Nutrition Consultant (MIYCN)

Nutrition Consultant (MIYCN)

Duty Station:  Bhola Civil Surgeon Office, Bhola.

Contract Duration:  12 Months

Number of Vacancies: 01

Contract Type: Contract with E-Zone.          

Reporting to: Zonal Nutrition Officer, Barishal UNICEF field offices

A.    Background

While Bangladesh has achieved significant reductions in child Stunting in the past two decades, stunting reduction needs to be accelerated if the country is to meet the SDG 2030 and WHA 2025. The 2nd National Plan Action for Nutrition 2027-2025 (NPAN2) has specific targets for stunting reduction. Additionally, reduction of other forms of malnutrition such as wasting, underweight, micronutrient deficiencies and overweight need to be accelerated. Poor maternal and adolescent nutrition are thereby still pressing public health problems in Bangladesh and contribute to poor nutrition outcomes among children. The National Nutrition Services Operational Plan, Institute Public Health Nutrition (NNS-OP, IPHN), has prioritized interventions to accelerate the reduction of stunting and other forms of malnutrition through specific interventions to improve Maternal, Infant & Young Child Nutrition (MIYCN) and adolescent nutrition. 

UNICEF Bangladesh has just embarked on its new Country Programme 2022-2026. Nutrition prioritized actions have been aligned with government priorities for nutrition as reflected in its 8th Five Year Plan, the health sector programme including NNS-OP, UNICEF’s Nutrition Strategy 2020-2030, and the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF). In supporting the Government’s priorities, the UNICEF Nutrition programme aims to generate evidence on best practices of maternal nutrition to support scale up, through increased community-based engagement using existing platforms, including the integration of Growth Monitoring and Promotion (GMP) into EPI sessions, the use of multiple micronutrient supplements (MMS) for pregnant and lactating women, innovation to care for pregnant women and prevent low birth weight (LBW), as well as demonstration of integrated early childhood care and development (ECCD) for 0-3yr through Primary Health Care (PHC). 

These initiatives, including their integrated evidence generation activities, are part of key activities in the 2024-2025 Joint Rolling Workplan between UNICEF and the Government of Bangladesh (NNS, IPHN, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoH&FW).   The ongoing Community Based Engagement (CBE), Low Birth Weight and ECCD pilot programmes in Bhola requires intensified supervision and monitoring support at the district, upazila and community level to ensure delivery of essential MIYCN services and adherence to quality standards. Currently, there is no UNICEF staff in the district, the Zonal Nutrition Officer is based on the division and provide overall critical technical assistance to 11 districts. Considering the isolated and challenging geographical location, UNICEF will recruit 1 nutrition consultant for Bhola who will work closely with sub-national government counterparts and provide programmatic support under the direct supervision of the Zonal Nutrition Officer, Barishal with overall technical guidance from programme managers at Dhaka level.

B.    Objectives, Purpose, and Expected Results

The main objective of hiring a Nutrition Consultant is to provide support to ensure implementation of nutrition activities under the Rolling Work Plan (RWP) 2024-2025, with special focus on maternal and child nutrition at community level including prioritized evidence generation activities in support of programme scale up.

In the designated district, Nutrition Consultant will work closely with the ZNO and sub-national government authorities and officials, including the Health, Family Planning, DSHE and LGD during the planning, implementation, monitoring and reporting. Nutrition consultants will work closely with Civil Surgeon office and District Administration. Nutrition consultants, under supervision of Zonal Nutrition Officers and guidance from the Nutrition Manager in BCO will support to monitor implementation of MIYCN interventions in respective field offices.

C.      Key Tasks and Responsibilities

The assignment is designed for the duration of 12 months with below key tasks and responsibilities:

I.                          Maternal, Newborn, Child, Adolescent Nutrition and ECCD

a)     System Strengthening

-                      Support maternal nutrition acceleration implementation plan.

-                      Support nutrition supply chain management assessment and gap analysis.

-                      Support the implementation of the adolescent nutrition programme in schools with a specific focus on IFA supplementation for adolescent girls in schools.

-                      Support RTMR for Vitamin A Plus Campaign.

-                      Support implementation of ECCD programme focusing 0-3 yrs through primary health care in the piloting Upazilas.

b)    Community level support

-          Participate and support in capacity building exercise of community workers on community outreach tools.

-          Monitor community workers in using community outreach tools and document challenges and lessons learned.

-          Monitor community mobilization activities to ensure community awareness on importance of antenatal care, IYCF, and maternal nutrition, as well as nutrition services, and promote engagement with community outreach program.

-          Monitor integration of GMP into EPI platforms at targeted areas and provide on job training to ensure quality of GMP services.

-          Monitor implementation of LBW nutritional care intervention package at household level and provide on job training to ensure quality of the service.

-          Monitor implementation of ECCD activities and provide on job training to ensure quality of ECCD services as per programme design.

-          Support to roll-out the supportive supervision application for the frontline supervisors of both health and family planning department.

-          Support scale-up of community nutrition interventions under CBE, ECCD programme based on the learning from the two piloting Upazilas to the remaining priority Upazilas.

II.                 Governance

-          Support organization and functioning of District/Upazila/Union Nutrition Coordination Committee meetings collaboration with other relevant stakeholders and develop action plan to support multisectoral nutrition governance. 

-          Support the district health and family planning authority to use Nutrition Information System and built capacity for evidence-based planning and actions for responsive services.

-          Coordinate with respective district authorities from MoLGRD&C, MoWCA, MoSW to mobilize resources and create necessary linkages with social safety net schemes and nutrition programme.

III.               Wasting

-          Support health facility assessment for SAM unit to identify gaps on capacity of care providers, availability of supplies and equipment.

-          Conduct intensified visits to low-performing SAM facilities.

-          Support to establish SAM model facility. 

IV.               Donor Mission/visit

-          Assist Field Office in preparation of donor mission and important GOB/UNICEF visits.

D.    Deliverables with time schedule

E.    Qualification Requirement

·         University degree in Nutrition, Public Health, or any relevant field

·         At least 3-4 years’ work experience in community nutrition/ public health required.

·         Excellent data analytics skill including sound knowledge of DHIS2, e-MIS, PNRI is essential.

·         Demonstrated competency with working with people.

·         Strong computer skills

·         Experience of planning and coordination

·         Knowledge of health systems important

·         Efficient in communication-Bangla and English (oral and written)

·         Willingness to locate to district of assignment and field travel frequently, including hard to reach and remote areas.

F.     Administrative Issues

1.      Consultant will be assigned for Bhola district and report to Zonal Nutrition Officer, Barishal Field Office.

2.      Consultant will get 216,000 BDT per month (consolidated).

3.      Consultant will be entitled 1.5 day leave per month and total 10 days emergency leave.

4.      Officer place, working station will be in Civil Surgeon office, Bhola. 

5.      Computer and communication will be bear by the Consultant.

6.      Stationary and other office equipment will be bear by the Consultant.

7.      Travel cost and travel arrangement in the field, will be bear by the consultant.

8.      For payment by E-Zone on due time, the Supervisor will forward the certified attendance sheet and confirmation of receiving expected deliverables for the respective period.

9.      The contractor/consultant will be responsible for paying all taxes as per government rules.

This position is open for Bangladeshi Nationals only. All candidates, irrespective of gender, religious and ethnic backgrounds can apply for the vacancies. 

The UN Agency prides itself as fostering a multicultural and harmonious work environment, guaranteed by a zero-tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse, and on any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment and discrimination. All selected consultants will undergo rigorous reference and background checks. 

Candidates with the required profile and proven experience, who meet these qualifications, are invited to submit their application in English clearly mentioning the Job Title along with a meaningful cover letter, updated CV, recent PP size photographby email to: 

https://forms.gle/4DzgghuEHVL6JAnTA 

Last Date of Application:  May 01 , 2024 

No phone calls please. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted. All applications will be treated according to the merit and with strict confidentiality.