Consultant – Mapping of the status and context of nutrition in preservice education of health workers, key stakeholders, and curriculum development processes, UNICEF East Asia and Pacific Regional Office (EAPRO), Bangkok, Thailand

The Nutrition Section, UNICEF East Asia Pacific Regional Office (EAPRO) is seeking a qualified consultant to map the status of nutrition in the preservice education of front-line health workers, country-level curriculum development processes and key stakeholders in preservice curriculum development in East Asia and the Pacific region. This mapping will inform the development of a model nutrition competency framework and qualification standards for training institutions to deliver competency-based nutrition preservice education to frontline health workers.

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 fulfilling 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 Nutrition Section, UNICEF East Asia Pacific Regional Office (EAPRO) is seeking a qualified consultant to map the status of nutrition in the preservice education of front-line health workers, country-level curriculum development processes and key stakeholders in preservice curriculum development in East Asia and the Pacific region. This mapping will inform the development of a model nutrition competency framework and qualification standards for training institutions to deliver competency-based nutrition preservice education to frontline health workers.

Work Assignment, Expected deliverable and Delivery schedule: 

The consultant will work under the guidance of the EAPRO nutrition specialist to carry out assignments in the following areas:

1. Assignment: Conduct a scoping review to understand the status of nutrition in preservice education for health workers in up to three countries in EAP and key publications from other geographic regions. Specific tasks under this assignment include:

a) Desk review of existing documents, reports, and preservice curricula to:

▪ Understand the overall context of nutrition related practice for frontline health workers in EAP and identify ongoing workforce development initiatives and other opportunities to position this work both in the region and globally:

▪ Identify existing competencies against which nutrition in preservice education is based on and qualifications requirement for teaching institutions and tutors.

▪ Understand curriculum development processes in the focus countries

b) Analysis of nutrition-related professional descriptions. Review sample job descriptions for nurses/midwives in the region or interview nurses and midwives to identify gaps in nutrition knowledge and skills from what is expected to be done by frontline health workers vs what is taught in the preservice curriculum.

c) Identify key stakeholders and their roles in preservice capacity development in EAP. The stakeholders should include but not be limited to educators, regulators, employers, including the government.

d) With the information obtained from the mapping exercise

▪ Provide a summary of summary of relevant information on health workforce strengthening’ globally and in EAP.

▪ Identify gaps in existing preservice curriculum and opportunities for improvement.

▪ Propose a draft model competency framework.

▪ Propose a draft minimum standard for preservice education for frontline health workers.

▪ Propose key stakeholders/individuals with expertise in curriculum development that should be considered as members of the regional task force, including academia, government, health professional regulators, and higher education regulators.

▪ Review and update the draft concept note for the preservice curriculum development to clarify the scope and processes, including consensus building method and validation at major milestones in developing the proposed competency framework and minimum standards for preservice education of frontline health workers.

Expected deliverables:

i. A report on the mapping findings, including the status of nutrition in preservice education, overall context of nutrition practice, and gaps and opportunities for strengthening what already exists in the EAP region, and the curriculum development processes in EAP.

ii. Stakeholders and their roles in preservice capacity development are identified.

iii. A draft competency framework with functions and competencies for different levels of competencies; awareness, generalist, and specialist categorization.

iv. Draft minimum standards/requirements for teaching institutions and tutors.

v. Updated concepts note on the curriculum development methodology and processes.

Deliverable schedule: June – July 2023

2. Assignment: Support formation of core taskforce group, preparation and convening of the first consultation meeting to be held in September 2023.

Key tasks under this assignment will include:

i. Support the selection of key stakeholders for the core task force and preparation of briefing notes on the task force's vision and goals

ii. Prepare all documents (findings of scoping review, methodology of draft competency framework and draft competency framework) for stakeholder review before the workshop.

iii. Support the development of workshop agenda, formats and supporting material

iv. Document the deliberations and discussion of the workshop.

v. Update the competency framework, training institutions' requirements based on the consensus post workshop

Expected deliverables:

i. Regional task force for the nutrition curriculum development is formed

ii. Workshop agenda, presentation formats, and workshop materials including presentations

iii. Workshop report including key consensus points and next steps.

iv. Updated competency framework, training institutions' requirements based on the consensus post workshop

Delivery schedule: August – December 2023
 

Duration of Contract:  June – 10 December 2023
 

Duty Travel: The consultant will be expected to travel to Bangkok to support onsite preparation and attend the stakeholder meeting.
 

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

• Master’s degree in social sciences, economics, public policy or related field.

• Minimum 8 years of relevant work experience in public financial management (PFM), domestic revenue mobilisation and/or familiarity with tax systems/policies.

• Previous experience in preparation of budget briefs, and PFM analytical reports.

• Demonstrated capacity to synthesize complex information.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• Demonstrated capacity for achievement of deadlines.

• Familiarity with the work of UNICEF in public finance for children (PF4C) is an asset.

• Knowledge of South Asia and Southeast Asia is an asset.

Interested candidates are requested to submit CV, full contact information of minimum 3 references, availability, and proposed daily professional fee in USD by 7 June 2023.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People, and Drive for Results.

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

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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.

UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children.