UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for personal and professional development that will help them develop a fulfilling career while delivering on a rewarding mission. We pride ourselves on a culture that helps staff thrive, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, nutritional equity

In 2020, a study on the supply chains of nutritional inputs, supported by UNICEF, and confirmed in 2022 through the analysis of the maturity of the supply chains for essential medicines, vaccines, and nutritional inputs using the “Maturity Model” assessment tool, highlighted a very precarious situation for the nutritional input supply chain. One of the causes of this fragility is the fragmentation of the supply chain and the weak capacity of institutional actors in its management.

Each year, UNICEF Madagascar finances over 7 million dollars in the purchase of nutritional inputs, which are used, among other things, to treat over 98,000 severely malnourished children in both humanitarian and development contexts. Optimizing the nutrition supply chain and integrating it into the national public health system is, therefore, a key component of UNICEF’s support to strengthen nutrition programs in Madagascar. Since 2020, efforts have been made to strengthen the supply and management systems for nutritional inputs through UNICEF’s support, in partnership with the Ministry of Public Health and SALAMA. The most significant ongoing actions include cost studies and planning for the integration of additional nutritional inputs (such as the ATPE, which was integrated into the Ministry of Public Health’s supply system in June 2023), mobilizing the Supply and Stock Management Committee to organize the integration of the current supply system into SALAMA’s cyclic distribution calendar, and updating procedures to secure the inputs. Simultaneously, UNICEF continues to support capacity-building workshops for stakeholders at all levels of the system, particularly in the Grand South and Grand Southeast regions.

How can you make a difference?

Under the supervision of the Nutrition Specialist P3, the Nutrition Specialist – Supply Chain Strengthening will contribute to the overall strengthening of the national supply chain in alignment with the Strategic Supply Chain Plan. They will provide technical assistance and guidance to ensure the successful integration of nutritional inputs into the national supply system, from the central level to the last mile.

The efficiency and effectiveness of the support provided by the Nutrition Specialist in the preparation, planning, and implementation of nutrition programs/projects contribute to and accelerate national development efforts aimed at improving the nutritional status of mothers, infants, and children in the country. This helps maintain and strengthen UNICEF’s credibility and capacity to continue providing services to mothers and children, fostering greater social equity in the country.

Your main responsibilities:

• Program Planning and Development: Contribute to the design and development of strategies and operational plans to strengthen the nutrition supply chain, ensuring alignment with UNICEF’s priorities and global standards. Support the development and implementation of data-driven, results-focused plans.
• Program Management and Results Tracking: Plan and collaborate with partners to improve visibility of logistics data, establish performance indicators, and assess progress. Participate in program reviews to evaluate effectiveness and ensure timely action for achieving results.
• Technical and Operational Support: Provide technical guidance to government counterparts, NGOs, and UN partners on nutrition policies and strategies. Ensure smooth program execution by applying best practices in planning, distribution, and emergency response.
• Networking and Partnerships: Build and maintain strong relationships with national and international stakeholders. Promote collaboration and information-sharing to achieve shared goals in maternal and child nutrition.
• Innovation, Knowledge Management, and Capacity Building: Introduce innovative approaches and best practices to strengthen partner capacities. Promote the adoption of efficient procedures and policies, and organize training sessions to enhance skills for sustainable, impactful nutrition programs.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: [ VA TMS NOC_TA.pdf]

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

Minimum requirements:

• Education : A university degree at the master’s level in one of the following fields is required: nutrition, public health, nutritional epidemiology, pharmacy, research, health and nutrition policies and/or management, health sciences, nutritional epidemiology, or another field of health sciences.
• Work Experience: At least five years of professional experience in a developing country in one or more of the following areas is required: nutrition, public health, nutrition planning and management, or maternal, child, and infant health/nutritional care.
  At least three years of professional experience in Supply Chain is required.
  Experience in the design and management of health/nutrition programs/projects within a UN agency or organization is an asset.
• Language Requirements: Fluency in French is required, and good knowledge of English is an asset.

Desirables:

• Field work experience and/or familiarity with emergency.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships

(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness

(3) Drive to achieve results for impact

(4) Innovates and embraces change

(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity

(6) Thinks and acts strategically

(7) Works collaboratively with others

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic background, and persons with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. To create a more inclusive workplace, UNICEF offers paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. Click here to learn more about flexible work arrangements, well-being, and benefits.

According to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. In its Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy 2022-2030, UNICEF has committed to increase the number of employees with disabilities by 2030. At UNICEF, we provide reasonable accommodation for work-related support requirements of candidates and employees with disabilities. Also, UNICEF has launched a Global Accessibility Helpdesk to strengthen physical and digital accessibility. If you are an applicant with a disability who needs digital accessibility support in completing the online application, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF’s active commitment to diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable female candidates and candidates with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: No requirements