National Consultancy: Development of the Nutrition Sensitive Social Protection training materials (Open to Malawian Nationals Only)

The consultant will lead the process of developing the training materials for central and district level government officials with the guidance from the Department of Nutrition, introduce the NSSP-OF in the selected district, roll out the training in consultation with PRSP, DN, SCTP and PWP (2 months), provide supportive supervision to district officials during its rollout with SCTP and CS-EPWP (9 months) and provide input to the development of NSSP module in the SCTP management information system (MIS). At the conclusion of the rollout, the consultant is expected to document the lessons learnt – successes and bottlenecks in implementation - as part of an operational capacity assessment of the NSSP-OF.

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, protection...

Social protection can play a key role in tackling malnutrition by offering families additional income through cash transfers, which can be used to purchase more nutritious foods while increasing access to services.  There is good evidence globally that, by increasing family incomes, social protection schemes can have positive impacts on malnutrition. When recipients of social protection access additional nutrition-sensitive support – including both services and knowledge – to address the multiple underlying causes of malnutrition, the impacts of the transfers are likely to be enhanced. This can be in the form of providing additional services to the recipients of social protection programmes – often known as ‘cash-plus’ programming – or by enabling recipients to access existing nutrition services. Multiple evidence reviews have found that delivering transfers alongside additional interventions can lead to positive impacts on child nutrition.

Building on the results of the Food Security and Nutrition – Inter-Agency Social Protection Assessment (FSN-ISPA) Country Report and the mid-term review of the MNSSP II, a Nutrition Sensitive Social Protection Operational Framework (NSSP-OF) was developed in 2023 under the overall supervision of Ministry of Finance Poverty Reduction and Social Protection (PRSP) Division and the Ministry of Health Department of Nutrition (DN).  The Operational Framework sits in the nexus between the National Multi-Sector Nutrition Policy and the National Social Protection Policy and aims to operationalize nutrition-sensitive social protection strategies articulated in both the National Multi-Sector Nutrition Strategy and the Malawi National Social Support Programme II.  There is, therefore, strong support from Government for nutrition-sensitive social protection as a component of a broader national strategy to tackle malnutrition and enhance the health of the nation.

How can you make a difference? 

The consultant is expected to:

1. Develop the training programme and materials for central and district level government officials in collaboration with SCTP, CS-EPWP and DN, based on the NSSP-OF.  This will include off-line data collection tools and reporting templates in Excel.
2. Support the identification of the district for the rollout and prepare the budget (based on the costed rollout plan in the Final Report)
3. Introduce the NSSP-OF at district level & conduct a practical training in the selected district (to include central level staff from SCTP, CS-EPWP and DN).
4. Provide supportive supervision, and mentor the PNHAO in the planning and implementation of the NSSP-OF, during the rollout. The supportive supervision will focus on the integration of the NSSP-OF within SCTP and CS-EPWP operations. 
5. Carry out an operational review, assessing the feasibility of the long-term systemic roll out of the NSSP-OF, whether the human resources at district level are sufficient, including the health, school and community platforms that are meant to provide nutrition services to SCTP beneficiaries, any changes required within SCTP and CS-PWP operational guidelines, required budget and lessons learnt.  This review should include a consultative workshop.  The report will highlight recommendations for the refinement of the NSSP-OF. 
6. Provide inputs to the IT consultants tasked with the development of the NSSP module into the SCTP MIS (the deliverable of the module will be part of the ToRs of an ICT consultancy firm).
7. Updated NSSP-OF document, that is approved by PRSP and DN.

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

Academic qualification:

• Advanced university degree in social protection, nutrition, social sciences, or related field. 

Work experience:

• A minimum of 10 years’ experience with either the UN and/or NGO, progressively responsible experience in coordination, assessments, design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of nutrition and/or social protection programmes.
• Experience required of working in the nutrition sector in Malawi, particulary with the Department of Nutrition at district level.

• Experience of providing direct technical assistance to government counterparts on district-level nutrition services is desired.

Technical skills, knowledge and strength areas:

• Knowledge of Malawi’s nutrition governance structure required.
• Technical expertise in communtity based nutrition services; experience of social protection desirable.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, and proven success in facilitating interagency processes to achieve a common goal is key.
• Ability to build trust, develop, and maintain effective working relationships with respect for diversity
• Commitment to the UNICEF’s values and guiding principles.
• Communicates effectively including: tailoring languages, tone, style, and format to match audiences; actively listens to perspectives of stakeholders and team members; interpreting messages and respond appropriately; speaking and writing clearly and efficient; and makes presentations in public with confidence.
• Conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines, and achieving results
• Excellent oral and written communications skills, as well as analytical skills, with an exemplary ability to identify problems and propose solutions.
• Strong interpersonal, teamwork, and self-management skills, as well as mature judgment.
• Ability to perform under pressure.

 Languages:  

• Excellent command of English, both verbal and written skills are required.
• Fluent Chichewa is essential.

Please refer to the attached full Terms of Reference  Terms of Reference_To develop Nutrition Sensitive Social Protection training material.pdf for more details on the consultancy and requirements.

For every Child, you demonstrate… 

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS).   

To view our competency framework, please visit  here.   

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment. 

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 be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check. 

HOW TO APPLY...

Interested Individual Consultant should provide the following:

1. Curriculum Vitae
2. Academic certificates
3. Brief technical proposal (no longer than five pages) demonstrating the Individual Consultant's understanding of the assignment and approach/methodology to the assignment
4. Financial proposal including a breakdown of their all-inclusive fees (including professional fees, stationery, communication, and other miscellaneous costs).  Financial Proposal for Consultancy.xlsx Complete the attached form.
5. References details from three most recent supervisors.

Remarks:  

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

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws. 

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.