Health and Nutrition Officer

Update

Solomon Islands is grappling with the triple burden of malnutrition (undernutrition, micronutrient deficiencies, and overweight and obesity), which is compounded by climate change. In addressing these challenges, with funding support from the Government of Japan, UNICEF implements a three-year project (2025-2028) entitled, “The Project for Nutrition Improvement through the School Meals in Isabel and Western Provinces”. In close collaboration with Ministries of Agriculture, Education and Health, the project aims to deliver an integrated package of school-based meal provision that will utilize climate-smart nutrition, sustainable agriculture and climate resilient water sanitation and hygiene (WASH) interventions. A model of home grown, and community sustained school meal provision will be piloted in 9 selected secondary schools in Western and Isabel Provinces, with contribution to the development and future rollout of a national strategy for locally sustained school meal programme in Solomon Islands. Effective multi-sectoral collaboration is a key to the project success. Given the nature of the project that features the development and piloting of the model, the project has a strong monitoring and evaluation component to generate and document the evidence for policy making. The project also offers an opportunity to integrate other school-based health interventions to improve the overall wellbeing of students. In this context, UNICEF Pacific Multi-Country Office is seeking for a health and nutrition officer (UNV) focusing on school health and nutrition programming to be based in Honiara, Solomon Islands.

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of Maternal and Child Health Specialist, Solomon Islands or his/her designated mandated representative(s), the UN Volunteer Health and Nutrition Officer will be responsible for supporting UNICEF’s school health and nutrition programme in Solomon Islands, with special focus on the Government of Japan funded project (2025-2028) entitled, “The Project for Nutrition Improvement through the School Meals in Isabel and Western Provinces”. The tasks will include:
• Support multi-sectoral coordination to ensure effective implementation of the “The Project for Nutrition Improvement through the School Meals in Isabel and Western Provinces”, across Ministries of Health, Education, and Agriculture at national, while ensuring the information feedback loop between national, provincial and school/community levels.
• Lead monitoring and reporting aspect of the “The Project for Nutrition Improvement through the School Meals in Isabel and Western Provinces” through the collection, compilation, and analysis of the project data; preparation of monthly, quarterly and annual reports on project progress; and tracking of fund utilization and supply inputs; and collecting and writing human interest stories ensuring the donor visibility.
• Monitor the project activities at all levels, particularly at school and communities, and provide hands-on assistance in implementing health and nutrition activities (such as health and nutrition screening, health, nutrition, hygiene and food system education, referral for students in need of special services, school meal recipe development and preparation) at school levels
• Coordinate technical assistance to the development and implementation of integrated health and nutrition approaches in collaboration with internal and external partners, with special focus on school-aged children and adolescents.
• Establish and maintain effective partnership and working relationships with all relevant stakeholders including donors for advocacy, technical coordination, information sharing and knowledge networking.

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to integrate the UN Volunteers programme mandate within their assignment and promote voluntary action through engagement with communities in the course of their work. As such, UN Volunteers should dedicate a part of their working time to some of the following suggested activities:

• Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day);
• Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country;
• Provide annual and end of assignment self- reports on UN Volunteer actions, results and opportunities.
• Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.;
• Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly-arrived UN Volunteers;
• Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering, or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.