Senior Nutrition Specialist for Nutrition, Health and Social Protection (PSNP) Linkages (International Consultant)

UNICEF is searching for an International Consultant to give strategic guidance and provide technical support in the implementation and monitoring & evaluation of the pilot nutrition PSNP linkages project, strengthen the linkages between social protection and health sector, document and analyze the lessons learned for program scale up and inform the National Social Protection Platform

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.

Purpose of the Assignment:

To give strategic guidance and provide technical support in the implementation and monitoring & evaluation of the pilot nutrition PSNP linkages project, strengthen the linkages between social protection and health sector, document and analyze the lessons learned for program scale up and inform the National Social Protection Platform

Assignment Tasks

 The specific task relate to the following themes for a total of 80 days from August 15 2017 to the 30^th of June 2018.

 Promoting linkages between safety nets and health insurance schemes (a total of 9 days)

• Disseminate the findings of the assessment of linkages between PSNP and CBH conducted by UNICEF:  

  • Discuss findings with NHIA, prepare  the workshop to be organized with FMOH, the SHIA and the MoLSA with donors from the HPN (4 days);
  • Present for donors of Health, Population and Nutrition network and act as resource person during workshop to be organized with EDRI and IFPRI (1 day)
  • Organize, facilitate and attend  a half day  workshop (1 day)
  • Incorporate the comments and the inputs gathered during the workshop in the final version of the assessment report and the policy brief (3 days).

Technical assistance during the implementation of the Integrated Nutrition and Social Cash Transfer (15 days):

• Provide technical guidance related to the impact evaluation endline survey of the Integrated Nutrition and Social Cash Transfer in SNNP. This will include detailed reviewing of the evaluation approach, interview guides, questionnaires and relevant reports (7 days);
• Provide input on the progress of the activities related to donor reports (3 days)

• Participate in relevant UNICEF internal meetings on the IN-SCT (5 days)

  Support policy discussions and ensure further capacity development of relevant NSSP sand PSNP stakeholders  on the linkages between social protection, nutrition and the health sector (51 days in total)

• Provide technical guidance for the preparation and implementation of the joint GOE/DP PSNP Nutrition Task Force meetings and report on the progress of the IN-SCT (13 days).
• Provide technical guidance on linkages between the PSNPP and the health sector during selected PSNP Donor Working Group meetings, the bi-annual joint PSNP Implementation Support and Review missions  and various other technical meetings at federal and regional level (16 days)
• During review of selected PSNP related documents, ensure that the nutrition and GSD related linkages and/or issues are considered, and provide guidance on how this can be improved (5 days)
• Support the PSNP Mid Term Review in order to promote and to advocate for further nutrition linkages with PSNP (9 days)

• Strengthen the capacity of and provide technical advice to the National Social Protection Platform with focus on linking safety net clients (PSNP and UPSNP) with health and nutrition services, as well as health insurance (8 days) 

Produce 3 progress reports and one final  report including recommendations for UNICEF (5 days)

 Expected Deliverables:

• A first set of deliverables related to the inputs provided between August and October 2017. They include i) final report on the complementarity between PSNP and CBHI which incorporate comments and inputs gathered during the workshop, the social protection platform presentation, the HPN presentation and during the presentation of the research paper  disseminated with IFPRI and EDRI; ii) the final policy brief on linkages between PSNP and CBHI;  iii) a first progress report related to the technical input provided for the preparation and implementation of the PSNP MTR as well as PSNP DWG, PSNP NTF, social protection forum  and technical inputs and technical assistance to IN-SCT internal meetings,  and  IN-SCT impact evaluation reports (27 days)
• The second deliverable relates to technical inputs delivered between November 2017  to January  2018   and include a progress report related to attendance and presentation to PSNP MTR as well as regular meetings of PSNP DWG, PSNP NTF; technical inputs and technical assistance to IN-SCT internal meetings,  and  IN-SCT impact evaluation preparation (17 days)
• The third deliverable relates to the technical support provided between February and April 2018 and includes a progress report related to attendance and technical inputs to PSNP DWG, PSNP NTF meetings and Social Protection Platform and on technical inputs and technical assistance to IN-SCT internal meetings,  and  IN-SCT impact evaluation reports from February  to April 2018 (18 days)
• The fourth deliverable relates to the technical support provided between May and June 2018 and includes a final report which provides an overview of the technical assistance related to attendance and technical inputs to PSNP DWG, PSNP NTF meetings and Social Protection Platform and on technical inputs and technical assistance to IN-SCT internal meetings, and IN-SCT impact evaluation report. The final progress report will also include recommendations for UNICEF  (18 days)

 Qualifications of Successful Candidate:

Education:

• Advanced degree in social policy/development studies, nutrition/public health, or food security/agriculture.

Years of relevant experience

• At least 15 years of professional work experience, in areas of social policy, food security, agriculture or nutrition at national and international levels in development context.
• In-depth understanding of the Nutrition, Food security and PSNP programs with UN, INGOs or other development agencies in developing countries.
• Proven track record of working in social protection, food security and nutrition programmes in Ethiopia
• Proven track record and knowledge of existing administrative and political food and nutrition security bodies in Ethiopia in support of nutrition on the continent and in their mandates and competencies is an asset.

Competencies and attributes:

• Knowledge of latest issues, development and trends in social protection, nutrition security, food security, emergency, human rights, and related issues.
• Strong facilitation and management, monitoring and evaluation skills
• Leadership, versatility, judgment, maturity, ability to work in a team, copes under stressful and difficult conditions, and political and cultural sensitivity.
• Ability to communicate clearly and provide organizational leadership in crisis situations
• Strong analytical and presentation skills.

• Fluency in English, including writing and editing skills

  General Conditions: Procedures and Logistics

• The Staff will have access to UNICEF’s materials, i.e. computer,, office supplies, etc.
• The Staff will be authorized to have access to UNICEF transport to see the actual field implementation in UNICEF supported nutrition woredas.
• The staff will be paid upon delivery of the various deliverables and DSA when travelling to the field as per the organization rate

 To view our competency framework, please click here. 

Please indicate your ability, availability and daily/monthly rate (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference above (including travel and daily subsistence allowance, if applicable).  Applications submitted without a daily/monthly 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 organization.