UNICEF Zimbabwe is inviting applications for a consultant with Technical expertise for SMART surveys and IPC-AMN analysis (Open to Zimbabwe Nationals only)

Contract

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UNICEF Zimbabwe is inviting applications for a consultant with Technical expertise for SMART surveys and IPC-AMN analysis.

The purpose of this assignment is to ensure the smooth running and technical quality (as assessed by the SMART Plausibility report) of nutrition surveys in 6 districts using the SMART methodology, and to support the IPC-AMN process.

BACKGROUND

According to the Zimbabwe Vulnerability Assessment of 2022, child malnutrition has been steadily increasing since pre-Covid-19 with a global wasting prevalence above 5% this year for the first time since 2005, illustrating a precarious nutrition situation for women, children and adolescents. There are many compounding underlying factors that are accumulating on top of an already fragile nutrition situation characterized by low breastfeeding rates, low child diet diversity, high levels of micronutrient deficiencies, high rates of low birthweight (which perpetuates the inter-generational cycle of malnutrition) and high numbers of teenage pregnancies. Other key underlying factors include:

• The long-lasting secondary effects of the Covid-19 pandemic that are now being exacerbated by the current global rise in food prices and the economic situation in Zimbabwe.
• A drop in public health services following the pandemic resulting in a measles outbreak this year. Measles and malnutrition have a synergistic relationship, where children who contract measles are at risk of becoming malnourished and children who are malnourished are more prone to measles infection.
• A drop in Vitamin A supplementation coverage during the pandemic, leaving children who contract measles more at risk of complications and blindness.
• On top of this, food insecurity is likely to increase this year following a below average agricultural season, and the nutrition sector is preparing for a potential increase in cases of wasting over the rest of 2022 and into 2023 over the hunger gap period (Dec-Mar).

To prevent the deterioration of the nutrition situation any further, there is a need to strengthen and improve coordination of multi-sectoral community-based activities through the care group approach.

With this background, UNICEF will support the MoHCC to implement 6 nutrition surveys following the SMART methodology in order to measure child nutrition status and indicators around the immediate and underlying causes of malnutrition (as per UNICEF’s conceptual framework for malnutrition) to understand further the ZimVAC results and further investigate the nutrition situation in 6 worst-affected districts as per ZimVAC results.

ASSIGNMENTS

• Finalize the survey protocol, budget and timeline including the preparatory activities.
• Ensuring all aspects of the survey, based on the protocol, are adequately costed and agreed with MoHCC
• Ensure availability of equipment necessary for the survey (forms, digital data collection tools, scales, height boards, MUAC tapes, referral slips, stationary and other equipment).
• Finalize survey tools: data collectors guide, questionnaires, anthropometric standardization test tools, calendar of local events, referral forms etc before the start of training.
• Support training of the MoHCC supervisors and enumerator team, including preparing timetables, materials and organizing logistics.
• Organize and carry out a pre -test (field test) to validate the questionnaire, methodology, recording and data entry.
• Organize and carry out a standardization test for the anthropometric part of the survey to ensure high quality anthropometric data collection.
• Develop a data collection plan to deploy teams for data collection and develop a supervision plan in coordination with MoHCC.
• Ensuring logistics is in place for data collection – including vehicle hire, telephone airtime for communication between supervisors and teams, official ID for enumerators and supervisors.
• Ensure communication to communities takes place ahead of data collection.
• Supervise teams on the ground to ensure the quality of data collection on daily basis and provide corrective feedback as necessary to teams.
• Document constraints, difficulties and potential biases identified during data collection.
• Ensure accurate documentation of survey process, including photographic evidence for use for visibility and donor reporting.
• Ensure data management procedures are in place, including:
  • Identified and agreed server for data storage.
  • Regular back-ups of all data collected to ensure no loss of data.
  • Tablets are programmed / set-up correctly for data collection with the correct tested version of the questionnaire.
  • All teams have functioning tablets with functioning chargers, including solar chargers for areas with no power supply.
• Account for all tablets after data collection, and ensure they are maintained with MoHCC for use in future surveys.
• Analyze and interpret the results of the survey with technical specialists from MoHCC, UNICEF and SMART.
• Lead the final report writing of the survey.
• Assist MoHCC in presenting the results of the survey.
• Assist to coordinate preparations for the IPC-AMN and act as liaison between the IPC Global Support Unit and the FNC and the MoHCC.
• Participate in the IPC-AMN and support training and analysis as necessary.
• In response to the results of the ZimVAC and the surveys, coordinate, scale up and monitor the care group approach in coordination with MoHCC and partners.
• Other tasks as requested by the Nutrition Manager.

Major tasks and deliverables:

Tasks/Milestone:

Deliverables/Outputs:

Timeline

Support survey training, including a standardisation test and field test.

Training report and standardization report.

15 days

By week 4: 20% payment

Ensure readiness for the survey, supervise data collection, monitoring data quality and feeding back to teams on areas for improvement.

Report of preliminary survey results.

24 days

By week 8: 40% payment

Support preparation of final survey report and support to IPC-AMN

Final survey report.

24 days

By week 12: 40% payment

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

Education:

University degree from a recognized academic institution in one or more of the following areas is preferred:

• Public health nutrition, epidemiology, nutrition information management, or related technical field.

Experience:

• Minimum five years of professional work experience in nutrition information and/or nutrition programming

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:

• Experience of conducting nutrition surveys using SMART methodology.
• Experience of survey data analysis and report writing.
• Experience of IPC-AMN
• Experience of working within UNICEF or other UN entities is an asset.

Languages:

• Fluency in English required.
• Excellent writing skills in English.

For more information on this consultancy kindly refer to the attached terms of reference; ToR_Technical Experts for SMART Surveys.pdf

If interested and available to undertake the individual consultancy, please submit your application online and attach the required documents including a 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 and/or days proposed per deliverable.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

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

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.

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. The candidate may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including 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.