Readvertised-Nutrition Landscape Analysis-National Consultancy (For South Sudanese Only)

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UNICEF - United Nations Children's Fund

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Application deadline 1 year ago: Thursday 5 May 2022 at 20:55 UTC

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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.

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Background

Iodine deficiency is a major cause of preventable mental retardation, and its deficiency, commonly referred to as Iodine Deficiency Disorder ( IDD), jeopardizes pregnancy outcomes as well as children's physical and cognitive development. Serious iodine deficiency during pregnancy can result in stillbirth, spontaneous abortion, and congenital abnormalities such as cretinism - a grave, irreversible form of mental retardation. Despite this reality, there is no recent or updated data to describe the magnitude of the situation in South Soudan. The last country data reporting available on household level consumption of iodized salt is as old as (2010). Between then and now, nothing much is known about the magnitude of the problem in the country.

Iodine Global Network ( IGN ) supports the harmonization of national and international iodine program delivery through alignment of approaches, partnerships and resources, advocates for political will and increased attention and resources for iodine programs in the context of the broader global nutrition landscape, identifies and help address challenges to iodine programs in countries and thereby accelerating progress towards sustained IDD elimination, supports and strengthens national programs and fortification coalitions through consistent programmatic guidance and enhanced communication to, from and among national programs, and last but not least, identifies and addresses scientific questions and influences the research agenda in order to increase the effectiveness of iodine programs across countries.

Scope of Work:

The local consultant will assist in identifying and putting together relevant program literature for desk review, identify key players involved in the implementation of the program and secure their availability to discuss and provide insights on the program, assist in identifying salt entry points and in mapping existing quality control capacities, including key partners and affiliations of the program, and in drafting the landscape analysis report and plan of action to address the identified gaps

Purpose of Activity/Assignment:

The overall objective of this consultancy is to technically support the process of collecting, synthesizing and analysis of different data and information to inform and describe the current legal, institutional, and programmatic environment impacting Universal Salt Iodization strategy in South Sudan; and recommend strategic actions to accelerate efforts towards achieving Universal Salt Iodization goals for the elimination of IDD in South Sudan

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Overall, support and facilitate the technical work of the landscape analysis activity.
  • Assist and facilitate the formation of a taskforce that will oversee and guide the landscape analysis activity and validate all deliverables.
  • Assist in identifying and sharing of relevant literature related to the USI/IDD program.
  • Assist in identifying key stakeholders within the USI/IDD program who may provide detailed information on the various components of the program.
  • Secure appointments with the stakeholders, ensure their availability and facilitate communication whenever needed.
  • Assist in identifying major salt entry points and their different brands to South Sudan and map the salt route and distribution channels.
  • Identify the relevant legislative framework governing the USI/IDD program and help map existing quality control capacity.
  • Assist in compiling key findings, synthesis of observations made, and in drafting of the report to ensure that information collected is not misinterpreted or misreported.
  • Ensure the taskforce is informed of progress of the landscape analysis activity at every level, and that the deliverables of this activity are well discussed by the taskforce and approved by stakeholders.
  • Ensure that the action plan developed articulates the gaps observed, and that is doable within the stipulated period.
  • Support and guide the initiation of a national coordination body.
  • Make limited, pre-approved local travel to validate information, organize meetings and consult stakeholders.

Deliverables:

The local consultant will support and assist in delivering the following outputs:

  1. A set up and functional taskforce that will oversee the landscape analysis activity process and validate all outputs.
  2. A compiled list and contacts of in-country stakeholders relevant for salt trade, USI and prevention of IDD in South Sudan.
  3. Provision of all relevant available data and documents on IDD, USI, regulations, legislation, salt trade and quality control measures to the international consultant.
  4. A well mapped out salt trade routes and distribution channels including a list of brands sold in South Sudan.
  5. Validation of key information sources for relevance, reliability, and accuracy
  6. Coordinate (at least 4) key landmark meetings of the Task Force to facilitate direction and secure ownership of the salt landscape analysis process and report and inform the USI roadmap formulation.
  7. Lead the in-country coordination and consultative workshop to validate the landscape analysis report and the national action plan or roadmap on accelerating attainment of USI in the country.

Work Assignment Overview/ Outputs

Overall, support and facilitate the technical work of the landscape analysis activity and assist and facilitate the formation of a taskforce that will oversee and guide the landscape analysis activity and validate all deliverables

  • Set up of a functional taskforce to oversee the landscape analysis activity

Assist in identifying and sharing of relevant literature related to the USI/IDD program. Assist in identifying key stakeholders within the USI/IDD program who may provide detailed information on the various components of the program. Secure appointments with the stakeholders, ensure their availability and facilitate communication whenever needed.

  • A compiled list of relevant literature; and contacts of in-country stakeholders relevant for salt trade, USI and prevention of IDD in South Sudan

Identify the relevant legislative framework governing the USI/IDD program and help map existing quality control capacity

  • Relevant available data and documents on IDD, USI, regulations, legislation, salt trade and control measures availed to the international consultant

Assist in identifying major salt entry points and their different brands to South Sudan and map the salt route and distribution channels

  • A well mapped out salt trade routes and distribution channels including a list of brands sold in South Sudan

Assist in compiling key findings, synthesis of observations made, and in drafting of the report to ensure that information collected is not misinterpreted or misreported

  • Key information sources for relevance, reliability and accuracy validated

Ensure the taskforce is informed of progress of the landscape analysis activity at every level, and that the deliverables of this activity are well discussed by the taskforce and approved by stakeholders

  • At least 4) key landmark meetings of the Task Force to facilitate direction and secure ownership of the salt landscape analysis process, report and inform the USI roadmap

Support/lead the organization of a consultative workshop to facilitate the validation of the landscape analysis report and the national action plan or roadmap for USI attainment in South Sudan

  • A consultative workshop organized to validate the landscape analysis report and the national action plan or roadmap on accelerating attainment of USI in the country

Minimum Qualifications required

  • A degree in Nutrition, Public Health, Social science, legal, or related field
  • 5 years of experience in micronutrient or USI/IDD policy/programming specifically in South Sudan
  • Experience in working with different partners including the government, private sector, and development partners.
  • Good knowledge of the South Sudan context.
  • Flexibility to travel to any part of South Sudan if need arises.
  • Experience in nutrition programme design and implementation is an asset
  • Excellent interpersonal skills, and ability to promote collaboration and consensus building.
  • Technical knowledge of USI/IDD program.

Language Requirements: • English

  • Fluency in French /Arabic and another UN language preferred

All applications must be submitted with detailed financial and technical proposal

Payment Schedule

Payment will be done upon delivery of key task and submission of all necessary reports as stipulated in the detailed Terms of Reference.

https://www.unicef.org/southsudan/

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

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.

Added 1 year ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: unicef.org