Nutrition Data, Analytics and Evidence

UNICEF is responsible for providing humanitarian and developmental aid to children worldwide. UNICEF Health program is designed to support national health priorities with focus on programs that will positively impact on the lives of the most disadvantaged children, such as the prevention and treatment of diseases through establishing community-level efforts and services to promote the health and well-being of children. In line with this strategy, UNICEF supports immunization and health prevention programs for childhood diseases and funding for sustainable health services. UNICEF programs have been guided by the Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989), which affirms the right of all children to “the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health and to facilities for the treatment of illness and rehabilitation of health.”

UNICEF is committed to realizing the rights of all children to help them build a strong foundation and have the best chance of fulfilling their potential. We believe that ensuring a happy and healthy child begins before birth: from ensuring his/her mother has access to good neonatal care and delivering in a clean, safe environment to reaching adulthood as a responsible, healthy and informed parent to the next generation. This journey relies on a child having access to shelter, good nutrition, clean water and sanitation, healthcare and education.

UNICEF Nigeria seeks a national UN Volunteer for Nutrition Data to support strengthening of Nutrition Information Systems in Nigeria.
UNICEF promotes the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programs, 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 favoritism. 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. UNICEF strives 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 Nigeria, children are deprived of a range of rights, including the right to good nutrition, resulting in all forms of malnutrition. The First 1,000 Days of Life, from conception to two years of age, have been
identified as a critical window for nutrition and child development and deprivations during this critical
period result in irreversible consequences. Ensuring that women and children have access to the optimal diets, services and practices is the focus of UNICEF Nigeria’s Country Programme Strategy (2023-2027). The strategy is focused on ensuring that Nigeria, currently off-track to attain the Sustainable Development Goal Nutrition Targets by 2020, is supported to change the current trajectory.

To enable the above to occur, the use of data, analytics and evidence is a core part of the strategy. The near real time monitoring of the nutrition situation of children and women, analyses and
reporting of program performance to internal and external stakeholders is critical in influencing decisions on policy, programme effectiveness and resource allocations. Nigeria is data-rich both in terms of routine data (e.g. DHIS-2, programme data etc.) and survey data such as the Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey, Nutrition SMART survey, Multiple Indicator
Cluster Survey 2021, the National Food Consumption and Micronutrient Survey 2021, etc. This data need to be analyzed, reported and used to inform programming. The UNV will provide technical support within Enugu field office

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of a designated mandated representative(s), the UNV Nutrition Data will:

- Provide technical support in nutrition programme planning, data collection, analysis and reporting. The data will include routine programme data (programme reports and DHIS2), population level survey data and specific research activities as applicable.

- Support Data visualization using GIS softwares such as ArcgGis, PowerBi and produce maps and dashboards etc.

- Support management of nutrition databases using applicable tools such as excel and other internal softwares.

- Develop programme appropriate information products based on audience needs, data availability and refine the ideas in consultation with UNICEF team before embarking on the actual design of the products.

- Conduct field visits to programme locations to monitor the quality of data collection and reporting and provide supportive supervision as and when needed.

- Support nutrition situation analysis, internal and external reporting needs.

- Participate in nutrition data capacity building activities

- Perform other tasks as may be required or assigned by the supervisor.

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.