Country: United States of America
Closing date:
30 Apr 2014ANNEX I – STATEMENT OF WORK AND TERMS OF REFERENCE
1. INTRODUCTION OF THE SECTION
UNICEF’s Nutrition Section works towards improving child nutrition within the framework of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and other policy instruments through facilitating collaborative efforts in advocacy, policy and programming, capacity building, and monitoring and information dissemination, with particular attention to the most vulnerable.
2. BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Deficiencies in micronutrients such as iron, iodine, vitamin A, folate and zinc can have devastating consequences. At least half of children worldwide ages 6 months to 5 years suffer from one or more micronutrient deficiency, and globally more than 2 billion people are affected. Existing effective micronutrient interventions available to reduce the morbidity and mortality linked to chronic undernutrition, to foster optimal growth and development, and to improve nutritional status in populations, particularly in the most vulnerable groups, are being implemented or planned at different scales in many countries globally.
UNICEF has been working with CDC’s International Micronutrient Malnutrition Prevention and Control Program (IMMPaCt) for more than 10 years. The particular focus of this partnership over the years has been to reduce the global burden of micronutrient deficiencies in children and pregnant women through the strengthening of global micronutrient interventions, development of guidelines and frameworks, monitoring and evaluation and surveillance systems, and increasing capacity at national and regional levels. Together IMMPaCt and UNICEF support, develop, and disseminate guidelines and frameworks on interventions that affect maternal and child under nutrition outcomes, specifically those related to micronutrient deficiencies, as they are necessary to increase access and coverage of key programs. Additionally, there is a need to develop replicable models for program monitoring and evaluation, surveillance and assessments to improve programs and facilitate scale up. Key global events and networks that this partnership has supported and shaped include the Global Alliance for Vitamin A (GAVA), the Iodine Network (ICCIDD), and the Flour Fortification Initiative (FFI). Additionally, the provision of integral technical support to numerous successful in-country projects has been a particular strength of the partnership, including technical support for the implementation of micronutrient surveys, technical assistance and capacity building for the implementation and monitoring of home fortification and salt iodization programmes.
3. PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES & SCOPE OF WORK
Describe the “ultimate” purpose of the services being requested. Elaborate on the scope of work required.
Document the 10+ year collaboration between IMMPaCt and UNICEF by telling the story of the partnership and describing key achievements, successful strategies, and lessons learned. The objective is to produce an attractive, easy to read report that documents the experiences of this partnership to be shared within UNICEF and CDC, as well as among other global partners in nutrition, to illustrate how a successful interagency partnership can be forged.
4. SCOPE OF WORK
Conduct key informant interviews both at UNICEF and CDC HQs and with program countries, review project overviews and other documents, gather stories from the field, and compile any other information available, to produce a report documenting the partnership between IMMPaCt and UNICEF over the years. The report should be interesting to read, and highlight key successes of the collaboration, but also lessons learned. The report should also include case studies bringing in the country perspective.
5. UNICEF RESPONSIBILITIES
Describe the support that will be provided to the selected service provider during the contract period; i.e. liaise with country offices and ensure staff are available for joint work.
This position will be supervised by the M&E officer in the nutrition section. Frequent conversations with the IMMPaCt Team at CDC will be necessary, either by phone or video-conference. Some liaising with country-offices will also be part of the documentation. The consultant will be required to reach out to key informants who might have left the organisation or changed duty-stations.
6. EXPECTED DELIVERABLES AND TIME LINE
Describe the results that need to be achieved through the proposed contract by listing the deliverables/final outputs that are expected from this work including the time line when these need to be completed.Output Deliverable by 1 report July 2014
7. KEY SKILLS, TECHNICAL BACKGROUND, AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
• Good understanding of nutrition, in particular Micronutrients issues, is required.
• Excellent communications skills (oral and written) are a requirement
• Previous experience in writing up lessons learned is a benefit.
• Language competences: Proficiency in English is required.
8.DURATION:35 days between 1st May 2014 – 14th July 2014
How to apply
Deadline for submissions: 30 April 2014
Qualified candidates are requested to send their submissions to with subject line: Consultancy – Report on global partners in nutrition.Applications must include:
• Cover letter
• Maximum 3-page curriculum vitae (CV);
• A sample of any written report that displays research, synthesis and analytical skills;
• Signed P11 form (which can be downloaded fromhttp://www.unicef.org/about/employ/index_53129.html)
· An indication of ability, availability and a quote for daily rate to undertake the terms of reference above, (in US$). Applications submitted without a daily rate will not be considered.
NOTE: Files should not exceed 5.0MB limit. It is advised to send two emails if you exceed the limit.
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General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants / Individual Contractors
- Legal Status
The individual engaged by UNICEF under this contract as a consultant or individual contractors (the “Contractor”) is engaged in a personal capacity and not as representatives of a Government or of any other entity external to the United Nations. The Contractor is neither a "staff member" under the Staff Regulations of the United Nations and UNICEF policies and procedures nor an "official" for the purpose of the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations, 1946. The Contractor may, however, be afforded the status of "Experts on Mission" in the sense of Section 22 of Article VI of the Convention and the Contractor is required by UNICEF to travel in order to fulfill the requirements of this contract, the Contractor may be issued a United Nations Certificate in accordance with Section 26 of Article VII of the Convention.
- Obligations
The Contractor shall complete the assignment set out in the Terms of Reference for this contract with due diligence, efficiency and economy, in accordance with generally accepted professional techniques and practices.
The Contractor must respect the impartiality and independence of UNICEF and the United Nations and in connection with this contract must neither seek nor accept instructions from anyone other than UNICEF. During the term of this contract the Contractor must refrain from any conduct that would adversely reflect on UNICEF or the United Nations and must not engage in any activity that is incompatible with the administrative instructions and policies and procedures of UNICEF. The Contractor must exercise the utmost discretion in all matters relating to this contract.
In particular, but without limiting the foregoing, the Contractor (a) will conduct him- or herself in a manner consistent with the Standards of Conduct in the International Civil Service; and (b) will comply with the administrative instructions and policies and procedures of UNICE relating to fraud and corruption; information disclosure; use of electronic communication assets; harassment, sexual harassment and abuse of authority; and the requirements set forth in the Secretary General's Bulletin on Special Measures for Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse.
Unless otherwise authorized by the appropriate official in the office concerned, the Contractor must not communicate at any time to the media or to any institution, person, Government or other entity external to UNICEF any information that has not been made public and which has become known to the Contractor by reason of his or her association with UNICEF or the United Nations. The Contractor may not use such information without the written authorization of UNICEF, and shall under no circumstances use such information for his or her private advantage or that of others. These obligations do not lapse upon termination of this contact.
- Title rights
UNICEF shall be entitled to all property rights, including but not limited to patents, copyrights and trademarks, with regard to material created by the Contractor which bears a direct relation to, or is made in order to perform, this contract. At the request of UNICEF, the Contractor shall assist in securing such property rights and transferring them to UNICEF in compliance with the requirements of the law governing such rights.
- Travel
If UNICEF determines that the Contractor needs to travel in order to perform this contract, that travel shall be specified in the contract and the Contractor’s travel costs shall be set out in the contract, on the following basis:
(a) UNICEF will pay for travel in economy class via the most direct and economical route; provided however that in exceptional circumstances, such as for medical reasons, travel in business class may be approved by UNICEF on a case-by-case basis.
(b) UNICEF will reimburse the Contractor for out-of-pocket expenses associated with such travel by paying an amount equivalent to the daily subsistence allowance that would be paid to staff members undertaking similar travel for official purposes.
- Statement of good health
Before commencing work, the Contractor must deliver to UNICEF a certified self-statement of good health and to take full responsibility for the accuracy of that statement. In addition, the Contractor must include in this statement of good health (a) confirmation that he or she has been informed regarding inoculations required for him or her to receive, at his or her own cost and from his or her own medical practitioner or other party, for travel to the country or countries to which travel is authorized; and (b) a statement he or she is covered by medical/health insurance and that, if required to travel beyond commuting distance from his or her usual place or residence to UNICEF (other than to duty station(s) with hardship ratings “H” and “A”, a list of which has been provided to the Contractor) the Contractor’s medical/health insurance covers medical evacuations. The Contractor will be responsible for assuming all costs that may be occurred in relation to the statement of good health.
- Insurance
The Contractor is fully responsible for arranging, at his or her own expense, such life, health and other forms of insurance covering the term of this contract as he or she considers appropriate taking into account, among other things, the requirements of paragraph 5 above. The Contractor is not eligible to participate in the life or health insurance schemes available to UNICEF and United Nations staff members. The responsibility of UNICEF and the United Nations is limited solely to the payment of compensation under the conditions described in paragraph 7 below.
- Service incurred death, injury or illness
If the Contractor is travelling with UNICEF’s prior approval and at UNICEF's expense in order to perform his or her obligations under this contract, or is performing his or her obligations under this contract in a UNICEF or United Nations office with UNICEF’s approval, the Contractor (or his or her dependents as appropriate), shall be entitled to compensation from UNICEF in the event of death, injury or illness attributable to the fact that the Contractor was travelling with UNICEF’s prior approval and at UNICEF's expense in order to perform his or her obligations under this contractor, or was performing his or her obligations under this contract in a UNICEF or United Nations office with UNICEF’s approval. Such compensation will be paid through a third party insurance provider retained by UNICEF and shall be capped at the amounts set out in the Administrative Instruction on Individual Consultants and Contractors. Under no circumstances will UNICEF be liable for any other or greater payments to the Contractor (or his or her dependents as appropriate).
- Arbitration
(a) Any dispute arising out of or, in connection with, this contract shall be resolved through amicable negotiation between the parties.
(b) If the parties are not able to reach agreement after attempting amicable negotiation for a period of thirty (30) days after one party has notified the other of such a dispute, either party may submit the matter to arbitration in accordance with the UNCITRAL procedures within fifteen (15) days thereafter. If neither party submits the matter for arbitration within the specified time the dispute will be deemed resolved to the full satisfaction of both parties. Such arbitration shall take place in New York before a single arbitrator agreed to by both parties; provided however that should the parties be unable to agree on a single arbitrator within thirty days of the request for arbitration, the arbitrator shall be designated by the United Nations Legal Counsel. The decision rendered in the arbitration shall constitute final adjudication of the dispute.
- Penalties for Underperformance
Payment of fees to the Contractor under this contractor, including each installment or periodic payment (if any), is subject to the Contractor’s full and complete performance of his or her obligations under this contract with regard to such payment to UNICEF’s satisfaction, and UNICEF’s certification to that effect.
- Termination of Contract
This contract may be terminated by either party before its specified termination date by giving notice in writing to the other party. The period of notice shall be five (5) business days (in the UNICEF office engaging the Contractor) in the case of contracts for a total period of less than two (2) months and ten (10) business days (in the UNICEF office engaging the Contractor) in the case of contracts for a longer period; provided however that in the event of termination on the grounds of impropriety or other misconduct by the Contractor (including but not limited to breach by the Contractor of relevant UNICEF policies, procedures, and administrative instructions), UNICEF shall be entitled to terminate the contract without notice. If this contract is terminated in accordance with this paragraph 10, the Contractor shall be paid on a pro rata basis determined by UNICEF for the actual amount of work performed to UNICEF’s satisfaction at the time of termination. UNICEF will also pay any outstanding reimbursement claims related to travel by the Contractor. Any additional costs incurred by UNICEF resulting from the termination of the contract by either party may be withheld from any amount otherwise due to the Contractor under this paragraph 10.
- Taxation
UNICEF and the United Nations accept no liability for any taxes, duty or other contribution payable by the consultant and individual contractor on payments made under this contract. Neither UNICEF nor the United Nations will issue a statement of earnings to the consultant and individual contractor
How to apply:How to apply
Deadline for submissions: 30 April 2014
Qualified candidates are requested to send their submissions to with subject line: Consultancy – Report on global partners in nutrition.Applications must include:
• Cover letter
• Maximum 3-page curriculum vitae (CV);
• A sample of any written report that displays research, synthesis and analytical skills;
• Signed P11 form (which can be downloaded fromhttp://www.unicef.org/about/employ/index_53129.html)
· An indication of ability, availability and a quote for daily rate to undertake the terms of reference above, (in US$). Applications submitted without a daily rate will not be considered.
NOTE: Files should not exceed 5.0MB limit. It is advised to send two emails if you exceed the limit.
