Re-advertised: Consultant for Documentation of Pilot project of integrating Vitamin A and deworming with MUAC screening (For South Sudanese Only)

The purpose of the consultancy is to document the process delivering Vitamin A Supplement linked to a special event scheduled every quarter.

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For every child, NUTRITION

Background:

Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) has been recognized as a major public health concern for decades. The WHO recommends universal VAS in settings where VAD prevalence is a public health problem. Twice yearly preventive vitamin A supplementation is one of the most cost-effective health interventions for reducing infant and child mortality. Soil-transmitted helminths (STH) are common source of intestinal parasitic infections, affecting pre-school and schoolchildren, particularly children living in poor communities of developing countries with poor environmental conditions. WHO recommends deworming of all children aged 12 to 59 months through periodic deworming drug treatment twice a year.

Age-appropriate VAS along with deworming (for children 6-59 months) was integrated into polio NIDs from 2010 through 2019 and it was integrated into the measles follow-up vaccination campaign in 2020. Since South Sudan was certified as “Polio free” in 2020 and given that Polio NIDs phased out, MOH and UNICEF highlighted the importance of developing a cost-effective and more sustainable means to deliver VASD to all children 6-59 months. It was proposed that VASD could be integrated into quarterly screening for wasting which is an ongoing activity done by community nutrition volunteer. A national guideline was developed to operationalize the recommended approach. After approval from MoH, implementation of pilot in 3 counties (Melut- Upper Nile state, Gogrial East and Tonj North - both from Warrap state), started in second semester, 2021 for one year till June 2022. As the ongoing pilot implementation in 3 counties will end by June 2022, there is need to document the process of delivering Vitamin A Supplement linked to special event scheduled every quarter to draw lesson learned and inform planning and programming. This consultancy will therefore contribute to evidence and knowledge generation to guide further strategic decisions and sustain high coverage vitamin A supplementation even when Polio NIDs phased out.

Purpose of Activity/Assignment:

The purpose of the consultancy is to document the process delivering Vitamin A Supplement linked to special event scheduled every quarter. The documentation will contribute to put in place building blocks to sustain high coverage of VAS even after When South Sudan would successfully on the fight against Polio.

Scope of work

1. Review the concept note guiding the integration of VAS to scheduled activities
2. Systematic review of the processes for integrating VAS to quarterly community-based screening for wasting.
3. Review guidelines, training materials, recording, and reporting tools, IEC materials and capacity building activities for the pilot.
4. Conduct key informants’ interviews (MoH, UNICEF, UN partners, MIYCN TWG and World Vision International (implementing partners) to get insights of the pilot programming in South Sudan
5. Literature review and experiences from other countries to identify ways to strengthen South Sudan’s experience.
6. Prepare a final document for dissemination of integrating Vitamin A and deworming with screening for wasting in South Sudan

 Work Assignment Overview

Conduct initial discussions with UNICEF and MoH, review guidelines and other documents

• Inception report

Formulate the questions and conduct the key informants’ interview with key stakeholders (MoH, UNICEF, UN agencies and WVI (implementing partner)             

• Draft report highlighting analyzed findings of key informants’ interview

Conduct field visit to 3 pilot counties for documenting field experiences

• Field visit report highlighting the key observations

Collect and incorporate inputs from MoH, UNICEF and other stakeholders in the draft document covering all the aspects of pilot implementation including challenges and recommendations for way forward

• Final draft document incorporating the inputs from UNICEF, MoH and other stakeholders

Presentation in dissemination workshop with MoH, UNICEF and other stakeholders         

Education and Professional Background:

The consultant should have the following qualifications and experiences:

• Bachelor’s degree in Nutrition, Public Health or related field

• Three years of experience in research

•Good writing and analytical skills

•Proficiency in English

•Excellent interpersonal skills, and ability to promote collaboration and consensus building

•Experience in nutrition programme design and implementation is an asset

Technical Competencies:

• Proven technical expertise for conducting research and data analysis
• Experience in conducting research on nutrition programme
• Experience in organizing and documenting key informant discussions
• Experience in documentation in emergency country (L3/L2) setting preferred

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English and knowledge of local language is an asset
•  

All applications must be submitted with detailed financial and technical proposal

Payment Schedule

Payment will be done upon delivery of key task and submission of all necessary reports as stipulated in the detailed  in the vacancy announcement.

https://www.unicef.org/southsudan/

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

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:

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.

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. The candidate may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid).