Programme Specialist - Gender and Nutrition (P-3), PG Gender Equality at UNICEF

For every child, gender equality for all

• In alignment with UNICEF GAP, and Nutrition strategy, the role of the Gender and Nutrition specialist based in Nairobi is primarily technical and programmatic support for countries implementing VINA project. The position will work under overall guidance of senior gender advisor at headquarter in collaboration with early childhood nutrition micronutrient team to provide technical guidance/operational support to ensure gender transformative results throughout all stages of programming in the VINA project.

How can you make a difference?

Provide technical support to country offices, head quarter and regional offices in management and oversight function of the gender components of the programme

• Actively participate in programme coordination and management within HQ, regional and country offices; partnerships with global partners, and contract review committees; and other key leadership teams to ensure effective implementation of the programme.
• Coordinate with the regional gender and nutrition advisors in West and Central Africa Regional Office (WCARO) and Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office (ESARO) to plan, utilize, monitor and report on the VINA project.
• In collaboration with sectoral colleagues, participate in the planning and monitoring of the utilization of the budget allocated to gender interventions.
• Lead the gender component of the reporting on project expenditures, including the annual reporting and donor reporting.
• Contributing to and maintaining a repository of gender-related knowledge materials and dashboards for project to track support to countries and status of their gender interventions etc.

Program development and planning

• Support country in conducting comprehensive gender analysis/ integrating gender as part of existing equity analysis and develop gender briefs for countries developing country proposals or advocacy events
• Provide technical leadership on integration of gender into programme design and strategic directions phases, including strategic planning, mid-term reviews, extended annual reviews,
• Deploying and using proxy indicators in identifying gender-related barriers to vitamin A supplementation and in developing country specific gender responsive implementation plans
• Liaise with the implementation research team in planning and rolling out implementation research and qualitative assessments to identify and address gender equity barriers as applicable .
• Support countries to plan and implement evidence-based advocacy for gender, health and nutrition reviews and planning

Prioritizing support for gender-responsive and gender-transformative interventions in reaching most disadvantaged areas and areas of low service coverage

• In collaboration with sectoral colleagues, identify the areas of focus for gender transformative programming with the greatest potential for impact and scale, in alignment with country level priorities
• Build capacity of regional and country gender focal persons to create a pool of master trainers in the RO and COs who will support gender integration into national equity assessments and planning processes.
• Support the refinement of VAS training materials to include gender considerations

Measuring and monitoring the effectiveness of gender interventions in vitamin A supplementation programs:

• Support the strengthening of data systems and collection, as well as accountability mechanisms to monitor and evaluate progress on gender results.
• Support countries to document lessons learned and good practices that reduce gender-related barriers on both the demand and supply sides.
• Facilitate gender-related knowledge management across countries including the documentation and dissemination of promising practices
• Assist with planning and rollout of interactive webinars to share lessons and good practices thereby building regional, national, and subnational capacities

Support integration of Vitamin A supplementation in primary health care programmes:

• Identify opportunities to support community health workforce with focus on policy and programme support for female health workers.
• Support country examples to strengthen integration with Immunization and maternal health programmes.
• Liaise and consult with sections, government, and other external partners (civil society, NGOs, private sector) to support convergence, and develop and reinforce partnerships in gender programming

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

• An advanced university degree (Master or higher) in Social Science, Public Health, Nutrition, health science and epidemiology, or in the field of international development is required.
• A minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible professional experience in gender and development programming including level is required.
• Experience in planning, designing, implementing, and delivering results-based programmes on gender and development in health, immunization, and nutrition sectors
• Experience in conducting or supporting rigorous gender analysis, including quantitative and qualitative research methodologies, and applied gender measurement, monitoring and evaluation.
• Proven rigor in gender conceptual and programme design skills with an understanding of theories of change from intervention to results, and an understanding of achieving results at scale.
• Professional experience in a developing country programme in one or more of the following areas is required: public health, immunization, nutrition, or maternal, infant and child health care.
• Experience in working in a multi-cultural environment and establish harmonious and effective working relationships, both within and outside the organization.
• Expertise in evidence-based advocacy and communication skills on gender equality is an asset.
• Fluency in English (written and verbal) is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, Russian, French or Spanish) is an asset.