International Consultant - Technical Support for Operationalization of National Nutrition Surveillance Protocol, Freetown, Sierra Leone, 170 working days (Remote)

Contract

This is a Consultancy contract. More about Consultancy contracts.

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, sustenance

Please access UNICEF Sierra Leone information here and here

How can you make a difference?

Purpose and Objective

A robust nutrition information system designed to continuously collect and interpret quality and reliable data on food, health, nutrition, and economic performance in a timely basis, is needed to guide decisions on improving the nutrition situation of the population.

Lack of a strong nutrition surveillance system that monitors trends for early detection of malnutrition epidemics; with identification of affected locations and vulnerable population and triggers response activities is a challenge that requires immediate attention in Sierra Leone.

With the finalization of a National Nutrition Information Strategy, and National Nutrition Surveillance Protocol in Sierra Leone, the purpose of this consultancy is to support the operationalization of the Nutrition Surveillance Protocol, and ensure that two nutrition surveillance reports are integrated to identified platforms (e.g. Cadre Harmonise) detailed in the protocol.

Scope of Work Assignment

• Assess quality of existing nutrition surveillance activities by supporting field data collection of existing early warning systems/platforms (e.g., Cadre Harmonise) identified in the Nutrition Surveillance Protocol; using existing standards of practice and guidelines.
• Guide the Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MoHS) in the establishment of standards in management (planning, budgeting, training, data collection, data analysis and reporting) of nutrition surveillance activities.

Specific Tasks of Consultant

• Review existing training, data collection, data analysis, and reporting standards and guidelines currently used by the Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MoHS) for nutrition surveillance through various platforms like Community Health Workers (CHWs) programme, and Food Security Monitoring System (FSMS).
• Develop field assessment guide and tools to assess quality and effectiveness of the existing nutrition surveillance activities and to identify any gaps.
• Data collection using field assessment tools during community health programme nutrition surveillance activities and Cadre Harmonise nutrition surveillance activities (including FSMS).
• Review of global, regional, and national standards in the management of nutrition surveillance activities through literature review, key informant interviews, plus technical and expert consultations.
• Develop the first draft of standards of practice in the Sierra Leonean context based on review of literature, technical consultations, and field assessment results.
• Field test the protocol on the standards of practice as the first step to its operationalization including hands-on capacity building during the process through on-job-training, and thereafter organize technical validation.
• Finalization and launching of the standards of practice on nutrition surveillance (including its data collection and analysis), based on consultative and validation meetings.

Please see the full ToR attached ToR - International Consultant - Operationalization of National Nutrition Surveillance Protocol.pdf

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

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in public health and nutrition, epidemiology, health/nutrition information technology, health/nutrition informatics, or health systems management.
• A minimum of 10 years of relevant professional experience working on health and nutrition information management systems.
• Ability to effectively grasp and incorporate inputs/feedback from multiple contributors.
• Previous UNICEF, UN and/or INGO experience in a similar role is desirable.
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

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

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

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/individual contractors 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.

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.

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.