UNICEF Zimbabwe is inviting proposals from individual international consultants for the provision of technical support in implementation of the DFID and USAID-FFP funded nutrition projects.

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), Zimbabwe Country Office requires a consultant to provide technical inputs to the project’s implementation. The main objective of the consultant’s assignment is support the transition of 10 districts recovering from emergency response interventions to stunting reduction, using the community based model for stunting reduction (MCBM). The consultant will also support the emergency response in 15 Food For Peace targeted districts by ensuring implementation of active screening, referral and management of acute malnutrition

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1.     Background

The Zimbabwe Vulnerability Assessment Committee (ZimVAC) assessment from June 2016 reported a deterioration in the nutritional status of children. Results showed that levels of acute malnutrition were poor to serious, with the Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM) rate ranging from 5% to 17% in selected districts. Average national acute malnutrition levels increased from 3.3% (ZIMVAC, 2015) to 5.7% (ZIMVAC February,2016) and 4.8% (ZIMVAC, June 2016). Findings recently released from the ZimVAC RLA, conducted in July 2017 demonstrate a national Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM) prevalence of 3.2%, which is much lower than the GAM rate reported at the same time in 2016, at 4.4%, (ZimVAC RLA, 2016). The reduction in GAM rates is associated to the efforts of the Government, UNICEF, the humanitarian community and the little harvests realized. However, chronic malnutrition, remains a persistent problem in the country, where 1 in every 3 children is stunted (DHS, 2015).

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has been supporting the Government of Zimbabwe (GoZ) to implement nutrition specific and nutrition sensitive programs in the country, with an aim to increase quality and coverage of nutrition services with a focus on stunting through ensuring equity focused national policies, legislation and strategies adopted for scaling up high impact critical nutrition interventions,  strengthening subnational capacity to implement and coordinate multi-sectoral scale up of services to protect, promote and support optimal nutrition status of boys, girls and women in all situations and ensuring that children, caregivers and communities in selected districts apply optimal nutrition and care practices, and seek preventive, promotive and curative nutrition services.

2.     Purpose

 The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), Zimbabwe Country Office requires a consultant to provide technical inputs to the project’s implementation. The main objective of the consultant’s assignment is support the transition of 10 districts recovering from emergency response interventions to stunting reduction, using the community based model for stunting reduction (MCBM). The consultant will also support the emergency response in 15 Food For Peace targeted districts by ensuring implementation of active screening, referral and management of acute malnutrition.

3.     Objective (s)

·        Ensure functional Ward Food and Nutrition Committees are formed in the 10 target districts.

·        Support the operationalisation of Near Real Time Monitoring through the 100 Ward Nutrition Coordinators in the 10 districts.

·        Improve nutritional status of children through counselling and reaching 160,000 of mothers and care givers on IYCN through the

          VHWs.

·        Improve Vitamin A supplementation coverage to 300,000 of the children 6-59 months.

·        Ensure iron and folate supplementation to 18,330 of pregnant women for at least 90 days through monitoring.

·        Support monitoring and screening of at least 145,913 of children under five for acute malnutrition.

·        Support monitoring and referral for treatment of an estimated 6,164 of children with Severe Acute Malnutrition.

·        Ensure that 135,000 of the children 6-24 months eligible for micro nutrients are reached with micro nutrient powders.

·        Raise awareness on key IYCF practices through establishment of Mother Support Groups integrated with cooking demonstrations.

·        Enhance nutrition sensitive programming by working in an multi-sectoral approach with child protection, WASH, HIV and the Social

         Mobilisation teams.

4.         Methodology & Expected Output

Under supervision of Nutrition Manager at UNICEF and in close collaboration with National Nutrition Department as well as the provincial and district health authorities and partnering NGOs, the consultant will provide technical assistance MCBM in 10 districts and IMAM emergency response in 15 FFP districts. The methodologies applied to this consultancy will include but not limited to:

• Regular meeting and joint field visits with the implementing partners (MoHCC, World Vision International, Save the Children Zimbabwe and GOAL Zimbabwe)
• Monitor progress of the DFID and FFP supported program implementation process for better results.
• Regular meetings with National, provincial and districts authorities
• On-site supportive supervision and trainings for health workers in charge of Nutrition
• Community field-visits in the targeted districts
• Coordinate capacity building activities for health workers on active screening and management of acute malnutrition.
• Provide logistical and technical support in quantification of nutrition supplies and support the distribution planning
• Coordinate nutrition emergency response activities with different partners in the Nutrition Sector
• Compilation of relevant reports

5.         Major Tasks, Deliverables & Timeframe

A Monthly activity report will be submitted to the supervisor to provide information and progress on each task mentioned above, including recommendations and actions requiring follow up.

6.         Timeframe

The consultancy will be for a period of 6 months from 01 February 2018 to 31 July 2018

7. Consultancy Requirements

Education

-        Advanced degree in Nutrition, Dietetics or Health or its equivalent.

Work Experience

-        At least eight years of progressively responsible professional work experience on management of acute malnutrition in

         emergencies with experience in Community based health and nutrition programmes.

-        Knowledge of humanitarian and development issues.

-        Strong communication skills - presentation, facilitation, and writing skills

-        Ability to liaise with government, private stakeholders and communities

-        Able to work within various teams and can contribute to the overall success of that team

-        Able to demonstrate a flexible and adaptable approach to work.

-        Ability to communicate fluently in English required.

Application Procedure

If interested and available, please submit your application letter, CV, Technical and an all-inclusive financial proposal detailing professional fees, 5 field travel days per month and other miscellaneous expenses

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified candidates from all backgrounds to apply.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

Our core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

This position is classified as “rotational” which means the incumbent is expected to rotate to another duty station upon completion of their tour of duty,

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified candidates from all backgrounds to apply.