UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.
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, water
Background
Despite positive economic growth since 2000, between 2000 and 2016, the prevalence of stunting among children in West and Central Africa Region (WCAR) declined very slowly, from 41.1% to 33.5% and the absolute number of stunted children increased, from 23 to 28 million. The prevalence of children suffering from severe acute malnutrition has been stagnant in the clear majority of the WCA region countries, with level close or above the 2% emergency threshold in Chad, Mauritania, Niger and Senegal (NNS, 2019), while the number of children suffering from SAM continue to increase. In 2020, 4.9 million children under 5 years old were expected to be SAM in the region, of which 2.9 Million (53%) were in the Sahel countries. While the prevalence of stunting is going down in the region, the prevalence of wasting is stagnating.
According to the latest published data, 122 million people were practicing open defecation (OD) in WCAR in 2015. This number has increased by 34 million since 2000 as the rate of progress in ending OD was insufficient to account for population growth. Access to safe water and good hygiene practices remain also a huge challenge in WCAR.
Since 2012, UNICEF has led and implemented with partners WASH-Nutrition integrated programming, based on the theory that integrating those to sectors for the benefit of the same population would have a stronger impact in terms of health benefits. Since 2017, UNICEF designs the Key Results for Children (KRCs) strategic programming, among which one KRC is aiming to reduce stunting (KRC2) and one is aiming at ending open defecation (KRC8). In addition, UNICEF is reviewing its approach to child wasting with the aim to implement an evidence-based integrated approach for the prevention and care of wasting.
Based on the latest research and scientific evidence (SHINE, WASH Benefits, GEMS, MAL-ED, etc.), and the current momentum (within UNICEF, donors, partners) in favor of program integration, this consultancy aims to provide an in-depth landscape analysis of WASH and Nutrition joint programming, and to elaborate a set of evidence, operational and advocacy tools and strategies, to enhance WASH and Nutrition joint programming.
Led by UNICEF Dakar Regional Office (WASH and Nutrition sections jointly), this consultancy will closely associate and support country teams, partners and governments. This consultancy is funded through OFDA support, and is primarily focused on Senegal, Mauritania, Niger, Mali, Chad.
How can you make a difference?
Objectives
With OFDA support, the general objective of this consultancy is to provide an in-depth landscape analysis of WASH and Nutrition joint programming across the Sahel countries, and to elaborate a set of evidence, operational and advocacy tools and strategies, to enhance WASH and Nutrition joint programming. The international consultant will provide strategic, technical, and operational guidance to better synergize Key Result for Children 2 (Reduce Stunting) and KRC8 (End Open defecation). The international consultant will also inform the regional research agenda for the prevention and care of wasting.
Within a period of nine months, the specific objectives of the consultancy are:
- Country and regional analysis: to provide an in-depth analysis at country level (3) and regional level of WASH/Nutrition context (including statistical research), joint programming, donor landscape and identify barriers and enablers;
- Strategy: to support the revision of country (3) and regional level WASH-Nutrition strategy and program guidance, and to provide specific guidance on better integrating WASH in regional/global strategies. Propose a WASH-Nutrition regional Roadmap, aligned with the KRCs;
- Advocacy & Documentation: Based on solid literature review on existing evidences, propose a WASH-Nutrition advocacy strategy, both country-specific and at regional level, including field case studies (one per country).
- Guidance to implementation: identify selected key WASH activities to integrate within nutrition programming and provide a set of country-specific technical and operational tools, including guidance on joint monitoring. Develop training materials.
Focused countries: Mauritania, Niger, Chad, + consultation of Mali and Senegal.
Scope of work
As per the above objectives, the international consultant will lead the following key activities:
1-Country and regional analysis: to provide an in-depth analysis at country level and regional level of WASH/Nutrition context, joint programming, donor landscape and identify barriers and enablers
- In at least three countries, conduct an epidemiological/statistical research to evaluate the level of correlation between WASH and Nutrition factors, based on latest MICS and data available. Choosing a multivariate regression analysis is strongly advised;
- Undertake an in-depth review of country office (CO) experiences in WASH-Nutrition joint programming over the last 5 years (both UNICEF and partners program);
- Conduct a ‘Maturity Index’ assessment, aiming to appraise level of collaboration between WASH and Nutrition at all steps of country office program cycle (UNICEF only), and to identify key barriers and enablers for WASH-Nutrition joint programming;
- Review of KRC2 and KRC8 guidance and new wasting narrative, and identify entry point to strengthen collaboration;
- Conduct a donor landscape towards WASH-Nutrition programming;
-
Contribute/link with the current research on wasting prevention
2-Strategy: to support the revision of country and regional level WASH-Nutrition strategies and program guidance, and to provide specific guidance on better integrating WASH in regional/global strategies. Propose a WASH-Nutrition regional Roadmap, aligned with the KRCs.
- Based on country and regional analysis, support Government, CO teams and partners to review their country-specific WASH-Nutrition strategies (strategies need to be less humanitarian focused, less supply-driven, should better consider stunting, and should better consider Humanitarian-Development NEXUS);
- By facilitating a regional workshop, support the revision of the regional WASH-Nutrition strategy, and provide clear inputs on how to better integrate WASH in regional and global strategies. Provide guidance on strengthening collaboration between KRC2 and KRC8;
-
Propose country and regional level WASH-Nutrition Roadmap, with both levels well-articulated.
3-Advocacy & Documentation: Based on solid literature review on existing evidences, propose a WASH-Nutrition advocacy strategy, both country-specific and at regional level, including field case studies and donor concept notes.
- Elaborate country-specific, regional and generic factsheets on key evidences supporting WASH-Nutrition joint programming;
- Elaborate country specific and regional advocacy strategy to support WASH-Nutrition joint programming, by using UNICEF’s influencing capacities (communication, media, high-level representation etc.). Advocacy strategy should include key steps, and key actors;
- Elaborate at least 3 country case studies (one for each country involved), highlighting best practices;
4-Guidance to implementation: identify selected key WASH activities to integrate within nutrition programming and provide a set of country-specific technical and operational tools, including key indicators to track and provide guidance on joint monitoring. Develop training materials.
- Based on existing evidence and best practices, identify key WASH activities to be integrated within nutrition programming;
- Review regional WASH-Nutrition strategy standards;
- As per country needs, propose practical tools to support WASH-Nutrition programming (planning, program design, technical tools, key indicators, means of measurement and monitoring);
- Based on country-level capacities and current understanding of WASH-Nutrition implementation, advise on key capacity building strategy and best existing resources;
- Develop webinar content in collaboration with regional WASH and Nutrition Specialist. The Webinar will be led directly by UNICEF staff.
International consultant responsibilities, ways of working, and resources:
- All the above results should be achieved by working in the best participatory and inclusive way possible: the international consultant will consult and engage key UNICEF sections at CO and regional level, Government, donors, academics and implementing partners, partners from the Regional WASH and Regional Nutrition groups.
- The international consultant will sequence the workplan with two field trips for each country (6 in total). The first mission will aim to meet all partners and analysis the context (step 1) and the second mission will aim to conduct the national workshop and revise the country strategy (step 2). This will allow enough time for preparation work in-between the two steps for both the partners and the international consultant.
- The international consultant will be expected to take the initiative in contacting key sector stakeholders and sourcing appropriate literature. S/he will also be expected to form productive working relationships with key staff in specific country offices. Regional staff leading this consultancy at UNICEF regional office will facilitate the provision of key UNICEF staff member contacts.
- The international consultant will be the main lead in facilitating one regional workshop, and three country workshops. UNICEF will provide logistical assistance and will pay for meeting room booking and lunches/coffee breaks)
Timing
9 months: ideally from 1st April 2020 to 30th of December 2020
Reporting requirements
All deliverables and reports including drafts will be shared with UNICEF WCARO and UNICEF CO (Mauritania, Niger, Chad).
All reports shall be prepared in French.
The international consultant will provide a detailed workplan, at least 5 days after the contract signature.
Beside the above described deliverables, no additional reports will be required.
This consultancy work is expected to be for a maximum total of 140 days, within a 9-month period.
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have:
Educational background:
- Advanced University degree, in one of the following areas : public health, epidemiology, WASH & environmental engineering
Experiences :
- Minimum 10 years of international experience in WASH programming, both in humanitarian and development,
- Minimum 3 years work experience in west and central Africa region, with experience in Sahel countries as an asset,
- Minimum 3 years of experience in consultancy work, with preferably previous international consultant experience work with UNICEF or another UN agency desirable
- Demonstrated knowledge of, and collaboration with, nutrition sector and nutrition problematics in west and central Africa region,
- Previous experience working on WASH and Nutrition integrated programming,
- Excellent proven skills in data analysis and statistics, including previous experience of epidemiological analysis. Qualified in statistic software like ‘R’ or SPSS,
- Excellent communication and working with people skills, solid experience in facilitating workshops,
- Ability to design and formulate strategies country and regional level strategies, and to develop practical and technical tools,
- Good written skills, including to write peer-review articles,
Language:
- Fluent both in English and French,
For every Child, you demonstrate fair chance
UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.
The functional 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 be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.
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.
Opening Date Tue Feb 18 2020 12:00:00 GMT+0300 (Arabian Standard Time) Greenwich Standard Time
Closing Date Tue Mar 03 2020 02:55:00 GMT+0300 (Arabian Standard Time)
