Individual Consultancy on support to the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry in organization and conducting Turkmenistan National Micronutrients Survey (TNMS)

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Application deadline 3 years ago: Friday 26 Feb 2021 at 18:55 UTC

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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 and nutrition.

Turkmenistan pays high attention to maternal and child health and nutrition. There have been tangible efforts to fight iron deficiency and anemia over the past two decades leading to the introduction and nation-wide implementation of flour fortification and universal salt iodization (USI) programmes by the Government. The flour fortification and salt iodization interventions were started in early 2000 by the Government and have gradually achieved universal coverage. Since 2008 all premium and first-grade flour produced in the country has been fortified with iron and folic acid, according to the decree of President of Turkmenistan. In 2004, the country was certified as having achieved universal salt iodization.

The country implemented and evaluated a National Nutrition Strategy for 2013-2017, adopted Sustainable Development Goal related to nutrition (SDG2), and recently adopted a new National Nutrition Strategy for 2020-2025.

According to MICS data (2016), the prevalence of chronic malnutrition (stunting), that reflects the long-term exposure of a child to repeated infections and inadequate nutrition and diets, has decreased from 19 per cent in 2006 to 11 per cent in 2016. The MICS6 was officially launched in June 2020, thus the malnutrition status improved and shows a decline to 7.1%.

However, the data on anemia, iron deficiency, folic acid deficiency, and Vitamin A deficiency are outdated as the last study of anemia among women and children was conducted in 2011. On average, the anemia prevalence in the country was at 44.3% in 6-59 months old children; 52.9% - in pregnant women; 56.5% - in non-pregnant women of reproductive age; and at 38.3% - in men. Although the causes of the high anemia prevalence are not fully understood in Turkmenistan, the hypothesis is that direct risk factors are likely iron, vitamin A, vitamin B12, and folate deficiencies. Other contributing factors may be inadequate coverage of iron/folic acid supplementation for women and children, gaps in exclusive breastfeeding, timely introduction of complementary feeding practices, poor dietary diversity in young children, poor dietary diversity in pregnant women and non-pregnant women of reproductive age, poor socio-economic status, and lack of adequate hygiene and sanitation.

Due to logistic and feasibility reasons, the anemia components were not included in the 2019 MICS. In order to ensure that all relevant data is collected, and the quality of the data is also preserved, it was decided to conduct a standalone micronutrient survey.

Given the significant impact of micronutrient deficiencies on the wellbeing of children and women and considering the fact that the current evidence on micronutrient deficiencies is outdated, undertaking a national micronutrient survey is critical. The national micronutrient survey will support the policy makers to understand how the flour fortification and supplementation programmes are working and will also provide fresh and applied evidence needed for policy advocacy and programming to address the priority micronutrients.

As per the signed 2021 workplan, UNICEF’s office in Turkmenistan is committed to support the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry (MoHMI) to undertake this survey.

UNICEF will retain the services of an National Consultant to collaborate with the research agency contracted by UNICEF Turkmenistan CO to work closely with MoHMI, the Scientific and Clinical Centre of Mother and Child Health (MCH),and the assigned National Laboratories, to provide technical assistance in designing and implementing this nutrition survey.

Taking into account, that survey will be conducted with support of the International Research Agency and the government entities are under-resourced to collaborate with the International Research Agency to organize, coordinate and implement the Survey on their own, especially during pandemic, and there is an existence of a language barrier, expertise and trilingual support as Liaison Person between all involved parties will be required.

Scope of Turkmenistan National Micronutrient Survey (TNMS)

The survey will assess the nutritional and micronutrients status of children 6 – 59 months of age, non-pregnant women of reproductive age (i.e. 15-49 years of age), and pregnant women. In addition, the survey will estimate the household coverage of the wheat flour fortification and salt iodization programs. The results of the survey will be representative to national and sub-national levels of all 6 regions.

The TNMS 2021 will be nationwide in scope and will collect data about four target groups: 1) households, 2) children 6-59 months of age, 3) non-pregnant women 15-49 years of age, and 4) pregnant women.

The primary objectives for the various target groups are as follows:

  • To measure the prevalence and severity of anemia in children 6-59 months of age, non-pregnant women 15-49 years of age, and pregnant women based on blood hemoglobin concentrations;
  • To assess the prevalence and severity of iron deficiency in children 6–59 months of age and non-pregnant women 15-49 years of age by measuring serum ferritin adjusted for the presence of inflammation as indicated by elevated levels of C- reactive protein (CRP) and Alpha-1 glycoprotein (AGP). It is currently unknown if laboratories in Turkmenistan can analyze AGP, but all efforts should be undertaken to include this biomarker since current recommendations include adjusting iron and vitamin A status measurements for inflammation;
  • To assess the prevalence and severity of folate deficiency in children 6–59 months of age and non-pregnant women 15-49 years of age measuring serum folate levels;
  • To assess the prevalence of vitamin A deficiency of children 6-59 months of age and non-pregnant women 15-49 years of age by measuring serum retinol or retinol- binding protein adjusted for the presence of inflammation (in children only) as indicated by elevated levels of C- reactive protein (CRP) and Alpha-1 glycoprotein (AGP). It is currently unknown if laboratories in Turkmenistan can analyze AGP, but all efforts should be undertaken to include this biomarker since current recommendations include adjusting iron and vitamin A status measurements for inflammation.
  • To assess the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among children 6–59 months of age and non-pregnant women 15-49 years of age using serum 25-hydroxy-vitamin D concentrations;
  • To estimate the median concentration of urinary iodine in samples of pregnant women and non-pregnant women 15-49 years of age;
  • Measure the household coverage of adequately fortified wheat flour and adequately iodized salt;
  • Estimate the prevalence of children 6–23 months of age with minimum dietary diversity using the WHO’s infant and young child feeding (IYCF) guidelines;
  • Estimate the prevalence of non-pregnant women 15-49 years of age with minimum dietary diversity using FANTA’s module of minimum dietary diversity in women (MDD- W) or a similar method.

How can you make a difference?

Specific Tasks

Support the survey implementation with all required logistic and liaison assistance, including translation the relevant correspondence in preparation, training, implementation, technical supervision, quality assurance, data collection and analysis, and reporting of the survey. Specifically, the National consultant will contribute to the TNM Survey, as follows:

  1. Liaise and collaborate with the International Research Agency and MOHMI with their entities and ensure effective communication with translation of the relevant discussion and correspondence (excepts the protocols/tools/reports);
  2. Ensure close communication with all other stakeholders in Turkmenistan to ensure a wide representation of different organizations at crucial stages;
  3. Organize the calls/meetings and discussion: with providing support to MOHMI with their entities in critical review the terms of references prepared by International Research Agency for the interviewers, phlebotomists, anthropometrics and team leaders;
  4. Organize the calls/meetings and discussion between the MOHMI and the International Research Agency in process of the pre-selection of the various survey teams;
  5. Organize community sensitization activities, coordinate with MOH and their entities timely obtaining of the required permits and authorizations for the field teams;
  6. Organize and ensure translation of questionnaires and other relevant documents into Russian and/or Turkmen, as appropriate;
  7. In accordance with TNMS schedule and under the guide of the Health and Nutrition Specialist plan and organize logistic requirements, including arranging meetings, hiring survey workers, and arranging transport for survey teams;
  8. In consultation with the MOHMI and International Research Agency, support UNICEF CO in procurement planning and finalization of the list of supplies with specifications for all required for TNMS supplies: e.g. stationary, blood sampling material, blood processing utensils, laboratory equipment or reagents, etc.;
  9. Organize the Validation workshop in close collaboration with MOHMI and UNICEF CO.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have

  • University/advanced degree in statistics, health, nutrition, nursery, sociology, social sciences, international relations, or other relevant fields;
  • Experience in statistical analysis and social analytics;
  • Experience in assisting the survey/project planning and implementation
  • Statistical software knowledge is an asset
  • Good communication and networking skills;
  • Knowledge of the national aspects of work with the ministries, and especially in the area health;
  • Knowledge of English; Turkmen and Russian;

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.

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are...

  • Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (2)
  • Works Collaboratively with others (2)
  • Builds and Maintains Partnerships (2)
  • Innovates and Embraces Change (1)
  • Thinks and Acts Strategically (1)
  • Drives to achieve impactful results (2)
  • Manages ambiguity and complexity (2)

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

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

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:

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

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.

Added 3 years ago - Updated 2 years ago - Source: unicef.org