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For every child, Health and Nutrition
The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programs, advocacy, and operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the hhuman rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.
Severe acute malnutrition (SAM) is the deadliest form of malnutrition. Left untreated, children with SAM are nearly 12 times more likely to die than a healthy child. In Tajikistan, 1.8 percent prevalence of severe wasting translates to annual burden of approximately 50,000 cases. Tajikistan has long been providing inpatient care at stabilization centers for children with SAM. In 2020 with the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ministry of Health and Social Protection (MoHSP) initiated a pilot-scale programme on the Integrated Management of Acute Malnutrition (IMAM) to extend SAM treatment services to outpatient facilities, given the need to ease burden on hospitals used for inpatient care and expected increase in annual SAM burden due to the pandemic. Outpatient treatment of children with SAM increased coverage of service provision, and the number of children reached with treatment increased from over 200 cases in 2016 to over 12,000 cases in 2022.
Generally, children with SAM without medical complications can be treated in outpatient programme, while those with SAM with medical complications and/or no appetite are admitted to inpatient care. Children with uncomplicated SAM can be successfully treated with the use of ready-to-use therapeutic food, or RUTF. RUTF is an energy-dense, micronutrient-rich product to treat children with uncomplicated SAM at home rather than in hospitals. It is an easy and safe to use product that does not require any refrigeration, even after opening.
However, sustainable provision of RUTF has been a major challenge in Tajikistan. RUTF is not included in the Essential Medicines List of MoHSP, nor is state budget allocated for its procurement. Currently, only UNICEF procures RUTF from its Supply Division in Copenhagen to be used in a limited number of districts, leaving the rest of the country without this life-saving product. The availability of this wonder food thus is heavily influenced by UNICEF’s funding availability, uncertainties with border closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the conflict in Ukraine and increased cost of fuels and food. After the conflict in Ukraine erupted, there have been price increases for constituent ingredients of RUTF and packaging materials making up to approximately 75 percent of the costs of the finished product, as well as associated challenges to global shipping, transport, and freight costs, leading to longer lead times for delivery. These risk significant price increases for the IMAM programme and the treatment of fewer children in line with the national treatment protocol.
Given the above challenges with ensuring sustainable supply of RUTF through offshore procurement, feasibility of local production of RUTF within Tajikistan by a local food manufacturer was explored. WHO has recommended the development of new therapeutic food that is affordable, acceptable and effective, and its comparison with existing products in terms of their potential for preventing growth faltering and undernutrition. However, before the current feasibility study, there had not been dedicated support to explore the feasibility of local production of RUTFs in depth. The study was conducted between 2023 and 2024, and UNICEF aims to disseminate the findings of the study, engage with various stakeholders in dialogue to discuss the findings, recommendations and the course of actions and provide a platform for ministry stakeholders, regulatory bodies, private sector stakeholders, development banks and wider development partners to connect, share visions and explore ways of collaboration in this business opportunity with a social cause.
How can you make a difference?
The purpose of the consultancy is to coordinate the organization of the high-level advocacy event in support of local production of therapeutic nutrition foods in Tajikistan, based on the findings of the feasibility study on the local production of RUTF/RUSF, with participation of relevant government and non-government stakeholders (e.g. ministries, committees, agencies, development partners, donors and IFIs, the private sector stakeholders and the local civil society).
Duration: 23 working days between November - December 2024
Supervisor: Nutrition Officer, UNICEF Tajikistan
Key objectives
The overall objective of the consultancy is to coordinate with the relevant government ministries, committees and agencies to ensure their participation and promotion of meaningful contributions to the high-level advocacy event in support of local production of therapeutic nutrition foods in Tajikistan, focusing on the engagement of the PM’s Office, Ministry of Industry and New Technologies, Ministry of Health and Social Protection of Population, Ministry of Finance, Committee of Investments, Tajikstandard, other key government entities, key child foods industry representatives, donors/IFIs, as well as the civil society. Specific objectives of the consultancy are as follows:
- Liaise with the identified relevant ministries, committees, agencies and private sector through official communication on behalf of the Ministry of Industry and New Technologies and ensure moderation by a senior official of the Ministry of Industry and New Technologies, participation by the identified stakeholders and meaningful contribution to the event;
- Sensitize and advocate, together with UNICEF, about the local potential for the introduction and production of therapeutic child foods and the study results to key officials of the Ministry of Industry and New Technologies, Committee on Investments and Tajikstandard, other officials and private industry;
- Coordinate the development, collection and presentation of relevant resources and materials for the event from appointed speakers;
- Coordinate the development and review of a Resolution from the meeting and submission to the Government of Tajikistan through the Ministry of Industry and New Technologies;
- Properly document the discussion during the event;
- Communicate with the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Health’s relevant budget planning departments to understand the internal processes and administrative rules for the planning of procurement of the locally produced therapeutic child foods.
The consultant will work closely with UNICEF’s Nutrition and Communication teams and engage with key government stakeholders, private sector and civil society. Briefly, the assignment will consist of three key activities:
Activity 1: Facilitate the preparations for the high-level advocacy event in support of local production of therapeutic nutrition foods in Tajikistan.
The consultant will facilitate and meaningfully contribute to the organization of the high-level advocacy event in support of local production of therapeutic nutrition foods in Tajikistan, by providing inputs to the event agenda, processing of official letters inviting government officials, private sector and the civil society to the event; ensure MoINT’s support, full engagement and coordination of the event organization process, including the approval of the agenda and sending out official invitations; communicating closely with the relevant government agencies whose inputs are key for the purpose of the event and facilitate the preparation of reports and presentations by them as per the approved agenda.
Activity 2: Facilitate the actual conduct of the high-level advocacy event on investment to the local production of RUTF with participation of all relevant stakeholders.
The consultant will continuously liaise with the relevant government ministries and agencies to ensure their actual participation in the high-level advocacy event in support of local production of therapeutic nutrition foods in Tajikistan, including the moderation of the event by the MoINT high-level officials; drafting, reviewing of the Resolution by the MoINT and its dissemination to the participants for review and approval; sensitizing speakers on the issue and guiding them on the key talking points for their presentation, collecting the presentations and taking notes during the event, and other assignments.
Activity 3: Facilitate sharing of the approved Resolution with the Government of Tajikistan and follow up actions.
The consultant will work closely with the event moderator – a high-level MoINT official to submit the approved event Resolution to the Government of Tajikistan for consideration. As a follow up action, the consultant will communicate with the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Health’s relevant budget planning departments through the MoINT’s official letter to understand the internal processes and administrative rules for the procurement of the therapeutic child foods and budget planning for that.
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Tasks/Milestone: (in line with the scope elaborated in section-III)
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Deliverables/Outputs:
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Anticipated Timeline
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% of payment maximum up to 5 payments)
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Contribute to the drafting of the agenda and share the preliminary draft agenda with the MoINT for review and approval and secure speakers’ confirmation with clear talking points
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• Agenda reviewed and approved by the MoINT
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1 days
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40%
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Official invitation letters issued by MoINT, along with the copies of the agenda shared with the government entities, private sector, civil society, donors and development partners, including facilitation of designing PPTs by relevant government agencies
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• Official invitation letters issued by the MoINT, high-level moderator approved and sector specific PPTs designed for the event
• PPTs of speakers and reports of government entities received
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10 days
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Draft event Resolution reviewed and approved by the high-level official of the MoINT, shared with all event participants for review, approved Resolution submitted by the MoINT to the GoT for consideration
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• Resolution shared with the GoT on behalf of the MoINT
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10 days
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40%
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Key notes (minutes) of the advocacy event taken and shared with UNICEF and MoINT; formal communication with MoF and MoES to initiate budget planning for potential procurement of therapeutic foods for SAM children
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• Key notes of the advocacy event taken
• Letters to start the internal discussions on the planning of budget for procurement of therapeutic foods shared with MoHSPP and MoF
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2 day
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20%
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Total 23 working days
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To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
- Education: University degree in Food Technologies, Public Policy, or other related social sciences fields.
- Work experience: Minimum 8 years of experience working in the national government structures particularly overseeing the food industry, experience of overseeing and cooperating with the private food production sector, and civil society, particulary within MoINT, MoHSPP, MoEDT, MoF, etc.
- Knowledge of national food production systems, national legislation and technical regulations on food production, knowledge of national key stakeholders, access to the private sector key players
- Expertise and skills in working in a government setting and writing official government-style letters and resolutions
- Good organizational, coordination and facilitation skills, especially on the food production sector
- Languages: Fluency in Tajik, Russian. Knowledge of English is an asset.
Qualified candidates are requested to submit:
1. Filled EOI form (Annex 2) - Annex 2 and 3 at the following link
2. Technical proposal
3. Financial proposal (Annex 3)
4. Two samples of previously delivered similar assignments.
5. Contacts of current and previous supervisees/referees
Applications without technical and financial proposals will not be considered.
Applications must be received in the system by 26 November 2024 on UNICEF website.
For every Child, you demonstrate…
UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS).
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 or ethnic background, and persons with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. To create a more inclusive workplace, UNICEF offers paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. Click here to learn more about flexible work arrangements, well-being, and benefits.
According to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. In its Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy 2022-2030, UNICEF has committed to increase the number of employees with disabilities by 2030. At UNICEF, we provide reasonable accommodation for work-related support requirements of candidates and employees with disabilities. Also, UNICEF has launched a Global Accessibility Helpdesk to strengthen physical and digital accessibility. If you are an applicant with a disability who needs digital accessibility support in completing the online application, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF.
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.
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.