Advocacy for Nutrition in Emergencies Consultancy - LACRO, Panama, 6 weeks (HOME BASED)

Contract

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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, health

The UNICEF Latin America and Caribbean Regional Office is based in in Panama, operating in 36 territories, including 24 country offices.

UNICEF works to put the rights and well-being of the most disadvantaged children at the heart of the social, political, and economic agenda, in line with our equity focus, working across our organization and with our partners in government, civil society and the private sector to support shifts in public policy, fuel social engagement, and increase investment for children.

Despite of its importance, Nutrition is often not prioritized in emergency preparedness and responses due to lack of awareness and understanding of nutrition risks and needs of vulnerable groups in emergencies. This leads to reduced opportunities for fundraising and interventions, and subsequently to an increase in malnutrition rates with potential life-threatening consequences for high-risk population groups. UNICEF’s Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean (LACRO) has developed an advocacy strategy for Nutrition in Emergencies (NiE), focused on concrete and measurable objectives accompanied with a set of activities to be accomplished in 2023 -2024.

How can you make a difference?

Under the overall guidance of the Nutrition Specialist (Nutrition in Emergencies) and in close coordination with the Regional Nutrition Specialist and collaboration with UNICEF’s Latin America and the Caribbean Regional Office (LACRO)’s Communication and Advocacy and Private Fundraising and Partnerships (PFP) Sections, the consultant will provide technical support to the implementation of advocacy activities related to the advocacy strategy for Nutrition in Emergencies.

The overall goal of this consultancy is to develop strategic and technical inputs to use in advocacy activities to increase awareness and understanding of NiE and interest to fund it in the LAC region.

Key Activities/Tasks

• Liaise with UNICEF headquarters, the Global Nutrition Cluster (GNC), the GNC-Technical Alliance and UNICEF Country Offices to map global, regional, and country-level resources related to NiE for the creation of a document repository.
• Identify, jointly with UNICEF Country Offices and with guidance from LACRO Communication and Advocacy and Private Fundraising and Partnerships (PFP) Sections, human-interest stories and case studies on NiE for publishing in communication material (e.g. videos) and use in material targeting private sector donors.
• Participate in coordination meetings with LACRO Sections, UNICEF Country Offices and partners as needed, and prepare inputs for these.
• Other activities identified as key for the objective of this consultancy

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

• An advanced university degree University (Master) degree in nutrition, public health, or any health science related field
• Professional technical knowledge and expertise in Nutrition.
• Knowledge and experience in Nutrition in Emergencies is an asset.
• Knowledge and experience in advocacy is a strong asset.
• Demonstrated technical writing abilities.
• Demonstrated excellent skills in communication, dissemination, and advocacy.
• Ability to work efficiently under tight deadlines.
• Sets high levels of quality and productivity for self.
• Fluency in Spanish and English is required. Knowledge of other languages relevant to the LAC region is an added advantage.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

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

UNICEF competencies: building and maintains partnerships, demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness, drive to achieve results for impact, innovates and embraces change, manages ambiguity and complexity, thinks and acts strategically and works collaboratively with others.

Click here to learn more about UNICEF’s values and competencies.

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

Administrative details

Supervision: The consultant will work under the overall guidance of the Nutrition Specialist (Nutrition in Emergencies) and in close coordination with the Regional Nutrition Specialist and collaboration with UNICEF’s Latin America and the Caribbean Regional Office (LACRO)’s Communication and Advocacy and Private Fundraising and Partnerships (PFP) Sections

Workplace: The consultancy is home-based. Travel may be involved. International/national travel may be required, discussed and agreed with the consultant (a separate travel line will be included in the contract).

Duration: Estimated start date is November 20, 2023 until December 31, 2023.

How to Apply: Application should be submitted online and should include: TMS application form duly completed, Cover Letter, Study certificates and Financial proposal (Daily fee or deliverable fee).

Qualified candidates are requested to indicate an all-inclusive (lump sum) fees for the services to be including all associated administrative and travel costs.

Consultants must have their own equipment, tools and materials needed to perform their services. They will use their own laptops/computers, any application or system needed to complete the assignment. They need to provide the full service without using UNICEF resources. The access to UNICEF email and system is restricted to UNICEF staff therefore consultants should not be granted access unless it is imperative to complete the assignment.

Remarks:

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

Individuals engaged under a consultancy 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. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment.

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.