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For every child, a Champion!
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How can you make a difference?
The purpose of this consultancy is to support in knowledge generation, evidence synthesis, data analytics and programme monitoring, research and learning to advance the maternal nutrition and anaemia reduction agenda in South Asia.
Summary of key functions/accountabilities:
Maternal nutrition:
- Prepare technical background materials to support UNICEF country teams to address knowledge/technical gaps impeding advocacy, implementation and monitoring of maternal nutrition acceleration plans – a) scientific materials (published literature reviews and technical briefs) and b) country-wise updates for quarterly maternal nutrition community of practice touch points.
- Compile and summarize UNICEF-supported studies/research being conducted across countries and provide feedback.
- Provide desk support for literature reviews, FAQ and data analysis.
- Draft and support the finalization of an embedded science of delivery protocol to support an embedded programme research agenda (for at least one country) and support the country to implement and document the progress through desk research, capacity building workshop and field missions.
Preconception nutrition:
- Work alongside country offices to develop, implement and finalize pre-testing and development of capacity building toolkit for strengthening preconception nutrition services through health/women empowerment platforms, appropriately support documentation of the process followed and lessons learnt.
Maternal Anemia:
- Prepare background materials to support country teams being equipped with latest scientific knowledge to address knowledge/technical gaps to implement and monitor anemia reduction programmes for girls and women – a) scientific materials (updated literature review, FAQ and technical briefs) and b) develop a synthesis paper/analytical working paper on prevalence and determinants of micro nutrient deficiencies using available data from survey data-sets.
- Support the programme specialist in curating, coordinating and execution of the regional convening on anemia reduction in girls and women in South Asia. This would entail development of concept notes, background materials, coordinating with experts, development of technical and advocacy materials, writing the proceedings and capturing the sessions and contributing technically to the sessions during the meeting.
- Review, edit, refine and finalize the issue 6 of Nourishing South Asia reports focusing on anemia in girls and women of South Asia in coordination with research team, copy editor and design agency for release during the regional convening.
Data analytics and research support:
Provide requested support to country offices for large-scale data analysis/ secondary analyses of pooled data-sets of all eight countries (micronutrient deficiencies in adolescent girls of south Asia; equity and projection analyses).
Overview of work assignments, deliverables and deadlines:
| Work Assignments Overview (Tasks) |
Deliverables/Outputs |
Delivery deadline (work-days) |
| Prepare an inception report for overall work plan, source appropriate documents and provide schematics for work |
Inception report submitted with clarity on methodology to be undertaken across various tasks |
7 March
(5 days)
|
| Maternal nutrition technical background materials – literature reviews, FAQ, technical briefs, country-wise quarterly progress updates |
Updated literature review completed of studies on maternal nutrition and anemia in last 3 years and finalized summarized as a quarterly research digest for each quarter |
30 Mar
30 June
30 Sept
30 Dec
(2 days per quarter)
|
| Maternal nutrition research and programme monitoring: consolidate UNICEF-supported studies/research, monitor progress against common monitoring and learning protocol, provide desk and data analysis as needed, conduct two field missions) |
Tabulated excel and narrative of studies being conducted by UNICEF available with a summarized common narrative (using end year reports, clinics and online calls with country offices)
Update the programme monitoring report with nutri-dash/SDP indicators for 2024 to review progress and provide a narrative on progress/non- progress
Support country missions to support programme design/monitoring (Nepal/Sri Lanka)
|
15 April
(7 days)
30 April
(7 days)
April
(5 days)
|
| Maternal nutrition implementation research: a) develop an embedded science of delivery protocol to support countries (n=1) and support them implement and document the progress through desk research, capacity building workshops and field missions. |
Protocol for embedded science of delivery available and registered impact evaluation registry.
Conduct an implementation science workshop (online/F2F in Sri Lanka/Nepal, as per country request)
|
June
(10 days)
July
(5 days)
|
| Preconception nutrition programme research for development of tool kit: work alongside country offices (n=1, Sri Lanka) to pre-testing development of capacity building toolkit for strengthening preconception nutrition services, provide support for appropriately documentation of the process followed and lessons learnt. |
Pre-testing checklists developed and capacity building toolkit available and pilot testing initiated for use of preconception in Sri Lanka
Feld missions conducted to support the country office and observe the progress and support documentation (Sri Lanka)
|
Throughout
(2 days each between Mar-Aug)
September
(5 days)
|
| Maternal Anemia background materials – literature reviews, FAQ, technical briefs, country-wise quarterly progress updates |
Updated literature review completed of studies on maternal nutrition in last 3 years and finalized summarized as a quarterly research digest for each quarter |
30 Mar
30 June
30 Sept
30 Dec (2 days per quarter)
|
| Maternal Anemia regional convening: develop concept notes, background technical and advocacy materials, coordinate with experts, participation and rapporteur in the conference, writing the proceedings. |
Background materials, slide decks from UNICEF side, with additional analysis, support in preparation of the market stalls of countries, writing first draft of the proceedings |
Mar-July
(5 days each between Mar-June, 10 days in July)
|
| Maternal Anemia: review, edit, refine and finalize the issue 6 of Nourishing South Asia reports focusing on anemia in girls and women of South Asia in coordination with research team, copy editor and design agency, with a supporting slide deck and country briefs and regional factsheet. |
NSR-6 reviewed, edited and designed and uploaded on website |
August
(10 days)
|
| Data analytics and research support: using survey data-sets to inform a nutrition strategy (3-4 days a month) |
secondary data available, based on country request (micronutrient deficiencies, inequities analyses) |
May-December
(30 days)
|
| TOTAL |
|
137 work days |
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
Education:
- At least a Master’s degree : Science Masters in Global health, Nutrition, Epidemiology, with epidemiology and statistics as core subjects.
Experience:
-
At least two years of work experience, particularly involving data analysis of large-scale survey data sets using data analysis softwares like R and STATA.
-
Proven experience in conducting literature reviews, and scientific reports.
-
Proven experience in writing protocols for implementation research
-
Proven knowledge generation /work experience in women’s health/anemia and women’s issues, preferably of South Asia.
-
Strong communication skills – written and spoken in English.
Preferred:
Language Requirement:
- Excellent command over written and verbal English language is a must
NOTE: A financial proposal indicating all-inclusive amount (e.g. professional fee) against each of the deliverable must be provided. Incomplete applications will not be considered further.
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.