Health and Nutrition Specialist

UNICEF has a long-term commitment to Iraq’s children and young people, with the first formal cooperation agreement signed with the Government in 1963. UNICEF works in close partnership with the Federal through established Cooperation Agreements. UNICEF has a broad geographic presence in the country with four offices located in Basra, Baghdad, Erbil and Dohuk. UNICEF collaborates with UN agencies, international and national NGO partners to meet the humanitarian and development needs of most vulnerable children and young people.
In recent years, UNICEF’s work to support the unique needs of young people has gained momentum, as the challenges facing them have come more sharply into view. UNICEF is committed to deliver for all children and young people through its overall impact goal of ‘realizing the rights of every child, especially the most disadvantaged. The UNICEF Strategic Plan, 2018−2021 recognizes the whole spectrum of young people, including young adults or youth over 18, and includes in its Change Strategies “supporting young people and children as agents of change.” Taking its cue from the strategic plan, the Global Communication and Advocacy Strategy 2019−2021 (GCAS) asserts the important role that young people can play in the successful realization of UNICEF’s mandate, and outlines the need to listen to, co-create and collaborate with young people and create meaningful engagement opportunities for them to make a difference. Being important drivers of change, children and young people are essential partners and contributors to both the development and implementation of UNICEF’s Strategic Plan 2022 2025. With a new and ambitious SP, UNICEF intends to be deliberate and committed in fully involving children and young people in creating the solutions to accelerate the realization of the SDGs and driving change forward.

A volunteer is sought to backstop the Health Officer during their six-month leave (June to November). The volunteer will provide professional technical assistance and support for the implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and administration of Health and Nutrition program activities in the South of Iraq. Responsibilities include data analysis, progress reporting, knowledge sharing, and capacity-building efforts, in alignment with the objectives of the field office Health and Nutrition work plan and the overall Health and Nutrition program strategy.

• Accurate information, data analysis, and documentation are timely made available to support situation analysis, sectoral input and reporting.
• Technical assistance is provided to the development and implementation of integrated Health & Nutrition strategies and approaches through participation and collaboration with internal and external partners.
• Work plan and objectives are effectively established and planned results are timely delivered through technical support and coordination in consultation with all relevant partners.
• Project efficiency and effectiveness are enhanced through effective implementation follow-up.
• Project implementation progress is monitored for adjustment and improvement of program delivery and sustainability. Gender sex aggregated data and inputs provided relevant to the Health & Nutrition programme
• Transparency is ensured for supply and non-supply assistance and disbursement of programme funds for Health & Nutrition.
• Effective partnership and working relationships are maintained for advocacy, technical coordination, information sharing and knowledge networking.
• Up-to-date programme information is kept available and reports prepared and shared with relevant stakeholders as required to support the Health & Nutrition programme by the effective implementation of an integrated monitoring system.
• Emergency preparedness is maintained, and in emergencies, emergency responses with effective coordination are provided and in line with the Core Commitments for Children (CCCs) in Humanitarian Action, partnerships with the Health and Nutrition humanitarian actors strengthened within the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC).
• Other assigned duties and responsibilities are effectively accomplished.