International C4D Consultant (National Communication and Advocacy Strategy on Priority Nutrition Issues). Accra, Ghana

UNICEF Ghana seeks the services of a competent professional to work as International Communication for Development (C4D) Consultant for the finalization of the National Communication and Advocacy Strategy on Priority Nutrition Issues (breastfeeding, Complementary Feeding and Micronutrient). In addition the consultant will develop creative briefs and messages to support implementation of the strategy. This assignment will be for specific number of days spread within a period of 6 months and will be carried partly from consultant’s home place and partly in Ghana as will be specified in the work plan. Only non-Ghanaians are eligible to apply.

If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world's leading children's rights organization would like to hear from you.

For 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children's survival, protection and development. The world's largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments.

Background

Benefits of appropriate infant feeding are enormous including potential for improving child survival. For example growing evidence points to the impact of early initiation of breastfeeding on neonatal mortality. A 2006 study in rural Ghana showed that early initiation within the first hours of birth could prevent 22% of neonatal deaths, and initiation within the first day, 16% of deaths. Appropriate Breastfeeding support and promotion and complementary feeding are among key recommended strategies to ensure good child nutrition. According to DHS 2014 in Ghana, 52% of children are exclusively breastfed (up from 46 per cent in 2011, and only 13% children 6-23 months who receive minimum acceptable diet. This implies that more efforts have to be done to sustain, increase and accelerate exclusive breastfeeding rate and proper complementary feeding.

However some recent studies provide indication of challenges to appropriate infant feeding practices including exclusive breastfeeding. Such limitations include low knowledge about benefits of exclusive breastfeeding, inappropriate practices primarily because of conflicting messages from different sources, very selective dissemination of key messages, and other environmental factors such as socio-cultural practices that are inimical to child feeding and care practices, increasing demand on caregivers' time due to rapid urbanization, pressure from mother-in-laws among others. Taking social and behavior change practices on appropriate breastfeeding and complementary feeding to scale would impact positively child nutrition.

Additionally, the low levels of consumption of Vitamin A and iron rich foods contributes to micronutrient deficiencies. Anemia prevalence rate among children 6-59 months is about 66 percent and 42 percent of women are anemic. Iron deficiency is one of the major causes of anemia. Iron deficiencies affect cognitive development of children. Severe vitamin A deficiency (VAD) can cause eye damage and is the leading cause of childhood blindness. VAD also increases the severity of infections and slows recovery from illness.

With support from UNICEF, Ghana Health Service has developed a framework for the communication for behavior and social change strategy. For Vitamin A and iron folate supplementation the there is no C4D strategy at present and the framework needs to be developed. This consultancy requires incorporations of new findings from formative studies on breastfeeding and complementary feeding, and social norms study while developing the narrative of the C4D strategy further support will also be required to develop the creative brief, key messages and support the implementation of the C4D strategy for Exclusive Breastfeeding and Complementary feeding. Additionally, the consultant will also have to develop a C4D strategy for Vitamin A and iron folate supplementation and Micronutrient Powders, develop the creative brief, key messages and then support the creative process.

 Objectives

1. Exclusive Breastfeeding and Complementary Feeding

• Finalize the C4D planning matrices for Breastfeeding and complementary feeding
• Develop a narrative and key messages for the C4D strategy on Breastfeeding and complementary feeding
• Finalize the C4D strategy with information from the social norms study
• Develop a creative brief and terms of reference for the creative agency
• Guide the selected agency in the development of the creative materialsMicronutrient Rich Sources
•  
• Develop a C4D strategy to promote appropriate intake of Vitamin A, Iron Folate supplements and Micronutrient Powders among the key target population.
• Finalize the C4D planning matrices for Vitamin A and Iron Folate supplementation and Micronutrient Powders
• Develop a narrative and key messages for the C4D strategy to promote intake of Vitamin A, iron folate Supplements and Micronutrient Powder
• Develop a creative brief and terms of reference for the creative agency
• Develop creative materials

Specific Tasks

Exclusive breastfeeding and Complementary feeding

• Incorporate findings from formative study on Infant Feeding Practices into the draft C4D framework on breastfeeding and complementary feeding
• Review the existing communication strategy matrix on breastfeeding and complementary feeding and finalise it based on discussions with partners and UNICEF
• Develop a reader-friendly narrative C4D strategy to support the C4D planning matrices
• Develop a conceptual framework showing clearly how activities contribute to achieve objectives
• Based on findings from the social norms study , further improve the context and the strategic framework and finalise the C4D strategy
• Determine appropriate communication theory for the communication strategy on breastfeeding and complementary feeding and food supplements and develop appropriate brand model and approaches to grow the breastfeeding and complementary feeding brands
• Develop a creative brief and TOR to recruit a creative agency to work on the national level campaign
• Draw up an implementation plan, including activities, partners' roles and responsibilities, timeline, budget, and management plan.
• Develop key messages on exclusive breastfeeding, complementary feeding
• Develop a monitoring and evaluation plan for the C4D strategy

Micronutrient Rich Sources

• Develop appropriate C4D strategies for food supplements: Vitamin A for children 6-59 months, iron and folate for adolescent girls and menstruating women and Micronutrient Powders for children 6-23 months.
• Develop a conceptual framework showing clearly how activities contribute to achieve objectives
• Develop a creative brief and TOR to recruit a creative agency to work on the national/ regional level campaign
• Draw up an implementation plan, including activities, partners' roles and responsibilities, timeline, budget, and management plan.
• Develop key messages on Vitamin A and iron folate supplementation and Micronutrient Powder
• Develop a monitoring and evaluation plan for the C4D strategy

 Methodology

1. An initial period of 10-25 days in country (approximately);

• Meet with partners and finalise the strategy matrices for Exclusive Breastfeeding and Complementary feeding
• Commence work on the reader friendly narrative strategy and key messages
• Develop the creative brief and TOR for the engagement of a creative agency and to develop the campaign.
• Co-facilitate the C4D strategy development workshop for Vitamin A , Iron-Folate and Micronutrient Powder
• Finalise the strategy matrices together with the partners for Vitamin A, Iron, Folate and Micronutrient Powder. Work from home location 10-15 days (approximately);
• Finalise the strategy matrixes (including information from the social norms study) and the narrative report
• Finalise the comments and feedback on the narrative report and the strategy matrixes and key messages for Exclusive breastfeeding and complementary feeding
• Finalise the C4D strategies and key messages for Vitamin A, Iron folate and Micronutrient Powder and submit for final approval
• Develop the creative brief and TOR for review and approval for Exclusive Breast feeding and Complementary feeding
• Develop the creative brief and TOR for review and approval for vitamin A, Iron folate and Micronutrient Powder.In-country support for a period of 30-45 days (approximately)
• Work on creative products and material for Vitamin A , Iron folate and Micronutrient Powder
• Work from home location 5 -10 days (approximately)
• Finalise the monitoring plans and all other documentation.

Expected Deliverables

        The following deliverables are expected to be achieved:

• Duration and timeframe

The assignment is expected to be completed within a period of a maximum of 95 working (number of days could also be less) days spread over six months: from 1^st March 2017 to 31^st September 2017.

• Expected background and Experience

 Advanced university degree in Social/behavioral sciences (Sociology, Anthropology, Psychology, community-based development) or in a related field with emphasis on participatory communication, communication planning, social mobilization, and participatory research, training and impact evaluation of communication interventions.

• A minimum of 8 years' experience in designing and implementing in marketing communication and social behavior change promotion.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Knowledge of current developments in the fields of communication theory, adult learning theory, indigenous media, community organization and participation.

To view our competency framework, please click here. 

Please attach a one page summary of your approach to the tasks together with samples of previous work done on development of communication strategy and updated P11 Form.  Also confirm your ability, availability and daily fee/rate (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference.  All travel costs related to this assignment will be borne by UNICEF.  Applications submitted without fee rate will not be considered.

• UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organisation.