​Nutrition Officer​

UNICEF promotes the rights and wellbeing of every child, in everything we do. Together with our partners, we work to translate that commitment into practical action, especially for the most disadvantaged children.

In the Pacific we work in Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu: These 14 Pacific island countries are home to 2.3 million people, including 1.2 million children and youth, living on more than 660 islands and atolls stretching across 17.2 million square kilometres of the Pacific Ocean, an area comparable to the combined size of the United States of America and Canada.

Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Solomon Islands, and Tuvalu are classified as Fragile States according to World Bank/OECD criteria. All 14 Pacific island countries have ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, but only a third are on track with reporting obligations.

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. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favouritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfil their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

In the Pacific, UNICEF works in Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu: These 14 Pacific island countries are home to 2.3 million people, including 1.2 million children and youth, living on more than 660 islands and atolls stretching across 17.2 million square kilometers of the Pacific Ocean, an area comparable to the combined size of the United States of America and Canada. Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Solomon Islands, and Tuvalu are classified as Fragile States according to World Bank/OECD criteria.

All 14 Pacific Island countries and territories have ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, but only a third are on track with reporting obligations. Explore the different areas of our work in the link provided here www.unicef.org/pacificislands.

UNICEF’s work in the Pacific includes responding to a triple burden of malnutrition, i.e., under-nutrition, micro-nutrient deficiencies, overweight and obesity through multi-system and multi-stakeholder approaches to improve the quality of foods, food environments and nutritional practices of children, adolescents and women and ensure household food security. UNICEF will support governments to strengthen the existing legislation and regulatory frameworks, or to develop new ones that support the availability and affordability of nutritious foods and regulate the importation and marketing of unhealthy foods. Given the growing prevalence of obesity in children, UNICEF will invest in multisectoral approaches to promote healthy lifestyles and dietary practices, including social and behavioural change and youth-led advocacy initiatives, engagement with private sector food producers and strengthening school nutrition programmes. This UNV assignment is to support the Nutrition Specialist and team in UNICEF nutrition programming, with special focus on multi-system and youth engagement.

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of a Nutrition Specialist or his/her designated mandated representative(s), the UN Volunteer Nutrition Officer (Supplies and Knowledge Management) will:

Nutrition Supplies Management

Provide support in the management of nutrition supplies by following up on ordered nutrition supplies, ensuring that any support to dispatch and document is provided on time.

Support relevant personnel in ensuring that the Ministry of Health in various countries has up-to-date and accurate distribution plans, to avoid the expiry of supplies, and in forecasting its needs for nutrition supplies


Knowledge Management

Support monitoring of results to facilitate timely donor report, through liaising with different country teams and supporting them to consolidate reporting ahead of the donor and office end-of-year reporting timeline

Ensure that progress reports and programme data/information are well archived on the Health and Nutrition SharePoint

Support efforts in selected countries under the Pacific multi-country office to organize a nutrition information management system under the Ministry of Health

Support undertaking a scoping of available social behavior change (SBC) communication materials in use by the Ministry of Health to assist in identifying gaps, and standardization of social behavior change (SBC) communication for promotion of optimal nutrition throughout the life cycle.

Provide back-up support in engaging, mobilizing, and mentoring young people to support good nutrition.

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 taking an 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.