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And we never give up.
For every child, health and nutrition
Background and Justification :
While Namibia has made significant strides in addressing social development outcomes since independence, malnutrition remains worryingly high, especially for an upper Middle-Income Country. An estimated 1 in 4 under-fives are stunted, with stunting in the marginalized San ethno-linguistic group as high as 2 in 3 children. A prolonged drought that lasted 3 years (2017-2020) increased food insecurity at household level, and the COVID-19 emergency has compounded food insecurity further through household income losses.
UNICEF is supporting the Government of the Republic of Namibia to strengthen Nutrition interventions in response to the COVID-19 and drought emergencies through funding support from the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO). The project focuses on ensuring continuity of essential nutrition services to the most vulnerable through systems support at national level and specific interventions in four priority regions. The project seeks to further strengthen delivery of nutrition services through the community health platform, including task-shifting for Community Health Extension Workers to deliver Vitamin A supplementation, treat diarrhea with co-packaged ORS and Zinc, treat acute malnutrition for defaulting children, and build the capacity of caregivers to screen and timely refer their children for treatment of acute malnutrition. Furthermore, the project ensures uninterrupted supplies of malnutrition assessment and treatment supplies and strengthens nutrition data collection and analysis to monitor intervention performance during and beyond the emergency response.
How can you make a difference?
Scope of Work :
The Consultant will support the UNICEF team and the Ministry of Health and Social Services and other partners to :
- Coordinate the planning, implementation, and monitoring for task-shifting of the identified nutrition interventions to the community health platform, and related outreach services ;
- Collect and timely analyze and utilize nutrition data for programme monitoring ;
- Coordinate analysis of food and biological samples from the National Vulnerability Assessment ;
- Facilitate two-way nutrition communication for the community health platform using U-Report and/or other relevant platforms ;
- Document nutrition response to emergencies to improve emergency preparedness ;
- Coordinate planning of end-of project evaluation to inform mainstreaming and scaling-up of the additional community health services as development interventions.
The Consultant will further support coordination for analysis of the National Vulnerability Assessment data on micronutrient availability and deficiencies, and coordination for/convening of the Taskforce on Addressing Malnutrition in Marginalized Communities.
Work relationships :
The Consultant will report to the Nutrition Specialist under the overall strategic guidance of the Chief, Child Survival & Development. The Consultant will further work closely with the Health Specialist and the HIV Specialist on areas of sectoral overlap, including on interventions delivered through the Community Health Platform. Further support and collaboration will be extended to the Nutrition team at the Directorate of Primary Health Care.
Outputs/Deliverables :
The following minimum outputs will be expected :
| Tasks/Milestone: |
Deliverables/Outputs: |
Timeline |
| Community Health Extension workers in the intervention regions have all the supplies and materials required to facilitate implementation. |
Personal protective equipment, job aids and monitoring tools distributed to all implementing facilities/communities. |
31st May 2021 |
| All community health workers prioritized for implementation in the 4 regions are fully trained. |
Training reports for all 4 regions. |
30th June 2021 |
| A platform for community health workers 2-way communication is established. |
Approved parameters for the U-Report module on community health workers provided to U-Report technical lead for incorporation in the system. |
31st July 2021 |
| National Vulnerability Assessment includes micronutrient data. |
Food and biological samples are stored and sent to appropriate laboratories for analysis. |
31st July 2021 |
| The 4 implementing regions are supported through programmatic visits. |
1* programme visit report per region. |
31st August 2021 |
| Support provided to the Ministry of Gender Equality, Poverty Eradication and Child Welfare to periodically and consistently convene the Taskforce on Addressing Malnutrition in Marginalized Communities. |
Number of meetings held and minutes available correspond to the stipulated frequency in the taskforce Terms of References. |
31st August 2021 |
| End of project evaluation planned |
Terms of Reference for project evaluation finalized and organization selected for implementation. |
31st August 2021 |
Deliverables may be adjusted based on evolving needs on the basis of emerging humanitarian response practicalities, and any such amendments will be agreed with the Nutrition Specialist in writing.
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
Desired profile :
Education : A University Degree in Public Health/Community Nutrition, Dietetics/ Nutritional Sciences, Community Health or equivalent.
Work Experience :
- Minimum 2 years’ experience in Nutrition programme planning, implementation and monitoring required ;
- Experience supporting delivery of services through the community health platform required ;
- Demonstrable project management experience ;
- Demonstrable ability to build and maintain external partnerships ;
- Strong communication skills (oral and writing) ;
- Strong analytical and critical thinking skills ;
- Ability to work with minimal supervision and without compromising quality and integrity ;
- Must be able to work in a team with diversity ;
- Previous work experience with Ministries of Health, UN Agencies and/or other partners in health is an asset ;
- Knowledge of a local Namibian language an asset.
Administrative issues :
The Consultancy will be on a full-time basis for a period of 4 months with the possibility of extension dependent on funding availability, continued need, and performance. UNICEF will provide office space for use by Consultant. The Consultant will use own computer and related accessories but will have access to office printing and scanning facilities. To facilitate teleworking where appropriate, the Consultant will provide own internet and cover cost of phone calls. Consultant will provide own transport within Windhoek. Should the Consultant need to travel outside Windhoek in order to fulfil requirements of the Consultancy, such travel will need Supervisor’s approval and UNICEF will provide transport and daily subsistence allowance support. UNICEF will provide daily subsistence allowance if the Consultant is internationally recruited.
The candidate selected will be governed by and subject to UNICEF’s General Terms and Conditions for consultants and individual contractors.
As per UNICEF DFAM policy, payment is made against approved deliverables. No advance payment is allowed unless in exceptional circumstances against bank guarantee, subject to a maximum of 30 per cent of the total contract value in cases where advance purchases, for example for supplies or travel, may be necessary.
Risks and Mitigations !
- Due to the unprecedented nature of the COVID-19 emergency, guidance for the response is evolving and may necessitate revision of deliverables for the Consultancy to keep up with emerging demands of the response. Such revision will be done in writing and agreed between Consultant and the Supervisor ;
- There’s a reasonable risk that in maintaining contact with other parties during the response, the Consultant may be potentially exposed, or potentially transmit the COVID19 virus to others. To mitigate, the Consultant will be required to follow UNICEF organizational guidance to staff in the response. In the event that the Consultant would need personal protective equipment to carry out his/her duties, UNICEF will provide such risk-appropriate equipment as may be required.
Payment Schedule : Equal monthly instalments subject to submission of satisfactory monthly report and the deliverables specified under “Deliverables and Outputs” above.
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.
The UNICEF competencies required for this consultancy are…
Competency Profile :
i) Core Values (Required) :
- Care ;
- Respect ;
- Integrity ;
- Trust ;
- Accountability.
ii) Required Core Competencies :
- Builds and maintains partnerships (Level I) ;
- Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness (Level I) ;
- Drive to achieve results for impact (Level I) ;
- Innovates and embraces change (Level I) ;
- Manages ambiguity and complexity (Level I) ;
- Thinks and acts strategically (Level I) ;
- Works collaboratively with others (Level I).
iii) Functional Competencies :
- Nutrition technical expertise (level 2) ;
- Planning and organizing (level 2) ;
- Analytical skills (level 2).
To view our competency framework, please visit here. Click here to learn more about UNICEF’s values and competencies.
How to Apply?
Qualified candidates are requested to apply online and access UNICEF vacancies at http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/
A cover letter and a CV, demonstrating the suitability of the candidate to the requirements and tasks outlined in the Terms of Reference. Budget estimate must include all expenses related to the assignment as specified under ‘Administrative Issues’. Candidates should take into cognizance the qualification and experience requirements when preparing financial offer.
Evaluation Weighting : Applications will be evaluated on the basis of both technical and financial proposal, with a 70% weighting on technical and 30% on financial.
Applications submitted without a fee/ rate will not be considered.
Namibia nationals are encouraged to apply.
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.