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.

Background:

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child. UNICEF is working to support all children in Abkhazia by accelerating the universal realization of child rights by fostering greater social inclusion of the most deprived children and by reducing disparities and inequities affecting children and their families.

UNICEF is supporting improved access to equitable and quality health and nutrition services in Abkhazia. This includes 1) training healthcare workers on mother and child health, covering effective perinatal care, integrated management of childhood illnesses, infection prevention and control, nutrition, breastfeeding, health promotion and communication, etc., 2) strengthening of the immunization programme, as well as 3) primary healthcare strengthening and 4) supporting COVID-19 response activities. To support the further development, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation of these activities, UNICEF's Sukhumi Field Office seeks to recruit a local Health and Nutrition Assistant on a Special Service Agreement (SSA) consultancy.

Scope of work:

Under the direct supervision of the Project Officer/Health of the Sukhumi Field Office and overall supervision of the Chief of Field Office as well as in close cooperation with other staff members of the field, country, regional and headquarters offices - the Health and Nutrition Assistant will support the development, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation of the Sukhumi Field Office's health and nutrition program.

The overall objective of UNICEF's Health and Nutrition program in Abkhazia is to assist in improving the quality of mother and child health and nutrition in Abkhazia in accordance with the findings and recommendations of the relevant assessments, surveys and studies, carried out by UNICEF and other stakeholders in Abkhazia.

Contract period:

The expected start date for the contract is 1 December 2020. The contract duration is until 28 February 2021.

Duties and responsibilities:

The Health and Nutrition Assistant will regularly fulfil the following duties and responsibilities:

1. Provide support to the Project Officer/Health and the Chief of Field Office in the planning, preparation, implementation and monitoring and evaluation of the Sukhumi Field Office's health and nutrition activities; amongst others, make appointments with relevant partners; prepare, accompany and take notes during meetings, prepare and assist during trainings, round tables, workshops and other events, write summary reports on such events, participate in monitoring activity results, and provide input, as necessary, to the further development of UNICEF's health and nutrition activities in Abkhazia and various draft documents
   • Timeframe, mode of service: Continuously throughout the contract period
   • Deliverables: Regular and quality support is provided to the planning, preparation, implementation and monitoring and evaluation of the Sukhumi Field Office's health and nutrition activities, and quality input made to various draft documents
2. Engage in research on specific topics related to health and nutrition, provide background information/papers/reports to UNICEF
   • Timeframe, mode of service: When requested
   • Deliverables: Quality reports/papers/background information documents on various issues related to health and nutrition are produced and shared with the relevant UNICEF staff
3. Monitor, document and report on the activities of UNICEF's implementing partners and their impact in the field of health and nutrition in Abkhazia
   • Timeframe, mode of service: continuously
   • Deliverables: Regular updates and short analytical reports to the Chief of Sukhumi Field Office and Project Officer/Health on activities of UNICEF's implementing partners
4. Assist in the development of donor reports and proposals
   • Timeframe, mode of service: continuously
   • Deliverables: Support the Chief of Sukhumi Field Office and Project Officer/Health in developing programmatic and financial reports as required by donors and in the preparation, development and finalization of proposals
5. Assist in the development and implementation of the health and nutrition communication strategy
   • Timeframe, mode of service: continuously
   • Deliverables: Support the Chief of Sukhumi Field Office and Project Officer/Health in developing and implementing health and nutrition communication strategy
6. Support the coordination of UNICEF activities in the field of health and nutrition with the activities of UNICEF's implementing partners, other international organizations and NGOs
   • Timeframe, mode of service: continuously
   • Deliverables: Smooth coordination of UNICEF activities with relevant programme staff of UNICEF implementing partners, other international organizations and NGOs
7. Establish and maintain close contacts with stakeholders in Abkhazia in the field of health and nutrition
   • Timeframe, mode of service: continuously
   • Deliverables: Smooth cooperation and coordination of UNICEF activities with technical/programme staff of relevant stakeholders in Abkhazia
8. Establish and maintain close contacts with relevant UNICEF colleagues and offices outside Abkhazia
   • Timeframe, mode of service: continuously
   • Deliverables: Smooth cooperation and coordination of activities with relevant UNICEF colleagues and offices outside Abkhazia
9. Fulfil other duties and responsibilities as requested by the Project Officer/Health and the Chief of Field Office
   • Timeframe, mode of service: As necessary
   • Deliverables: TBD

Necessary qualifications and experience:

• Relevant university degree in health-related field, international relations, economics, social sciences, management or relevant field; specialised trainings in a relevant field (e.g. mother and child health, immunization, nutrition, etc.) would be an asset;
• At least five years of relevant working experience; experience with UN will be a significant asset;
• Good understanding of health and nutrition issues;
• Very good analytical skills, experience in research and the writing of analytical reports;
• Very good organizational skills;
• English language fluency; knowledge of other local relevant languages would be an asset;
• Ability to work in a multi-national environment with team members from different cultural backgrounds.

Performance indicators:

The Health and Nutrition Assistant's performance will be evaluated against the following criteria: timeliness, responsibility, initiative, communication, and quality of duties and responsibilities fulfilled.

Unsatisfactory performance:

In case of unsatisfactory performance the contract can be terminated by notification letter sent 15 days prior to the termination date.

Location

The assignment will be office-based. Location in Sukhumi.

Remuneration and entitlements:

Applicants are required to submit a financial proposal for the requested services. The remuneration will be negotiated between the applicants and UNICEF on the basis of an initial proposal of the applicants. The Health and Nutrition Assistant will be remunerated on monthly base following satisfactory fulfilment of the duties and responsibilities and the provision of a monthly report on activities performed and deliverables achieved.

An Individual Contractor will be entitled to 1.5 days paid time off at the end of each month and paid UN official holidays.

Application:

Applications need to be submitted in English language in UNICEF's online application system

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.

View our competency framework at

http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

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:

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.