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For every child, right. 

The purpose of this consultancy is to provide technical support to the National Planning Commission (NPC) to ensure effective monitoring, evaluation, and learning in the implementation of the MSNP-III and help the NPC monitor the achievement of the Disbursement Linked Indicators (DLIs), which are essential for fund disbursement under EU budgetary support. The consultant will work as part of the team in the National Nutrition and Food Security Secretariat.

How can you make a difference? 

Scope of work:

• Training and Guidance: Develop a training Manual /toolkit for NFLG orientation, provide technical guidance to Nutrition Facilitators on standardized data recording and reporting practices, and assist in developing monitoring and evaluation capacity development manuals for MSNP Facilitators and review the Resource book.
• Monitoring and Assessment of Progress: Facilitate the implementation of individual and joint monitoring of MSNP interventions at provincial and local levels, under the leadership of NPC, MoFAGA, and UNICEF and prepare reports with specific follow-up action and recommendations. Monitor progress against the annual targets of the Multi-Sector Nutrition Plan (MSNP) through regular field visits and ensure the quality and accuracy of data collection and reporting. Support the assessment of MSNP – III progress on regular basis. 
• Reporting: Prepare a consolidated MSNP Annual Report for FY 2025/2026, prepare summary of the progress made on achieving the DLI and support data collection, analysis and reporting of the technical assistance provided by UNICEF. Ensure complete and timely reporting of data and updates through the implementation of an efficient data management system to submit periodic progress reports to the concerned ministries/departments/sections. Review and revise reporting formats when necessary and share with provinces and local governments to ensure timely reporting and coordinate with Nutrition Facilitators for reporting on the implementation of MSNP activities. Document the proceedings and prepare the meeting minutes of the High-Level Nutrition and Food Security Steering Committee and National Nutrition and Food Security Coordination Committee and upload it to the NNFS portal.
• Committee Support: Support the preparation of presentations for the High-Level Nutrition and Food Security Steering Committee and National Nutrition and Food Security Coordination Committee, document proceedings, and prepare meeting minutes.
• Technical Inputs and Documentation: Provide technical inputs to revise Nutrition-Friendly Local Governance (NFLG) indicators, assist in preparing nutrition profiles for local governments, and review and revise reporting formats as necessary.
• Data Management and Strategy Development: Ensure complete and timely reporting of data through an efficient data management system.  and provide technical inputs to revise NFLG indicators.
• Support Capacity Building and Surveys: Backstop Provincial and Local Level Nutrition and Food Secretariats, facilitate annual planning and review meetings, support small-scale surveys, implementation research, and evaluations.
• Additional Support: Prepare    presentations, concept notes, research and policy briefs related to MSNP implementation and Scaling Up Nutrition Movement (SUN) initiatives, and support other day-to-day activities as directed by the Chief/Joint Secretary of the Good Governance and Social Development Division (NPC) and the Federal Affairs Division (MoFAGA.

TASK:

• Prepare training toolkit for NFLG orientation at local levels.
• Provide technical guidance and support to Nutrition Facilitators on standardized data recording and reporting practices
• Prepare regular bi-monthly report with updates of MSNP implementation.
• Support the capacity development plan at federal level under the leadership of MoFAGA/NPC/UNICEF.
• Support preparation of UNICEF report to the EU on complementary support on data collection analysis and documentation including progress on DLIs.
• Technical support to review, revise and update Nepal Nutrition and Food Security Portal.
• Technical support to conduct capacity development programs at provincial and local level under the leadership of MoFAGA/NPC/UNICEF related, data quality, monitoring and evaluation.
• Backstop NPC and MoFAGA to prepare periodic progress reports against the indicators of MSNP-III’s Result Framework.
• Prepare regular bi-monthly report with updates of MSNP implementation.
• Document and disseminate best practices, success stories from MSNP implementation across federal, provincial, and local levels and upload to portal
• Support the preparation of the SUN Joint Annual Assessment Report for 2025/26
• Prepare reports on capacity development on the M&E activities at all levels in the fiscal year 2082/83
• Support the preparation of Prepare the  Prepare report of annual review and planning meeting conducted under the leadership of MoFAGA/NPC in the fiscal year 2082/83.
• Prepare regular bi-monthly report with updates of MSNP implementation.
• Prepare best practices 1 case study.
• Prepare a report of MSNP monitoring visit conducted under the leadership of NPC/MoFAGA /UNICEF either individually or jointly.
• Technical support to MSNP-OFC/ NNFSS to documentation of information and data compilation and preparation periodic report
• Prepare regular bi-monthly report with updates of MSNP implementation.
• Prepare a review report of MSNP Annual Progress for the year 2025/26 at federal levels.
• Prepare a report on updates of Nepal Nutrition and Food Security Portal.
• Technical support to MSNP-OFC/ NNFSS to documentation of information and data compilation and preparation of annual report
• Prepare final report of the consultancy.

First Deliverable:

• Submission of training toolkit for NFLG orientation at local levels.
• Submission of bi-monthly update on MSNP implementation.
• Submission of data analysis and report contributing to UNICEF annual report to EU.  

Second Deliverable:

• Submission of report on updating Nepal Nutrition and Food Security Portal
• Submission of report of capacity development program conducted at provincial and local level under the leadership of MoFAGA/NPC/UNICEF.
• Submission of bi-monthly update on MSNP implementation.
• One case study presented for sharing with stakeholders

Third Deliverable:

• Submission of SUN Joint Annual Assessment Report for 2025/26.
• Submission of reports on capacity development on the M&E activities at all levels in the fiscal year 2082/8
• Submission of report of annual review and planning meeting conducted under the leadership of MoFAGA/NPC in the fiscal year 2082/83.
• Submission of bi-monthly update on MSNP implementation.

Fourth Deliverable:

• Submission of best practices (at least 1).
• Submission of report of MSNP monitoring visit conducted under the leadership of NPC/MoFAGA /UNICEF either individually or jointly.
• Submission of regular bi-monthly update of MSNP implementation

Final Deliverable:

• Submission of review of MSNP Annual Progress for the year 2025/26 at federal levels.
• Submission of report on updates of Nepal Nutrition and Food Security Portal.
• Submission of the final report of the consultancy

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

Education: University Degree in Public Health, Nutrition, Statistics or related fields.

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:

• At least 5 years of experience in MEAL and Information Management Systems with substantial experience in working with the federal, provincial and local level governments
• Good understanding on Result Framework and M&E Framework of Multi-Sector Nutrition Plan – III.
• Proven experience in developing the Theory of Change, Result framework, and MEAL framework of a government plan that is multi-sectoral in nature.
• Demonstrated experience in managing and updating Portal, integrated dashboard, and information management systems.  
• Experience in multisectoral coordination, planning with GoN, Development Partners, and other relevant stakeholders, local governance mechanism, and capacity building is an asset.
• Experience working at federal level and supporting   government in formulating Multisectoral Nutrition Plan and its Result Framework and M&E Framework including its implementation at province and local level is highly preferred.
• Previous work experience with UNICEF or UN supported project and governance sectors is an asset.

Special skills and/or knowledge required: good knowledge of study methodologies (both quantitative and qualitative) and demonstrated ability in the use of quantitative and qualitative data analysis.

• Good knowledge of digital data collection systems and digital data management systems
• Demonstrated skills in developing presentation to national level Nutrition coordination mechanism.
• Demonstrated communication, advocacy and social mobilization skills

Note: Please find detailed Terms of Reference here.Terms of Reference-MEAL.pdf

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.

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:  

Female candidates and candidates from the under-represented ethnic groups are strongly encouraged to apply. 

Interested candidates are requested to submit their financial proposal in Nepali currency, based on the deliverables outlined in the vacancy notice.

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 health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract.