National Nutrition System Strengthening Consultant (Nutrition consultant) in Kazakhstan

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National Nutrition System Strengthening Consultant (Nutrition consultant) in Kazakhstan

Type of contract: Consultant Duration: 11 months from April 2022 to February 2023 Workplace: hybrid: home-based and office based

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, a fair chance

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Background

Children's malnutrition is a serious concern in Kazakhstan. A second round of WHO European Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative (COSI) was held in 2020. In primary schools, overweight and obesity were found to be prevalent in 23.6 per cent of boys and 17.6 per cent of girls. Underweight boys and girls made up 5 per cent of the population. A group of 8-year-old children included to the samples was used to identify changes in these figures. In comparison to 2015, when the COSI was first undertaken, the prevalence of overweight and obesity increased from 18.7 per cent to 21.1 per cent in 2021. The proportion of underweight children increased from 3 per cent to 5.6 per cent. Thus, the proportion of children with a normal body weight declined from 78.3 per cent to 73.3 per cent during the course of five years. The UNICEF country programme for 2021-2025 is supporting the Government in addressing the double burden of malnutrition through development of evidence-based strategies on addressing overweight and obesity in children, including the importance of breastfeeding, and micronutrient supplementation. UNICEF advocates for adoption and enforcement of the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes in Kazakhstan, and plans working with the private sector to incorporate child-friendly business principles in supporting breastfeeding mothers, parental leave, flour fortification, salt iodization and limiting the marketing of unhealthy food to children, including school meals. UNICEF collaborates with the World Health Organization (WHO) in reviewing school-feeding and physical education programmes. In 2021, UNICEF supported various activities to improve Child Nutrition including developments of the National strategy on prevention of overweight and obesity among children, a recipe book for children, and the breastfeeding guide. UNICEF Business Advisory Council (BAC) recognized Child Nutrition a priority area for cooperation to address children's health and well-being.

How can you make a difference?

The consultancy is to assist the Ministry of Health in child nutrition, which needs specific technical expertise.

Purpose of the Assignment The National nutrition consultant will provide professional technical, operational and administrative expertise throughout the programming process for the nutrition programme and projects. The incumbent should apply theoretical knowledge and technical skills in 1) delivery of research generating activities through researching, collecting, analyzing, and presenting technical programme information, 2) supporting the development, formulation and implementation of the Nutrition output within the Country Programme, 3) supporting partnership with government, UN agencies, businesses and NGOs, 4) contributing to social and behaviour change activities and 5) office’s resource mobilization. The National Nutrition Consultant reports to the UNICEF Health and Nutrition Specialist.

Scope of Work:

1. Plan and implement evidence generation: • Researches and analyzes the regional and national political, nutritional, social and economic development trends. Collect, analyze, verify, and synthesize information to facilitate Nutrition programme development, design and preparation. • Prepares draft technical reports and inputs on Nutrition programme preparation and documentation at the country, regional and global levels, ensuring accuracy, timeliness and relevancy of information. • Works closely and collaboratively with colleagues and partners to collect, analyze and share information on nutrition programme implementation issues.

2. Support to nutrition programme output implementation: • Provides technical and administrative support throughout all stages of nutrition programming processes by executing and administering a variety of technical programme transactions, preparing materials and documentations, and complying with organizational processes and management systems, to support programme planning, results-based planning (RBM) and monitoring and evaluating of results. • Participates in monitoring and evaluation exercises, nutrition programme reviews and annual sectoral reviews with the government and other counterparts, and prepare minutes and reports on results for follow up action by UNICEF management and other stakeholders. • Undertakes field visits and surveys, and exchange information with partners and stakeholders to assess progress and provide technical support in the area of nutrition. Takes appropriate action to resolve issues and/or refer to relevant colleagues and management for resolution. Reports on critical issues, bottlenecks and potential problems in the nutrition output for timely action to achieve results.

3. Support the Health and Nutrition team of UNICEF Country Office to establish and maintain partnership with government, UN agencies, businesses and NGOs: • Provides technical and operational support to government counterparts, NGO partners, UN system partners, and other country office partners and donors on the application and understanding of UNICEF policies, strategies, processes, and best practices on nutrition related issues to support programme implementation, operations and delivery of results. • Support to establish and maintain effective close working partnerships with nutrition sector government counterparts and national stakeholders, including business leaders participating in UNICEF Business Advisory Council (BAC) meetings and Nutrition task force with business meetings, through active sharing of information and knowledge to enhance programme development and implementation and builds capacity of stakeholders to deliver concrete and sustainable results in the area of children’s nutrition.

4. Contribute to social and behaviour change activities: • Drafts and adapt communication and information materials for CO programme advocacy to promote awareness, establish partnership/alliances and support fund raising for nutrition programme.

5. Contribute to office’s resource mobilization: • In close collaboration with the UNICEF Partnership Officer, researches information on potential donors and prepares resource mobilization materials/proposals and briefs for fund raising and partnership development purposes.

Work Assignment Overview

1. Tasks/Milestones: 1. Evidence generation: • Provide technical expertise and support to evidence gathering activities in Child Nutrition. • Collect, analyze, verify, and synthesize information to facilitate the child nutrition concept note development, design and preparation. 2. Building and sustain partnerships: • Build effective close working partnerships with nutrition sector government and non-government counterparts and national stakeholders (NGO, academia, private sector). Deliverables/Outputs: 1. A draft concept note on healthy child nutrition promotion in Kazakhstan is developed, taking into account UNICEF CPD, relevant aims, actions, and indicators of the National Project 'Healthy Nation,' as well as BAC members' ambitions (task #1). 2. Nutrition consultative task force is established and 1st technical meeting informs about strategies and actions is conducted (task #2) 3. Minutes of at least on working meeting with counterparts to collect their ideas and expectations on their own and UNICEF's commitment to child nutrition is provided (task #2). Date: By 30 April 2022

2. Tasks/Milestones: 1. Receive inputs and make appropriate changes, discuss the nutrition concept note and action plan with the partners. 2. Participate in BAC nutrition subgroup working meetings and provide technical assistance to BAC members implementing nutrition projects. Deliverables/Outputs: 1. Minutes of working meetings with counterparts, including those from the business sector, to collect their feedback on the healthy child nutrition concept note and action plan are created (tasks #1 and #2). 2. The final versions of the concept note on child nutrition and action plan are submitted (task #1). Date: By 31 May 2022

3. Tasks/Milestones: 1. Provide technical expertise and contributing to the evidence generation activities. 2. Participate in BAC nutrition subgroup working meetings and provide technical assistance to BAC members implementing nutrition projects. 3. Assist to the Ministry of Health with the implementation of the 'Healthy Nation' national project on child nutrition goals via creation and facilitation of the special technical group. Deliverables/Outputs: 1. Report on consultations with national partners on the child nutrition is provided (tasks #1-3). 2. Minutes of working meetings with counterparts are created (task #2 and #3). 3. Special technical group’s mandate, roles, dates and tasks are clearly defined to implement nutrition action plan and concept. Date: By 30 June 2022

4. Tasks/Milestones: 1. Provide technical expertise and contributing to the evidence generation activities. 2. Participate in BAC nutrition subgroup working meetings and provide technical assistance to BAC members implementing nutrition projects. 3. Assist to the Ministry of Health with the implementation of the 'Healthy Nation' national project on child nutrition goals via creation and facilitation of the special technical group. 4. Jointly with the UNICEF Partnership officer, research information on potential donors and prepare resource mobilization materials and briefs for fundraising and partnership development purposes. Deliverables/Outputs: 1. Report on consultations with national partners on the child nutrition is provided (tasks #1-3). 2. Minutes of working meetings with counterparts are created (task #2 and #3). 3. Resource mobilization materials and briefs for fundraising and partnership development purposes are created (task #4). Date: By 31 July 2022

5. Tasks/Milestones: 1. Provide technical expertise and contributing to the evidence generation activities. 2. Participate in BAC nutrition subgroup working meetings and provide technical assistance to BAC members implementing nutrition projects. 3. Assist to the Ministry of Health with the implementation of the 'Healthy Nation' national project on child nutrition goals via facilitation of the special technical group. Deliverables/Outputs: 1. Report on consultations to national partners on the child nutrition is provided (tasks #1-3). 2. Minutes of working meetings with counterparts are created (task #2 and #3). 3. Framework for evidence generation activities on child nutrition is created and discussed with national partners (task#1). Date: By 31 August 2022

6. Tasks/Milestones: 1. Provide technical expertise and contributing to the evidence generation activities. 2. Participate in BAC nutrition subgroup working meetings and provide technical assistance to BAC members implementing nutrition projects. 3. Assist with the implementation of the 'Healthy Nation' national project on child nutrition goals. Deliverables/Outputs: 1. Report on consultations to national partners on the child nutrition is provided (tasks #1-3). 2. Minutes of working meetings with counterparts are created (task #2 and #3). Date: by 30 September 2022

7. Tasks/Milestones: 1. Provide technical expertise and contributing to the evidence generation activities. 2. Participate in BAC nutrition subgroup working meetings and provide technical assistance to BAC members implementing nutrition projects. 3. Assist to the MoH with the implementation of the 'Healthy Nation' national project on child nutrition goals. 4. Together with the Comms team, draft communication and information materials for CO programme advocacy to promote awareness, establish partnership/alliances and support fund raising for child nutrition. Deliverables/Outputs: 1. Report on consultations to national partners on the child nutrition is provided (tasks #1-3). 2. Minutes of working meetings with counterparts are created (task #2 and #3). 3. Communication plan for raising awareness over children’s healthy nutrition is written in close cooperation with Communication team (task #4). Date: by 31 October 2022

8. Tasks/Milestones: 1. Provide technical expertise and contributing to the evidence generation activities. 2. Participate in BAC nutrition subgroup working meetings and provide technical assistance to BAC members implementing nutrition projects. 3. Assist with the implementation of the 'Healthy Nation' national project on child nutrition goals. Deliverables/Outputs: 1. Report on consultations to national partners on the child nutrition is provided (tasks #1-3). 2. Minutes of working meetings with counterparts are created (task #2 and #3). 3. Framework for communication activities on child nutrition is discussed with national partners and approved (task #3). Date: by 30 November 2022

9. Tasks/Milestones: 1. Provide technical expertise and contributing to the evidence generation activities. 2. Participate in BAC nutrition subgroup working meetings and provide technical assistance to BAC members implementing nutrition projects. 3. Assist with the implementation of the 'Healthy Nation' national project on child nutrition goals. 4. Review of the current schoolchildren feeding standards and developed recommendations for their enhancement Deliverables/Outputs: 1. Report on consultations to national partners on the child nutrition is provided (tasks #1-3). 2. Minutes of working meetings with counterparts are created (task #2 and #3). 3. Framework for development of the school healthy nutrition standards is drafted (task #4). Date: by 31 December 2022

10. Tasks/Milestones: 1. Provide technical expertise and contributing to the evidence generation activities. 2. Participate in BAC nutrition subgroup working meetings and provide technical assistance to BAC members implementing nutrition projects. 3. Assist to the MoH with the implementation of the 'Healthy Nation' national project on child nutrition goals. 4. Advocate for adoption and enforcement of the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes in Kazakhstan and restriction of unhealthy food marketing to children, including school meals Deliverables/Outputs: 1. Report on consultations to national partners on the child nutrition is provided (tasks #1-3). 2. Minutes of working meetings with counterparts are created (task #2 and #3). 3. Recommendations for adoption and enforcement of the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes in Kazakhstan and restriction of unhealthy food marketing to children are prepared (task #4). Date: by 31 January 2023

11. Tasks/Milestones: 1. Provide technical expertise and contributing to the evidence generation activities. 2. Participate in BAC nutrition subgroup working meetings and provide technical assistance to BAC members implementing nutrition projects. 3. Assist to the MoH with the implementation of the 'Healthy Nation' national project on child nutrition goals. 4. Analyze the current practice of food fortification and make recommendations to improve the regulatory framework and fortification practice to fulfill the needs of children. Deliverables/Outputs: 1. Report on consultations to national partners on the child nutrition is provided (tasks #1-3). 2. Minutes of working meetings with counterparts are created (task #2 and #3). 3. Recommendations for improvement of the regulatory framework and fortification practice to fulfill the needs of children are prepared (task #4). Date: by 28 February 2023

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have… • Master’s degree in Nutrition, Public Health, Epidemiology, Health Systems or related field • Experience for at least three years in Public Health or Nutrition. • Fluency in English language and ability to write quality reports on nutrition or other related public health fields; knowledge of Kazakh and Russian languages is an advantage. • Highly developed communication skills. • Ability to work in an international and multi-cultural environment. • Ability to work independently and respond to feedback in a timely and professional manner. • Excellent analytical and organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to contribute to a team. • Competencies: - Communication; - Drive for results; - Health promotion and non-communicable disease prevention; - Advocacy and communication to ensure healthy nutrition; - Analyzing; - Formulating Strategies and Concepts.

For every Child, you demonstrate… UNICEF’s core values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability (https://www.unicef.org/about/unicef-culture) View our functional competencies framework Functional Competencies.pdf

Remarks: • Completion of the UN/UNICEF mandatory trainings is obligatory upon commencement of the contract. • Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. • 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, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. • 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. • All materials developed will remain the copyright of UNICEF and UNICEF will be free to adapt and modify them in the future. • The Individual contractor or Consultant will perform his/her duties in line with UNICEF standards and procedures. • The successful candidate will be required to have medical insurance (at his/her own cost), covering the whole period of contract, including travel. • 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. • Payment upon completion of each deliverable according to schedule. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant.