New Consultancy- Nutrition Information Specialist, WCARO

Job Number: 520768 | Vacancy Link

Locations: Africa: Senegal

Work Type : Consultancy

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, a future

Background

Malnutrition remains a global public problem. According to the 2017 Global Nutrition Report, 155 million children are stunted, 52 million are wasted and 88% of the countries assessed face a serious burden of two or three forms of malnutrition – stunting in children, overweight in adult women and anaemia in women of reproductive age. In WCARO, the prevalence of stunting at 33.5% is higher than 23% in the world. In terms of stunted children, WCARO accounts for 28 million (18.1%) of the stunted children in the world (155 million).

UNICEF in its Core Commitments for Children prioritizes establishment of timely nutritional assessment and surveillance systems and children and women have access to relevant information about nutrition programme activities. Quality data on the nutritional situation and programming, as well as nutrition-relevant investments is vital for decision-making and informing programme and policy adjustment to more effectively meet the needs of children and women

In WCARO, major efforts have been undertaken over the past years to improve availability of the nutrition information. With support of UNICEF and its partners, National nutrition surveys (SMART, MICS, DHS) are implemented regularly every 2-3 years. In the Sahel countries, annual SMART surveys are part of the national and regional nutrition surveillance system for early warning. Countries have adapted the initial SMART toolkit developed in 2002 to their context and needs, especially with regards to digitalisation of tools. There is a need to map the existing tools used by the countries and capitalise on it to guide other countries and partners. On another hand, inclusion of additional indicators on infant and young child feeding practices, while recommended by the regional office, are not systematically implemented by countries. Need for harmonisation of indicators within SMART surveys therefore exists.

In addition to nutrition surveys, nutrition information system in most countries includes routine nutrition indicators, which are often not standardized and very limited in number. The recent adoption of DHIS2 in most countries represents an opportunity to revise the list of indicators to be considered in national health information system, including nutrition information. UNICEF has positioned itself as a proactive partner to support countries in this exercise. More particularly, WCARO-Nutrition Section has contributed to inclusion of relevant and innovative nutrition indicators into the revised national information system of several countries in 2018 (Burkina Faso, Benin, Liberia). With more and more countries adopting or planning to adopt DHIS2, there is a growing need to ensure that Nutrition information is appropriately captured.

How can you make a difference?

Objectives

The objective of the present consultancy is to support the Regional Office – Nutrition Section with management and harmonization of nutrition information among West and Central African (WCA) countries.

Specific objectives include:

Support conduction of quality nutrition surveys and use of related data in WCA countries

Strengthen national nutrition information system in WCA countries.

Scope of work

More specifically, the consultant will:

Support nutrition surveys (including SMART): preparation and conduction in countries. The person will ensure that quality surveys and reports are produced. He will travel to countries when needed. He will also support documentation of good practices on nutrition surveys, especially on e-survey methodologies applied. The person will also contribute to the development of a decision tree guiding the countries on how and when to conduct a nutrition survey or to include nutrition indicator into a food security or agriculture surveys.

Contribute to nutrition information strengthening, using DHIS2 system in countries. The consultant will support countries in selection of appropriate nutrition indicators, development of reporting tools, and design of relevant dashboards. The person will also contribute to the development of lessons learnt on inclusion of Nutrition information within DHIS2.

Deliverables and Schedules

Activities	Deliverables	Due date
Technical support to preparation, conduction and reporting of nutrition data – in all WCAR country with a focus on 5 Sahel countries (example of support expected: identification of consultant who will conduct the survey, check quality of data, support to analysis and reporting). Estimation: 5 countries supported; 15 days per country. 75days.	Reports describing support provided to countries and clear action points. The SMART regional database will be updated regularly, and raw data stored in appropriate location to allow for future analysis.	As needed – depending on the number of countries supported   30th of September
Document good practices on e-survey methodologies applied to SMART in WCAR. Estimation: 10 days.	Knowledge product: a report describing the different methodologies related to electronic supports applied to SMART in WCARO countries and outside of the region and clear recommendations.	30th of April
Support WCA countries with inclusion of nutrition sensitive and specific indicators into other surveys to maximize collection of nutrition information in countries. Estimation: 10 days.	Knowledge product: a document with a decision tree on how and when to conduct a nutrition survey or to include nutrition indicators into food security or agriculture surveys.	30th of June
Support to monitoring of nutrition data project in Burkina Faso with possible extension to other counties (example: Benin and Liberia). Estimation: 21 days (3 days per month).	–          Report describing level of support provided and progress made by countries. –          Knowledge product: Lessons learnt document on inclusion of nutrition information into DHIS2 in WCA countries.	30th of September.
Technical support to IPC and Cadre Harmonise: represent UNICEF WCARO during validation and consolidation workshops and other meetings as relevant. Estimation: 10 days.	A report describing major workshops/meetings outcomes and recommendations for future follow up.	31st of July.

Timing

The present contract will be for a duration of 7 months, part time, for a total of maximum 126 days.

Starting date: 01.03.2019

Reporting Requirements

Weekly call with the supervisor will be organized and minute. Monthly short reports describing progress made and support requested from supervisor will be provided by the consultant.

Administrative Issues

This assignment will be part-time and home-based, with travels to countries.

DSA and travel costs will be provided by UNICEF.

The consultant will use his own computer; an UNICEF email account will be created.

Bi weekly call with supervisor will be organised to discuss on progresses made and challenges faced.

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

 EDUCATION

At least a master degree in nutrition or public health or related field – or equivalent professional experience

WORK EXPERIENCE

At least 5 years of experience in in nutrition, public health and/or health surveys.

Experience in coordinating nutrition surveys with SMART methods

Previous solid experience in Cadre Harmonise or IPC conduction

Demonstrated skills in data management included non-nutrition specific data (health, wash, etc.), analysis and report writing of survey results

Proven training skills to develop capacities in personnel

Good understanding of the problems of malnutrition in the West and Central Africa

Technical competency with the Emergency Nutrition Assessment (ENA) software and other statistical analysis software such as SPSS, STATA, SAS, EPI-INFO.

LANGUAGES

Fluency in French and English.

COMPETENCIES

•        Ability to express clearly and concisely ideas and concepts in written and oral form.

•        Ability to work in a multicultural environment.

•        Proven skills in statistical analysis and report writing.

•        Work experience in sub-Saharan Africa; ideally in West and Central Africa

•        Work experience with major donors in the field of nutrition

•        Computer skills, including internet navigation and various office applications.

For every Child, a new idea

UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

The technical competencies required for this post are….

View our competency framework at  http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

“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. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.”

Remarks:

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Closing Date Fri Mar 29 2019 00:55:00 GMT+0100 (Afr. centrale Ouest)