Consultancy-Support to the Country Level Nutrition Cluster Coordination (GNC helpdesk)

Provide operational support to Global Nutrition Clusters before, during, and after a humanitarian crisis to national coordination platforms to ensure quality and timely response.

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Background and Justification:

At a global level, the Global Nutrition Cluster (GNC) led by UNICEF has made significant progress since 2006 in bringing together nutrition partners to support a coherent emergency response. Operational support for effective cluster coordination is at the core of the GNC’s strategic priorities, and from 2010 to date, over 36 cluster/sector countries have benefited from this support.

In 2014, the GNC conducted an evaluation of its support to national nutrition coordination platforms which was completed in January 2015. Amongst the major recommendations proposed was the development of an operational support plan for the GNC-CT to engage and support national clusters in a systemic manner. This evaluation further confirmed the need for a dedicated remote support function to rapidly resolve coordination, IM and technical issues.  Drawing on the recommendations of the evaluation, in June 2015, the GNC-CT established a GNC Help Desk that provided systematic and routine support to all field based coordinators and IMOs. The strategic relevance of this support was also articulated in the 2014-2016 GNC strategy, and currently, the GNC Strategic Priority number 1 within the 2017-2020 Strategy and the 2017-2018 workplan has also maintained this as one of the priorities of the global partnership.

Upon establishment, the GNC-CT and the HelpDesk established a list of 36 countries with sector and cluster coordination structures to provide coordination support. During the period of 2015-2017, the HelpDesk provided the following support: induction and mentoring of newly appointed nutrition cluster/sector coordinators (NCCs) and rapid response team (RRT) members (9 persons), organization of remote orientation sessions on cluster approach for partners (129 persons trained), support to CCPM exercise (17 countries), support to HNO and HRP development (17 countries) and ad hoc support regarding cluster/sector coordination concerns (31 countries who have received from one time/easy to solve to more extensive supports).  The HelpDesk has also maintained a close contact with country cluster coordinators and information management officers (IMOs) through the organization of 11 monthly NCC calls, with an average of 13 participants from different countries per call. All activities undertaken and concerns observed during the HelpDesk support to countries were shared each month with the GNC-CT through the submission of monthly reports and attendance to all relevant calls at global level. The cluster coordinators and IMOs at country level greatly supported the establishment of the HelpDesk and during the 2015 GNC Annual Meeting expressed their desire to continue with such services. The consultant will continue to maintain the GNC HelpDesk services to the country clusters/sectors and will draw on pre-existing relationships between the GNC-CT and nutrition cluster coordination teams.

Objectives and Activities:

The purpose of this consultancy is to strengthen the capacity of Nutrition in Emergency clusters/sector coordination mechanisms at the country level to develop and deliver quality, predictable, timely, effective and integrated nutrition responses through provision of quality cluster/sector coordination-related support, mentoring and training. The following expected results include details on tasks to be undertaken, although given the evolving nature of this work, the tasks and deliverables outlined below could be modified or added to based on mutual agreement.

1. Set up, run, record and follow-up the regular (monthly and on “needs” basis) skype calls for all field based nutrition cluster coordinators and establish systematic information flow, experience exchange.
2. Regularly (monthly and on as “needed” basis), communicate issues raised by the NCCs to the Global Nutrition Cluster Coordination Team and the GNC SAG through monthly reports, calls and at the GNC SAG meetings.
3. Provide induction and mentoring of newly appointed nutrition cluster/sector coordinators:
4. Systematically identify the need within the various cluster/sector milestones, by supporting the implementation of the cluster coordination performance monitoring exercises (CCPM) and the development of plans of actions, which clearly articulate actions required from the GNC-CT to support the implementation of the plan of action.
5. Systematically review cluster/sector- related needs and support cluster/sector teams and partners in analyzing the situation/response in country, including factors contributing to poor nutrition outcomes and provide inputs/comments to draft Humanitarian Needs Overviews (HNOs);
6. Systematically support country cluster/sectors in formulating integrated response plans based on evidence and provide technical inputs to the Humanitarian Response Plans (HRPs) developed by country clusters/sectors prior to their finalization, in an effort to ensuring quality of a comprehensive NiE response plan.
7. Systematically support and strengthen the work of the country cluster/sector Strategic Advisory Groups (SAGs) and the Technical Working Groups (TWG) by providing real time technical support to cluster/sector teams and partners.
8. Provide an orientation on the complementary roles of different initiatives (GNC/RRT, Technical RRT, Technical NiE body and other relevant technical support such as global SMART etc) jointly with NiE Technical HelpDesk Officer.
9. Provide on-site operational support to country clusters/sectors through field visits, during the critical time of development of HNO and/or HRP in high profile L3/L2 countries.
10. Collate and document country level experience and lessons learned and present them to the GNC-CT and GNC partners and during the regular Annual Meetings of the NCC/IMOs, GNC Annual report and support the revision of global level guidance and operating procedures based on lessons learned.
11. Consolidate quarterly reports outline situation analysis, needs, achievement and challenges from  cluster/sector platforms coordinating NiE response
12. Produce quarterly and annual reports and share them with GNC partners and donors to inform global and country level decision-making on progress, challenges and actions needed to address them
13. Participate in GNC Annual events to provide feedback to global level partners and country cluster coordinators.

Deliverables:

• Monthly report on the work done in a previous month;
• GNC Annual and Quarterly report inputs;
• Updated CC/IM capacity assessment, mapping and gap analysis for cluster/sector countries as per country requests;
• Joint GNC-CT/HelpDesk inputs for HNO/HRPs (October-December);
• Templates for ToRs of the coordination platforms, SAG and/or Technical thematic working groups (TWiGs) for country-level clusters/sectors by January 2019;
• A PPT presentation on orientation for country clusters/sectors on the complementary roles of different initiatives;
• Updated orientation package for newly recruited CCs developed by end December 2018;
• Quarterly country reports outlining situation analysis, needs, achievement and challenges from cluster/sector platforms coordinating NiE response by the 10^th of following quarter;
• Regular (monthly and on “needs” basis) skype calls for all field based nutrition cluster /sector coordinators and IMOs and global calls for major emergencies;
• Annual report for partners and donors to inform global and country level decision-making on progress, challenges and actions needed to address them for the Annual GNC meeting.

Required qualifications and competencies:

• Advanced University degree (Master or equivalent) in Nutrition, Public Health or relevant field;
• At least 8 years of experience in nutrition in emergencies programming or nutrition, food security programme management, including proven experience of leading coordination of nutrition in emergencies responses in a range of settings including sudden onset natural disasters and conflict settings.
• Excellent understanding of the humanitarian architecture at global and field level and the IASC Transformative Agenda and cluster approach;
• Familiarity with the work, working methods, and members of the GNC
• Experience of facilitation of cluster coordination training to interagency groups is an asset.
• Experience of mentoring in a professional setting
• Fluency in English and French is required. Knowledge of Spanish, Arabic and Russian is an asset.
• Proven ability to work independently and deliver results
• Proven communication and working with people skills will be considered as an asset

Duration:

The consultancy is home-based, preferably in Geneva or nearby areas. It is envisaged that the consultant will start work on 01 September 2018 for a period of 11.5 months full time 21 working days a month depending on the availability of funds. Payments are to be scheduled on a monthly basis.

Travel and Insurance:

This consultancy is home-based and involves two to three travels to Geneva and location where GNC Annual Meetings will take place (dates to be determined). All travel expenses will be paid by UNICEF. The consultant will travel by the most direct and economical route in economy class. UNICEF will pay the daily subsistence allowance as per UN-approved rate. The consultant must be fit to travel, be in a possession of the valid UNDSS Basic and Advanced Security certificates, obligatory inoculation(s) and have a valid own travel/medical insurance and an immunization/vaccination card. The dates for the travel will be determined in consultation with GNC-CT.

To apply:

Please submit the following documents along with your application:

1. Letter of interest, including your approach to the assignment and proposed fees (monthly) and travel costs. Please note that the letter that doesn’t specify your fees will not be accepted.
2. UN P-11 Personal History form duly completed and recent CV.

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 post are….

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:

“UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.”

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