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For every child, nutrition

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in Programmes, in advocacy and in operations. UNICEF works to promote and protect the rights of children and women in Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR). With over five decades of service, we are one of the longest-serving international organizations in the country. We work tirelessly to promote the rights of children and women and to bring basic services – education, health, nutrition, protection, water and sanitation – to those who are most in need.  Together with our partners, we are focusing on reaching the most vulnerable children throughout the country.

Job context

Malnutrition in Lao PDR is a persistent issue, especially among mothers and children. About 33 per cent of children under five are stunted, 10.7 per cent are wasted, 24.3 per cent are underweight, and 2.8 per cent are overweight, with no improvement in stunting since 2017. Wasting has increased over the past decade, becoming one of the highest in the region. Among women of reproductive age, 11.4 per cent are underweight, while 27.9 per cent are overweight and 6.7 per cent are obese. Additionally, 39 per cent of women are anaemic, with 47 per cent of pregnant women affected. Key drivers of undernutrition include poor childcare practices, low dietary diversity, limited access to quality health services, and a weak enabling environment. Disparities in stunting and infant feeding practices are evident across socio-economic statuses, ethnic groups, and regions. Food insecurity remains stable, but feeding practices for young children have declined, with only 1 in 10 children aged 6-23 months receiving adequate diets during the lean season.

UNICEF is at the forefront of nutrition programming in Lao PDR, supporting the government to improve the enabling environment, the delivery of nutrition interventions across sectors, and increase the demand for key nutrition services and behaviors across the life cycle. Following the mid-term review of its Country Programme, UNICEF will further consolidate its nutrition programme. In the remaining two years of the country programme (2025-2026), the focus will be on continuing to strengthen systems for the prevention and treatment of acute malnutrition. This will involve early case finding, referral, supply chain improvements, capacity building of health workers, and improved follow-up. Efforts to strengthen legislation and multisectoral efforts for improved nutrition will continue. There will be a continued emphasis on the use of data and evidence to inform programmatic and policy decisions for nutrition at all levels. Additionally, efforts to improve the capacity of sectors to design and implement behaviour change interventions will continue. The programme will continue to support maternal nutrition and address malnutrition prior to pregnancy, including during adolescence. Furthermore, the programme will build on efforts to support caregivers, aiming for better adherence to curative services and improved complementary feeding practices.

How you can make a difference

Under the guidance of the Deputy Representative, the Chief of Nutrition will lead the nutrition team in Lao PDR, driving the strategic direction of and implementing comprehensive national nutrition programmes. This role is pivotal in enhancing nutrition outcomes for infants, children, adolescents, and women in Lao PDR through multi-sectoral action involving key stakeholders from health, education, food, WASH, and social protection systems and across levels. The Chief will oversee a diverse team, manage significant donor-funded investments, and ensure effective programme delivery and sustainable impact. The Chief will also spearhead resource mobilization efforts for nutrition and related cross-sectoral results, including by developing and strengthening relationships with a wide range of partners.

Key Functions:

1. Managerial Leadership:

• Establish annual work plans, set priorities and targets, monitor progress, and establish clear individual performance objectives, goals, and timelines.
• Provide timely guidance to ensure the team performs their duties responsibly and efficiently, ensuring effective and efficient team performance.
• Supervise team members by providing them with clear objectives, goals, direction, and guidance to enable them to perform their duties responsibly, effectively and efficiently. Foster a collaborative and inclusive team environment, encouraging professional growth and development.

2. Programme Development and Planning:

• Provide technical guidance and operational support for the preparation, design, and updating of situation analyses to ensure comprehensive and current data on maternal and child nutrition.
• Prepare, coordinate, and supervise the formulation and design of nutrition programmes/projects, establishing clear goals, objectives, strategies, and results based on results-based planning methodologies.
• Ensure that programmes are aligned with the overall UNICEF Strategic Plan, Country Programme, the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework, strategies, national policies and international standards, and are responsive to the needs of the target populations.
• Monitor and evaluate programme effectiveness, making adjustments as necessary to achieve desired outcomes.
• Ensure close collaboration with other UNICEF teams at all stages of the programme life cycle to foster synergies and coherent country programme implementation in line with the mid-term review of the country programme. This also includes specific multi-sectoral initiatives, such as the focus on the “first 1000 days of life” with the Health, WASH  and Social & Behavior Change teams, and cross-sectoral areas, such as digital transformation or gender.

3. Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results

• Plan and/or collaborate with colleagues and external partners to establish monitoring benchmarks, performance indicators, and other UNICEF/UN system indicators and measurements to assess and strengthen performance accountability, coherence and delivery of concrete and sustainable results in nutrition programmes.
• Participate in monitoring and evaluation exercises and regular programme reviews with the government and other counterparts to assess progress and to determine required action/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 knowledge gained for development planning and timely intervention to achieve goals.
• Actively monitor programmes and projects to assess progress, identify bottlenecks and potential problems; and take timely decisions to resolve issues and/or refer to relevant officials for timely resolution.
• Plan, monitor and certify disbursements and control the optimum and appropriate use of programme resources (financial, administrative and other assets), confirming compliance with organizational rules, regulations, procedures, standards of accountability and integrity and donor commitments. Ensure timely reporting and liquidation of resources.
• Prepare mandated and key programme/project reports for donors and other partners to keep them informed of programme progress.

4. Resource Mobilization:

• In close coordination with management and other teams, implement the resource mobilization plan by establishing clear offerings to partners, strengthening existing relationships, and developing new ones.
• Engage in discussions and presentations to potential partners, showcasing the impact and importance of nutrition programmes.

5. Advocacy, Networking, and Partnerships:

• Build strategic partnerships and advocate for nutrition and relevant multi-sectoral initiatives among key stakeholders, securing support for a common agenda through active networking, advocacy, and effective communication. This includes close engagement with the government, development partners, international financial institutions, academia, civil society, among others.
• Build capacity, exchange knowledge and expertise, and promote cooperation and alliances to achieve programme goals, including co-chairing the development partners group for food security and nutrition in Lao PDR.
• Provide advice to key government officials, NGO partners, UN system partners and other country office partners/donors on policies, strategies, best practices and approaches on nutrition-related issues to support programme development planning, management, implementation, and delivery of results.
• Represent UNICEF in high-level forums and meetings, advocating for policies and programs that support improved nutrition outcomes.

6. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building:

• Promote innovative approaches, share best practices, and enhance stakeholder competencies.
• Institutionalize and share best practices and knowledge learned.
• Lead efforts to develop and implement cutting-edge practices and capacity-building initiatives, ensuring UNICEF Lao PDR remains a thought leader in nutrition.
• Promote critical thinking, innovative approaches, and good practices for sustainable nutrition and child development programmes through advocacy and technical advisory services.
• Explore and integrate new technologies and methodologies to enhance programme delivery and impact.

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

Minimum requirements:

• Education: An advanced university degree in nutrition, public health, nutritional epidemiology, global/international health and nutrition, health/nutrition research, policy and/or management, health sciences, nutritional epidemiology, or another health-related science field required.
• Work Experience: At least eight years of relevant professional work experience in a developing country in nutrition, public health, nutrition planning and management, or maternal, infant and child health/nutrition care is required.
• Language Requirements: Fluency in English

Desirables:

• Experience in health/nutrition programme/project development and management in a UN system agency or organization is an asset.
• Fluency in another UN Official Language or the official language of the duty station.
• Familiarity with emergency preparedness and response.

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

(8) Nurtures, leads and manages people

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

We offer a wide range of measures to include a more diverse workforce, such as paid parental leave, time off for breastfeeding purposes, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

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. UNICEF is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will 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.

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 candidates from all backgrounds 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.

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

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