Nutrition Officer, NO-1, TA (364 days), #0137211, Port Sudan, Sudan - ESAR

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, the right to Hope

How can you make a difference?

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 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.

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 fulfill 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. The efficiency and efficacy of support provided by the Nutrition Officer to programme preparation, planning and implementation facilitates the delivery of concrete and sustainable results that directly impact the improvement of the Nutrition of the most marginalized and vulnerable women and children in Red Sea State.

This in turn contributes to maintaining and enhancing the credibility and ability of UNICEF to continue to provide programme services to protect the rights of children, and to promote greater social equality to enable them to survive, develop and reach their full potential in society.

Purpose of the post:

The micronutrient deficiencies in Sudan and Red Ses specifically are widely spread and a concerning public health matter that contributes to morbidity and mortality and negatively impact human productivity and country economic growth. Most common micronutrient deficiencies in Sudan include iron deficiency anemias, Vitamin A, iodine, calcium, and Vitamin D deficiencies that affect infant, children under five years, adolescent, and pregnant and lactating women. The S3M survey of 2018 has shown situation of a poor micronutrient status among the most vulnerable groups of infants, children under five years, adolescent, pregnant and lactating women and more than 14 states out of 18 have significant prevalence rate for one or more of those micronutrient deficiencies. The survey results estimated the prevalence of anemia among children under 5 and reproductive age non pregnant women in Sudan respectively at 48% and at 30% while 37% of pregnant women have amenia. The same survey has shown also 40% and 55% of preschool age children and non-pregnant women of reproductive age respectively have hypocalcemia and the prevalence of iodine deficiency was at 25.6% among non-pregnant reproductive age women.
Most of Infant and Young Child Feeding practices in Red Sea are not optimal and that contributes to increased risks of morbidity and mortality among young children and puts them at higher risk of chronic negative consequences in their future such as stunting and reduced productivity and cognitive capabilities. The S3M survey of 2018 has shown situation of a poor infant and young child feeding practices especially in the complementary feeding indicators. Minimum dietary diversity among under-fives is low at 25 per cent, and only 63 percent of under two children receive the age-appropriate meal frequency. While breastfeeding is common practice in Sudan, the level of exclusive breastfeeding stand at 62 percent, with only 73% of age-appropriate continued breastfeeding. Micronutrient malnutrition is prevalent, with 48 per cent of under-five children experiencing anemia due to iron deficiency. You will provide professional technical, operational and administrative assistance throughout the programming process for the nutrition programmes/projects within