International Consultant - Maternal and Adolescent Nutrition

About the role

UNICEF is recruiting an International Consultant on Maternal and Adolescent Nutrition in Maputo, Mozambique, for an office-based assignment with some travel lasting 11 months. The consultancy applies the UNICEF Programming Guidance on Maternal Nutrition (2021), covering women's nutrition before pregnancy, during pregnancy and while breastfeeding, as well as adolescent mothers and other nutritionally at-risk women. It reports to the Nutrition Manager.

Key responsibilities

• Support the development of situation analysis and policy, pregnancy and breastfeeding, adolescent mothers and at-risk women, and pre-pregnancy systems, capacity and supply.
• Contribute to SBC and gender, data, learning and innovation, and coordination and reporting.
• Work under the supervision of the Nutrition Manager.

Required profile

• Advanced university degree (Master's or higher) in Nutrition, public health, global health, maternal and child health or a related field; a first degree with two additional years of relevant experience may be accepted instead.
• At least five years of professional experience in nutrition or public health programming in a developing country, including maternal nutrition (ANC/postnatal counselling, IFA or MMS) and/or adolescent nutrition.
• Fluency in English and Portuguese, written and spoken.

Required skills

• Sound knowledge of the UNICEF Maternal Nutrition Programming Guidance and WHO recommendations on antenatal and postnatal nutrition, including MMS, calcium and BEP.
• Understanding of the nutritional needs of pregnant adolescents and of how gender and social norms affect nutrition.
• Ability to design formative research and turn findings into programme packages, with strong analytical and writing skills.
• Desirable: experience with BEP, SQ-LNS or anaemia management; adolescent sexual and reproductive health, gender-transformative approaches and human-centred design; government and community health systems; the UN system; a northern Mozambique language.

Candidates apply through the UNICEF online recruitment portal (TMS) with an up-to-date profile and CV, a cover letter, a financial proposal using the provided template, a brief technical proposal (max. 3 pages) on the formative research and adolescent-friendly package, and a writing sample. The consultancy is advertised until 9 November 2026.