Regional HIV and Nutrition Integration Officer (International Consultant level II), RB Dakar

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The Regional Bureau Dakar (RBD) provides policy guidance, technical support, and oversight for operations in 19 countries west and central Africa where WFP’s efforts contribute towards the eradication of hunger and malnutrition.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:

The progress made in the 19 countries comprising RBD against the 2025 World Health Assembly nutrition targets remains insufficient. West and Central Africa is the world’s only region in which the number of stunted and wasted children continues to rise. In the Sahel, recurrent climatic and economic shocks, rising and fluctuating food prices, and demographic pressures coupled with minimal coverage of basic social services have resulted in chronically high undernutrition among mothers and children, especially in pastoral areas and during the agricultural lean season.
In this region, a combination of humanitarian, development and peacebuilding interventions are being implemented and complement each other. This nexus of short-term (emergency response) and medium-to long term programming (development approach) is essential to ensure the appropriate balance between emergency response to acute shocks and strengthening of systems so resilience of nations, systems, communities and populations to new future shocks is improved.
In addition, HIV remains a global health crisis fuelled by inequalities with approximately 1.5 million new HIV infections and 680,000 AIDS-related deaths in 2020. Despite relatively low HIV prevalence rates in West and Central Africa (WCA), there were an estimated 4.7 million adults and children living with HIV in the region in 2020, making it one of the world’s most affected. The region accounted for more than one third of new HIV infections among children and more than one fifth of AIDS related deaths globally, reflecting significant gaps in the prevention of mother-to-child transmission and the test, treat and retain strategy.
Nutritional care remains an important component of the comprehensive care for people living with HIV (PLHIV), especially in areas where malnutrition and food insecurity are prevalent, and where monotonous, staple-based diets are the norm. Targeted food and nutrition vulnerability assessments conducted in 14 RBD countries with WFP RBD support reveal that malnutrition among PLHIV on treatment remains a serious concern, and that numerous HIV-affected households are food insecure with limited livelihood options. Both malnutrition and food insecurity limit treatment uptake, adherence and outcomes for people living with HIV. WFP’s support to the HIV-agenda has shi?ed towards strengthening safety nets through cash transfers and livelihood support to develop income generating activities, coupled with nutritional sensitization, and with the aim of empowering them to live healthier and more dignified lives.

MAIN ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:
Under the overall guidance of the Senior Regional Nutrition Advisor, the HIV & Nutrition Integration Officer will report to the Regional Nutritionist and will work in close collaboration with the whole Nutrition Unit as well as with the other units of the regional bureau. The HIV & Nutrition Integration Officer’s main responsibilities are (i) to assist Country offices in the region in the design and implementation of HIV interventions and in HIV and nutrition integration in line with the WFP HIV policy and the WFP Nutrition Policy, (ii) to support HIV interventions and HIV integration in WFP emergency, relief and development assistance, (iii) to support advancing the social protection and HIV and nutrition sensitive social protection agendas at regional and CO level, and (iv) to act as WFP’s HIV focal point at the regional level. Specific duties and responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

1. Programme support and capacity strengthening
   Assist in HIV and nutrition context analysis and response planning for improved HIV and nutrition programming, including both nutrition assessment, counselling and support (NACS) and links to non-nutrition programming such as social protection.
2. Promote intersectoral linkages between HIV and nutrition programmes and other sectors, including social protection, school feeding and food security/ livelihoods/ resilience.
3. Ensure that HIV is adequately considered and reflected in the Country Strategic Planning processes and Budget revisions.
4. Support HIV focal points with resource mobilization efforts including UBRAF country envelopes negotiations and Global Fund negotiations as necessary.
5. Support programme design by providing strategic guidance and feedback on project-related documents, including project proposals, logframes and others.
6. Support studies and data collection systems on support to people living with HIV and TB clients including providing technical advice on HIV-related studies and surveys to country offices in the region.
7. Compile and maintain a database of HIV profiles and survey data for the region.
8. Manage UBRAF and other funds for HIV, follow-up with countries, and provide updates on implementation and budget utilization.
9. Provide capacity strengthening to colleagues in the region working on HIV and nutrition as necessary.
10. Assist in information and experience sharing about HIV and nutrition programming between country offices including through regular calls and presentations.

Partnership and coordination

1. Assist in strengthening information exchange and operational linkages between the Regional Bureau, WFP HQ, other UN Regional Bureaux, RBD COs, and key partners.
2. Represent WFP and actively engage during coordination and sectoral inter-agency meetings and consultations organized at regional level, including JURTA sub-groups.
3. Nurture partnership with UNAIDS as well as with ILO, UNICEF, UNHCR and other key partners to advance the HIV-sensitive social protection agenda and reinvigorate the HIV in emergencies portfolio in the West and Central Africa Region.
4. Work in close collaboration with the RBD social protection team to advance the HIV- and nutrition-sensitive social protection agendas.

3. Reporting and documentation

1. Support countries with reporting using the UNAIDS Joint Programme Monitoring System (JPMS) and develop contributions for regional level reporting.
2. Assist in reporting on corporate and project specific indicators related to HIV during the Annual Country reports (ACR) exercise.
3. Assist in elaborating reports and evaluation documents related to HIV and nutrition programmes.
4. Support country offices in documenting good practices and evidence of success stories in the region.
5. Assist in creating communications materials for internal and external use.
6. Any other duties as requested.

Education:

You have

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree equivalent, BAC+4/5), recognized by https://www.whed.net/home.php in public health/nutrition, epidemiology or social sciences, and training in HIV and AIDS or any other relevant field OR a first university degree (Bachelor’s degree equivalent, BAC +3) in the same disciplines with additional years of experience.

Experience:

You have:

At least five (5) years of progressively responsible professional post-graduate experience with a focus on international public health and nutrition programme management.

Other required experiences:

• Must have experience in nutrition and HIV program design, implementation, and reporting, as well as experience of coordination with different actors and participation in thematic meetings.
• Experience in analysis of reports, compilation of information from various sources, and preparation of analytical reports
• Experience in Western and Central Africa is desirable, at regional and/or country level
• Experience working in the UN preferably with WFP is desirable

Languages:

Fluency (level C in reading, writing and speaking) in English and French.

Knowledge, Skills and other requirements:

• Excellent analysis and drafting skills are required.
• Ability to engage effectively at working level with a wide range of actors including those in the international humanitarian community and governments.
• Ability to work under tight deadlines and simultaneously manage multiple tasks in an autonomous manner.
• Maturity, initiative, courtesy, tact and ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with people of different national and cultural backgrounds.
• Ability to travel within the region and beyond (approx. 20-30% of time)
• Ability to adapt when faced with competing priorities
• Strong understanding of WFP operations and CSP desirable.

Deadline for application: 10 July 2023

How to apply

WFP Value Proposition

• Meaningful and impactful careers – Our day-to-day work makes a difference in the lives of the people we serve.
• Continuous learning and training – We provide learning tools for our staff to continually develop their careers.
• Multicultural and stimulating working environment – We encourage gender and cultural diversity to make our teams stronger.

Apply by following this link

https://career5.successfactors.eu/sfcareer/jobreqcareer?jobId=827964&company=C0000168410P