UN Jobs Zimbabwe: Community Based Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) Consultancy with UN Children’s Fund
Consultancy Job with United Nations Children’s Fund
Organization: UN Children’s Fund
Job ID: #1731741
Career categories: Program/Project Management
Country: Zimbabwe
City: Harare
Job years of experience: 0-3 years
Job type: Consultancy
Closing date: 24 Oct 2016
UNICEF Zimbabwe is inviting proposals from Individual Consultants for Community Based Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM)
Open to Zimbabwe Nationals
Background
Zimbabwe is currently experiencing a drought following below average rainfall for two consecutive rainfall seasons (2014/2015 and 2015/2016). The accumulated rainfall totals for October 2015 – January 2016 rainfall season showed that the greater part of the country had received below average rainfall due to the ongoing El Niño phenomenon resulting in a protracted food and nutrition insecurity situation. In response to the food and nutrition security situation the Government of Zimbabwe declared a state of Drought Disaster on the 4th of February 2016. Based on the Zimbabwe Vulnerability Assessment Committee (ZimVAC) rapid assessment results of February, 2016, approximately 30% of rural households, and almost 2.8 million people are reported to be food insecure during the current peak hunger season running from January-March 2016. While the drought has impacted the entire country, the provinces of Matabeleland North and South, Midlands and Masvingo are the most affected. Fifteen most vulnerable districts were selected because they have over 40% food insecurity based on the ZIMVAC, 2016 results. The 15 districts are: Zvishavane, Gokwe North, Buhera, Mbire, Mwenezi, Umzingwane, Binga, Tsholotsho, Lupane, Hwange, Nkayi, Umguza, Zvimba, Kariba, and Mudzi.
The ZimVAC Rapid assessment report released by the Food and Nutrition Council in February 2016 revealed a global acute malnutrition rate of 5.7%, which is the highest ever reached in the past 15 years and also surpassed the 5% WHO cutoff point. The severe acute malnutrition rate remains critical at 2.1 %. It is estimated that the overall increase in severe acute malnutrition (SAM) caseload will increase compared to 2015 data. The expected national caseload is projected to 32,258 cases. In the 15 most vulnerable districts, the case load of children with SAM is projected at 17,903.
It is with this background that the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Zimbabwe Country Office, is seeking to hire a qualified CMAM Consultant to provide technical assistance to the 5 selected districts. The main objective of the assignment is to support the emergency response in the 5 most vulnerable districts to ensure implementation of active screening, referral and management of acute malnutrition.
Objectives
In the 5 most vulnerable districts of Kariba, Gweru, Shamva, Binga and Chegutu, the technical support specifically aims to:
- Raise awareness on improved key child caring practices among service providers and care providers
- Ensuring iron and folate supplementation to 80% of pregnant women for at least 90 days through monitoring
- Improve nutritional status of children through counselling 80% of mothers and caregivers of children under two years by VHW
- Ensuring improved vitamin A supplementation to 80% of children 6 – 59months
- Ensuring distribution of nutrition therapeutic commodities RUSF for management of MAM in children under five in partnership with MOHCC
- Support and monitoring of screening at least 70,900 children under-five for identification of acute malnutrition
- Support and monitoring of referral and treatment of an estimated 4,959 children with SAM and 9,439 children with MAM
Methodology
Under supervision of Nutrition Manager, UNICEF and in close collaboration with National Nutrition Department Nutrition Surveillance and Emergency Preparedness Manager and provincial and district health authorities as well as partnering NGOs, the CMAM consultant will:
- Provide technical assistance on scaling up the nutrition emergency response for the CMAM programme, especially in capacity building for facility based and community based health workers; active screening and referral of malnourished children; reporting and supervision.
- Ensure timely sharing of information to MOHCC, UNICEF and relevant partners in the 5 vulnerable districts.
- Provide support to supply logistics, including timely assessment, ensuring no stock out and reporting.
- Monitor performance of the CMAM programme and support corrective actions
- Participant in monthly coordination meetings with all stakeholders, including NGOs and civil society
- Compile monthly outcomes data on CMAM for the 5 districts. (including equipment & stock reports of critical nutrition commodities)
- Carry out any other task related to technical area of assignment as required.
Expected Outputs:
- Inception report
- Monthly Activity reports
- Monthly community level nutrition data
- Monthly Monitoring reports
Major tasks and Deliverables
- Task: Write an inception report and monthly activity report
Deliverable: Inception Report and October 2016 monthly report
- Task: Support implementation and Monitor performance of CMAM programme and compile monthly outcomes data
Deliverable: November 2016 Monthly Activity Report (including CMAM data)
- Task: Support implementation and monitor performance of CMAM programme and compile monthly outcomes data
Deliverable: December 2016 Monthly Report (including CMAM data)
- Task: Support implementation and Monitor performance of CMAM programme and compile monthly outcomes data
Deliverable: January 2017 Monthly Report (including CMAM data)
- Task: Support implementation and Monitor performance of CMAM programme and compile monthly outcomes data
Deliverable: February 2017 Monthly Report (including CMAM data)
- Task: Support implementation and Monitor performance of CMAM programme and compile monthly outcomes data
Deliverables: March 2017 Monthly report (including CMAM data)
- Task: Support implementation and Monitor performance of CMAM programme and compile monthly outcomes data
Delivery: April 2017 Monthly report (including CMAM data)
- Task: Support implementation and Monitor performance of CMAM programme and compile monthly outcomes data
Delivery: May 2017 Monthly report (including CMAM data)
- Task: Monitor performance of CMAM programme and compile monthly outcomes data
Delivery: June 2017 Monthly report (including CMAM data)
All deliverables will have to meet expected quality as assessed by the supervisor of the assignment.
Timeframe
The consultancy will begin 01 November 2016 and end on 30 July 2017
Consultancy Requirements
Education and Work Experience
- Degree in Nutrition or social science or higher degree in Public Health or Nutrition or its equivalent
- At least two years of progressively responsible professional work experience on management of acute malnutrition in emergencies with experience in Community based health and nutrition programmes.
- Knowledge of humanitarian and development issues is an asset.
- Able to work within various teams and be able to contribute to the overall success of that team
- Able to demonstrate a flexible and adaptable approach to work.
- Ability to communicate fluently in English required.
Supervision
The Nutrition Manager will be supervising the CMAM Consultancy.
HOW TO APPLY:
If interested and available, please submit your application letter, CV, a technical and all-inclusive financial proposal detailing monthly professional fees. Travel related costs (for an estimated 5 field travel days per month) and other miscellaneous consultancy costs to email address: hararevacancies@unicef.org by 24 October 2016. To quote “CMAM Consultancy” as the email subject heading.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.