Nutrition Information System Consultancy (11 Months), Lusaka Zambia

Exciting opportunity to work in the nutrition section, in support of the M&E/HMIS/Nutrition Unit within the MoH, and will provide technical support to strengthen national nutrition information system, support training and provide guidance to staff working within and outside the MoH, including sectors and partners.

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, Nutrition ...

The UNICEF Programme of Cooperation with the Government of the Republic of Zambia (GRZ) is designed to address and mitigate the threat of poverty the country’s children face, while responding to the needs with interventions addressing the multiple causative factors.

To find out more about UNICEF’s work in Zambia, please visit https://www.unicef.org/zambia/.

How can you make a difference?

The main purpose of this consultancy is to work in the nutrition section,  in support of  the M&E/HMIS/Nutrition Unit within the MoH, and will provide technical support to strengthen national nutrition information system, support training and  provide guidance to staff working within and outside the MoH, including sectors and partners. The Nutrition Information System Consultant will support strengthening the nutrition information infrastructure and capacities of staff on how best to collect, collate and analyse quantitative and qualitative data to better understand the nutrition situation, analyse trends of malnutrition rates over time, produce  regular report  and track f core nutrition indictors; and inform decision making for effective planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of interventions to improve nutrition in the country.

The overall objective of this initiative, for which a suitable experienced consultant is required, is to strengthen the nutrition information system (NIS) for a greater use of nutrition information by policy makers and programme managers.  The expected outcome, an improved and functional NIS and country capacity in monitoring programs and international/global nutrition targets.  The outcome will be achieved by delivering on a set of specific outputs that include:

1. Design of the indicators to fill the major nutrition data gaps in the revised Zambia national nutrition monitoring framework, 
2. Incorporating nutrition module in both routine and ad hoc nutrition data collection system;
3. Improved capacity to collect and analyze data – with enhanced human resource capacity for data management;
4. Establishment of a  solid information technology platform/infrastructure – with dashboard presentation that allows easy review of key nutrition information at all levels (national, regional/district) to show current program status and support actions and decision making;
5. Availability of timely improved quality routine and surveys nutrition data; and
6. Improved dissemination of nutrition information.

Please see Detailed TOR for more information on the tasks and deliverables, here  Nutrition Information System Consultancy.pdf

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Qualifications

• Education requirements: Master’s degree, in public health/epidemiology, statistics, nutrition, or any other subject area relevant to information management
• Employment experience: At least 10 years’ experience in the management, analysis and reporting of nutrition and/or multi-sectoral data, ideally including data on human nutrition. Experience in capacity strengthening will be an asset.
• Professional experience: At least 10 years’ experience in designing and implementing health and nutrition capacity assessment, design of nutrition surveys in low-income settings and analysis of large-scale datasets to prepare different knowledge and communication materials
• Government Support Experience:  Track record of working with government to support strengthening nutrition information systems including capacity building on information management, documentation of nutrition projects, guidelines and publication of best achievements and lessons
• Language requirement: Fluency in written and spoken English is required

Required Skills and Expertise:

• Good written and communication skills including ability to write technical reports, documents or papers in English.
• Prior experience in use of DHIS2.
• Experience in managing, organizing, creating, analyzing and archiving data sets (of at least 10 years)
• Experience of analyzing panel data from integrated surveillance systems or multiple data sets of cross-sectional surveys.  
• Good analytical skills including experience in using statistical software (STATA/SPSS/SAS)
• Experience in capacity strengthening and facilitation of trainings will be a great asset.
• Good computer knowledge, including full proficiency in various MS Office applications (Excel, Word etc), data applications (such as KoBo, ODK, Survey Solutions) and nutrition data software (such as WHO Anthro, WHO anthro plus, Epi Info and ENA) would be useful.
• Ability to work effectively in a multi-cultural and dynamic environment.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) 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

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 be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks:

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

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.