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For every child, play
Background
Despite positive economic growth since 2000, between 2000 and 2017, the prevalence of stunting among children in West and Central Africa declined very slowly, from 41.1% to 33.5% and the absolute number of stunted children actually increased, from 22.8 to 28.9 million. This is an increase of more than 26%, even as the global number has decreased by 24%.
Given the nutrition situation and trends in the region, UNICEF West and Central Africa Regional Office has prioritized stunting as one of the 8 key results for children (KRCs) in the ROMP 2018-2021 and included an output to remove remaining bottlenecks at policy, strategic, programmatic and financial levels; “By 2021, regional and national institutions and partners in selected countries have improved capacities on public advocacy, policy/plan and multisectoral coordination”.
The 2014 Global Nutrition Report emphasized the need for sufficient financial resources for nutrition. Then, since 2016, UNICEF has been supporting countries in the region to undertake budget tracking exercise for Nutrition sector. This is also critical for better programme performance. Yet, it is still important to keep on accompanying countries as well as to develop and/or reinforce national capacities.
To accelerate stunting reduction and reach the KRC#2 objective, as well as enhance the nutrition and health of women, there is an urgent need to sharpen policies/plans on comprehensive maternal and early child nutrition in the region. In addition, UNICEF also work to improve the enabling environment of regional institutions and entities to secure a better and coordinated support for effective action at country level as part of the objectives of the ROMP 2018-2021.
The 3 grants referred to are addressing different dimension of stunting in complementarity in some countries, with the aim to ensure children receive a package of services that will prevent stunting
How can you make a difference?
Objectives
The overall purpose of the assignment is to strengthen the Regional Office capacity for timely and effective management of key priority activities related to the technical nutrition areas maternal and early child nutrition and contribute to nutrition budget tracking exercises as well as partnerships. The individual contractor will provide substantial support to the West and Central African countries in providing timely and state-of-the art support in the following areas:
1) Support nutrition budget tracking exercises
2) Support the implementation of the Italian, NORAD and Muskoka grants for nutrition
3) Contribute to organize regional events in early child nutrition
Scope of work
Human resources in the nutrition section have increased however still limited, especially due to two vacant junior positions (1 JPO position, 1 P-2 level). As a result, the specificity of some priority tasks in the section requires that some functions are outsourced to help out with three major priority activities.
These priorities are related to:
1) Provide technical support to conduct nutrition budget tracking exercises in the region
UNICEF WCARO is supporting nutrition budget tracking exercises in countries, in order to better monitor investments in nutrition
- In collaboration with UNICEF Country offices and HQ, specific tasks are related to:
- Provide technical support to countries aiming to track national budget
- Support to reach the next step in budget tracking, namely on joint RO-HQ work on estimating budget from partners and tracking how nutrition budget was used
- Produce detailed reports of each budget tracking exercise
- Act as focal point for any tasks and initiatives related to nutrition financing tracking
- Document the roll-out of nutrition budget tracking exercises in the region and provide recommendations on the way forward (1 policy brief)2) Support the implementation of the Italian/Muskoka/NORAD grants for nutrition
UNICEF WCARO manages several grants, including one from the Italian cooperation, one from the French government and one from the Norwegian cooperation. These grants aim at strengthening nutrition programming in the region. The implementation of these grant needs ongoing monitoring at regional and country level to reach expected results.
- Specific tasks related to the overall management of the grants:
- Provide timely and quality technical support to UNICEF Country Programs to ensure that the strategic shifts (as defined in the proposal(s)) are implemented.
- Provide guidance to country offices on processes and procedures applicable in the formulation, management, monitoring and evaluation of each phase of the projects.
- Contribute to drafting quality and timely consolidated donor reports.
- Provide in-country level support to monitor interventions and programs funded by the grants to ensure compliance with the proposal.3) Contribute to organize regional events on early child nutrition
- Contribute to the development of events materials
- Prepare workshop/event reportDeliverables and Schedules
Tasks
Duration
Deliverables
Deadline
Support budget tracking exercises
a) Act as focal point for any tasks and initiatives related to nutrition financing tracking
b) Technical support to countries on the Government budget allocation tracking
c) In collaboration with HQ, develop a concept note on budget tracking from partners and on tracking how nutrition budget has been used
d) RO focal point for the implementation of the joint RO-HQ concept note
10 days/month
Monthly report covering:
a) Report on the work performed in domain of nutrition budget tracking
b) Reports on the support provided and on budget tracking exercises conducted at country level
c) Concept note produced
d) Progress report on the implementation of the concept note project
a) on a need basis and as per calendar
b) support is provided on a need basis
c) 30 April 2019
d) end of each month starting from May 2019
Support and monitoring of overall implementation and management of the nutrition grants
e) Monitoring and support to countries for implementation
f) Country and donor reports
8 days/month
Monthly report covering:
e) Country trips reports
f) Draft Donor reports
e) Support is provided on a need basis
f) Country trip or draft Donor report as per calendar
Organization of regional events on early child development
g) Provide support for the organization of regional events
h) Prepare the reports
2 days/month
g) Concept note; Agenda; participants list;
Reports of workshops
g) 5 working days after an event/workshop
Total: 200 days
Timing
- Start date: 1st April 2019
- End date: 31 January 2020
- Specific timelines and milestones: Please refer to the above row
Reporting Requirements
· Monthly report: End of each month, starting in April 2019
· Trip reports: 5 days after return from trip
· Donor reports for the 3 Grants: contributions required as per the deadlines in the funding agreement requirements
Administrative Issues
- Supervisor and certifying officer: Nutrition Specialist
- Regional Office based, full time assignment
- A laptop and a UNICEF email account will be provided to the individual contractor.
- The support missions in WCARO COs will be covered under budgeted project costs
- Payment will only be made for work satisfactorily completed and accepted by UNICEF
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
Education
A Postgraduate degree in nutrition (MSc, MPH, DrPH, or PhD), global/international nutrition or public and/or nutrition, health policy and/or management is required.
Work Experience
Three (3) years of professional work experience at national and international levels in programme planning, management, monitoring and evaluation in Nutrition.
Experience in UNICEF (or UN agency/large NGO/multi/bi-lateral organization) country programme preparation and programme management would be an asset. Demonstrated ability to work in a multi-cultural environment with special emphasis on the cultural sensitivities of West and Central Africa would be an asset.
Demonstrated experience in knowledge, implementation of Nutrition-relevant activities.
Previous recent work experience with UNICEF in the WCA region would be an asset
Proven experience in the domain of nutrition budget tracking exercise would be required
Proven analytical, negotiating, writing and advocacy skills would be required.
Language Proficiency
Fluency in French and English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language or a local language is an asset.
For every Child, an advocate
UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.
The technical 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.
More Information
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