Organization: UN Children"s Fund
Country: United States of America
Closing date: 14 Jul 2015
Background
UNICEF plays a leading role in supporting countries to implement and scale-up services to protect and promote appropriate infant and young child feeding practices.Infant and young child feeding in emergencies (IFE) concerns the protection, promotion and support of optimal feeding for infants and young children and the minimization of risks associated with sub-optimal feeding practices in all emergencies, wherever they happen in the world. Sub-optimal infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices increase vulnerability to undernutrition, disease and death. The risks are heightened in emergencies and the youngest are most vulnerable. Infants and young children in ‘exceptionally difficult circumstances’, such as HIV prevalent populations, orphans, low birth weight (LBW) infants, those who are severely malnourished, and non-breastfed infants are particularly at risk.
UNICEF provides technical support and capacity building, both directly to Governments and via Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in emergency settings. As the nutrition cluster lead agency, UNICEF facilitates the coordination of various actors in responding to nutrition needs of the vulnerable groups in the affected countries.
Purpose
To provide specialised technical support in the area of infant and young child feeding in emergencies at global level and to affected countries, in collaboration with UNICEF Headquarters and Regional Office nutrition staff. The consultancy will include deployment to the field for support to emergency preparedness and response, and will include work from home during non-deployment periods supporting document review, lesson learning and documentation of IYCF in emergencies responses.
The overall responsibility of the consultant is to effectively support the on-site humanitarian response to meet the immediate needs of the affected population in the area of IFE as part of the overall nutrition response and help lay the ground for the medium and longer term response.
During emergency deployments, the consultant will work under the direction of the Chief of Nutrition in the Country Office or to the Chief of Field Office. While not on deployment, the consultant will work based at home under guidance of the Senior Nutrition Advisor, Programme Division-NYHQ to support the review of global guidance documents in the area of Infant Feeding in Emergencies, country and region specific documents where relevant, and analysis of UNICEF’s IFE response to emergencies.
Support the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of UNICEF’s emergency response related to Nutrition – infant feeding in emergencies; ensuring overall efficiency, effectiveness and delivery of results in accordance with UNICEF’s (CCCs) and national and international humanitarian standards.
Expected results
Emergency Settings:
Under the technical guidance of the chief of Nutrition Programme or Nutrition Manager, and the direct supervision of the head of UNICEF field office, the selected candidate will provide support to ensure the following:
· Preparedness strategies on Infant and Young Child Feeding in fragile countries are adequate. This will be done through review of preparedness plans, annual workplans.
· Assessment of the IYCF situation of women and children in selected emergency affected countries is conducted. This would done by developing the tools and indicators for conducting assessments, drawing on available global guidance and providing technical assistance to and if required,
· Comprehensive IYCF package implemented in selected emergency affected countries. This would be done through technical assistance to government officials and partners in preparing and delivering a comprehensive IYCF package, integrated as much as possible with other food security, health and nutrition interventions, (for example micronutrient supplementation, treatment of acute malnutrition) as per national/international standards, and including the development of strategies and actions to monitor violations of the Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes. This should also include the development of strategies and actions to support non-breastfed infants where necessary, including identification of partners, training, management of supplies, monitoring and reporting. Provide technical input to the nutrition cluster/sector plans either directly or through participation in IYCF working groups.
· Key partnerships for implementation of priority actions in the area of IYCF identified in selected emergency affected countries. This would be done through a capacity mapping of national and international organizations with requisite skills and recommendations on the support they would require to effectively implement a comprehensive IYCF package.
· Material for use in IYCF programs available in the respective countries. The consultant would support in the review and/or development of training packages, adaptation of job aids (counselling cards, IEC material). Liaise with UNICEF’s Communication for Development (C4D) experts at country level on key messaging for behaviour change.
· Recommendations on areas of the implementation of IYCF support in emergencies that would need to be strengthened. This would be done through field supervision, monitoring and documenting the current IYCF situation to feed into project proposals and reporting documents.
For each deployment, a specific terms of reference will be developed to address the needs of the affected country which will be determined based on human resource gaps, priority interventions of the country and/or gaps in geographic coverage.
Non-Emergency (While not deployed)
Provide remote support as required to UNICEF Regional Offices or to the NYHQ. The selected candidate is expected to;
· Support with the review (based on document review and conference calls) of bottlenecks to effective coverage of IFE interventions and work with country teams in developing, implementing and monitoring action plans for scale up
· Provide technical input to the review of the global IFE operational guidelines
· Provide technical input to the development of global guidelines on Management of Acute Malnutrition in Infants
· Support countries in the review of national guidelines on Infant and Young Child to ensure response to emergency situations are adequately addressed
· Implement other tasks as requested by supervisor
Duty StationThe consultant will be remote based with travel as required.
Timeframe11 months
Start date:1 August 2015 End date:30 April 2016
Key competences, technical background, and experience required
Education:
· Advanced university degree in Public Health, Nutrition, and/or Medical Sciences.
· 5 years of progressively responsible professional Mid-level work experience in humanitarian situations in developing countries in the field of nutrition in emergencies. Experience in planning and managing infant and young child feeding programmes in emergencies is desirable
· Fluency in English (verbal and written). Knowledge of another UN language and skills in a language of a humanitarian operation an asset.
· Communication – Ability to express complex technical concepts effectively, both verbally and in writing; effectively presenting thoughts and ideas in a clear, concise, and readily understood manner. Listen to and acknowledges others" perspectives and views.
· Working with People – Shows respect for the views and contributions of other team members; shows empathy; listens, supports and cares for others; consults others and shares information and expertise with them; builds team spirit and reconciles conflict; adapts to the team and fits in well.
· Judgement – Able to make effective, realistic, and impactful recommendations based on limited information and time, logical inferences, experiences, and the consideration of implications, alternatives, and consequences.
· Flexibility – Works effectively on multiple tasks simultaneously in an emergency setting and adapts to changing demands and circumstances; adaptable and ready to travel with little or short notice.
· Managing stress – Performs effectively in unstable, uncertain, and/or potentially dangerous environments while maintaining physical and mental health.
*Please see deliverables in attached chart.
How to apply:
How to Apply
Applicants are requested to send their submissions to <**pdconsultants@unicef.org>with subject line:“Infant and Young Child Feeding – Roving Nutritionist, Consultancy”** by**14 July 2015, 5:00pm EST.**
Applications must include:
· Cover letter,
· CV, and
· P-11 form (http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/P11.doc)
· Indicate where you heard about this advertisement
Please indicate your ability, availability and daily/monthly rate (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference above. Applications submitted without a daily/monthly rate will not be considered.
NOTE: Files should not exceed 5.0MB limit
UNICEF is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.
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