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International Consultant - Cost of Diet Analysis, Nutrition Section, Islamabad, Pakistan

Islamabad

  • Organization: UNICEF - United Nations Children’s Fund
  • Location: Islamabad
  • Grade: Consultancy - International Consultant - Internationally recruited Contractors Agreement
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Public Health and Health Service
    • Nutrition
  • Closing Date: Closed

The overall purpose of the proposed assignment is to understand the causes and behaviors with regard to sub optimal feeding and to explore the acceptability and economic feasibility of possible options to reduce stunting levels and associated mortality and morbidity rates.

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.

For every child, change lives

Purpose of the Assignment

The overall purpose of the proposed assignment is to understand the causes and behaviors with regard to sub optimal feeding and to explore the acceptability and economic feasibility of possible options to reduce stunting levels and associated mortality and morbidity rates.

Background

The National Nutrition Surveys and Pakistan Demographic and Health Surveys conducted over the last few decades show deteriorating situation of malnutrition among children and women. The National Nutrition Survey 2011 shows that an estimated 44 percent children under the age of five year are stunted and Pakistan ranks 3rd in global burden of chronic malnutrition. Globally 165 million children under the age of five year are stunted and 80 percent of these live in 14 countries, with highest number living in South Asian countries including Pakistan.

Overview

UNICEF with funding support from Department for International Development (DFID) and in collaboration with Ministry of National Health Services Regulation and Coordination is planning to conduct Cost of Diet (COD) analysis to determine the availability and affordability of nutritious diet. The COD will include market and dietary pattern surveys and focus group discussions with mothers and care takers of children under the age of two years.

The COD will be conducted in geographic areas/districts with highest burden of stunting and micronutrient deficiencies. The selection of districts is based on vulnerability criteria, and emergency affected/ and prone districts (flood and drought affected and food insecure) across Pakistan.The selection of total 12 districts across Pakistan will be carried out through a consultative process with provinces in provincial technical committee meeting.

The COD will answer the following key questions.

  1. What is the cost of a nutritionally adequate diet for typical households?
  2. What nutrients have the greatest influence on the cost of a nutritious diet?
  3. What local foods are inexpensive sources of essential micronutrients and could be promoted through program interventions?
  4. How affordable is a nutritious diet for a typical household in different wealth groups?
  5. How might nutrition, food security and social protection interventions improve access to a nutritious diet by households in the assessment area?
  6. Economic analysis including what it will cost for an adequate diet.

To make a difference, you will be accountable for the following tasks and objectives:

  1. Provide inception report. The Inception report to include detailed methodology, assessment tools (quantitative and qualitative tools and field manual) and operational plan with timeline
  2. Coordination with Technical subcommittee and Department of Health at provincial level to support the planning and implementation of COD including; data collection and analysis, review and endorsement of data collection tools
  3. Provide expert support to the institute (will be hired for data collection in the field) during consultative meetings with the key stakeholders to gather the information on inflation, Pakistan economic status and other relevant information that contribute in calculation of cost of  diet in selected districts of respective province; 
  4. Provide technical input for establishing a districts selection criteria/finalize district for COD analysis in consultation with technical subcommittee and provincial DoH.
  5. Provide technical expert input during the development, translation and pretesting of questionnaire for market survey, dietary pattern survey and guideline for focus group discussions to collect information on food preferences/choices.
  6. Support and facilitate the training to the team of Institute who will be taken on board to support data collection and analysis
  7. Support the development data collection and quality assurance mechanism and share findings with relevant stakeholders for timely feedback and action 
  8. Provide technical guidance to determine sample size (qualitative and quantitative)
  9. The International expert will technically supervise the data collection process, which will be conducted by the selected institute and it  will includes;
    1. Market survey in selected districts
    2. Dietary pattern survey in selected districts
    3. Focus group discussions with mothers, care takers and community members in selected districts.
  10. Data analysis on COD software.
  11. Drafting key findings report and submission to Technical subcommittee for review  
  12. Drafting report and submission to Technical Sub Committee for final technical approval.
  13. Finalization of report based on comments and technical approval from Technical Subcommittee.

Specific Objectives

  1. Cost of nutritionally adequate diet for typical Pakistani staple diet.
  2. To explore the acceptability of options and compare and contrast them according to potential impact, likelihood of success and risk.
  3. To provide an economic appraisal of the options including value for money.
  4. To understand the correlation between the market price, seasonal availability of variety of food with the consumption period.

Estimated Duration of Contract:

8 Months, starting August 2017

Anticipated Travel Itinerary             

The assignment will involve local (all four provinces) and international travel.

Qualifications of Successful Candidate

Applicants are requested to submit an all-inclusive financial quotation showing fee, lump sum DSA and travel from home-country.

Education

  • A Advanced university degree in Public Health, International/Global Health, Nutrition disciplines or other relevant disciplines, with specialized training experience in nutrition and food security related surveys/ specifically on Cost of Diet analysis

Experience

  • Demonstrable capacity and research experience of at least 10 years in surveys/assessment in the field of nutrition and food security
  • Previous experience of conducting Cost of Diet analysis in Pakistan or similar setting 
  • Experience in conducting training to the survey team
  • Experience in writing dietary analysis report.

Language Proficiency

  • Written and spoken fluency in English and working knowledge of Urdu would be an asset.

Competencies of Successful Candidate

  • Strong analytical, oral & written communication skills
  • Proven track record in conducting Cost of Diet analysis survey and other dietary survey
  • Effective facilitator with proven ability to engage and train a group of individuals
  • Demonstrated ability to work in a multi-cultural environment

Technical Skills and Knowledge

  • Good understanding knowledge and experience of Cost of Diet analysis methodology 
  • Experience in writing dietary survey methodology especially on market survey, dietary pattern survey
  • Experience in training, planning and delivery of technical assistance
  • Proven track record in interfacing with provincial and national ministries of health/nutrition a distinct advantage
  • Proficiency in the development of survey tools for Cost of diet
  • Proficiency in the using COD software to run data analysis.
  • Proficient in other dietary analysis (e.g. optifood analysis)
  • Familiarity with local context and appropriate knowledge of provincial and national level nutrition and food security policies and programs 

Interested in finding out more?  

You will have a rewarding experience working with a dynamic, diverse and committed staff who are making a difference in saving lives and building a better future for Every Child in Pakistan.   

To know more about UNICEF’s work in Pakistan, visit the country website www.unicef.org/pakistan

Videos from Pakistan can be viewed on YouTube and Vimeo

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.  

This vacancy is now closed.
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