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Consultancy Title: National Consultant for Technical Assistance to RBC for Strengthening ANC through the Introduction of Multiple Micronutrient Supplementation (MMS) in Seventeen Districts

Section/Division/Duty Station: Health and Nutrition Section, Kigali, Rwanda

Duration: 01 February 2025 to 01 February 2026 (12 Months)

Home/ Office Based:  Office Based (National Consultancy)

Malnutrition remains a critical public health challenge in Rwanda, as evidenced by the findings of the 2019-2020 Rwanda Demographic and Health Survey (RDHS). The survey highlights a high stunting rate of 33%, a 13% prevalence of anemia among women of childbearing age (15-49 years), a 25% prevalence of anemia among pregnant women, and a maternal mortality rate of 203 per 100,000 live births. To address these concerns, Rwanda is strengthening maternal nutrition interventions by introducing Multiple Micronutrient Supplementation (MMS) to replace Iron and Folic Acid Supplementation (IFAS) among pregnant women. This intervention is considered a potential game changer for improving maternal and child health outcomes.

The development of maternal nutrition guidelines commenced in June 2023 and culminated in the training of 380 healthcare providers, including 24 master trainers, in December 2023. The MMS initiative was launched in January 2024 in Kabaya sector in Ngororero District and subsequently expanded to seven pilot districts, where it achieved a coverage rate of over 90%, benefiting 67,501 pregnant women by November 2024. In Rwanda, the Multiple Micronutrient Supplementation (MMS) program seeks to combat micronutrient deficiencies among pregnant women and young children by providing comprehensive blend of essential vitamins and minerals. Currently, the MMS program is being implemented in seven pilot districts including GASABO, GICUMBI, MUSANZE, RUTSIRO, NGORORERO, NYABIHU and BURERA Districts.

The Government of Rwanda is planning to scale up the MMS program in additional 10 districts starting in January 2025.  The scale up process requires a technical assistance (TA) to effectively introduce MMS in the 10 new districts namely NYAMAGABE, RUSIZI, RUHANGO, BUGESERA, MUHANGA, KARONGI, GAKENKE, NYAMASHEKE, KIREHE, and RUBAVU Districts. The TA will also oversee the implementation of the MMS in the existing 7 districts to ensure sustainability.

It is in this context that UNICEF is recruiting a National Consultant to support the Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC) to scale-up MMS transition in ANC in 10 new districts and supervise the implementation in the existing 7 districts.

How can you make a difference?

SCOPE OF WORK/OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this consultancy is to contribute to improve maternal and child health outcomes through scale-up of Multiple Micronutrient Supplements (MMS) in 10 new districts and monitoring the seven districts as well as close monitoring and supportive supervision in the existing 7 districts.

Specifically, the TA will:

• Support the scale-up of MMS introduction in ANC in 10 new districts: capacity building , mentorship, supervision and supply distribution in NYAMAGABE, RUSIZI, RUHANGO, BUGESERA, MUHANGA, KARONGI, GAKENKE, NYAMASHEKE, KIREHE, and RUBAVU Districts.
• Monitor the coverage, uptake, acceptability, and adherence to MMS in the 17 districts.

Key Tasks:

The consultant in collaboration with RBC/MCCH is expected to undertake the following activities:

• Develop a roadmap for the scale up of MMS program in 10 new districts
• Prepare trainings plan of key healthcare providers on the national maternal nutrition guideline including MMS in 10 new districts (Nyamagabe, Rusizi, Ruhango,Bugesera, Muhanga, Karongi, Gakenke, Nyamasheke, Kirehe, and Rubavu).
• Conduct capacity building for health care providers in 10 new districts.
• Prepare MMS supply distribution plan for the 10 new districts.   
• Conduct regular monitoring of MMS compliance in the seven existing districts and 10 new districts through visit in health centres and sampled community.
• Identifying factors influencing effective implementation, coverage, and impact.
• Strengthening the monitoring and evaluation system for ANC programmes including MMS.
• Conduct regular analysis of data to assess program coverage, adherence, impact, and influencing factors.
• Disseminate data analysis findings through reports, publications, and presentations.
• Provide guidance on awareness on maternal nutrition, use of MMS and importance of ANC visits
• Support RBC to prepare regular MMS technical advisory group meetings and prepare report regularly
• Collect success stories on MMS compliance and adherence.

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

Education: Advanced University Degree in maternal Nutrition, public health or early child development, with minimum 8 years of professional experience.

Experience:

• Proven expertise in the development and implementation of programmatic research tools and guidance for maternal health/nutrition/early child development programming.
• Clear understanding of maternal nutrition and health programming at the PHC level.
• Experience in implementation of MMS in ANC is an asset
• Highly motivated, with the ability to work independently, take initiative and finalize deliverables.
• Flexible to make frequent field trips to service delivery points – the health centers.
• Strong interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills in both English and Kinyarwanda.
• Excellent written and spoken Kinyarwanda and English.
• Knowledge of other languages an asset, including French.

 ADMINITRATIVE FORMALITIES

• UNICEF will regularly communicate with the consultant and provide feedback, guidance, and necessary support to achieve the objectives of the work, as well as remain aware of any upcoming issues related to the performance and quality of work.
• As per policy on consultants, the individual will be expected to complete a list of mandatory training, including policies on Prohibiting and Combatting Fraud and Corruption, Prohibition of discrimination, harassment, sexual harassment and abuse of authority and other relevant policies for their information and acknowledgement upon acceptance of the offer.
• Before issuing the official contract, the consultant must complete the applicable training. The consultant will be provided with office space, access to office resources and other administrative arrangements necessary to complete the assignment.

CONDITIONS

• No contract may commence unless both UNICEF and the consultant sign the contract.
• The consultant will work onsite.
• The consultant will be paid an all-inclusive fee (stationary, communication and other miscellaneous expenses) as per the stipulated deliverable and payment schedule.
• The consultant is not entitled to payment for overtime, weekends or public holidays.
• No travel should take place without an email travel authorization from the section before the commencement of the journey from the duty station.

• Standard UNICEF procedures will apply for invoicing and all other financial management requirements set out in the contract.
• Standard penalty clauses will also apply for late and poor-quality deliverables. The supervisor of the contract will provide the consultant with the criteria for the evaluation of the quality of each deliverable.
• Additional details of UNICEF rules, regulations and conditions will be attached to the contract.
• Consultants will not have supervisory responsibilities or authority on the UNICEF budget.

HOW TO APPLY

Interested consultants should provide the following:

• Curriculum Vitae
• Brief technical proposal (no longer than five pages) demonstrating the consultant’s understanding of the assignment and approach/methodology to the assignment.
• (A portfolio of) document(s) the consultant produced or contributed to, exemplifying the capacity of the consultant to create simple-language, compelling documents, with visuals and graphs.
• Financial proposal including a breakdown of their all-inclusive fees (including professional fees and other costs). Complete the attached form. Financial Proposal template.xlsx

    For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS).

To view our competency framework, please visit our competency framework

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.

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.

Applications submitted without technical and financial proposal will not be considered.