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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, a fair chance
Uganda is one of the over 190 countries and territories around the world where we work to overcome the obstacles that poverty, violence, disease, and discrimination place in a child’s path.Together with the Government of Uganda and partners we work towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals, the objectives of the Uganda National Development Plan, and the planned outcomes of the United Nations Development Assistance Framework.
Visit this link for more information on Uganda Country Office https://www.unicef.org/uganda/
How can you make a difference?
Under the direct supervision of the Nutrition Specialist, the consultants will provide technical support to the districts to effectively coordinate the implementation of the Multi-Sectoral Nutrition actions at decentralized level.
Background
Although Uganda has made tremendous progress in reducing the number of people living below the poverty line, its progress in reducing undernutrition remains slow partly due to its multiple causes. According to UDHS 2016, an estimated 29% of children below 5 years of age are stunted or too short for their age. Wasting affects 4% of children in the same age category and approximately 1% suffer from Severe Acute Malnutrition. Micronutrient deficiencies of iron and vitamin A are also widespread among children and women of reproductive age. Five out of every ten children (53%) under the age of five and three out of every ten (32%) women are anemic.
Malnutrition affects all regions of the country but variation and similarities exist, with Karamoja (35.2%), West Nile (33.9%), Acholi (30.6%) and Lango (22.3%) having some of the highest prevalence rates for stunting. In addition, for Karomoja and West Nile, similar patterns are seen for wasting, each standing at 10%, respectively. If not timely addressed, malnutrition stifles learning outcomes for pupils and students, reduces the individual productivity of a worker and causes illnesses and diseases. This makes malnutrition one of Uganda’s most fundamental challenges for human development.
The government of Uganda is in the process of finalizing the first ever multi-sectoral National Nutrition Policy (2019-2025) with its attendant Action Plan, the UNAP II (2019-2024). The Action plan has clearly identified priority interventions, hence defining the framework for multi-sectoral nutrition implementation for Uganda.
UNICEF is one of the key partners supporting GoU to scale up nutrition interventions as outlined in the UNAP (Uganda Nutrition Action Plan). UNICEF supports planning, implementation and monitoring of nutrition actions at National and district levels.
UNICEF with support from the European Union under the DINU (Development Initiative for Northern Uganda) project is supporting an action focused on strengthening nutrition governance for improved nutrition outcomes for children and women in 15 districts of Northern Uganda (Moroto, Abim, Kaabong, Amudat, Napak, Pader, Moyo, Yumbe, Adjumani, Nebbi, Koboko, Omoro, Zombo, Otuke and Kole). In addition with funding from DFID for karamoja region , UNICEF would like to support a harmonized approach to Nutrition Governance.
The joint UNICEF/EU Action (2018-2021) will contribute to the operationalization of the Uganda Nutrition Action Plan II (UNAP II) as well as the National Development plan II. Within this framework, UNICEF Uganda will strengthen the capacity of the Government of Uganda to facilitate multi-sectoral coordination and actions. This will be achieved by promoting a multi-stakeholder evidence-based dialogue aimed at increasing the level, effectiveness and efficiency of investments in priority nutrition actions.
The Joint UNICEF/EU action has 3 result areas;
Result 1. Improved capacity of multi-sectoral nutrition coordination structures at district level to coordinate, plan, cost, monitor and mobilize resources for nutrition actions
Result 2. Improved capacity of sectors – Health, Agriculture, Education, Water and Sanitation, and Gender and Social Development – to plan, budget, implement at scale and monitor nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive interventions at district level
Result 3. Enhanced capacity of district governments to inform their programming based on data collection and analysis
To be able to deliver on the 3 results above, the 18 districts (Moroto, Abim, Kaabong, Amudat, Napak, Pader, Moyo, Yumbe, Adjumani, Nebbi, Koboko, Omoro, Zombo, Otuke,Kole, Nabilatuk, Kotido and Nakapiripirit) will require additional technical assistance. UNICEF proposes to recruite 4 individual consultants to support the 18 districts.
Key Tasks:
Result 1. Improved capacity of multi-sectoral nutrition coordination structures at district level to coordinate, plan, cost, monitor and mobilize resources for nutrition actions
- Prepare, facilitate and report on the implementation of the annual District coordination work plans
- Support functionality of coordination platforms by supporting the organization of coordination meetings at district level, by executing and administering a variety of technical programme transactions; preparing materials (concept note, agenda, technical briefs) and documentations, developing letters of invitation, etc.
- Facilitate the process of finalization and dissemination of the DNAPs/SNAPs widely among all stakeholders in the district
- Provide support to all UNICEF funded activities in the district. This may include organizing meetings, participating in workshops, preparing workshop materials (agenda, invitations, technical briefs and latest draft documents, disseminate minutes and related documentation; oversee follow-up on action points) and ensuring UNICEF financial resources are spent as planned. Some of these activities may include but not limited to the following
- Provide technical support to Orientations/ workplanning workshops for SNCCs, MNCCs, and TNCCs
- Working closely with Ministry of local government to support orientation of the district political leadership on nutrition governance
- Working closely with Ministry of Local Government to support review of the PBB process at DLG level to integrate nutrition
- Providing technical support to DNCCs and SNCCs during supportive supervisions.
- Function as the UNICEF point of call for District Nutrition Coordination Committees (DNCCs), maintaining an active link between DNCC chairpersons and District Nutrition Focal Persons.
- Provide supervision and mentorship to DNCCs in the area of nutrition governance
- Support the alignment of DNAPs into the DDPs(District Development Plans)
- Support the organization of multisectoral nutrition forums
- Bi-annually update the nutrition stakeholder profile at district level.
- Function as the UNICEF focal person to liaise with the various departments at district level and define needs and provide support, as and when required on Nutrition governance.
- Facilitate the development of an information-sharing and planning/calendar of Nutrition events in the district.
Result 2. Improved capacity of sectors – Health, Agriculture, Education, Water and Sanitation, and Gender and Social Development – to plan, budget, implement at scale and monitor nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive interventions at district level
- Support sectors at district level with the design and implementation of capacity strengthening activities regarding planing, budgeting, implementation, scale up and monitoring of sectoral nutrition actions
- Support, monitor and supervise the oganization of capacity building activities of sector-specific frontline service providers (e.g. Agriculture extension officers, community development officers (CDOs), Functional Adult Literacy groups (FAL), Parish Development Committees (PDCs), Village Health Teams (VHTs) and Community Health Extension Workers (CHEW) to implement community-based nutrition actions
- Strengthen capacities of local governments for integrated performance-based planning, budgeting and implementation of multi-sectoral nutrition interventions. This should include working close (e.g. preparing workshop materials, participating in TWGs and developing brief updates on the process)
Result 3. Enhanced capacity of district governments to inform their programming based on data collection and analysis
- Facilitate the DNCCs to undertake regular support supervision for local governments
- Prepare quarterly progress reports on DNAP implementation, stakeholder and resource mapping, including implementation tracking
- Support the districts to generate at least one annual technical brief per district using data from surveys, assessments, research etc
- Support the districts to generate at least one advocacy brief
- Support districts to document lessons learnt (at least 2 per year), develop human interest stories (at least 1 per year) and facilitate exchange visits among DNCCs/SNCCs for knowledge-sharing and learning.
- Support with any other duties agreed with the supervisor and/or the UNICEF nutrition team.
- Ensure UNICEF and EU/DFID visibility in all funded activities
To qualify asan advocate for every child you will have…
The consultant will be expected to have the following qualifications and skills:
1. EDUCATION:
- Degree in Nutrition, Food Security, Public Health or Agriculture, Economics, Social Sciences, Public Policy or administration or related fields
2. EXPERIENCE:
- At least 5 years of professional experience in the nutrition field, a good knowledge and understanding of multi-sector nutrition approach is an asset.
- Previous experience in planning and implementing national nutrition or other multi-sectoral programmes in Government or development partner fields,
- Experience working in government and/or with governments is a critical asset for this assignment.
- At least 2 years of professional experience in managing programmes and policy processes; at regional, country, district levels
- Experience in facilitating multi-partner and multi-sector working groups
- Field experience at national and sub-national level work environments with good working knowledge of UNAP implementation at de-centralized and National Level
- Good understanding of government processes at the DLG level will be an added advantage
3. SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
- Proven experience and skills in programme management and strategic planning
- Proven ability to strengthen capacity of national and sub-national counterparts and partners
- Excellent communications and interpersonal skills; Ability to influence and inter-act with senior- level decision-makers across different organizations; Capacity to act with credibility, tact and diplomacy on sensitive issues and topics; Experience in change management
- Proven skills in strong analytical and problem-solving skills;
- Excellent written and oral communication skills;
- Effective organizational skills; high drive for results;
- High commitment;
- Teamwork and strong interpersonal and intercultural skills;
- Computer literacy especially with Excel and database management is required.
- Desirable:
- Knowledge of the SUN movement and the UNAP;
For every Child, you demonstrate…
UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.
The competencies required for this post are….
View our competency framework at
http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf
UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.
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, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.
Remarks:
Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.
More Information
- Job City Kampala
