Thursday, August 27, 2009

Vacancy for a technical officer at WHO

Description of duties:
1. Providing technical input to the development and revision of Infant Young Child Feeding indicators; performing the collection and analysis of relevant information; maintaining the WHO Global Data Base on infant and young child feeding.
2. Analysing the evidence of the efficacy and effectiveness of nutrition interventions aimed at improving maternal and child nutrition and their implementation and provide input to the WHO Library of Evidence on nutrition interventions accordingly.
3. Providing technical input to the development of guidelines on maternal and infant nutrition
4. Collaborating with other HQ Departments, with Regional and Country Offices, partner Agencies and academic institutions for the collection and analysis of information on IYCF.
5. Building capacities of health care staff on maternal and young child nutrition.
6. Providing input to reports, publications and presentations to illustrate the outcome of the analyses of IYCF, policy and programme indicators.
7. Providing support for generating funding proposals.
8. Performing other duties as requested by supervisor and Department Director.

Summary of main expected outcomes:
1. Update of technical guidelines aimed at improving maternal, infant and young child nutrition.
2. Technical support provided to Member States for collection of up-to-date information on infant and young child nutrition, adaptation of global guidelines on infant and young child nutrition and the evaluation of programmes.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Education:
Post graduate degree in nutrition science, medicine or other related field, with sound knowledge of statistics and epidemiology.

Skills:
Demonstrated ability to analyse technical issues and write and present scientific and technical
information clearly and concisely with good communication and presentation skills. Knowledge of maternal, infant and young child nutrition and of the relevant corrective interventions.
Database management. Systematic review methodology.

WHO competencies:
Communicating in a credible and effective way
Producing results Moving forward in a changing environment
Experience:

Essential:
At least 5 years of experience in the area of maternal and child nutrition with at least 2 years of
international level experience. Experience in research on the implementation of maternal and child nutrition intervention. Experience in data analysis and management.

Desirable:
Field experience in maternal and child nutrition programs an asset. Familiarity with the UN system
an asset.

More information available here

Monday, August 24, 2009

1st All Africa Horticulture Congress: Grown Under the Sun

August 31-September 3, 2009, Nairobi, Kenya

After two years for maturing and several preliminary thoughts and discussions around the concept, Kenya will be hosting the first All Africa Horticulture Congress in 2009
African horticulturists often attending ISHS international events elsewhere have agreed on the need for a specific African event on horticulture: a need for valorizing experiences and achievements through research projects and case studies, a need for expressing constraints and expectations, a needs for coordinating efforts and prospective strategies.

Additional thoughts and debates amongst horticultural stakeholders have convinced them that the whole value chain should be highlighted at the Congress, offering a unique and regular opportunity for deep and direct exchanges between the diverse partners: academic institutions, public research and development organizations, and business actors who include all types of farmers.

The themes of this congress will focus broadly on Horticulture for improving livelihoods in Africa, through:

* Food security
* Health
* Environment
* Poverty alleviation/wealth creation
* International horticultural trade.

The Congress will be held at the Safari Park Hotel, Nairobi, Kenya, from 31 August to 3 September 2009 under the auspices of ISHS and the Global Horticulture Initiative. The programme will be conducted through plenary sessions, moderated discussion fora, exhibitions, seminars in parallel sessions and field visits.

More information available here

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