Consultancy for Landscape analysis of maternal nutrition policies and programming in South Asia region

The UNICEF, WHO, World Bank joint global and regional child malnutrition estimates from 1990 to 2017 reveal uneven and insufficient progress to reach the World Health Assembly (WHA) targets set for 2025 and the Sustainable Development Goals set for 2030 for nutrition. About two out of five stunted children under the age of five live in South Asia. This translates to 61.2 million stunted children in South Asia out of the global stunting burden of 155 million children under the age of five. Poor maternal nutrition is linked to adverse outcomes for both the mother and her baby. In South Asia, maternal height and body mass index are strong predictors of low birth weight and wasting and stunting in early childhood. Maternal anaemia, especially in its severe form, is strongly linked to maternal mortality and accounts for 12 percent of low birth weight, 19 percent of pre-term births and 18 percent of perinatal mortality. None of the South Asian countries are on track to meet the WHA target to reduce anaemia in women of reproductive age, only one country is on track for the wasting target, and only four countries are on track for the stunting target.

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

The purpose of this consultancy is to conduct a review of the status of policies and programme relating to maternal nutrition in the South Asia region (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka).

Specific objectives:

• To examine the extent to which country policies and programme guidance are in-line with the 2016 WHO recommendations, and to identify gaps
• To examine the coverage of maternal nutrition interventions (both geographic and individual), and to identify key gaps.
• To conduct a literature review of the evidence (2000 to present) on what works to improve the coverage of maternal nutrition interventions in South Asia

The focus of this review will be the nutrition interventions recommended by WHO plus the following interventions:

• Supporting the intent to exclusively breastfeed immediately after delivery until the infant is six months
• Counselling on physical activity and adequate rest
• Multiple micronutrient supplements.

Assignment Tasks

The consultant will undertake the following tasks:

1. Collate relevant documents on the status of womens health and nutrition, and policies and programmes on maternal nutrition in South Asia.

• Develop a search methodology and templates for key informant interviews.
• Through on-line searches of public documents, and with the support of UNICEF and Nutrition International offices, collate soft copies of the following documents on maternal nutrition, by country:
  • Policies, strategies, plans and programme guidance
  • Advocacy and communication materials
  • Training materials
  • Monitoring, recording and reporting formats (e.g HMIS)
  • Data/information on programme coverage
  • Any reports, analysis or reports on system gaps (supplies, training etc)
  • Any other identified relevant information
• Conduct key information interviews by phone/skype with regional and country level stakeholders including (government, development partners, academic/research institutions and others, as required) to seek clarification on gaps in data and information, and to gain insights into system bottlenecks.

2. Develop a set of 8 country briefs summarizing the following information.

• Status of womens health and nutrition (e.g. prevalence of low height, low BMI and anaemia; fertility; maternal, infant and child mortality rates).
• Contextual information shaping the enabling environment for antenatal care  
• Status of policies and guidelines on maternal nutrition against the WHO (2016) recommendations
• Geographic and individual coverage of maternal nutrition interventions
• Summary of key system barriers
• Other relevant information, as agreed with UNICEF ROSA

3. Develop a regional synthesis paper, and power point presentation, summarizing the policy and programme landscape for maternal nutrition in South Asia, drawing from the country briefs and other relevant information
4. Conduct a literature review of the evidence (from 2000 to present) on what works to improve the coverage of maternal nutrition interventions in South Asia.

• Develop search strategy and retrieve literature
• Tabulate the findings of each study that meets agreed criteria
• Develop a journal manuscript to present the findings of the literature review

Expected Deliverables

1. Inception paper indicating work plan to conduct the key assignments; the search methodology; data collection instruments; and templates for the synthesis of data and information.

2. Database of country and regional documents on maternal nutrition

3. Set of 8 country briefs on maternal nutrition

4 First draft of the regional synthesis paper on the policy and programme landscape on maternal nutrition in South Asia

5. First draft of literature review on what works to improve the coverage of maternal nutrition interventions in South Asia

6. Final regional synthesis paper on the policy and programme landscape on maternal nutrition in South Asia

7. Final draft of literature review on what works to improve the coverage of maternal nutrition interventions in South Asia

Qualifications of Successful Candidate

1. Education:

• An Advanced University Degree in Public Health Nutrition, Nutritional Epidemiology, International Health and Nutrition, Maternal and Child Nutrition, or other Nutrition-related science field is required.

2. Work Experience:

• A minimum of 8 years of relevant professional experience in public health/nutrition planning, management, policy research at the international level, including in low and middle income countries.
• Experience in nutrition and public health policy and programming.
• Proven experience in conducting policy and programing landscape analyses, analyzing and synthesizing policy and programme information, and in conducting literature reviews on health and nutrition a major asset.  
• Knowledge of maternal nutrition policy and programme landscape in the South Asia region an asset.
• Expertise in maternal nutrition is an asset.

3. Competencies:

• Excellent communication skills
• Excellent organizational skills
• Demonstrable analytical and research skills, review and synthesis of data and information

4. Language Proficiency:

Excellent oral and written English skills required

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 organisation.