Country Office programme advocacy to promote awareness, establish partnerships/ alliances and support fundraising for nutrition programmes (maternal, newborn and child survival and development).
Participate and/ or represent UNICEF in inter-agency discussions, ensuring that UNICEF’s position, interests, and priorities are fully considered and integrated in the UNDAF development planning and agenda setting.
Advocate for the inclusion of community engagement and social and behavioral approaches in sectoral workplans based on active participation in sectoral programme planning and reviews and viable recommendations for the integration of SBC for nutrition. Advocate internally and externally for integration of SBC nutrition in national systems, in the country programme, and in sectoral plans

Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building:

Identify, design, and/or organize training materials and opportunities for staff and partners, including on new approaches such as food system approach to nutrition, behavioural insights, human-centered design, and social accountability mechanisms. Use and adapt existing UNICEF learning resources, guidelines and training materials to build capacity among staff, implementing partners and relevant government and non-government counterparts
Apply and introduce innovative approaches and good practices to build the capacity of partners and stakeholders, and to support the implementation and delivery of normative change
Keep abreast, research, benchmark, and implement best and cutting-edge practices in nutrition management and information systems. Assess, institutionalize, and share best practices and knowledge learned.
Contribute to the development and implementation of policies and procedures to ensure optimum efficiency and efficacy of sustainable programmes and projects.
Organize and implement capacity-building initiatives to enhance the competencies of clients and stakeholders to promote sustainable results on nutrition-related programmes and projects.

Requirements

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

Education:

A university degree in one of the following fields is required: nutrition and food science, public health, health and nutrition promotion, food technology, global/ international health and nutrition, or another related field.
A university degree in the food system with proven experience in food system to nutrition for specific programmes is an asset.

Experience:

A minimum of two years of professional experience in a developing country in one or more of the following areas is required: nutrition, public health, social behaviour change communication, food system, nutrition planning and management, or maternal, infant and child health/nutrition care including public advocacy.
Experience in food system/ nutrition programme/ project development in a UN system agency or organization is an asset. Prior experience developing food system to nutrition strategies and costed operational plans.
Knowledge and prior experience working on MIYCN/IYCF is a plus.

Language Requirements: