Consultant Nutrition - Social and Behaviour Change Communication
Rome
- Organization: WFP - World Food Programme
- Location: Rome
- Grade: Consultancy - International Consultant - Internationally recruited Contractors Agreement
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Occupational Groups:
- Social Affairs
- Communication and Public Information
- Women's Empowerment and Gender Mainstreaming
- Nutrition
- Closing Date: Closed
JOB TITLE: |
Social and Behaviour Change Communication (SBCC) Consultant |
TYPE OF CONTRACT: |
Consultant |
UNIT/DIVISION: |
Nutrition specific/OSN |
DUTY STATION (City, Country): |
Rome, Italy |
DURATION: |
6 months, with potential for extension |
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is the world's largest humanitarian agency, fighting hunger worldwide. As such, nutrition is integral to our mission of reaching Zero Hunger and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As WFP is increasing its nutrition focus, it is important to bolster staff understanding of the central role of nutrition in achieving WFP’s wider mission and the roles we each play in promoting good nutrition. Furthermore, a cornerstone of the SDGs is the support that agencies such as the UN and specifically WFP can give to governments to reach their commitments to Agenda 2030. Achieving increased capacity in nutrition both within WFP and with partners, especially government partners, has been articulated in a comprehensive Nutrition Learning Strategy.
To implement the corporate strategic plan, countries are developing multi-year, country-level strategies called Country Strategic Plans and Interim Country Strategic Plans. The majority of these plans include Social and Behaviour Change Communication (SBCC) activities for supporting nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive activities. Many plans also include a combination of treatment of moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) and prevention of both MAM and chronic undernutrition. These activities include direct implementation and support to partners and governments in the form of technical assistance and country capacity strengthening.
Thus, there is well-defined need to increase the tools and capacity to implement and support both acute and chronic undernutrition activities, complemented by SBCC across many country contexts. Furthermore, there is a need to increase the evidence base in these two priority topic areas including how best to implement SBCC, how to design and implement comprehensive prevention programming, and how to monitor and evaluate SBCC activities to improve programming where needed.
This consultancy would support the Nutrition Division by supporting activities related to SBCC for improving nutrition outcomes, most notably in relation to acute malnutrition programming throughout 2018.
ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES
The consultant will report to the Head of the Nutrition Specific Unit and work in collaboration with other members of the Nutrition Division. The consultant will be expected to:
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Support SBCC activities across a variety of WFP contexts:
- Support select country offices design, implement, and monitor SBCC activities in MAM programming (e.g. for community mobilization and improved feeding practices) for improving nutrition outcomes using the WFP SBCC Interim Guidance Manual
- Ensure successful implementation of the WFP SBCC Interim Guidance Manual in select focus countries
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Provide SBCC and nutrition technical advice to country offices:
- Give technical input to Country Offices related to SBCC, in development of Country Strategic Plans and design/implementation of nutrition programmes
- Collect technical inputs and lessons learned from Country Offices for improving the WFP SBCC Interim Guidance Manual throughout 2018
- Provide both remote and in-person technical support in development and emergency contexts, with emphasis on acute malnutrition programming
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Support SBCC-related capacity strengthening activities at both WFP HQ and decentralized levels:
- Work with senior SBCC consultant to design and deliver SBCC-related capacity-strengthening activities across each WFP Regional Bureau
- Collaborate with Knowledge Management team and external partners to develop e-learning activities related to SBCC for nutrition
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Monitor and stay up to date with public health nutrition and SBCC landscape, emerging evidence, and global discussions on these topics:
- Stay current on emerging scientific evidence in SBCC globally
- Support a system for critically assessing SBCC and nutrition evidence for sharing internally among the Nutrition Division and others
- Stay active in the global nutrition and SBCC communities, including the Micronutrient Forum, Society for Implementation Science, etc.
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Provide input and relevant support for operational research activities involving SBCC for nutrition
- Liaise with the Knowledge Management team to identify SBCC-related operational research opportunities
- Support robust monitoring or evidence generation in the field and data management, analysis, interpretation and dissemination
- Support grant writing, manuscript preparation, and case study development
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Support the Nutrition-Specific Unit work plan with other relevant activities as needed, on a continual basis
- Provide input for and review briefs/presentations for WFP management
- Short communications and technical notes
- Brown bag/journal club presentations
The consultant will be expected to draw on his/her knowledge of social and behaviour change, communications, public health nutrition, research skills, and creative original thought to develop the specific outputs of this consultancy.
DELIVERABLES AT THE END OF THE CONTRACT:
- The WFP SBCC Interim Guidance Manual implemented (i.e. remote and in-person technical support) in 5 countries in 2018 with support from consultant
- SBCC-related capacity strengthening activities across all WFP Regional Bureaux in 2018
- New SBCC-related operational research activity launched in at least one country context, with emphasis on acute malnutrition programming
- At least one publication from SBCC roll out in the context of acute malnutrition sent for peer review publication
- At least two case studies or reports developed from SBCC roll out, with emphasis on acute malnutrition programming
- Revised WFP SBCC Interim Guidance Manual (v2.0), including standards, published with input from consultant
QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:
Education: |
Advanced degree in social and behavioural science and/or public health nutrition, or other relevant university degree (e.g. medical anthropology) |
Experience: |
3 – 5 years of experience designing, implementing, and/or evaluating social and behaviour change activities for public health nutrition required. Field/programme experience in international nutrition, community nutrition or related field required. Exposure to acute malnutrition programming in the field desired. Exposure to emergency context in the field desired. |
Knowledge & Skills: |
Advanced knowledge of social and behaviour change required Knowledge in public health nutrition required Knowledge of issues, challenges, and response options for acute malnutrition programming (i.e CMAM) desired Experience conducting operations research in nutrition desired Strong interpersonal and communication skills required Demonstrated ability to work effectively in multicultural settings required Good attention to detail required Excellent written and oral communication skills required |
Languages: |
Fluency in English required. Working proficiency in French desirable. Working knowledge of another UN language or Portuguese desirable. |
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
WFP offers a competitive compensation package which will be determined by the contract type and selected candidate’s qualifications and experience.
Please visit the following websites for detailed information on working with WFP.
http://www.wfp.org Click on: “Our work” and “Countries” to learn more about WFP’s operations.
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS: 22 April 2018
Ref.: VA 79501
Female applicants and qualified applicants from developing countries are especially encouraged to apply
WFP has zero tolerance for discrimination and does not discriminate on the basis of HIV/AIDS status.
No appointment under any kind of contract will be offered to members of the UN Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), International Civil Service Commission (ICSC), FAO Finance Committee, WFP External Auditor, WFP Audit Committee, Joint Inspection Unit (JIU) and other similar bodies within the United Nations system with oversight responsibilities over WFP, both during their service and within three years of ceasing that service.
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