UNICEF Consultancy – Senior Nutrition Consultant Outposted to Health Division, ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASEAN Nationals)

The Regional Nutrition Section, UNICEF East Asia and Pacific Regional Office (EAPRO) is seeking an individual consultant to provide high level Nutrition technical support to the Health Division under the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community.

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, a better future

UNICEF works to ensure the rights of all children in the East Asia and Pacific Region.  This means the rights of every child living in this country, irrespective of their nationality, gender, religion or ethnicity, to:

• survival – to basic healthcare, peace and security;
• development – to a good education, a loving home and adequate nutrition;
• protection – from abuse, neglect, trafficking, child labour and other forms of exploitation; and
• participation – to express opinions, be listened to and take part in making any decisions that affect them

How can you make a difference?

The Regional Nutrition Section, UNICEF East Asia and Pacific Regional Office (EAPRO) is seeking an individual consultant to provide high level Nutrition technical support to the Health Division under the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community.

For Background, Objective of the outposting of a nutrition consultant and qualifications, please refer to the attachment:

 VA2019-55 Senior Nutrition Consultant Outposted to Health Division, ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community.pdf

Work Assignment:

1. Provide support and relevant inputs to the Nutrition focus area in the ASEAN Health Cooperation based on the current ASEAN Strategic Framework of Health Development and the ASEAN strategic framework and action plan for nutrition 2018-2030, including supporting the development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of nutrition projects/programmes of the ASEAN Health Cluster 1 and the ALD-EAFM

a) Provide technical inputs and direction in the implementation of regional nutrition programme activities, in consultation with ADR or Head of the Division, on regional health priorities focused on Promoting Healthy Lifestyle:
• Health Priority 1: Prevention and control of NCDs - selected activities related to nutrition
• Health Priority 7: Promotion of Good Nutrition and Healthy Diet

b) Provide technical support and facilitation for the implementation of the ASEAN strategic framework and action plan for nutrition 2018-2030, including for the development of new ASEAN standards related to nutrition, such as the guidance on infant and young child feeding and standard for national laws on the Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes; minimum standards and guidance on maternal nutrition package policies/standards; standards for implementation of integrated management of acute malnutrition; standards for nutrition indicators for surveys and routine data collection, data collection methods and data quality assurance; standard for national laws on regulations on marketing of foods and beverages to children; minimum standards and guidance for school nutrition policies and programmes.

c) Assist in developing programmes, projects and securing approval for their implementation following existing internal processes of UNICEF EAPRO and ASEAN

d) Coordinate, monitor and evaluate the implementation of programmes and projects relevant to the nutrition focus area and in relation to the operationalization of the ALD-EAFM aligned with the governance and implementation processes of ASEAN

e) Coordinate with relevant ASEAN Sectors/bodies and divisions in ASEAN Secretariat engaged or involved with the implementation of the Plan of Action 2018-2030, particularly Agriculture, Social Welfare and Education

f) Coordinate inter-linked and cross-cutting areas relevant to the nutrition focus area

g) Prepare information and advocacy materials on nutrition and coordinate with other divisions in ASEAN Secretariat for public dissemination/publication following ASEAN processes

h) Liaise with the ASEAN member states and external parties on nutrition following ASEAN processes

2. Support and service the Meetings and other relevant events of the Health Ministerial and Senior Official Levels, Cluster Meetings, Member State hosted meetings and events on Nutrition, training sessions, meetings in other ASEAN Health Platforms and Platforms in other ASEAN Divisions, as well as external meetings

a) Prepare the necessary nutrition-related documents required for various regular ASEAN meetings including agenda, discussion papers and drafting reports
b) Act as a resource person and facilitator on Nutrition at meetings and trainings, with guidance from ADR and Head of the Health Division
c) Assist the host organisation and/or sectoral/cluster chair in preparing for meetings and/or other special events
d) Participate in meetings related to Nutrition of other ASEAN Divisions, including Agriculture, Social Welfare and Education
e) Assist the ASEAN Secretariat and lead AMS in designing and preparing supplementary meetings and activities identified in relation to the operational framework of the ALD-EAFM, including a multi-sectoral high level symposium, technical consultations and trainings.
f) Participate in external meetings relevant to nutrition, such as the UNICEF-hosted Nutrition Security Coordination Committee for East Asia-Pacific.

3. Support the relevant bodies of the ASEAN Community

a) Provide necessary support in the implementation of relevant decisions / follow-up requirements from other ASEAN bodies/divisions in relation to Nutrition
b) Coordinate and/or collaborate with other relevant bodies/divisions for harmonized or complementary activities related to nutrition
c) Assist in monitoring compliance with agreements and the Operational Framework of the ALD-EAFM across relevant bodies/divisions.

4. Assist in producing ASEAN publications on nutrition and to populate the ASEAN Nutrition Surveillance System (ANSS) and nutrition scorecard

a) Take the lead in preparing the update of the Food Security and Nutrition Profiles and ASEAN Nutrition report, to be published in 2020, in collaboration with the Head of the Health Division, the lead member state (Philippines) and other Member States, UNICEF, WHO and FAO.
b) Liaise with ASEAN Member States (AMS), UNICEF, WHO and FAO to populate the ANSS and nutrition scorecard annually and to package the information for advocacy, high level meetings, publications and reports. Liaison with AMS follow the internal processes in ASEAN.
c) In collaboration with UNICEF and the relevant divisions in ASEAN Secretariat such as those involved with ASEAN statistics, review the quality of the data submitted into the ANSS and facilitate additional analysis, technical assistance and capacity building as required.
d) Promote stronger linkages between food security and nutrition data collection instruments in AMS, in collaboration with the Agriculture division
e) Assist in producing and obtaining endorsement for various joint publications on nutrition with UN agencies and other ASEAN partners, including training package on Public Finance for Nutrition, guidance, tools, research, advocacy materials, reports and others

5. Support the Assistant Director and Head of the Health Division in undertaking substantive technical work on Nutrition

a) Provide necessary technical and strategic input to the Assistant Director pertaining to the design and implementation of the ASEAN nutrition-related projects, programmes and activities including relevant advocacy initiatives.
b) In collaboration with UNICEF, support a review of existing nutrition policies for maternal nutrition and early childhood nutrition (focusing on complementary feeding) in selected ASEAN countries and development of policy matrices and recommendations on ASEAN strategic frameworks for these areas.
c) Identify additional areas of strategic and technical engagement on nutrition
d) Monitor policy, financing and evidence developments on nutrition at regional and international level.
e) Contribute to documentation of ASEAN nutrition initiatives and the RISING contribution to ASEAN.

6. Perform other assignments as may be assigned to her/him

Work Schedule and End Product: Monthly activities accomplished and progress against the main tasks and milestones

Estimated Duration of Contract: 11.5-month period starting as soon as possible with possibility of an extension for a further 11.5 months.

Interested candidates are requested to submit CV, cover letter, full contact information of minimum 2 references, availability, relevant example of previous work, and monthly professional fee in USD by 26 July 2019.

 FORM P11.doc

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.

View our competency framework at

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

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

--------------

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.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, 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.