UNICEF recruits 01 International Consultant
International Consultant-Nutrition survey using SMART methodology
Job Number: 523764 | Vacancy Link
Locations: Africa: Cameroon
Work Type : Consultancy
International Consultant-Nutrition survey using SMART methodology (Cameroon)
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.
BACKGROUND
Chronic malnutrition remains one of the major public health problems in Cameroon. According to MICS 2014, 31.7% of children under five suffer from chronic malnutrition across the country. The highest prevalence was observed in four regions (Adamawa, East, Far North and North). For global acute malnutrition, prevalence at the national level is 5.2% among children aged 6-59 months. However, this globally acceptable situation hides important regional disparities. The results of the latest SMART survey in 2018 for global acute malnutrition (GAM) showed an alert situation in the Far North (9.7%) and a precarious situation in the north (5.9%). The East and Adamawa regions had rates lower than 5%. For severe acute malnutrition (SAM), almost all the regions (except the East) were on alert with a prevalence close to the emergency threshold in Adamawa (1.7%). UNICEF estimates that nearly 190,000 children under five will suffer from acute malnutrition in Cameroon’s four vulnerable regions in 2019 (63,000 children with SAM and about 136,000 with MAM).
The populations of Cameroon, in these 4 regions, suffer the impacts of a triple humanitarian crisis related to the conflicts in the Lake Chad Basin, and in the Central African Republic, as well as chronic vulnerability leading to elevated levels of food insecurity and malnutrition. The nutritional situation in the 4 regions is due to transient food insecurity (due to the effects of climate change, drought and floods and poor access to food due to impoverishment of households and the closing of borders), the incidence of infectious diseases (cholera, malaria, diarrhea, etc.), inadequate infant and young child feeding practices, and inadequate hygiene and sanitation.
The evidence obtained from the SMART surveys is used in decision-making to improve nutrition responses. These data are also used for the monitoring of the nutritional situation and provide better guidance for nutritional interventions, paying attention to high-risk areas.
OBJECTIVES
The overall objective of the consultancy is to assess the nutritional status of children aged 0 to 59 months and women with children aged (15 – 49 years) in the regions of Adamawa, East, North and Far North.
Specific Objectives Are As Follows
Estimate the prevalence of acute malnutrition (global, moderate and severe) in children aged 6 to 59 months;
Estimate the prevalence of chronic malnutrition and underweight (global, moderate and severe) in children aged 0-59 months;
Estimate the prevalence of acute malnutrition (PB <210 mm) in women with children age (15-49 years);
Evaluate the coverage of vitamin A supplementation and deworming in children aged 6 to 59 months after 6 months preceding the survey;
Estimate gross retrospective mortality rate and death rate for children under 5 years of age;
Evaluate infant and young child feeding practices in children aged 0 – 23 months.
ACTIVITIES, DELIVERABLES AND TIMELINE
The activities will be spread out during the period from June 1st to September 30th, 2019 according to the breakdown presented below.
Activities
Prior discussions with INS and MINEPAT on the methodology and sampling to be used.
Meeting with the survey partners (INS, BUCREP, MINSANTE, UNHCR) and the steering committee.
Proposal of a government capacity building plan.
Finalization of the survey protocol, the budget and the chronogram.
Recruitment of all the human resources needed for the survey, in collaboration with the technical committee.
Finalization of survey tools:
Training of surveyors and survey supervisors.
Supervision / Coordination of data collection.
Preliminary analysis of the data.
Analysis and interpretation of results from the survey with technical committee members.
Coordination with the NSI for the validation of the results and the statistical visa.
Drafting of the final report and presentation of the results to the steering committee.
Expected Deliverables
Survey protocol validated by the steering committee – after 4 weeks
Finalized collection tools (questionnaires, material, standardization sheets, …), list of teams in charge of field collection, Pre-test report
Field collection report – after 13 weeks
Preliminary report
Databases and final report of the survey according to the standard SMART model – after 17 weeks
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
University degree with a minimum level of Bac + 5 in the field of Nutrition, Public Health or any other recognized field or equivalent.
At least 05 years of experience in Nutrition and Public Health;
Very good knowledge of SMART methodology and large-scale survey coordination;
Good conceptual and analytical skills;
Good report writing skills;
Fluency in French is required. Knowledge in English will be considered an asset.
Ability to work and facilitate discussions with multiple partners;
Be able to work under pressure with the constraint of producing quality results in a very short time;
Be able to work in difficult situations, especially in terms of security;
Demonstrate a good knowledge of computer tools, word processing and email software as well as data entry software (Epi-Info, Epi-Data,) and data analysis software (ENA, Epi-Info INFO, SPSS, SAS)
Good mastery of data collection and analysis on smartphone and use of open source software (ODK, Kobo …)
CONDITIONS OF WORK
The Consultant will have a dedicated workspace in the UNICEF office and will travel to the field according to the team deployment plan and the supervision plan agreed with the supervisors and the technical committee of the survey.
The Consultant must fulfil all the administrative formalities required by the Organization and applicable to staff under special services contract (visa search, etc.).
The consultant should have his own laptop with appropriate software for data collection and analysis.
Travel cost will be provided by the consultant. This must be included in the financial offer.
The consultant will have to justify a personal health insurance.
EVALUATION CRITERIA
Technical Proposals Should Attain a Minimum Of 50 Points To Qualify And To Be Considered
A two-stage procedure will be utilized in evaluating the applications received in accordance to the below criteria, with evaluation of the technical proposal being completed prior to any price proposal being compared. Submitted applications will be assessed using Cumulative Analysis Method.
Please submit separately a financial offer and a technical proposal:
Technical proposal (Maximum technical score: 70 points)
Overall Response : Maximum 10 points
Understanding of scope, objectives and completeness and coherence of response
Overall match between the ToR requirements and proposal
Proposed Methodology and Approach: Maximum 20 points
Quality of proposed approach/methodology
Quality of proposed Implementation Plan, i.e. how the consultant will undertake each task, and maintenance of project schedules;
Technical Capacity : Maximum 40 points
Range and depth of experience with similar assessments
Knowledge of the latest developments in the field of nutrition
Strong analytical skills and qualitative and/or quantitative statistical data processing applications
Excellent communication, report writing and presentation skills
Financial Proposal (Maximum Financial Score: 30 points)
The Financial Proposal Should Contain The Following Information
Fee for services to be provided – based on the deliverables in the Terms of Reference
Wherever possible, indicate the itemized cost of the travel (air tickets etc.) if an international consultation, and subsistence costs for your stay in the country.
The maximum number of points will be allotted to the lowest Financial Proposal that is evaluated and compared among those technical qualified candidates who have attained a minimum 50 points in the technical evaluation. Other Financial Proposals will receive points in inverse proportion to the lowest price
Note: Please submit the Technical and Financial proposals SEPARATELY.
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
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 Tue Jul 16 2019 23:55:00 GMT+0100 (Afr. centrale Ouest)