Individual National Consultant - Conduct National Iodine Survey, Accra, Ghana, 11.5 months
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Job no: 591799
Contract type: Consultant
Duty Station: Accra
Level: Consultancy
Location: Ghana, Western Sahara
Categories: Health and Nutrition
UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.
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For every child, good nutrition!
In 2015, a national Iodine survey reported that nationally, only 29.3% of households were using adequately iodised salt (i.e. salt that contains levels of iodine in line with international standards), while 61.9% of households had access to salt with any levels of iodine, which is lower than the international target of 90%. The survey also reported a higher percent of households using adequately iodised salt in the North (37.6%) and South (48.6%) compared to the Mid (18.6%) and South salt-producing (19.3%) regions. Moreover, the recent 2022 GDHS reported that 80% households had access to salt containing any level of iodine. However, the results did not indicate the proportion of household salt that was adequately iodized, and data on iodine status among vulnerable populations (including women in fertile age, pregnant women and school-age children) was not collected.
Given the current evidence gaps regarding access to adequate iodine sources, it is essential to conduct a cross-sectional iodine survey in vulnerable populations. This will provide a clearer understanding of current iodine intake levels and inequities in access to iodised salt, thereby informing the design of targeted interventions to address any emerging gaps.
How can you make a difference?
The consultant in collaboration with the Government will plan and conduct a national iodine survey to provide actionable data to inform policies and programs aimed at improving iodine nutrition in Ghana.
Work Assignments:
- Inception and Planning: Conduct an inception meeting with key stakeholders (e.g., Ghana Health Service, Ghana Statistical Service, Food and Drugs Authority, UNICEF, and development partners); Review relevant documents, including past nutrition surveys (e.g., GDHS, MICS. Iodine survey), protocols, and global guidance on micronutrient surveys; Compile and validate an inception report with a detailed work plan.
- Design of the National Iodine Survey: Design the survey protocol, including sample design, data collection tools, and indicator selection in line with international standards.
- Survey Implementation Support: Develop study protocol and submit for ethical approval; develop training materials, monitoring checklists and tools; Lead and facilitate training on protocols and ethical standards for data collectors, supervisors, and other field staff; Ensure data collection tools (programmed questionnaires etc.), equipment, supplies and logistics are adequately planned, procured and available at all levels; Troubleshoot field issues and provide technical backstopping
- Data Management, Analysis, and Reporting: Set up systems for real-time or near-real-time data quality checks; Review collected data for completeness, consistency, and reliability; Conduct statistical analysis of the survey data; conduct laboratory analysis for urine and salt samples
- Final Report and Dissemination: Prepare and lead a validation workshop for key stakeholders in Ghana; Prepare a final report that includes background, methodology, results, limitations, conclusions, and recommendations; Prepare a presentation slide deck, summary briefs for advocacy and draft manuscript for publication in an international journal.
Expected deliverables:
- Compile and submit an inception report including a detailed workplan
- Develop a comprehensive iodine survey protocol and seek ethical clearance from Ghana Health Service Ethics Review Committee
- Conduct a sub-national nutrition survey and submit the final report
- Disseminate survey findings with key stakeholders
Kindly submit your financial proposal as per the attached as part of your application 
Financial Proposal - Iodine Survey.docx
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
- An Advanced university degree in Public Health, Epidemiology, Biostatistics, Public Health Nutrition, Nutrition, Food Science and Nutrition, food technology, or a related field
- At least 5 years of progressively responsible professional work experience at the national or international levels with a focus on nutrition survey design and research
- Experience in the conduct of national-level iodine surveys in low and middle-income countries, a strong asset
- Fluency in English (both spoken and written) is required
For every Child, you demonstrate...
UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values
The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…
(1) Builds and maintains partnerships
(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness
(3) Drive to achieve results for impact
(4) Innovates and embraces change
(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity
(6) Thinks and acts strategically
(7) Works collaboratively with others
Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.
UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.
UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). 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 based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. 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, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.
UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.
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.
Advertised: Greenwich Standard Time
Deadline: Greenwich Standard Time