Globally, over 2 billion people suffer from micronutrient deficiencies, exacerbating mortality from preventable diseases. Micronutrient deficiencies in Afghanistan present a severe public health crisis, as highlighted by the last available data (National Nutrition Survey 2013). Over 40% of women and children suffer from anemia, while 50% of children under five are vitamin A deficient, which is classified as a severe problem by WHO. Zinc and iodine deficiencies are also prevalent, and vitamin D deficiency affects nearly all women (95.5%) and children (81%). Compounding this, knowledge about micronutrients is alarmingly low, with only 38.7% of Afghans aware of vitamins, and 69.8% of mothers uninformed about vitamin A. Despite iodized salt awareness (64.2%), only 43.6% of households use adequately iodized salt, and just 38.1% consume fortified foods.
UNICEF leads efforts to combat this, but scaling up interventions—like supplementation and community-based programs—requires strengthened coordination, capacity building, and nationwide implementation.
The reach and scope of nutrition service delivery for women and children in Afghanistan have expanded significantly over the past two years. UNICEF's nutrition programs, including Maternal, Infant, and young Child Nutrition (MIYCN), Community Based Nutrition Program (CBNP), Multi Micronutrient Supplementation (MMS), Micronutrient Powder (MNP), Iron and Folic Acid (IFA) supplementation, have been scaled up across all 34 provinces. This rapid expansion underscores the critical need for national-level expertise to ensure effective program reporting, monitoring, and quality assurance.
UNICEF is supporting national MIYCN and caring practices as one of the major components of nutrition program targeting maternal Nutrition which refers to the nutrition of women during adolescence, pregnancy, and lactation, as it affects their health and the health of their foetus and/or infant, through their childbearing and nurturing roles, furthermore, the program is focusing on infant and young child feeding practices.
Nutrition emergency response and Treatment of wasting is one of the key components of UNICEF’s nutrition program in Afghanistan. The lifesaving nutrition treatment services have significantly expanded in reach and scope over the past decade and are currently implemented in all 34 provinces. In the past years, the funding landscape for Nutrition has significantly changed. All the nutrition actors are exploring innovative ways to mitigate the funding shortfall and support continuous program delivery. For the period 2025- 2026, UNICEF will be supporting the roll out of the new Integrated Management of Acute Malnutrition (IMAM) protocol in Afghanistan. The massive number of health facilities running this program will require technical expertise in critical areas linked to the implementation of the IMAM protocol.
nder the overall guidance of the Chief of Communication, Advocacy and Partnerships, the intern reports to the Resource Mobilization Officer and is responsible for research, tracking and analysis of the private sector space and support the strategic direction, proposition development, management, growth and renewal of these high value partnerships. This intern will work closely with the different UNICEF departments and others to deliver the desired outcomes.
The purpose of this Consultancy is to deepen collaboration with public and private sector partners and to facilitate scanning of the environment, knowledge exchange, partnership management and resource mobilization.
Globally, over 2 billion people suffer from micronutrient deficiencies, exacerbating mortality from preventable diseases. Micronutrient deficiencies in Afghanistan present a severe public health crisis, as highlighted by the last available data (National Nutrition Survey 2013). Over 40% of women and children suffer from anemia, while 50% of children under five are vitamin A deficient, which is classified as a severe problem by WHO. Zinc and iodine deficiencies are also prevalent, and vitamin D deficiency affects nearly all women (95.5%) and children (81%). Compounding this, knowledge about micronutrients is alarmingly low, with only 38.7% of Afghans aware of vitamins, and 69.8% of mothers uninformed about vitamin A. Despite iodized salt awareness (64.2%), only 43.6% of households use adequately iodized salt, and just 38.1% consume fortified foods.
UNICEF leads efforts to combat this, but scaling up interventions—like supplementation and community-based programs—requires strengthened coordination, capacity building, and nationwide implementation.
The reach and scope of nutrition service delivery for women and children in Afghanistan have expanded significantly over the past two years. UNICEF's nutrition programs, including Maternal, Infant, and young Child Nutrition (MIYCN), Community Based Nutrition Program (CBNP), Multi Micronutrient Supplementation (MMS), Micronutrient Powder (MNP), Iron and Folic Acid (IFA) supplementation, have been scaled up across all 34 provinces. This rapid expansion underscores the critical need for national-level expertise to ensure effective program reporting, monitoring, and quality assurance.
UNICEF is supporting national MIYCN and caring practices as one of the major components of nutrition program targeting maternal Nutrition which refers to the nutrition of women during adolescence, pregnancy, and lactation, as it affects their health and the health of their foetus and/or infant, through their childbearing and nurturing roles, furthermore, the program is focusing on infant and young child feeding practices.
Nutrition emergency response and Treatment of wasting is one of the key components of UNICEF’s nutrition program in Afghanistan. The lifesaving nutrition treatment services have significantly expanded in reach and scope over the past decade and are currently implemented in all 34 provinces. In the past years, the funding landscape for Nutrition has significantly changed. All the nutrition actors are exploring innovative ways to mitigate the funding shortfall and support continuous program delivery. For the period 2025- 2026, UNICEF will be supporting the roll out of the new Integrated Management of Acute Malnutrition (IMAM) protocol in Afghanistan. The massive number of health facilities running this program will require technical expertise in critical areas linked to the implementation of the IMAM protocol.
nder the overall guidance of the Chief of Communication, Advocacy and Partnerships, the intern reports to the Resource Mobilization Officer and is responsible for research, tracking and analysis of the private sector space and support the strategic direction, proposition development, management, growth and renewal of these high value partnerships. This intern will work closely with the different UNICEF departments and others to deliver the desired outcomes.
The purpose of this Consultancy is to deepen collaboration with public and private sector partners and to facilitate scanning of the environment, knowledge exchange, partnership management and resource mobilization.
