National Consultant: Epidemiologist-Health and Nutrition Data and Monitoring

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, every right

UNICEF has been operating in Zimbabwe since 1982. We are a team of passionate professionals committed to the protection and fulfillment of children’s rights.

Supporting the Government’s vision of a prosperous and empowered upper-middle-income society, the 2022 to 2026 UNICEF Zimbabwe country programme is aimed at contributing to sustainable socioeconomic development that provides all children, including adolescents, with opportunities to fulfil their potential, lead a healthy life, access quality learning and protection and meaningfully participate in society.

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How can you make a difference?

UNICEF Zimbabwe is seeking to hire an enthusiastic National Consultant: Epidemiologist-Health and Nutrition Data and Monitoring. The consultant is responsible for monitoring of health and nutrition data and indicators, data analysis for health and nutrition programs, including cross-analysis of data across sectors and partners, to best inform cross-programming and increased efficiency and actions. The job scope also includes technical support to the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MOHCC) data monitoring and reporting of relevant data into national, regional, and global databases.

KEY END-RESULTS

• Leads the knowledge management functions of the health and nutrition programme
• Accurate information, data analysis, and documentation are timely made available to support situation analysis, reporting and contribution to the development/establishment of sectoral program goals, objectives and strategies and results based.
• Provides technical leadership in data generation innovations, including generation of early warning data using predictive modelling analytics
• Provide technical and operational support related to data-analysis to government counterparts, NGO partners UN system partners and other country office partners/donors on analysis and reporting.
• Emergency preparedness and emergencies’ monitoring are enhanced through close data analysis including on continuity of services.
• UNICEF is well represented within relevant data/information technical group established by MoHCC
• Up-to-date program information is monitored, analyzed and synthesized, and reports are prepared and shared with relevant stakeholders as required to support the Health & Nutrition programme.
• Participation in monitoring and evaluation exercises, program reviews and annual reviews with government and other counterparts to assess programs/projects and to report on required action/interventions at the higher level of program management.
• Prepare and provide data and information required to track and monitor the health and nutrition section country programme indicators and rolling work plan indicators in time for review meetings, internal reporting requirements, RAM reporting and other UNICEF global data collection exercises (including NutriDash, CSIs etc).
• Support development of communication and information materials for CO program advocacy, awareness promotion, and resource mobilization.

BACKGROUND:

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programmes, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

ASSIGNMENTS:

UNICEF seeks to recruit a consultant on a SSA contract for 11.5 months to support data analysis and monitoring in Health and Nutrition. This Epidemiologist position will improve the generation and use of epidemiology evidence (from gathering, analysis to monitoring) through technical support to the MoHCC and UNICEF ZCO health and nutrition team. This includes data on routine activities as well as emergency response activities.

The SSA will implement the planned activities and the deliverables described below.

1. Accurate information, data analysis, and documentation are timely made available to contribute to situation analysis, sectoral input, and reporting.

• Develop weekly updates of the epidemiological data on issues related to Health & Nutrition situation, with a clear analysis and evaluation of relevant information disaggregated by gender
• Develop a weekly consultation and coordination plan with key partners at all levels.
• Provide weekly visualization of relevant data trends as required by supervisors and MoHCC

2. Technical assistance is provided to Government counterparts

• Assist MoHCC in the design, planning, monitoring and evaluation of the Health & Nutrition program
• Attend and technically contribute to MoHCC data and monitoring meetings
• Assist in the development of the sectoral work plan and technical decisions as well as for administration, implementation and monitoring of sectoral project activities.
• Support maintenance of info system for monitoring gender sex aggregated data.
• Develop a training/development plan to upgrade the data analysis capacity of the relevant MoHCC (central and district level)

3. Close monitoring of program delivery and sustainability is improved

• Participates in relevant field visits for monitoring project activities and local conditions and follows up with local government counterparts and other partners on project implementation.
• Identifying necessary action for program adjustments, acceleration, improvement and sustainability.
• Support government counterparts and other partners in the planning and management of Health and Nutrition Program.
• Reports to supervisor and/or Head of Office the outcome of program monitoring and review meetings with Government counterparts and all other relevant partners.

4. Effective partnership and working relationships are maintained for advocacy, technical coordination, information sharing and knowledge networking.

• Exchanges information and knowledge with other program to contribute to achievement of overall country program objectives.
• Assists in establishing effective monitoring, knowledge database/network and reporting systems to ensure the availability of current and accurate program information/data and contributes to the development of communication materials and strategies to support advocacy and community participation for Health & Nutrition.
• Keeps close contacts with external counterparts, including those of the UN and national partners, to improve the ability to collect and disseminate relevant data, exchange information on program/project development and implementation. Shares knowledge, information, experience, and lessons learned.

5. Up-to-date program information is kept available, and reports prepared to support programs by the effective implementation of integrated monitoring system.

• In consultation with monitoring and evaluation colleagues, conducts accurate and timely monitoring and data collection, and supports an integrated monitoring system
• Contribute to ensure that current monitoring systems are properly designed to collect relevant data for the program, and standardized across programs
• Analyze monitoring data, and recommend adjustments as appropriate to correct program implementation
• Assists in the timely preparation of annual sector status reports in compliance with the established guidelines and procedures.
• Assists in the drafting and preparation of program reports for management, Board, donors, budget reviews, program analysis, and annual reports, as required.
• Prepare and provide data and information required to track and monitor the health and nutrition section country program indicators and rolling work plan indicators in time for review meetings, internal reporting requirements, RAM reporting and other UNICEF global data collection exercises (including NutriDash, CSIs etc).

6. Emergency preparedness is maintained, and in emergencies, emergency responses are effectively provided.

• Support the implementation of emergency preparedness plan relating to Health & Nutrition.
• Provide support in case of emergency, for adequate monitoring and assessing the nature and extent of the emergency in the assigned area.
• Provide technical assistance to the Country Office as required. In line with the Core Commitments for Children (CCCs) in Humanitarian Action, strengthens partnerships with the Health and Nutrition humanitarian actors s within the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC).
• Provide support to the MoHCC to collect, analyze and monitor data in emergency responses.

Deliverables and Timelines

Tasks/Milestone:

Deliverables/Outputs:

Indicative Timeline/Days (payments)

1. Submit inception report and work plan of consultancy assignment, in consultation with Health and Nutrition programme staff.

2. Inception report covering the scope of work.

3. 5 days

4. Accurate information, data analysis, and documentation are timely made available to contribute to situation analysis, sectoral input, and reporting.

5. Report on weekly data analysis and trends are available to UNICEF and MoHCC

6. Report on support provided to MoHCC, and outputs of Data Quality Assessments on prioritized program areas such as immunization.

7. Reports on innovations supported to enhance capacity and efficiency of program planning, service delivery, or program monitoring for action.

8. 15 days

9. 15 days

10. 10 days

11. Technical assistance is provided to Government counterparts

12. Report on assistance given to MoHCC in the design, planning, monitoring and evaluation of program

13. Report provided on the assistance provided in the development of the sectoral work plan and technical decisions

14. Plan to upgrade the data analysis capacity of the relevant MoHCC (central and district level) is developed

15. 10 days

16. 10 days

17. 10 days

18. Close monitoring of program delivery and sustainability is improved

19. Program data and HACT monitoring findings synthesis reports produced periodically with actions identified for program adjustments, acceleration, improvement, and sustainability.

20. Reports to supervisor and/or Head of Office the outcome of program monitoring and review meetings with Government counterparts and all other relevant partners.

21. 10 days

22. 10 days

23. Effective partnership and working relationships are maintained for advocacy, technical coordination, information sharing and knowledge networking.

24. Report on information and knowledge exchanges with other program to contribute to achievement of program objectives.

25. Report on assistance provided in establishing effective monitoring, knowledge database/network and reporting systems to ensure the availability of current and accurate program information/data

26. Report on exchanges held with external counterparts, including those of the UN and national partners, to improve the ability to collect and disseminate relevant data, exchange information on program/project development and implementation.

27. 15 days

28. 10 days

29. 10 days

30. Up-to-date program information is kept available, and reports prepared to support programs by the effective implementation of integrated monitoring system.

31. Report on support provided to an integrated monitoring system

32. Report on additions made to ensure that current monitoring systems are properly designed to collect relevant data for the program, and standardized across programs
33. Support provided to enable timely preparation of annual sector status reports.
34. Report on assistance provided in the preparation of program reports for management, donors, budget reviews, program analysis, mid-year and annual reports, as required.
35. Knowledge products developed for evidence sharing, as basis for relevant policy dialogues, and in support of resource mobilization

36. Section reports completed (RAM, Annual Review inputs)

37. 10 days

38. 10 days

39. 10 days

40. 10 days

41. 10 day

42. 10 days

7. Emergency preparedness is maintained, and in emergencies, emergency responses are

effectively provided.

1. Report on support given to the implementation of emergency preparedness plan relating to Health & Nutrition.
2. Report on provision of support in case of emergency, for adequate monitoring and assessing the nature and extent of the emergency in the assigned area.

3. Report on support provided during emergencies to collect and analyze data

4. 15 days

5. 15 days

6. 10 days

Total

100% (230) working days)

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

Advanced University degree in epidemiology, data analyses, statistics, Public Health, or a field relevant to data sciences in health.

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:

• Very strong planning, conceptualizing, data analytical skills, data visualization skills.

• Strong ability to work collaboratively with many entities located in various institutions

Experience:

• Five years of relevant professional work experience.
• Experience in working with Government and civil society organizations in relation to capacity strengthening in developing context.
• Relevant experience in conducting population-based surveys and implementation science/operations research

Desirable

• Prior work experience in Zimbabwe and an understanding of the local context is an asset.

Languages

• Written and spoken fluency in English required.

If interested and available to undertake the individual consultancy, please submit your application online and attach the required documents including the technical proposal and an all-inclusive financial proposal incorporating an approximate number of travel days for field (local) travel.

Technical proposal: The Technical Proposal should articulate an understanding of the TOR and include the proposed Tasks/Milestones, Deliverables/Outputs, Timeline and level of effort by deliverable. The similar table provided in the TOR is indicative. Applicants may use the indicative table as a guide or deviate as per the proposed approach. The proposal should also cost-effectively propose the local travel proposed by the applicant to undertake the assignment.

Financial proposal: The Financial Proposal should include the costs (providing a daily rate as justification) for each task, including consultant fee, proposed travel costs and perdiem, communications costs and any other proposed cost.

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.