Local recruitment: State Consultant Food, Nutrition, Health and WASH (FNHW) & Gender via DevNetJobsIndia

BACKGROUND / RATIONALE

Evidence indicate that focusing on the first 1000 days of a child’s life – from conception to two years of age – is a critical window of opportunity to address child stunting. There is sufficient knowledge base that foetal stunting is largely caused by inadequate nutrition of the mother before conception and in the first trimester. Chhattisgarh still have ~23% of women as undernourished with BMI < 18.5. (NFHS 5, 2015). Adolescent and maternal Nutrition is key component in reducing undernutrition in children. Chhattisgarh State Rural Livelihood Mission (SRLM-Bihan) is the key flagship poverty alleviation program of Department of Rural Development, Government of Chhattisgarh. SRLM aims at organizing the rural poor women into Self Help Groups (SHGs), building their capacity to build their savings base there by strengthening their annual cash flow, reducing the risk and vulnerabilities of these poor families and linking up with various institutions and stakeholder so that poor families can take charge and come out of poverty.

UNICEF and Government of Chhattisgarh are committed to reduce stunting and improve the nutritional status of the children, pregnant mothers and adolescent’s girls. The State Rural Livelihood Mission (SRLM – Bihan in Chhattisgarh) has partnered with UNICEF and the Self-Help Groups (SHGs) under SRLM to implement FNHW (Food, Nutrition, Health and WASH) – the multi-sectoral demonstration program for testing the effectiveness of delivering a package of essential nutrition specific and nutrition-sensitive interventions aimed at improving women’s nutrition. It facilitates women collectives to deliver an integrated package of five essential nutrition interventions directly to women, especially to the malnourished newly-wed, pregnant women and mothers with below two-year-old children. Based on the successful learnings and experience, State government has decided to upscale as SAMRIDH BIHAN and extend to further 68 blocks across 20 districts.

The key activities were – supporting the implementation of annual action plans (2018-19 and 2019-20) for FNHW under SRLM, sensitization of master trainers, sensitization of community cadre, VO’s block and district teams on Swabhimaan, development of Village Level Resource Maps, development of Poshan Micro Plan (PMP) module, agriculture linkage with nutrition and natural resources module, baseline, formation of adolescent girls groups, partnership with NGO for facilitating the women-adolescents-farmers participatory learning actions, awareness rallies on Sanitation, Plantation and Malaria, home visits to malnourished pregnant women , under 2 age children mothers and adolescent girls families, organizing village level monthly demonstration and counselling sessions .

The Government of Chhattisgarh is committed towards reducing maternal malnutrition through introducing hot cooked meal programme- Mhatari Jatan Yojana from DWCD, strengthening micronutrition supplementation programme such as IFA, Calcium and Albendazole for mother and pacing up to accelerate actions for improving nutritional status of mothers, children and adolescent through successful model of Swabhimaan. With the above background UNICEF proposes to engage services of a consultant, to enhance technical assistance and supportive supervision to SRLM, WCD and Health at State and for all Swabhimaan/Maternal Nutrition districts.

PURPOSE OF ASSIGNMENT

The purpose of this assignment is to provide technical support to Government of Chhattisgarh for continued roll out and implementation of FNHW strategy in proposed 68 blocks in 20 districts of the state within the work of State Rural Livelihood Mission (SRLM-BIHAN).

The assignment also aims to strengthen current Maternal Nutrition programmes, implemented by DoHFW and DWCD through developing capacity of implementing units in state, mapping of reliable data gaps and development of plans to fill the gaps and theme-based research. These activities will help and further strengthen the holistic approach towards reducing maternal and child undernutrition

OBJECTIVE/S

To strengthen and support Maternal nutrition interventions through SRLM-Bihan in rolling out the Village Organization led and system strengthening component of FNHW program (Samriddha Bihan), through Mhatari Jatan Yojana scheme of DWCD and Micronutrient Supplementation by DoHFW by providing continuous technical, monitoring, coordination and review support both at State and District level for evidence-based programming.

The key objectives include:       

• To extend technical and liaising support to SRLM Bihan at state, district, block level in effective implementation of FNHW (Samridhdha Bihan program)
• To track and monitor the on-ground implementation, processes and sub-components of FNHW/ maternal nutrition program
• To review and ensure collection and timely compilation of data to describe the coverage, performance and facilitate in organizing state and district level reviews
• Provide handholding support to block coordinators in routine monitoring and ensuring timely completion of planned activities
• Liaise with NGO partner for accomplishment of key activities at state and block level
• Capacity building support for FNHW/maternal Nutrition – facilitate and take sessions
• Undertake field visits for supportive supervision for maternal nutrition/FNHW

MAJOR TASKS TO BE ACCOMPLISHED

The consultant is expected to perform the major tasks outlined herewith.

Capacity Building:

• Identify learning and training opportunities for DMMU/BMMU staffs, and work as a mentor for capacity building and skills augmentation of staffs in FNHW and gender integration areas
• Prepare the itinerary and schedule for sensitization sessions for CRPs and also in the cascade manner the VO/ SHG members on all the aspects of FNHW and gender in Nutrition
• Support and anchoring the scheduled training plans and calendar, for effective knowledge development in sync with FNHW and gender roll out.
• Support in developing training calendar/plans and module, content for the project and tool development, of VO/SHG members session plans for imparting the training at different levels.
• Devise effective capacity building strategies aligned with capacity building roll out plans

Programme and financial Management:

• Support SRLM for development of FNHW and gender roll out and scale up plan
• Support development of Annual Action plan with all activities budgeted and develop financial tracker synched with physical achievements
• Support in the FNHW and gender programme management, on a day-to-day basis with all the multi-sectoral verticals and departments ensuring the project specific deliverables
• Support department for drafting strategic plans and for implementation at the state and district levels
• Coordinate with all the key stakeholders (ICDS, Department of Health, Agriculture Department, MGNREGA, Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation) of FNHW and gender and other programme partners (PRI members, ANM, AWW, ASHA)
• Orchestrate FNHW and gender roll out to ensure timely delivery against log frames and work plans

Supplies management:

• Develop programme guidelines with timely updation, monthly activity cum communication tools and resource material
• Support gap assessment exercise led by department to ensure availability of supplies in field
• Ensure supplies of resource material and tools reaching to all districts and implementing functionaries

Management Information System:

• Support department to develop programme MIS based on field visit carried out to districts and discussion/inputs received from implementers
• Develop easy to use reporting and recording formats to track programmatic progress
• Facilitate digitization of the MIS in coordination with implementation and monitoring team
• Develop timely programme reports on project updates in compliance with programme roll out plan

Partnerships facilitation:

• Facilitate establishment of intersectoral coordination and convergence among contributing departments at all levels
• Assist in services and entitlements of other contributing departments and schemes availability incorporated in FNHW AND GENDER roll out plan
• Coordinating with all contributory departments for timely updation of convergence plan and services and knowledge sharing with each other

Monitoring, Evaluation and Knowledge Management:

• Ensure an appropriate monitoring and evaluation (M&E) systems are in place for the FNHW and gender as per programme mandates
• Devise periodic review mechanism (Physical and financial review) at all level and timely updation of M&E system based on review findings
• Ensure relevant and timely M&E information is provided in prescribed formats to NMMU, SMMU and others as and when required.
• Steer the monitoring systems including data collation, analysis and review and support in the sharing of case studies anecdotal evidence and good practices
• Process documentation on FNHW and gender roll out with success stories

DUTY STATION

The consultant will be based in Raipur, Chhattisgarh.

SUPERVISOR

He/She will be working under the direct supervision of UNICEF Nutrition Specialist and day-to-day functioning from the Mission Director, SRLM, Govt. of Chhattisgarh.

OFFICIAL TRAVEL INVOLVED (ITINERARY AND DURATION)

The consultant will be asked to undertake official travel frequently within the state and outside as well with prior approval of supervisor

Frequent travel to High priority and Aspirational districts other blocks and other districts. Travel besides TOR as per program requirement will be reimbursed as per UNICEFs travel policy regarding Individual Consultants

ESTIMATED DURATION OF CONTRACT (PART TIME / FULL TIME)

Full time 24 months of contract starting from 01 February 2023 to 31 January 2025

Phase 1: 1^st February 2023 – 31^st January 2024

Phase 2: 1^st February 2024 – 31^st January 2025

The contract will be renewed for the consultant basis a performance review and UNICEF Country program priorities 2023-27 and availability of funds

QUALIFICATIONS / SPECIALIZED KNOWLEDGE / EXPERIENCE/ COMPETENCIES (CORE/TECHNICAL/FUNCTIONAL) / LANGUAGE SKILLS REQUIRED FOR THE ASSIGNMENT (Please use as applicable)

• Post graduate degree in Nutrition, Rural Management, Agriculture/Agri-Management, Public Health, Health Administration/Management, Social sciences, Development studies, with at least 5-7 years of experience in nutrition projects and the Health and ICDS system is essential.
• Experience of managing programs with Self Help groups/ Women’s Collectives, Nutrition, Agri-Nutrition-livelihood linked programmes including developing training material, packages and imparting training on nutrition programmes on will be an asset
• Experience of working at the State level on similar assignments in close coordination with Government Officials is desirable
• Skills and knowledge in managing community based public health, livelihood, rural development and nutrition programs including capacity building is essential
• Knowledge of computer applications and comfort on relevant software (Word, Excel, Power Point, other presentation software) is must.
• Previous experience of working with UNICEF or any other UN organization will be of added value.
• Ability to work in harmony with the partners and maintaining poise in difficult situations.
• Experience in data analysis and report writing is essential
• Excellent oral and writing skills both in Hindi and English is essential
• Willingness to travel to all districts of Chhattisgarh

SELECTION PROCESS

QCBS (Technical Evaluation Criteria – with weights for each criteria)

• Only short-listed candidates will be called for interview the right to short list candidates is reserved by UNICEF.
• The financial proposals of only those candidates who are found technically responsive and secure minimum 56 marks), will be opened.
• Only short-listed candidates will be called for interview.
• The financial proposals of only those candidates who are found technically responsive will be opened.