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 support

In Lao PDR, UNICEF works in partnership with the Government of Lao PDR and partners to promote and protect the rights of children and women in Lao PDR. With over 50 years of service, we are one of the longest-serving international organisations in the country.

Visit unicef.org/Laos to learn more about what we do at UNICEF in Lao PDR.

How can you make a difference? 

UNICEF in Vientiane, Lao PDR is looking for an International Consultant to support planning and implementation of Nutrition Specific Interventions through health systems. The duration of this assignment is 12 months, starting as soon as possible and the consultant shall be based in UNICEF Office in Vientiane.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

The Consultant will work under the guidance and supervision of Nutrition Specialist to provide technical support and guidance to the Ministry of Health for implementation of preventive and curative nutrition interventions. This shall include the following:                                                                               

• Provide technical guidance and support to the Ministry of Health and relevant departments for planning nutrition interventions in line with the RMNCAH Strategy and the National Plan of Action on Nutrition (NPAN).
• Provide technical support for planning and implementation of trainings, ensuring quality standards are met to achieve the intended results.
• Technical support to revise the IMAM training package in line with the recent WHO guidance on wasting- year 2023, and support with the implementation of Training of Trainers (ToTs) and roll-outs of training in selected provinces and districts.
• Establish mechanisms for monitoring and supportive supervision to strengthen reporting systems, leading to improved admission and treatment of cases.
• Support national and subnational stakeholders in strengthening the supply chain system to ensure effective tracking of nutrition supplies and prevent stock-outs.
• Strengthen the capacities of existing Breastfeeding Advisors to support the development of an enabling environment for breastfeeding practices within hospital settings.
• Provide technical support to the Centre for Nutrition (CN) and the Department of Hygiene and Health Promotion (DHHP) in adapting MIYCN training packages for Village Health Volunteers (VHVs), and support in the planning, implementation, and monitoring of IYCF trainings in targeted districts and health centers.
• Support the planning, implementation, and monitoring of the Multiple Micronutrient Supplementation (MMS) programme for pregnant women, including capacity building and training for provincial and district health officers as well as frontline workers.
• Strengthen provincial emergency preparedness and response plans by finalizing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and testing them during emergency onset and building stakeholder capacity to adapt them effectively.
• Technical support in preparing and organizing donor visits to showcase programme achievements, explore funding opportunities, and promote nutrition-focused interventions within the health sector.
• Contribute to programme visibility by preparing human-interest stories, briefing notes, and other communication materials, including support during donor field visits.
• Promote innovation, knowledge management, and capacity building of government counterparts to adopt and scale up innovative approaches and good practices for delivering sustainable nutrition outcomes through the health sector.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here:  TOR for VA Internationa Consutlant for Nutrition Specific Interventions.pdf

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Minimum requirements:

Education:

• Post- graduate degree in public health nutrition, nursing, international development or other clearly related disciplines

Work Experience and Skills:

• Proven knowledge and experience of working in health/nutrition programme/project development and management with government health system and a good understanding of preventive and curative nutrition interventions.  If within the UN system agency or organization is an asset, while experience with UNICEF is highly valued
• Excellent knowledge and understanding of training approaches, skills and expertise in leading trainings.
• Provision of nutrition technical assistance to Government based on global evidence and best practices
• Proven ability to work with a range of stakeholders
• Good analytical and report writing skills
• Excellent communication skills

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English is required- both in oral and written communication.
• Working understanding of Lao language would be an advantage.

Submission of applications:

Interested candidates are kindly requested to apply and upload the following documents:

• Letter of Interest (cover letter)
• CV or Resume
• Financial proposal: All-inclusive lump-sum cost including medical insurance with medivac, travel and accommodation cost for this assignment as per work assignment

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:  

Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF’s Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.