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Research Intern for UNICEF Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office-Technical Assistance to Conducting Regional Qualitative assessment on Complementary Feeding Practices in Eastern & Southern Africa

Nairobi

  • Organization: UNICEF - United Nations Children’s Fund
  • Location: Nairobi
  • Grade: Internship - Internship
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Nutrition
    • Children's rights (health and protection)
    • Scientist and Researcher
  • Closing Date: Closed

The purpose of this internship to inform the design, implementation, and targeting of interventions to support complementary feeding in the Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA) region, with a particular focus on dietary quality of infants and young children 6-23 months. The first responsibility of the intern is to generate evidence on sociocultural, behavioral, and environmental factors associated with complementary feeding practices in the ESA region.

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.

UNICEF Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office 

Functional Title – Nutrition Intern   

Position Title: Research Intern for UNICEF Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office-Technical Assistance to Conducting Regional Qualitative assessment on Complementary Feeding Practices in Eastern & Southern Africa

Level: Intern           

Location:  Nairobi, Kenya

Duration: 4-6 months, beginning July 1st, 2019

Reporting to:  Nutrition Specialist, Maternal, Infant and Young Child Nutrition, Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office, UNICEF

The UNICEF Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office provides technical support and oversight to country offices in the ESA region with the aim of enhancing maternal and early child nutrition outcomes. A priority goal for the Regional Office is to accelerate and sustain progress towards achieving the ESA Regional Priority for reducing stunting in different country contexts, including improving infant and young child feeding practices.  Previous analyses of infant and young child feeding indicators from the East and Southern Africa (ESARO) region have shown that both minimum dietary diversity and minimum acceptable diet are indicators of particular concern.1, 2 Variation in these indicators within countries remains uncertain, and little is known about the factors associated with better feeding practices, hindering potential targeting of interventions.  Studying potential sources of variation that are associated with better infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices within countries, including community, household, and child factors, in a systematic way will provide valuable evidence-based information to help guide policies and programs implemented by governments, UNICEF, and other partners in the region to improve the diets of infants and young children.  An understanding of the barriers and enablers of good complementary feeding practices is much needed.

It is with this background that UNICEF Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office has collaborated with Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health to generate evidence that can provide insights to Member States in the region on trends/risk factors related to the quality of IYCF practices across multiple countries in East and Southern Africa as well as an evaluation of policies and programs that have been implemented at scale.  The findings of this analysis will lay the foundation for development of a regional framework to improve the diets of young children. In addition to the quantitative analysis completed to date, there is a need to understand the cultural, social norms that influence IYCF behaviors and practices. Research using qualitative methods is the next step that will inform the development of the Regional complementary feeding framework and the development of regional SBCC strategies for improving the diets of young children. 

Purpose

The purpose of this internship to inform the design, implementation, and targeting of interventions to support complementary feeding in the Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA) region, with a particular focus on dietary quality of infants and young children 6-23 months. The first responsibility of the intern is to generate evidence on sociocultural, behavioral, and environmental factors associated with complementary feeding practices in the ESA region.

The specific objectives include:

  • To conduct a desk review of both published and grey literature a) to understand the programme context and identify what is already known and documented about complementary feeding in the ESA region, and b)? based on the outcomes of the desk review to identify gaps and priority research areas, particularly in relation to dietary quality of infants and young children 6-23 months in the ESA region
  • To carry out an analysis of key determinants of complementary feeding 6-23 months using qualitative research methods including focus group discussions and in-depth interviews in 1-2 field locations in differ countries?
  • To conduct primary data collection on the desirability and acceptability of food groups that improve dietary diversity of children 6-23 months
  • To identify cultural and social barriers to achieving improved complementary feeding in target communities, with a focus on sociocultural, behavioral, and environmental factors associated with dietary quality
  • To collaborate with C4D section in ESARO on development of overall Regional SBCC framework for improving the diets of young children
  • To select entry points for strategies to improve dietary quality and specific issues to be addressed

The RISING Initiative seeks to maximize use of results at the regional level. For this reason, results will be compiled in a report to shed light on social, and cultural barriers and enablers for complementary feeding for families with infants and young children. This report will offer vital information on how programs and policies can be improved to support child nutrition in the ESA region and feed into the development of the Regional Complementary feeding framework.

Major duties and responsibilities

  • To conduct a desk review and provide a short report summarizing:

      • Existing known determinants of complementary feeding for children 6-23 months
      • Identify gaps and specific themes to be included in the field research phase
  • To share a detailed data collection methodology and work plan for review
  • To conduct and analyze field research including in-depth interviews and focus group discussions on the key determinants of complementary feeding and dietary quality for children 6-23 months
  • To identify barriers to achieving improved dietary quality 6-23 months with particular focus on sociocultural and environmental factors in target communities, and identify entry points for strategies to promote adoption of recommended practices
  • To produce a report including the following: executive summary, introduction/background, aims/objectives, methodology, results, discussion, and recommendations and conclusion
  • To provide a coded and organized set of data collected during field research, including in-depth interviews and focus group discussion transcripts
  • To share draft report with RISING Initiative stakeholders for review and feedback
  • Draft at least 1 peer reviewed journal article from the findings of the formative research.

Key expected Results 

  1. Assignment inception report, including proposed methodology and approach for assignment, protocol and tools for the research, timelines and planned budget
  2. Synthesis report of key findings, issues to be addressed, and strategies to improve complementary feeding in the ESA region.
  3. Final report on findings and priorities areas from primary data collection, including sociocultural, behavioral, and environmental factors related to complementary feeding in the ESA region.

Qualifications
Education

A first degree in nutrition or public health is required. 

Work Experience

A minimum of 1 year of progressively responsible professional research experience. Demonstration of research and analytical skills and the ability to synthesize data and notes into clear and concise report is a must.

Language Proficiency

  • Fluency in English (verbal and written).
  • Working knowledge of another UN language an asset.

Competencies

Core Values:

  • Diversity and Inclusion
  • Integrity
  • Commitment 

Core Competencies

  • Communication
  • Working with People
  • Drive for Results 

Functional Competencies

  • Technical

    • Research and analytical skills and the ability to synthesize data and notes into clear and concise report
    • Ability to conduct ethnographic studies
This vacancy is now closed.
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