UNICEF Sierra Leone is seeking a national consultant to complete a baseline study for the Joint United Nations Nutrition Programme to improve climate resilience, food and nutrition s security in Bombali, Kailahun, Kenema, and Moyamba districts.
UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.
At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.
UNICEF is a place where careers are built. We offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture., coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.
Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.
For every child, the right to [insert tagline]
[Include information about the country/specific programme. Ideally include a link to a video]
How can you make a difference?
Objective 1: Assess the adoption of Climate-Smart Nutrition sensitive Agriculture Practices, livestock production and food processing, preservation and food safety: To establish baseline levels of household Climate Smart Agriculture, livestock production and/or food processing, preservation and food safety as well as resilience to climate shocks and vulnerability in selected chiefdoms within the four target districts.
Objective 2: Assess Access, Utilization and Quality of Nutrition-Specific and Nutrition-Sensitive Services: To establish baseline levels of coverage, utilization, quality and equity of essential nutrition, health, WASH, and SBCC services at community and facility levels in selected chiefdoms within the four target districts.
Objective 3: Assess Governance, Coordination, Advocacy and Enabling Environment: To assess baseline levels of multi-sectoral nutrition and food systems coordination mechanisms, and governance systems for nutrition, food systems and climate resilience at district and sub-national levels.
If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: 
VA TOR - Baseline Study for Joint United Nations Nutrition Programme.pdf
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
Minimum requirements:
- Education: Advanced university degree in Agriculture, Economics, Food Security, Food Systems, Climate Change, Public Health Nutrition, International Development or Statistics
- Work Experience: At least 7 years of relevant work experience in in conducting baseline/evaluations or other studies or surveys with specific experience in climate resilience, food and nutrition security studies and or evaluations. The consultant should have a track record managing multi-partner assignments and delivering on time/budget in fragile or climate affected contexts as well as having ethics and safeguarding policies covering human subjects research, informed consent, data protection, and “do no harm,” consistent with UN evaluation norms. The consultant should demonstrate prior experience working with UN agencies and government partners in Sierra Leone or similar contexts.
- Skills (optional):
- Baseline/Evaluation study design expertise applying OECD DAC criteria (relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, impact, sustainability, coherence) and mixed methods designs (quasi experimental/experimental where feasible, contribution/causal analysis otherwise).
- Sampling & statistics (power calculations; stratified multi stage designs; weighting; non response adjustments).
- Quantitative survey methods relevant to food & nutrition security (e.g., anthropometry per SMART, diet quality indicators, HDDS, FCS, MDD W, IYCF, FIES) and household modules (assets, shocks, climate exposure, WASH).
- Qualitative methods (KII, FGD, outcome mapping, Most Significant Change) for context, gender, and systems insights; triangulation plans per UNEG/ OECD DAC quality standards. [unodc.org], [oecd.org]
- Climate analytics capacity in climate risk profiling; linking exposure to hazards with food security and nutrition outcomes.
- Data quality assurance (pilot testing, enumerator training & standardization for anthropometry, field supervision, back checks, real time dashboards) per OECD DAC quality control principles.
- Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required.
For every Child, you demonstrate...
UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values
The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…
(1) Builds and maintains partnerships
(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness
(3) Drive to achieve results for impact
(4) Innovates and embraces change
(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity
(6) Thinks and acts strategically
(7) Works collaboratively with others
Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.
UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.
UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.
UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). 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 based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. 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, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.
UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.
Remarks:
As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.
UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable female candidates are encouraged to apply.
Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.
UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.
All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.
Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.