Under the supervision of the global lead and based on the review/inputs of stakeholders, the consultant will support the following over a 14-month period:
1. Support the development and update of the technical content on Clean Air for Healthy Children agenda. This includes the development and updating of external facing technical briefs on the 7 major sources of air pollution in collaboration with WHO, UNEP, Climate and Clean Air Coalition and the World Bank. This would entail the development of advocacy messages, investment cases/proposals, country case studies, videos and e-learning modules. This includes participation and hosting of global knowledge management initiatives/networks.
2. Develop and maintain the ‘Clean Air for Healthy Children agenda’ technical components on the global collaborative portal. This includes a) the drafting of web pages, newsletter stories, events and announcements maintenance of resource library, b) mapping and engaging with partner collaborators on ‘air pollution and child health’ specifically around each of the 7 major sources of air pollution and d) organizing / contributing to webinars on thematic issues.
3. Provide technical assistance to UNICEF COs on ‘Clean Air for Healthy Children agenda’ technical and operational components. This includes providing (a) mapping of country office activities on air pollution b) providing technical support to CO plans and proposals in integrating air quality monitoring; emissions inventory; source attribution; child health impact assessment; prioritization; risk communication and policy/regulatory action. (c) contributing to country research with experience from other countries, (c) participation in quarterly HEHC programme meetings, (d) analysis and report writing.
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.
The purpose of the consultancy is to support regional and country offices in the UNICEF regions (Eastern and Southern Africa, West and Central Africa, Middle East and North Africa) in developing national programs to end child lead poisoning.
Under the supervision of the global lead and based on the review/inputs of stakeholders, the consultant will support the following over a 14-month period:
1. Support the development and update of the technical content on Clean Air for Healthy Children agenda. This includes the development and updating of external facing technical briefs on the 7 major sources of air pollution in collaboration with WHO, UNEP, Climate and Clean Air Coalition and the World Bank. This would entail the development of advocacy messages, investment cases/proposals, country case studies, videos and e-learning modules. This includes participation and hosting of global knowledge management initiatives/networks.
2. Develop and maintain the ‘Clean Air for Healthy Children agenda’ technical components on the global collaborative portal. This includes a) the drafting of web pages, newsletter stories, events and announcements maintenance of resource library, b) mapping and engaging with partner collaborators on ‘air pollution and child health’ specifically around each of the 7 major sources of air pollution and d) organizing / contributing to webinars on thematic issues.
3. Provide technical assistance to UNICEF COs on ‘Clean Air for Healthy Children agenda’ technical and operational components. This includes providing (a) mapping of country office activities on air pollution b) providing technical support to CO plans and proposals in integrating air quality monitoring; emissions inventory; source attribution; child health impact assessment; prioritization; risk communication and policy/regulatory action. (c) contributing to country research with experience from other countries, (c) participation in quarterly HEHC programme meetings, (d) analysis and report writing.
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.
The purpose of the consultancy is to support regional and country offices in the UNICEF regions (Eastern and Southern Africa, West and Central Africa, Middle East and North Africa) in developing national programs to end child lead poisoning.
