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IDS.
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Purpose of
the Assignment
In Malawi 63% of
children under five were considered to be anemic and 37% of children under five
were found to be stunted, with stunting slightly higher among male children
(39% percent) than among female children (35%) as identified by the Malawi
Demographic Health Survey (MDHS 2015-16). In addition, infant and young child
feeding (IYCF) practices are sub-optimal, with only 8% of children 6-23 months
receiving minimum acceptable diet[1] down from 15% in 2014[2]. Insufficient
nutrition (including inadequate calories, protein, or micronutrients) can have
detrimental effect on the health, growth and development of young children.
Inadequate nutrition can lead to improper growth, characterized by stunting,
wasting or underweight. It can also lead to micronutrient deficiencies (i.e.
iron, vitamin A, and zinc deficiencies) which are associated with a range of problems
including impaired immunity, vision problems, and impaired cognitive
development. The consequences of poor nutrition are pronounced among children
6-23 months of age as this is a period of rapid growth and development
characterized by high nutritional needs. As a result, children 6-23 months are
at the greatest risk of developing micronutrient deficiencies and stunted
growth.
The National
Micronutrient Strategy has adopted several approaches for addressing
micronutrient deficiencies which include food based approaches, supplementation
and fortification as some key interventions for addressing micronutrient
deficiencies. Vitamin A supplementation has in recent years been conducted
through biannual Child Health Days which also combine with deworming and
nutrition messages. Fortification of sugar and edible oil is another vehicle
for ensuring consumption of vitamin A. Owing to these and other interventions
vitamin A deficiency has declined in the last 15 years, currently at 8 percent
among children 6-59 months in 2015 compared to 59 percent in 2001. Therefore
these gains need to be sustained. Currently virtually all vitamin A
supplementation is being conducted through Child Health Days and very little
through routine immunization or primary health services. This is an expensive
and unsustainable way for the country to provide vitamin A supplements. As
such, the government with support from UNICEF will from 2017 launch the
integration of vitamin A supplementation in routine immunization through the
Extended Programme on Immunization (EPI). Additional to Vitamin A
supplementation for children, there is a need to strengthen the provision of
Iron and Folate supplementation for adolescent girls as well as pregnant women.
The Nutrition Unit
of Ministry of Health is the implementing agency of Vitamin A and Iron and
Folate supplementation under the guidance of the DNHA. The Nutrition Unit is
heavily understaffed with only a deputy director and two technical officers.
The Unit therefore requires technical support to effectively implement existing
micronutrient interventions as well as supporting implementation of new and
innovative approaches. UNICEF will therefore, engage a consultant to provide
technical support and expertise to the Ministry of Health (MOH) Nutrition Unit
in the implementation of an innovative approach to integrating Vitamin A
supplementation through routine immunization as well as supporting delivery
platforms for the provision of Iron and Folate supplementation for adolescent
girls and pregnant women. It is against this background and rationale that
UNICEF Malawi will support the Ministry of Health, National Nutrition Unit with
technical support towards strengthening micronutrient interventions in Malawi.
Assignment
Tasks
The key purpose of
the assignment is to provide technical support to Ministry of Health (Nutrition
Unit) and UNICEF Malawi in strengthening micronutrient interventions in Malawi,
while ensuring effective coordination and collaboration with key stakeholders.
The selected
consultant will assist in undertaking the following activities:
a road map/implementation plan for integration of vitamin A supplementation in
EPI program
quantification and budgeting of all supplies and services contained in the
implementation plan
the alignment of vitamin A and EPI IEC tools
the districts in integration of vitamin A supplementation in routine EPI
program
districts in immunization microplanning in collaboration with EPI department of
the ministry
Facilitate timely reporting of vitamin A supplementation from all 29
districts
Document challenges, successes and lessons learnt in vitamin A
supplementation
National EPI TWG taskforce in development of monthly distribution plans and any
other supply chain logistics-related activities for immunization
monthly updates and briefs on vitamin A supplementation including key progress
indicators to be shared in various coordination for a
action plan for strengthening the provision of Iron and Folate supplementation
to adolescent girls and pregnant women
Collaborate with school health department within Ministry of Health for
the roll out of Iron and Folate supplementation for adolescent girls within
schools
Develop
mechanisms integrating supply chain for Vitamin A and Iron and Folate
supplements into the existing systems for EPI department within Ministry of
Health
Expected
Deliverables
Task
Deliverable
Timeframe
Payment
schedule
Develop a road
map/implementation plan for integration of vitamin A supplementation in EPI
program
Roadmap document
submitted
By end of the 1st
month of assignment
1/11th of
consultancy fee upon submission of Roadmap
31 May 2017
Develop
quantification and budgeting of all supplies and services contained in the
implementation plan
Quantification &
Budget developed
By end of 2nd month
of assignment
1/11th of
consultancy fee upon submission of Quantification & Budget
30 June 2017
Support the
development and alignment of vitamin A and EPI reporting and IEC tools
Package of tools
submitted
By end of 3rd month
of assignment
1/11th of
consultancy fee submission of aligned tools
31 July 2017
Develop monitoring
and evaluation framework and tools for vitamin A supplementation
Vitamin A monitoring
and evaluation tools submitted
By end of 4th month
of assignment
1/11th of
consultancy fee upon submission of revised M&E tools
30 September 2017
Develop supply chain
logistics standard operating procedures for vitamin A & Iron/Folate
supplements
Standard operating
procedures for vitamin A & Iron/Folate in place
By end of 5th month
of assignment
1/11th of
consultancy fee upon submission of SOP for vitamin A & Iron/Folate
31 October 2017
Develop
implementation and scale up plan for strengthening the provision of Iron and
Folate supplementation to adolescent girls and pregnant women
Action plan
developed
By end of 6th month
from assuming assignment
1/11th of
consultancy fee upon submission of Action plan
30 November 2017
Develop &
finalize training tools and materials for implementation of Iron/Folate
Supplementation for adolescent girls in Joint Program on Girls Education
Training materials
developed
By end of 7th month
from assuming assignment
1/11th of
consultancy fee upon submission of Training materials
31 December 2017
Conduct monthly
support, mentoring and coaching to districts implementing vitamin A &
Iron/Folate supplementation
Detailed monthly
district reports with key progress indicators; lessons learned and best
practices documented
Monthly
Support quarterly
EPI TWG meetings and present updates and progress reports
Meeting minutes,
quarterly update report compiled
Quarterly
Support national
biannual review/postmortem of vitamin A supplementation
Bi-annual CHDs
report available with complete data from all districts
Within 30 days of
completion of Bi-annual CHDs
Support districts
with development of micro plans for immunization
Micro plans
available
Twice a year
Develop &
finalize data collection and monitoring tools for Iron/Folate supplementation
for adolescent girls
Data collection and
monitoring tools submitted
By end of 8th month
from assuming assignment
1/11th of
consultancy fee upon submission of data collection and monitoring tools
31 January 2018
Develop C4D
materials for use in schools for Iron/Folate supplementation for adolescent
girls
C4D materials
By end of the 9th
month of assuming assignment
1/11th of
consultancy fee upon submission of C4D materials
28 February 2018
Document process of
roll out of Iron/Folate supplementation for adolescent girls
Process document in
place
By end of 10th month
from assuming assignment
1/11th of
consultancy fee upon submission of Process document
31 March 2018
Guidelines for
implementation of Iron/Folate supplementation finalized
IFA Guideline
developed
By end of 11th month
of assuming assignment
1/11th of
consultancy fee upon submission of IFA guideline
31 April 2018
Attend JPGE
quarterly meetings
Quarterly minutes
submitted
Quarterly
Develop distribution
plans for vitamin A & Iron/Folate supplies and materials
Distribution plans
available
Monthly
Support districts
with development of micro plans for immunization
Micro plans
available
Twice a year
Qualifications
of Successful Candidate
Master’s degree in Health policy and planning, Public Health or other
related Social Science
of 5 years of experience working in health and Nutrition planning for Micronutrients
Knowledge and experience on integration of vitamin A in routine
immunization programs.
Experience in other micronutrient interventions such as deworming, Iron
folate supplementation is desirable
experience in developing C4Dmaterials, monitoring tools and reports.
Experience working with governments, NGOS, UN agencies or other relevant
development partners.
Competencies
of Successful Candidate
To view our
competency framework, please click here.
Please
indicate your ability, availability and daily/monthly rate (in US$) to
undertake the terms of reference above (including travel and daily subsistence
allowance, if applicable). Applications submitted without a daily/monthly rate
will not be considered.
UNICEF is committed
to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified
female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds,
including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our
organisation.
UNICEF is committed
to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified
female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds,
including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our
organization. To apply, click on the following link http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/?job=504352
