UNICEF recruits 01 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 fair chance

Uganda is one of the over 190 countries and territories around the world where we work to overcome the obstacles that poverty, violence, disease, and discrimination place in a child’s path. Together with the Government of Uganda and partners we work towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals, the objectives of the Uganda National Development Plan, and the planned outcomes of the United Nations Development Assistance Framework.

Visit this link for more information on Uganda Country Office https://www.unicef.org/uganda/

How can you make a difference?

Under the supervision of the Nutrition Specialist (Governance) the consultant will provide technical support to the Office of the Prime Minister to coordinate the implementation of the Uganda Nutrition Action Plan by supporting Sectors and Local Governments to effectively coordinate the implementation of the Multi-Sectoral Nutrition actions.

Background

Although Uganda has made tremendous progress in reducing the number of people living below the poverty line, its progress in reducing undernutrition remains slow partly due to its multiple causes. According to UDHS 2016, an estimated 29% of children below 5 years of age are stunted or too short for their age. Wasting affects 4% of children in the same age category and approximately 1% suffer from Severe Acute Malnutrition. Micronutrient deficiencies of iron and vitamin A are also widespread among children and women of reproductive age. Five out of every ten children (53%) under the age of five and three out of every ten (32%) women are anemic.

Malnutrition affects all regions of the country but variation and similarities exist, with Karamoja (35.2%), West Nile (33.9%), Acholi (30.6%) and Lango (22.3%) having some of the highest prevalence rates for stunting. In addition, for Karomoja and West Nile, similar patterns are seen for wasting, each standing at 10%, respectively. Aside from stunting, all these regions have a high prevalence of anemia among children and women of reproductive age with minimal differences between them. Standing at 71%, Acholi has the highest prevalence of anemia among children below the age of 5 years and 47% in women of reproductive age. Anemia prevalence among children under five stands at 67.7%, 61.0% and 56.4% respectively for Karamoja, Lango and West Nile regions. The prevalence of anemia among women stands at 39.4% in Lango, 39.6% in West Nile and 32.0% in Karamoja regions.

If not timely addressed, malnutrition stifles learning outcomes for pupils and students, reduces the individual productivity of a worker and causes illnesses and diseases. This makes malnutrition one of Uganda’s most fundamental challenges for human development.

The government of Uganda is in the process of finalizing the first ever multi-sectoral National Nutrition Policy (2019-2025) with its attendant Action Plan, the UNAP II (2019-2025). The Action plan has clearly identified priority interventions, hence defining the framework for multi-sectoral nutrition implementation for Uganda.

UNICEF is one of the key partners supporting GoU to scale up nutrition interventions as outlined in the UNAP (Uganda Nutrition Action Plan).  UNICEF supports planning, implementation and monitoring of nutrition actions at National and district levels.

UNICEF with support from the European Union under the DINU (Development Initiative for Northern Uganda) project is supporting an action focused on strengthening nutrition governance for improved nutrition outcomes for children and women in 15 districts of Northern Uganda (Moroto, Abim, Kaabong, Amudat, Napak, Pader, Moyo, Yumbe, Adjumani, Nebbi, Koboko, Omoro, Zombo, Otuke and Kole).

The joint UNICEF/EU Action (2018/2021) will contribute to the operationalization of the Uganda Nutrition Action Plan II (UNAP II) as well as the National Development Plan . Within this framework, UNICEF Uganda will strengthen the capacity of the Government of Uganda to facilitate multi-sectoral coordination and actions. This will be achieved by promoting a multi-stakeholder evidence-based dialogue aimed at increasing the level, effectiveness and efficiency of investments in priority nutrition actions.

The Joint UNICEF/EU action has 3 result areas;

Result 1. Improved capacity of multi-sectoral nutrition coordination structures at district level to coordinate, plan, cost, monitor and mobilize resources for nutrition actions

Result 2. Improved capacity of sectors – Health, Agriculture, Education, Water and Sanitation, and Gender and Social Development – to plan, budget, implement at scale and monitor nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive interventions at district level

Result 3. Enhanced capacity of district governments to inform their programming based on data collection and analysis

Since February 2017, UNICEF has provided support to OPM through a consultant for day to day coordination of the UNAP implementation. Alot has been achieved in the areas of coordination and partnership, district-level support supervision and monitoring, policy development, district action planning, learning and experience sharing at national and district level and development of capacity building tools for nutrition governance, among other achievements. The consultant also has to be very instrumental in providing technical support to the 15 DINU districts to develop Multi-sectoral Nutrition action Plans at district, subcounty, minicipal, Town council/Division levels . While this support has resulted into strengthening of the UNAP secretariat functions, an additional eleven months engagement is still required to further strength the role of the UNAP Secretariat, as per mandate. For 2019 going forward , the UNAP secretariat is tasked with facilitating the process of finalization and implementation of the new policy and strategic plan (UNAP II ) and given the limited Human resource within the secretariat, this calls for continued technical assistance to the department of Strategic Coordination and Implementation at OPM to move the nutrition forward .

To be able to deliver on the 3 results above at national and local government  level   will require additional technical assistance to the Office of the Prime Minister. UNICEF proposes to recruite an  individual consultant to support the process.

 Key Tasks: 

1. Support and facilitate National level multi-sectoral nutrition coordination efforts

• Prepare, facilitate and report on the implementation of the Joint annual  UNAP Nutrition Workplan  for 2019/2020
• Facilitate the process of  stakeholder consultation and validation of the RIA (Regulatory Impact Assessment) the National  Nutrition Policy. This to include preparation of meetings agenda, participant invitation letters, development of concept notes and summary briefs on the process)
• Facilitate the process of validation and dissemination of  UNAP II and its attendant Monitoring and Evaluation Plan.
• Support and provide guidance to sectors to  build capacity in nutrition goverance for effective implementaion of the UNAP at sectoral level
• Provide suport to sector Nutrition Focal Persons  in order to  enhance  functionality of  sector  Nutrition Coordination Committees
• Bi-annually  update the nutrition stakeholder profile by both government and other players at national level
• Facilitate the various Multi Sectral Nutrition  Technical Committee to meet on a regular basis.
• Function as focal person to liaise with the various UNAP nutrition coordination stakeholder structures (Nutrition Development Partner`s Group, Civil Society Network, Academic and Research Institutions Network and the Businessnetwork  civil society, academia and private sector)  in develoopment of  development of an information-sharing and planning/calendar of events
• Organise and coordinate nutrition stakeholder participation in Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Joint Annual Assessment (JAA)   exercise
• Faciliiate the dissemination  of Standard  Operating procedures (SOPs) for Sectors  and UNAP networks
• Provide technical support to review and dissemination of the stakeholder mapping and capacity assessment process for Uganda.

 

2. Improved capacity of multi-sectoral nutrition coordination structures at district level to coordinate, plan, cost, monitor and mobilize resources for nutrition actions

• Facilitate the process of  finalization and dissemination of the DNAPs widely among all stakeholders in the district.
• Provide support to  Nutrition Governance Consultants  in the district to provide technical support to the DINU districts to effectively coordinate the implementation of the Multi-Sectoral Nutrition actions  at decentralized level.
• Provide supervision and mentorship to DNCCs in the area of nutrition governance
• Support the alignment of DNAPs into the DDPs for 2019-2025 (District Development Plans).
• Facilitate the process of approval of DNAPs by district councils.

 

3. Improved capacity of sectors – Health, Agriculture, Education, Water and Sanitation, and Gender and Social Development – to plan, budget, implement at scale and monitor nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive interventions at district level

• Strengthen capacities of local governments for integrated performance-based planning, budgeting and implementation of multi-sectoral nutrition interventions by closely working with Ministry of Local Government to fast track review of the PBB (Program Based Budgeting) system to intergrate nutrition indicators. This should include working close (e.g. preparing workshop materials, participating in TWGs and developing brief updates on the process)
• Closely work with Ministry of local government to intiate review and advocacy of Human resource reforms for Nutrition. ( to include facilitating advocacy workshops for Principal HR officers, CAOs, department heads etc ) in the DINU districts.
• Support development of training packages on nutrition governance- (planning, budgeting,monitoring).   To include technical support during the development process. Generate Zero draft training manuals, faciliate workshops for the development of the materials, validation of the packages and conduct Training of trainers.

4 .0 Enhanced capacity of district governments to inform their programming based on data collection and analysis

• Closely work with NIPN project to support generation of technical/policy briefs from the DINU districts
• Closely work with the NIPN project to leverage for intergration of nutrition indicators in the EMIS,AMIS as well as review support to MGLSD for development of a robust system
• Prepare quarterly progress reports on status of   implementation of Nutrition Goverance actions using the Nutrition Coordination Functionality score card

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

• Advanced degree in Nutrition, Food Security, Public Health or Agriculture, Economics, Social Sciences with a post-Graduate Diploma in Project Planning and Management
• At least 10 years of professional experience in the nutrition field, a good knowledge and understanding of multi-sector nutrition approach is an asset.
• Previous experience in planning and implementing national nutrition or other multi-sectoral programmes in Government or development partner fields,
• At least 5 years of professional experience in managing programmes and policy processes; at regional, country, district levels
• Experience in guiding policy processes and advocacy at national /subnational level;
• Experience in facilitating multi-partner and multi-sector working groups in national settings
• Field experience at national and sub-national level work environments with good working knowledge of UNAP implementation at de-centralized and National Level being an added advantage
• Proven experience and skills in programme management and strategic planning
• Proven ability to strengthen capacity of national and sub-national counterparts and partners
• Excellent communications and interpersonal skills; Ability to influence and inter-act with senior- level decision-makers across different organisations; Capacity to act with credibility, tact and diplomacy on sensitive issues and topics; Experience in change management
• Proven skills in strong analytical and problem-solving skills;
• Excellent written and oral communication skills;
• Effective organizational skills; high drive for results;
• High commitment;
• Teamwork and strong interpersonal and intercultural skills;
• Computer literacy especially with Excel and database management is required.
• Desirable:
• Knowledge of the SUN movement and the UNAP;
• Understanding of issues and challenges in the areas of nutrition and food security.
• Understanding of the Uganda policy environment, an added advantage

For every Child, you demonstrate…

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

The 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:

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