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UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential. 

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone. 

And we never give up. 

For every child, nutrition. 

UNICEF South Africa

UNICEF supported the National Department of Health (NDOH) with the finalisation of the Integrated Management of Acute Malnutrition (IMAM) guidelines and currently in the process of reviewing and finalising the draft South African Infant and Young Child Feeding in Emergencies (IYCF-E) Operational Guide.

The IMAM guidelines have been developed to harmonise and standardise the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and management of children with Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) and Moderate Acute Malnutrition (MAM). Furthermore, the guidelines seek to guide healthcare workers in the management of acute malnutrition at all levels of the health care delivery system and community-based care. With appropriate case management for acute malnutrition in Inpatient Care and additional treatment in Outpatient Care, the lives of many children can be saved, and mortality associated with acute malnutrition can be drastically reduced to less than 5%, both at the community and facilities.

The IYCF-E operational guide was developed to guide the development of National, Provincial and District IYCF-E Preparedness and Response Plans which will ensure a predictable, timely, and effective nutrition response in case of emergency. The operational guide takes an evidence-based approach to ensure a coherent, timely, efficient and effective response to emergency situations in line with the draft revised 2025 National Infant and Young Child Feeding Policy and guidelines and global best practices to reduce mortality and morbidity and to promote optimal nutritional status, growth and development for infants and young children in difficult circumstances.

The two documents i.e. the IYCF -E and the IYCF policy and guidelines are in the process of review for finalisation. The National Department of Health seek to operationalise and implement the policy and the guidelines at the provincial level. The operationalisation of these documents will include developing Job Aids, orientation and sensitisation workshops for healthcare providers, producing PowerPoint Presentations, development of capacity building materials, and conducting orientation workshops for stakeholders in all the nine provinces.

It is against this background that a consultant is required to provide technical support to the National Department of Health to support the review and finalisation of IYCF-E Operational Guide and IYCF policy and guidelines, and the operationalisation of the IMAM guidelines for rollout in provinces.

How can you make a difference? 

Under the supervision of the Nutrition Manager, the consultant will support the review and finalisation of the IYCF- policy and guidelines, operationalisation of the IMAM Guidelines and finalisation of the IYCF-E Operational Guide by developing the associated tools of trade which include amongst others, capacity building materials, and support the National Department of Health during in conducting the orientation sessions in provinces.

The consultant will work in close collaboration with the technical leads from the National Department of Health and UNICEF. The assignment will include the following tasks:

1. Supporting NDOH technical lead with the review and finalisation of the IYCF in emergency operational guide for approval and dissemination (40 days).
2. Support the review, revision and finalisation of the revised draft 2025 Infant and Young Child feeding policy and guidelines, including copy-editing the final draft document (40 days).
3. Support the finalisation of capacity building materials for the integrated management of acute malnutrition guideline and the IYCF in emergency guidelines (30 days).
4. Support the roll-out of capacity building of Trainer of trainers’ orientation workshop in nine provinces on the revise integrated management of acute malnutrition guideline and the IYCF in emergency Operational guide (15 days).
5. Provide technical support on the adaptation of existing training package on prevention and management of acute malnutrition for South Africa (15 days).

Outputs and Deliverables:  

• Finalised copy-edited IYCF in Emergency Operational Guide
• Final copy edited revised IYCF Policy and Guidelines
• Orientation materials including PPT presentations for the orientation workshops on IMAM Guidelines and IYCF-E Operational Guide
• Nine provincial orientation workshops on IMAM and IYCF-E
• Adapted training package on IMAM

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have… 

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in Public Health, Nutirtion, Medicine or related fields  
  *A first University Degree in a relevant field combined with 2 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree. 
• A minimum of five years of relevant professional experience in health and child nutrition
• Proven track record of technical expertise on child nutrition and policy development
• Technical skills on development of guidelines on child nutrition
• Proven track record of experience on capacity building of the train the trainers on acute malnutrition and Infant and young child feeding
• Proven experience on the development of capacity building materials (i.e. manuals, job aids, tools, etc.)
• Excellent English writing skills
• Proven track record of experience on working with government counterparts at various levels on acute malnutrition and Infant and young child nutrition
• Work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset
• Knowledge of another local language is an asset

Please indicate your ability, availability, and proposals in ZAR to undertake the terms of reference above (including admin and travel costs if applicable).

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 their 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.