International Consultant - Evaluation of the Multi-Sectoral Nutritional Plan (MSNP) of Nepal, 5 months UNICEF Nepal Country Office

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, result

The MSNP covered 28 districts of Nepal from 2016 to 2018, with the aim to improve nutritional status of infants and young children, adolescents including women in vulnerable social conditions. Interventions included improving coordination among partners and technical capacity of service providers at national and local levels. UNICEF Nepal commissioned baseline, midline and end-line surveys from 2016 to 2019. The consultancy will cover further analysis of the existing data and gather primary data to evaluate and increase the visibility of MSNP’s impacts on improving nutritional situation of children and women. In-depth analysis of the evaluation evidence is expected to provide a comprehensive description of the MSNP’s contributions to improving nutritional wellbeing of children and women, as well as its possible setbacks, and guidance towards enhancing its performance and sustainability will add a major value to policy making and programming.

The evaluation of will cover the analysis of the data from 28 districts which have been part of the MSNP since 2016. The evaluation purpose is to contribute to scaling up the MSNP, with the main objectives to:  Evaluate the extent to which the MSNP is relevant to Nepal’s current context and whether it needs re-planning its interventions to deliver sustainable results in the long run.

 Evaluate efficiency and effectiveness of implemented interventions under the MSNP through secondary data analysis and review of all programme documents.

 Measure the MSNP’s progress in achieving the main impact indicators for reducing prevalence of stunted, underweight and wasted children, and women with chronic energy deficiency.

 Generate lessons learned with clear conclusions on success and setbacks of the prorgamme.

 Provide feasible and policy-oriented recommendations which will aid the efforts of the Government of Nepal and UNICEF in improving nutritional status of children through the MSNP.

The audience of the evaluation are children and their families, the Government of Nepal, UNICEF, European Union, UN Agencies, development and implementing partners, and other stakeholders who will make use of the evaluation results. At the global level, the results of the secondary evaluation data analysis will contribute to strengthening knowledge and increasing awareness on impacts of multi-sectoral nutritional programmes. Evidence on MSNP’s impacts will be used towards advocating for comprehensive interventions aimed at preventing malnutrition among children and women, promoting innovative and evidence-based programming that will make visible impacts in the long run.

Specific Tasks:

1. Inception Phase:

• Review the programme documents and available data
• Hold consultations with UNICEF Team and Evaluation Reference Group
• Draft inception report and interview questions
• Finalize the inception report based on feedback from UNICEF and Evaluation Reference Group

2. Data Collection Analysis:

• Conduct interviews with relevant UNICEF staff, government, and development partners
• Analyse and triangulate baseline, midline and end-line data of the programme
• Produce and submit the summary of initial findings from the primary and secondary data analysis

3. Evaluation Report and Presentation

• Draft evaluation report and submit to UNICEF and Evaluation Reference Group
• Present the evaluation findings to UNICEF, government, and development partners
• Revise the evaluation report based on feedback from UNICEF and Evaluation Reference Group

Duration of the contract

The total duration of the consultancy is for 76 days over the period of 5 months tentatively effective from 15 May 2021.

Deliverables for this assignment:

Description of Deliverables****Target Delivery DateSubmission of Inception report15 July 2021Submission of Summary of initial findings15 August 2021Submission of Evaluation report and presentation14 October 2021To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Advanced degree in public health, nutrition and statistics, sociology, and other social science related field.

 At least ten years’ experience in designing and conducting evaluations using robust data analysis of large scaled programmes on nutrition for children and women.

 An extensive experience in nutrition policy and strategies in developing countries, preferably in Nepal.

 In-depth knowledge of human rights, equity and gender-based approaches to nutrition programming, policies and strategies.

 Demonstrated ability to deliver high-quality written reports in English and to engage effectively with stakeholders at all levels.

 Excellent writing and communication skills.

 Fluence in English is required.

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

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.

“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. We welcome applications from females and under-represented groups”.

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.

Please submit your financial quotation based on the deliverables for this assignment.

Terms of Reference - MSNP Evaluation.pdf