Ghana: "Scaling Up Nutrition Consultant " (National Consultant)
Country: Ghana
Closing date: 21 Aug 2013
IntroductionThe UNICEF/Ghana country programme (2012-2016) was developed to support the Government in realizing the survival, development and protection of children in an equitable and sustained manner. One of the key components aims at reducing maternal and child undernutrition rates through the scale up of integrated, evidence based high impact nutrition interventions at national level as well as in focus regions. The priorities for 2013-2014 Work Plan is to scale up implementation of recommended infant and young child feeding and community based management of severe acute malnutrition in Ghana and focus regions.
JustificationBased on experiences in different countries, UNICEF has developed a training package for improving infant and young child feeding focusing on the first one thousand days of life. The training package has been adapted for use in Ghana by partners led by the Nutrition Department of Ghana Health Services. If the package is implemented well by all key players, including communities and families, it will contribute to reduction in stunting, anemia, underweight, acute malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies. This is envisaged to be a major capacity building undertaking involving training of large numbers of health facility staff. Strong technical support is needed to ensure quality of training, reporting and effective use of the programme resources.
Secondly, UNICEF, FANTA, CIDA and USAID have been supporting Ghana Health Services to implement community based management of acute malnutrition in focus regions since 2008. This approach is now being scaled up in various regions of Ghana. While the services have been introduced and are being scaled up, one of the key challenges is low coverage of severely malnourished children and high defaulter rate. There is a need to employ innovative strategies to identify reasons for default and low coverage in general and to address these so that more children can benefit from this life saving intervention. As more children will be identified, it will be absolutely critical to ensure that regions, districts and health facilities have strengthened supply and logistical management skills, and minimize stock-outs of strategic nutrition supplies at all levels.
The work processes involved in development of relevant funding proposals, transfer of resources, supporting implementation and reporting, take up considerable amount of staff time. The scaling up nutrition initiative has added the workload. In addition, one of the key staff for this component will soon go on maternity leave. Since these activities involve considerable resources, and the high risks indicated in the micro assessment report, it is important that UNICEF technical support in the regions and districts is maintained to manage risks, ensure effective use of resources and achievement of planned results.
Objectives of the scaling up nutrition consultancyThe main purpose of this consultancy is to provide hands-on support to implementing partners on scaling up maternal, infant and young child nutrition. The consultant will be required to work with implementing partners and undertake the following:
Programme assessment, planning and development• Gather key programme information from national level, regions and districts to assess the situation, institutional capacity and set feasible implementation targets.• Solicit proposals for scaling up nutrition, review submissions from implementing partners and ensure consistency with planned results as well as technical and administrative guidelines. Provide relevant feedback and facilitate communication with all key players
Implementation support• Build capacity of staff in the scale up of nutrition activities in participating regions and districts • Provide support to partners in forecasting, management of nutrition supplies & logistics to ensure no stock outs of strategic supplies at all levels. • Facilitate submission of activity and financial reports from national, regional and district levels and ensure that activities and reports are consistent with planned results and administrative guidelines
Monitoring, supervision and reporting• Orient implementing partners on results framework• Build capacity of staff in implementing the monitoring and supervision modules of the community IYCF and CMAM • Timely and regular (monthly) reporting of all data required by the programme logical framework
Specific Tasks and DeliverablesThe following table includes a list of tasks and deliverables each month. The work plan will be developed by the consultant in consultation with implementing partners and UNICEF.
Tasks End Product/deliverables Timing1. Assessment, planning, developmenta. Gather information on infant and young child feeding and CMAM, other potential partners and opportunities in participating regions and districtsb. Establish baseline on key performance indicators and set programme targets for scaling up MIYCN in the region and districts based on available resourcesc. Provide support in preparing work plans and reviewing funding proposals • Consolidated and updated regional and district work plans for scaling up nutrition in 10 regions• Baseline report, targets for key indicators set for each region and focus districts• Approved funding proposals and work plan for scaling up nutrition from 6 regions Revised work plans by end of September, 20132. Implementation supporta. Participate and provide support in selected training activitiesb. Ensure that all regions and districts have necessary strategic suppliesc. Support scaling up of CMAM services through identification and action on key bottlenecks • Activity and financial reports submitted by 6 regions, and ensure no outstanding cash advances• Consolidated monthly training reports and results for 6 regions.• Monthly report on key nutrition supplies and stock-outs at regional and facility level • Monthly report on CMAM in focus regions and facilities• Report on CMAM bottleneck analysis and action Sept 2013 - February 20143. Monitoring, supervision, reportinga. Orient implementing partners on nutrition results framework, establish baselineb. Build capacity of staff in implementing the monitoring and supervision modules of the community IYCF and CMAM c. Timely and regular (monthly) reporting of all data required by the programme logical framework • Monthly updates on progress against key indicators• Consolidated results for nutrition log-frame reporting• Report on implementation of monitoring and supervision module of C-IYCF in 6 regions. Sept 2013 - February 2014
Methodology and Scope of WorkThe consultant will be based in Accra, and work in close consultation with GHS at national level and in six regions. S/He will have considerable travel to regions and districts and will also work with other partners including NGOs that may be involved in implementing nutrition activities.
ReportingThe immediate supervisor of this consultancy is the Nutrition Specialist – UNICEF-Accra. The consultant will be required to work closely with other focal staff in Health and Nutrition Section in Accra as well as in Tamale.
Payment Schedule
The consultant will be paid fees on a monthly basis, upon submission of approved report detailing work progress in the 6 regions. The training programme in the 6 regions will go on concurrently.
Required Background and ExperienceQualifications or specialized knowledge/experience required for the assignment include;• University degree in Nutrition, Health, social science or other related areas• At least 5 years’ demonstrable experience in the field of nutrition. Previous experience with reputable institutions/ organisations in setting up and implementing nutrition interventions. Previous work with UNICEF or another UN agency is an added advantage.• Strong analytical and communication (oral and written) skills.
• Complete proficiency in English, with additional knowledge of the local language of the area is an asset.• Computer proficient, including use of relevant software and other applications, e.g. word processing, spreadsheets, internal databases, Internet navigation etc. • S/He should have good analytical, negotiating, communication and advocacy skills and report writing skills. • Strong monitoring and evaluation skills
How to apply:
If interested, please complete the attached United Nations Personal History form (P11) which can be downloaded from: http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/P11.doc and include a copy of your CV and motivation letter by indicating the title of the position and send your application directly to: email: HRghana@unicef.org
Applications submitted without the P11 form will not be considered.
Only short-listed candidates will be notified.
