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.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built. We offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture., coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, the right to Nutrition 

To learn more about UNICEF career and the work in Rwanda, please visit the country website https://unicef.sharepoint.com/sites/RWA/ or watch this video about UNICEF work in Rwanda: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7B91m5Yzoc and UNICEF Careers | UNICEF Careers.

How can you make a difference? 

1. Purpose of Activity/Assignment:

This research/survey will provide insight for timely action, resource mobilization, and program planning, including informing risk informed programming through tailored responses to the problems identified.

This survey will be conducted by an international consultant who is expected to:

1. Lead the implementation of the SMART survey methodology, including the revision and adaptation of tools and protocols for the survey in collaboration with the MOH/RBC/UNICEF and the national taskforce overseeing the research.
2. Lead the implementation of NCA and death audit alongside the SMART survey.
3. Involve nutritionists, pediatricians, nurses and other health professionals in selected districts to undertake fieldwork, transferring knowledge and skill.
4. Provide high-quality technical assistance to the MOH/RBC and the engaged actors supporting the various survey phases.
5. In collaboration with all relevant stakeholders, the consultant will plan all stages of the survey, manage and train surveyors, and supervise the quality of processes and fieldwork and analysis.
6. Ensure the quality of processes and the timely delivery of expected results.
7. Present an inception report reviewing all critical steps from planning to presenting results, the final survey report and dissemination

B. Key Tasks:

The consultant is expected to undertake the following activities:

Planning phase

1. Elaborate/finalize the survey protocol, timeline of activities, data collection, inception report and its presentation.
2. Determine and document the sampling methods, implementing the sampling plan in close collaboration with the taskforce.
3. Ensure that all survey forms, phones/tablets, materials, tools, and equipment are ready for the survey.
4. Finalize the survey tools, including the interview guide, questionnaire, standardization of anthropometry tools form, calendar of local events, and reference for children with Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) before the training.
5. Finalize the specifications for survey equipment and materials.
6. In collaboration with MOH/RBC, ensure proper community and authorities' engagement in the selected survey sectors/cells and at the provincial/district level to secure support for the survey and availability of the target population for data collection.

Training phase

1. Conduct the survey training covering all details in the interviewer’s manual.
2. The task force and the entire survey team should attend the survey training.
3. Organize a field test to validate the questionnaire, the workflow, the recording, and data entry in an area that is not included in the first stage of sample selection.
4. Organize the deployment of interviewer teams to the country's different regions with a plan indicating who will work, where, and how reporting by field teams will be done.

Fieldwork Phase

1. Ensure adequate supervision of each survey team during the entire data collection period.
2. Make periodic supervision visits to the survey teams during their work to ensure high data quality.
3. Review the entered data daily and provide prompt feedback.
4. Document the constraints, difficulties, or potential biases identified during the survey implementation process.

Data Analysis and Report Writing

1. Analyze and interpret the results of the survey with task force members.
2. Complete reports and all other activities promptly as per the agreed schedule.
3. Share the survey results with the task force and the country/regional office for review.
4. Present the survey methodologies and results during the survey dissemination workshop.

5. Create copies of survey materials on OneDrive, Pen drive or other media device for archiving.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here.

 ToR Individual consultant_SAM research.pdf

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

Minimum requirements:

Education:

• Advanced university degree in Nutrition, Public Health or related field, with experience in smart methodology survey.

Work Experience: 

• Minimum of 8 years’ of experience in SMART methodology
• A minimum of 3 surveys conducted as principal research coordinator
• Experience using smartphones/tablets for data entry and analysis.
• Demonstrated skills in survey or evaluation report writing.
• In-depth understanding of malnutrition from nutrition/public health point of view.
• Certification or training in survey methodologies, SMART methodology, or related areas.
• Demonstrated skills with statistics analysis software (EPI-Info, SPSS, SAS, STATA or others…

Skills

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• excellent written and oral communication skills
• effective organizational skills; high drive for results
• high commitment
• teamwork and strong interpersonal and intercultural skills.

Language Requirements: Fluency in English (verbal and written) is requirement

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

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

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:  

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable young female candidates are encouraged to apply.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason. 

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF’s Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.