General
Description of assignment title
Nutrition Research Specialist
Assignment country
Lao People’s Democratic Republic
Duty stations
Vientiane
Work location
On UN premises
Expected start date
01/08/2026
Duration
(with possibility of extension)
Sustainable Development Goal
3. Good health and well-being
Host entity
UNICEF
Modality
Onsite
Type
International
Volunteer category
Specialist UCoS from Apr2026
Work schedule
Full-time
Number of Assignments
1
Details
Mission and objectives
UNICEF is mandated by the United Nations General Assembly to advocate for the protection of children’s rights, to help meet their basic needs and to expand their opportunities to reach their full potential. UNICEF’s mandate, mission and unique attributes provide a strategic advantage in promoting and supporting transformational change to achieve sustainable coverage at scale. After more than 45 years in Lao PDR, UNICEF Lao PDR UNICEF is one of the longest-serving international organizations in the country plays an important role in supporting the government, advocating for reform and leading coordination to scale-up results.
Context
UNICEF, operational in Lao PDR for over 50 years, promotes the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programs, in advocacy and in operations. This position will contribute to the outcome of the Nutrition Programme under the current Country Programme of Cooperation between the Government of Lao PDR and UNICEF 2022-2026 and upcoming 2027-2031. The Nutrition Research Specialist is expected to contribute to the nutrition team’s support to the Government of Lao PDR on ongoing research nutrition research efforts across systems, in order to translate evidence into scalable programme solutions and strengthen nutrition specific and sensitive interventions in Lao PDR.
Task description
I. Research coordination and supervision • Lead and supervise ongoing operational research initiatives, including RUTF-Lao effectiveness study, Multiple Micronutrient Supplementation (MMS) roll-out study, Bowl&Spoon pilot with local recipes for complementary feeding and Moderate Acute Malnutrition treatment pilot with food-based solutions. • Liaise closely with IRD (Institut de Recherche pour le Développement), CSOs, project managers, site coordinators, and government counterparts to monitor implementation. • Ensure timely implementation of research protocols, adherence to agreed timelines, milestones, and deliverables. data quality, coherence, and completeness across study sites; and conduct field monitoring visits to oversee study implementation. • Support data cleaning, validation, and database oversight; data analysis, interpretation of findings; facilitate coordination meetings and technical exchanges among partners; contribute to research outputs (reports, briefs, publications, restitution meetings). II. Support to programme development and planning • Participate in strategic program discussion on the planning of projects/activities related to nutrition research and nutrition sensitive interventions. • Provide technical and operational support during all phases of the programming planning processes, including workplanning and planning events, ensuring that activities are integrated, coherent, and harmonized with other section activities. III. Programme implementation, management, monitoring and delivery of results • Lead and coordinate UNICEF activities on Complementary Feeding, including rollout of bowl and spoon approach with local recipes; and on Moderate Acute Malnutrition treatment pilot intervention using food-based solutions and premix. Support preparation of behaviour change materials, technical booklets, and guidelines. • Work with government counterparts and implementing partners to design and adapt implementation packages, develop training materials, oversee capacity-building activities (trainings, workshops) and field implementation, monitoring systems and data collection tools, and ensure systematic documentation of lessons learned and best practices. • Support to draft policy papers, briefs and other strategic programme materials for management use, information and valorisation. • Participate in monitoring and evaluation exercises (including Programmatic Visits), program reviews and annual reviews with government and other counterparts to assess progress and to determine required action/interventions to achieve results. • Prepare reports and contribute to identifying gaps, strengths/weaknesses in program and management, identify lessons learned and use knowledge gained for development planning and timely intervention to achieve goals. IV. Technical support to food systems related initiatives • Provide technical support for the implementation of projects for healthier diets and sustainable food systems for children, including the development and advancement of regulations aiming at healthy food environments for children. • Support the development of technical guidance and communication & information materials pertaining to food systems. • Support UNICEF’s contribution to multi-sectoral and multi-agency initiatives on nutrition, sustainable food systems and climate resilience in Lao PDR. • Act as the technical focal point for UNICEF-led components under food systems related joint programmes, ensuring effective coordination with the UNICEF Lao PDR Communication team, other UN agencies, and implementing partners • Support coordination meetings, activity planning and follow-up, and contribute to visibility, communication, and knowledge products to ensure coherent and strategic programme delivery Furthermore, UN Volunteers are required to: 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. •Reflect on the type and quality of voluntary action that they are undertaking, including participation in ongoing reflection activities. •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. UN Volunteers will be provided equal duty of care as extended to all host entity personnel. Host entity support to the UN Volunteer includes, but is not limited to: •Introductory briefings about the organization and office-related context including security, emergency procedures, good cultural practice and orientation to the local environment. •Support with arrival administration including setting-up of bank accounts, residence permit applications and completion of other official processes as required by the host government or host entity. •Structured guidance, mentoring and coaching by a supervisor including a clear workplan and performance appraisal. •Access to office space, equipment, IT support and any other systems and tools required to complete the objectives of the assignment including a host entity email address. •Access to shared host entity corporate knowledge, training and learning. •Inclusion of the volunteer in emergency procedures such as evacuations. •Leave management. •DSA for official travel, when applicable. •All changes in the Description of Assignment occurring between recruitment and arrival or during the assignment need to be formalized with the United Nations Volunteer Programme.
Eligibility criteria
Age
18 – 80
Required experience
3 years
Nationality
Candidate must be a national of a country other than the country of assignment.
Assignment requirements
Relevant experience
3 years
Languages
English, Level: Fluent, Required Laotian, Level: Basic, Desirable
Required education level
Bachelor’s degree in Nutrition/Public Health
Competencies and values
• Accountability • Adaptability and flexibility • Creativity • Judgement and decision-making • Planning and organising • Professionalism • Self-management
Skills and experience
• Mandatory required technical knowledge: Nutrition/ Public Health/ Research. • Desired technical knowledge: Epidemiology, Food Systems, Food Environments. • Demonstrated experience in coordinating and supporting nutrition research and operational research activities. • Experience in data analysis, interpretation of findings, and preparation of technical reports, briefs, or publications. • Excellent oral and written skills; excellent drafting, formulation, reporting skills. • Accuracy and professionalism in document production and editing. • Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including government counterparts, research institutions, implementing partners, and authorities at different levels.(expanded) • Ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel. • Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various Microsoft Office applications (Excel, Word, among others), email, and internet. • Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision. • Ability to work with tight deadlines. • Have affinity with or interest in children’s rights, volunteerism as a mechanism for durable development, and the UN system.
Area(s) of expertise
Health
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
20. Living conditions and other remarks: Lao PDR is a family duty station and is relatively safe but special cautions must be aware when walking alone at nighttime. There is a wide range options for accommodation, including apartments and individual houses. Rents vary from approximately USD500 per month for a one-bedroom apartment to USD1,500 per month for larger properties. There are many options of transportation at affordable costs including taxis, bicycles, motorbike or car, however road traffic accidents are common. Medical facilities are available in Laos and complex medical procedures are usually done in Thailand. The banking system is well developed and functional, most payments in Vientiane are done electronically. International Schools are available in the duty station and are following International Curriculum that are globally recognized. You can check full entitlements at the duty station at https://app.unv.org/calculator. The complete UN Volunteer Conditions of Service is available at https://explore.unv.org/cos.”
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
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