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UNICEF Belize - Consultant on Adolescent Health and Nutrition

Belize City

  • Organization: UNICEF - United Nations Children’s Fund
  • Location: Belize City
  • Grade: Consultancy - International Consultant - Internationally recruited Contractors Agreement
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Public Health and Health Service
    • Nutrition
    • Children's rights (health and protection)
    • Sexual and reproductive health
    • Adolescent Development
  • Closing Date: Closed

In Belize, the adolescent population (aged 10-19) account for 20% of the total population (84,000). UNICEF advocates for and supports programme efforts that address the needs and best interests of children from birth through to adolescence. Adolescents are particularly under served by health programs in Belize. UNICEF has released a new organizational strategy 2018 – 2022, that identifies the 10 to 19 year old age group, or “second decade of life”, as a priority and calls for redoubled effort to improve the health, protection and development of this important demographic. Critical adolescent health issues in Belize include adolescent pregnancy, mental health support, preventing violence and injury including sexual and gun violence and road traffic accidents, preventing cervical cancer through human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination, preventing iron deficiency anemia, HIV, obesity and other non-communicable diseases. Investing adolescent health has a significant immediate and long-lasting impact on their health, and that of future generations UNICEF Belize is therefore committed to advocating for adolescents’ right to health; enhancing government policies to improve adolescent health; strengthening local implementation evidence and delivery of adolescent services and programs; and empowering adolescents through opportunities for meaningful participation and innovation.

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, health!

 
Background of Assignment 
 
In Belize, the adolescent population (aged 10-19) account for 20% of the total population (84,000).  UNICEF advocates for and supports programme efforts that address the needs and best interests of children from birth through to adolescence. Adolescents are particularly underserved by health programs in Belize. UNICEF has released a new organizational strategy 2018 – 2022, that identifies the 10 to 19 year old age group, or “second decade of life”, as a priority and calls for redoubled effort to improve the health, protection and development of this important demographic.
Critical adolescent health issues in Belize include adolescent pregnancy, mental health support, preventing violence and injury including sexual and gun violence and road traffic accidents, preventing cervical cancer through human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination, preventing iron deficiency anemia, HIV, obesity and other non-communicable diseases.
Investing adolescent health has a significant immediate and long-lasting impact on their health, and that of future generations UNICEF Belize is therefore committed to advocating for adolescents’ right to health; enhancing government policies to improve adolescent health; strengthening local implementation evidence and delivery of adolescent services and programs; and empowering adolescents through opportunities for meaningful participation and innovation.
 
Justification:  
An estimated 11% of adolescent girls aged 15 – 19 years have had a live birth. Teenage mothers are more likely to drop out of school, live in poor housing conditions, and be unemployed or in low-paid employment. Children of teenage mothers are more likely to live in poverty, become involved in crime, and abuse drugs and alcohol. The recent MICS showed that teenage boys are more likely to be out of school than teenage girls in Belize (include data here). Adolescent boys in Belize are also more lilkely to be involved in gang violence or violent activity resulting in conflict with the law. UNICEF therefore promotes programmes for better parenting, quality of education, literacy and retention in schools, education on sexual and reproductive health care, violence prevention and improved access to services for all adolescents in Belize.
In conjunction with WHO and partners, UNICEF globally has supported the development of the global Accelerated Action for Health of Adolescents (AAHA) framework. This framework encourages countries to adopt holistic health policies for adolescents to achieve good sexual and reproductive health outcomes, prevent injuries and violence, non-communicable diseases (NCDs), drug and substance abuse and promote physical activities and healthy lifestyles. Through its current country programme, UNICEF Belize is supporting the Government of Belize to develop and implement a national strategy for adolescent health. A consultant is being sought to work with the UNICEF Belize team to support this multi-sectoral process and related programme priorities.
 
Purpose of Assignment:
UNICEF Country Programme Document (CPD) for Belize, which covers the period 2017-2021, includes the office’s contribution to promoting gender-responsive adolescent health, as well as the support to adolescents through programmes for education, lifelong learning, governance and social inclusion, maternal and child health interventions. A major priority of the CPD is the prevention of violence among adolescents, particularly armed violence, violent discipline and gender-based violence. 
The consultant sought for this assignment will lead technical support on behalf of UNICEF towards the development of the national adolescent health strategy, the national norms and standards for adolescent health services, evidence generation to guide implementation of adolescent health programme in Belize, and innovative communication and engagement with adolescents to support this broad work on adolescent health to address the major threats to adolescent health in Belize (adolescent pregnancy, mental health, violence and injury including sexual and gun violence and road traffic accidents, cervical cancer, iron deficiency anemia, HIV, obesity and other non-communicable diseases).
 
Scope of work (Work assignment)  
1. Strategy Development:
a. Work in close collaboration with the Adolescent Health Technical Steering Committee to develop the National Adolescent Health Strategy for Belize.
b. Work with MOH and PAHO to coordinate and complete a costing exercise for a minimum package of services for adolescent health based on the One Health tool.
2. Development and testing of norms and standards for adolescent health:
a. Work with the Ministry of Health to complete the development of national norms and standards on adolescent health.
b. Provide technical support to and document local lessons from the online field test for Global Adolescents Care Standards
3. Operational Research:
a. Work with the Ministry of Health and M&E Specialist to develop proposal and support implementation and analysis of study findings to determine the content and evaluate the effectiveness of routine adolescent health check-ups in Belize.
b. Develop a proposal for and oversee implementation of an implementation study with the Ministry of Health and M&E Specialist to explore the effectiveness of telemedicine to ensure access for vulnerable adolescents to specialized mental health support services. Findings from this study will inform development of national guidelines for delivery of specialized care in resource-limited settings.
4. Service scale-up:
a. Work with the Ministry of Health, UNICEF ECD and Education Officer and PAHO/WHO to implement the recommendation of the MORES assessment on nutrition.
b. Work with the Ministry of Health, the UNICEF Social Policy Specialist and the Probitas Foundation to oversee implementation of the lab and diagnostics strengthening project in Stann Creek, Toledo and Corozal districts.
5. Communication and engagement with adolescents:
a. Work with the UNICEF Communication Officer to develop creative communication materials on adolescent health to strengthen country office program advocacy for public awareness and establishing partnerships/alliances.
b. Work with the national U-Report Consultant on interactive data gathering from adolescents as well as the dissemination of communication assets on adolescent health.
6. Other potential assignments in relation to health and nutrition priorities jointly defined with the supervisor (including heath aspects in relation to the prevention of violence).
 
Expected Deliverables
• Detailed work plan signed off by Supervisor
• Monthly reports presented to the programme team and approved by supervisor
• Reports on the national TWG and sub-national consultations for the development of the National Adolescent Health Strategy
• Proposal for the resource mobilization for the research on routine adolescent health check-ups.
• Report on online field testing for Global Adolescents Care Standards
• Monthly reports for the PROBITAS/MoH/ UNICEF Initiative
• Donor reports for the PROBITAS/MoH/ UNICEF Initiative
• Monthly calendar for communication messaging on adolescent health including content (key polls, messages and any multimedia sourced for dissemination through network of partners on adolescent health including UNICEF regional and global teams).
• Develop a health profile and investment case for adolescent health in Belize based on review of national and sub-national data and the costing exercise for adolescent health in Belize.
• Develop the strategic note for the work on adolescents including TOC
 
Desired background and experience  
Education:  An Advanced University Degree in public health/nutrition, family health, health research, global/international health, health policy and/or management, environmental health sciences, biostatistics, socio-medical, health education, epidemiology or other health related science is required.    
Work Experience: A minimum of 5 years of professional experience in public health/nutrition planning and management and/or in relevant areas of maternal and neonatal health care, adolescent health and development, health emergency/humanitarian preparedness, Relevant experience in health/nutrition program/project development and management in any UN system agency or organization is an asset.
 
Language Proficiency: Fluency in English is required.  Knowledge of Spanish or a local language is an asset
 
Additional Assets:    Knowledge of below:
• Maternal, Neonatal and Child Nutrition and Health
• Adolescent Health
• Nutrition and Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
• Public Health and Nutrition
• Educational Interventions in Health and Nutrition Care
• Environmental Health and Nutrition
• Knowledge of global and regional health and nutrition issues, specifically relating to children and adolescents, and the current trends, methods and approaches
 
Skills required:
• Proven ability to conceptualize, plan and execute ideas as well as to transfer knowledge and skills;
• Fluency in written and spoken English; 
• Prior working experience with UNICEF is an asset. 
 
Terms of Consultancy
• The consultant will be based at the UNICEF Office in Belize City
• The consultant will be required to travel within Belize
• The consultant will be supervised by UNICEF Belize.
• The contract duration is 11 months with a tentative start date of April 2018
• The Consultant is expected to work a 40-hour week
• The consultant is required to provide written weekly updates detailed monthly progress reports on the scope of work outlined in these Terms of Reference.
 
Application
Individuals are invited to submit applications at this vacancy link.
Application attachments:
1. Letter of expression of interest
2. Financial proposal with detailed budget including travel and other expenses.
 
Deadline for submitting applications is 18 March 2018!
 

For every Child, you demonstrate…

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

The technical competencies required for this consultancy are primarily; applying technical expertise, formulating concepts and strategies, relating and networking.

View our competency framework at

http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

Remarks:

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

 

This vacancy is now closed.
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