National Consultancy: Reviewing the multisectoral maternal, infant & young child nutrition and adolescent nutrition strategies (Open to Malawian Nationals Only)

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential. 

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone. 

And we never give up. 

For every child, Care…

Malawi has had a history of high prevalence of various forms of malnutrition due to multiple factors ultimately affecting the health and survival of children. According to the 2020 Multi Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS), the prevalence of stunting is staggering at 35.5 percent and the prevalence of underweight is at 12.8 percent. Undernutrition shows significant socioeconomic disparities as well as rural (36)/urban (29). Besides, out of those live-born infants weighed at birth, approximately 14 percent are estimated to weigh less than 2,500 grams. Micronutrient deficiencies are common, with anemia affecting 28 percent of children under the age of five years, 35 percent of adolescent girls (10-14 years), and 32.7 per cent among women of reproductive age (WRA) aged 15-49 years.  

Despite the persistent high level of stunting, Malawi has experienced a marked reduction over the past ten years. The proportion of children under five years of age who are stunted decreased from 47 percent in 2010 to 35.5 percent in 2020; wasting from 4 percent to 2 percent and underweight from 13 percent to 12 percent (Malawi Demographic Health Survey 2010 compared to Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey- MICS 2019-2020). However, undernutrition, mainly stunting, remains a public health issue. This can be explained, among others by the inappropriate access and use of a diversified diet. The quality of diets for children remains sub-optimal with only nine percent of children aged 6-23 months meeting the minimum acceptable diet (MAD) standard and 64.1 percent being exclusively breastfed¹. Poor water, hygiene and sanitation, insufficient childcare and health-seeking practices leading to childhood diseases (diarrhea, malaria, pneumonia, HIV) are also major contributors to malnutrition.  

In 2019, a regional review of the alignment of country policies/guidance documents with the 2016 WHO nutrition recommendations for Antenatal Care (ANC) revealed variances such as  non-inclusion of physical activity in the counseling sessions, balanced energy protein supplementation for undernourished populations and provisions for task shifting to auxiliary nurses for nutritional supplements and intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy (IPTp) for malaria prevention and inclusion of multiple micronutrient supplements (MMS) in maternal nutrition programming. Poor maternal nutrition is linked to adverse health outcomes for both the mothers and their children and imperative to close gaps observed in various assessments. 

It is with this background that the government of Malawi, through the Department of Nutrition, HIV and AIDS (DNHA) has prioritized the revision of the Multi-sectoral Maternal, Infant and Young Child Nutrition (MIYCN) Strategy (2019-2023) and Multi-sectoral Adolescent Nutrition Strategy (2019-2023) both ending in 2023 in order to provide frameworks for improving maternal, infant, young children and adolescent nutrition status. The development of the strategies will be through UNICEF in close coordination with the Department of Nutrition, HIV, and AIDS (DNHA) of Ministry of Health (MoH).  

How can you make a difference? 

Specifically, the review and development process will be undertaken as follows:

1. Stakeholder Consultations and data collection phase

1. Develop the tools for data collection and information gathering ahead of the stakeholder consultations which will be cleared by DNHA &UNICEF.
2. The consultant(s) will convene meetings with key Government officials of Malawi through the leadership and coordination of DNHA.
3. Conduct interviews and consultations with DNHA, IYCF TWG, Micronutrient TWG, School health and Nutrition Coordinator and National Nutrition Committee to assess programming for MIYCN and Adolescent nutrition in the country both at health facility, schools, and community levels.
4. Review both best practices and challenges of MIYCAN during the consultation to inform the

revision of the strategies.

(v) Compile and analyze data to inform the strategies development

B.      Field visit regarding implementation of MIYCAN programmes

(i)  Conduct field visits to sampled health facilities, schools and communities in three districts to observe, assess services, and identify best practices.

(ii) Develop tools for data and information gathering during the field visits.

C.  Contribute to the Development and Finalize the Multisectoral- MIYCAN Nutrition strategy.                 

(i) Draft the Multisectoral- MIYCAN Strategy based on the programmatic findings – literature review, consultations, and field visits. The strategy should be comprehensive and provide guidance in both development and humanitarian contexts in Malawi.

(ii) Provide recommendations for sectoral responses/interventions to improve MIYCAN across several delivery platforms within the Ministries of Health, Agriculture, Water and Sanitation and Education and Gender, Children, disability, and social welfare.

(iii) Provide programmatic interventions as aligned to the 16 WHO nutrition recommendations for ANC to improve the positive experience during pregnancy, including the newest recommendations for the use of MMS.

(iv) The consultant will work with the identified stakeholders, such as the Infant and Young Child Nutrition Technical Working Group (IYCN TWG), to conduct and facilitate validation with partners. Their feedback will be consolidated and taken into account before finalization of the MIYCAN Strategy. The Final document will be endorsed by the National Nutrition Committee.

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

• An Advanced University Degree in Public Health or Nutrition

Work experience:

• A minimum of 8 years of relevant professional experience in public health/nutrition planning, management, and policy research at the international level, including in low and middle-income countries with proven experience in MIYCN and adolescent nutrition programming.
• Familiarity with nutrition strategy development and SUN frameworks. Prior experience of working in Malawi is an asset.

Technical skills and knowledge:

• Strong analytical and technical abilities, particularly on maternal nutrition and adolescent nutrition
• Expertise in working with Government, UN, Development Partners and research agencies
• Ability to use prioritize, multi-task, and work well independently under pressure to meet deadlines.
• Proactive with a commitment to quality and accuracy with close attention to detail.

Competencies: The Consultant (s) must have the following competencies:

• Work collaboratively with others.
• Thinks and acts strategically.
• Manages ambiguity and complexity.
• Drive to achieve results for impact. 

Languages:  English, both oral and written, is a must, and the ability to read, analyze, and interpret complex documents.

Please refer to the attached full Terms of Reference  Terms of Reference National Consultant Multisectoral maternal infant young child nutrition.pdf for more details on the consultancy and requirements.

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 here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment. 

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. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. 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. 

HOW TO APPLY…

Interested Individual Consultants should provide the following:

1. Curriculum Vitae
2. Academic certificates
3. Brief technical proposal (no longer than five pages) demonstrating the Individual Consultant’s understanding of the assignment and approach/methodology to the assignment.
4. Financial proposal including a breakdown of their all-inclusive fees (including professional fees, stationery, communication, and other miscellaneous costs).  Financial Proposal for Consultancy.xlsx Complete the attached form.
5. References details of at least 3 previous supervisors.

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.