General
Description of assignment title
National Nutrition Specialist
Assignment country
Somalia
Duty stations
Baidoa
Work location
On UN premises
Expected start date
01/02/2027
Duration
12 months
(with possibility of extension)
Sustainable Development Goal
- Zero hunger
Host entity
UNICEF
Modality
Onsite
Type
National
Volunteer category
Specialist UCoS from Apr2026
Work schedule
Full-time
Number of Assignments
1
Details
Mission and objectives
UNICEF is a key UN agency working in Somalia in various aeras such as WASH, Child Protection, Social Policy, Health and Nutrition, and Education sectors. With a population of 3,798,828 people and a significant youth and adolescent proportion forming a huge youth bulge, Somalia faces an unprecedented challenge in addressing the youth and adolescent needs of the people in a complex context where conflict, natural disasters and climate change divert resources from the needs of this important cohort of the population. Approximately 62% of the population is between 5-29 years old, while three-quarters (72%) of the population is less than 30 years old. The unemployment rate is high (estimated at 50%) that also contributes to poverty.
Context
The UNICEF Nutrition Programme in Southern and Central Somalia is strengthening its field-level capacity to coordinate and oversee the scale-up of emergency nutrition interventions in response to anticipated drought conditions and heightened humanitarian needs associated with the projected El Niño weather pattern.
Baidoa is one of Somalia’s most vulnerable humanitarian hubs, hosting large populations of internally displaced persons and communities affected by recurrent climate shocks, food insecurity, disease outbreaks and high levels of acute malnutrition. Increased humanitarian needs are expected to place additional pressure on programme resources and implementation capacity, requiring stronger field presence and operational oversight.
The UN Volunteer will be part of UNICEF Somalia’s Nutrition Programme and based in the Baidoa Field Office. The assignment will support the planning, coordination, implementation, monitoring and reporting of drought response activities in alignment with government priorities and humanitarian response frameworks. It will also strengthen field monitoring, partner capacity, verification of results and resolution of implementation bottlenecks, including for First Foods and other priority nutrition interventions focused on preventing malnutrition during the first 1,000 days of life.
Task description
Under the supervision of the designated UNICEF Nutrition Specialist, the UN Volunteer will:
- Support the planning, coordination, implementation, monitoring and reporting of emergency and preventive nutrition interventions in South West State.
- Coordinate with relevant government authorities, NGO implementing partners, UN agencies and other stakeholders to support timely decisions and delivery.
- Monitor programme implementation through field visits, partner engagement and review of programme data; verify results and identify bottlenecks, gaps and corrective actions.
- Support the scale-up and quality assurance of drought-response nutrition services, including referral pathways and continuity of lifesaving services for children and women.
- Contribute to implementation and acceleration of First Foods and other priority interventions to prevent malnutrition among infants and young children during the first 1,000 days of life.
- Strengthen partner capacity in programme planning, monitoring, documentation, accountability and results reporting.
- Prepare timely situation updates, monitoring reports, analyses and inputs to UNICEF planning and reporting processes.
- Support coordination and information sharing within UNICEF and with government and humanitarian coordination mechanisms.
- Promote accountability to affected populations, safeguarding, inclusion and gender-responsive programming across supported activities.
- Undertake other related duties within the scope of the assignment, as requested by the supervisor.
Eligibility criteria
Age
18 - 80
Required experience
3 years
Nationality
Candidate must be a national, legal resident or hold refugee status in the country of assignment.
Assignment requirements
Relevant experience
3 years
Languages
- English, Level: Fluent, Required
- Somali, Level: Fluent, Required
Required education level
Master's degree in Nutrition, public health, food science, medicine or a related discipline.
Competencies and values
Accountability; adaptability and flexibility; planning and organising; professionalism; self-management; teamwork; respect for diversity; integrity.
Skills and experience
- At least three years of relevant professional experience in nutrition or public health programming, including programme implementation, monitoring and reporting.
- Experience supporting emergency nutrition responses or programming in fragile or humanitarian settings.
- Demonstrated ability to coordinate with government, civil society, UN agencies and implementing partners.
- Strong analytical, communication, facilitation and report-writing skills.
- Ability to interpret programme data, identify implementation bottlenecks and follow through on corrective actions.
- Proficiency in standard office software, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, email and online collaboration tools.
- Knowledge of the Somali context and experience working in South West State are strong assets.
- Previous experience with UNICEF, another UN entity or humanitarian coordination mechanisms is an asset.
Area(s) of expertise
Community development
Driving license
Other information
Volunteerism is understood as a wide range of activities undertaken of free will, for the general public good, for which monetary reward is not the principal motivating factor.
Living conditions and remarks
Baidoa is a hardship duty station in South West State, Somalia. The security environment can be volatile and movement is subject to United Nations security procedures and operational restrictions. Basic accommodation, food, communications, banking and medical services are available, although standards and availability may be limited. The climate is generally hot and dry, with seasonal rains. The assignment requires cultural sensitivity, flexibility, resilience and willingness to undertake field travel in accordance with security clearances and UNICEF procedures. Benefits and allowances are determined under the applicable UN Volunteer Conditions of Service and can be reviewed using the UVP calculator.
Inclusivity statement
United Nations Volunteers is an equal opportunity programme that welcomes applications from qualified professionals. We are committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, care protected characteristics. As part of their adherence to the values of UNV, all UN Volunteers commit themselves to combat any form of discrimination, and to promoting respect for human rights and individual dignity, without distinction of a person’s race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.
Reasonable accommodation
UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for UN Volunteers with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the recruitment process and afterwards in your assignment.
Note on Covid-19 vaccination requirements
In addition to duty station-specific vaccine requirements, appointments are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the appointment. It does not apply to UN Volunteers who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their contracts.
Scam warning
The United Nations does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Should you receive a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Furthermore, please note that emblems, logos, names and addresses are easily copied and reproduced. Therefore, you are advised to apply particular care when submitting personal information on the web.
