Country: Angola
Closing date: 04 Feb 2018
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The Republic of Angola is the seventh-largest country in Africa with a population approaching 30 million, according to the 2014 National Census projections. The country is divided into 18 provinces and 166 municipalities (district equivalent) and 618 communes.
The overall nutritional status of the population remains precarious, especially in the southern provinces of the country. This situation has been further worsened in the last three years by floods and drought caused by El Niño, especially in the southern part of the country. These cyclical weather conditions resulted in low agricultural production in the affected communities, with consequent high malnutrition rates, especially among children, pregnant women and lactating mothers.
The latest estimates from the Multiple-Indicator Cluster and Health Survey (IIMS) 2015-2016, reported that nearly 38 per cent of children under 5 in Angola are stunted (too short for their age), 4.9 per cent are wasted, and 19 per cent are underweight, and the age group 6-23 months is the most vulnerable to malnutrition. Micronutrient deficiencies are also pervasive, 65 per cent of tested children (IIMS 2015-2016) suffer some type of anaemia, from which 32 per cent suffer from moderate anaemia.
Furthermore, infant and young child feeding practices are poor, with less than one-third (38 per cent) of infants being exclusively breastfed up to 6 months of age. The proportion of children breastfed within the first hour after birth is higher for those born in health centres (51 per cent) than for those born at home or elsewhere (46 per cent). Less than 13 per cent of children 6-23 months have access to diversified food (measured by minimum dietary diversity as a daily diet made up of four or more different food groups).
Wide disparities in nutrition exist between provinces in Angola, emanating from social and economic status (wealth, quintiles, level of mother’s education, geographical situation), and this is of significance and serious concern. Given these determinants, it is clear that to reduce maternal and child malnutrition in an effective and sustainable manner, a multi-sector approach is required to address critical issues, such as the lack of availability and access to nutritious food, poor capacity of services delivered in health and nutrition, gaps in non-health interventions to improve children’s diet, malnutrition advocacy, behaviour change communication and inadequate monitoring and evaluation systems.
UNICEF seeks an international expert to assist the Government of Angola and its partners to conduct a Situation Analysis of Stunting Determinants in Angola, design a National Food and Nutrition Multi-sector Policy and develop a costed National Multi-Sectoral Food and Nutrition Strategic Plan. These documents (or products) shall be based on the principles of appropriate nutrition, sustainability and equity and will aim to improve the mother and child nutrition and reduce the burden of preventable nutrition-related death, illness and disability.
Scope of Work
Goal:
Technical assistance to Government of Angola for Policy Development to guide national investments and interventions in the population with focus on improved maternal and child nutrition and reduce the burden of preventable nutrition-related death, illness and disability.
Objectives:
Support development of the Situation Analysis of Stunting Determinant National Food and Nutrition Policy and a National Nutrition Strategic document that will serve as a road map for coordinated implementation of nutrition interventions by the government and nutrition stakeholders across sectors for maximum impact towards achieving SDG2 as well as costed plan of action translating the strategies to concrete actions over the course of 5 years.
Provide details/reference to AWP areas covered:
This support is linked to the UNICEF/Ministry of Health 2018-2019 Rolling Workplan signed with the Ministry of Health output 2 – Increased access to and use of high-impact nutrition interventions among pregnant and lactating women and boys and girls under five to reduce chronic malnutrition, particularly in the most deprived provinces, including in emergency-prone areas.
Activities and Tasks:
Conduct a desk review of existing evidence, national development policies and planning frameworks as well as international obligations relevant to SDGs.
Conduct on-line and face-to-face technical consultations with relevant partners (Government, CSOs, UN agencies and donors), to develop a solid Situation Analysis of the key Stunting Determinants in Angola, in response to the findings of the Multiple-Indicator Cluster and Health Survey (IIMS) 2015-2016.
Facilitate multi-stakeholder’s consultation meetings with health, nutrition, water and sanitation, education and social protection sectors to agree on a theory of change for Stunting Reduction, addressing key determinants highlighted in the Situation Analysis.
Support the Government of Angola in the development of a national multisector food and nutrition policy document.
Support the Government of Angola in the development of a five years’ national multisector food and nutrition strategic document and costed action plan for improved nutrition, with focus on stunting reduction. These plans should build on the findings of the Multiple-Indicator Cluster and Health Survey (IIMS) 2015-2016, including:
Support a stakeholders validation workshop of National Food and Nutrition Policy and National Nutrition Strategic Plan for 2018 -2022.
Work relationships:Contribute to Government of Angola and UNICEF's multisectoral approach and planning of maternal, neonatal, infant and child nutrition by conducting a Situation Analysis of Stunting Determinants in Angola, designing a National Food and Nutrition Multi-Sector Policy and developing a costed National Multi-Sectoral Food and Nutrition Strategic Plan;
Under the guidance of the Chief of CSD and the supervision of the Nutrition Specialist, the consultant will work through a steering committee under the supervision of the General Director at the Ministry of Health in-charge of Public Health, and in coordination with the Directorate of Reproductive Health/ Nutrition National Program.
The incumbent will work closely with departments of planning at relevant ministries, the steering committee set up for this project, and with a multidisciplinary team comprising of technical staff of the ministries, UN agencies, NGOs and donors. S/he will interact with senior executives of these institutions and the Nutrition/Child Survival focal points of the UN Agencies and UNICEF Regional Office for Eastern in Southern Africa, in Nairobi Outputs/Deliverables:
Deliverables
Duration
(Estimated # of days)
Timeline/Deadline
Schedule of payment
Situation Analysis of the key Stunting Determinants in Angola, taking into consideration the findings of the Multiple-Indicator Cluster and Health Survey (IIMS) 2015-2016
26 days
07- 14 February 2018
(remote)
15 February- 07 March 2018
Monthly (lump sum)
Multisector theory of change (ToC) for Stunting Reduction addressing key determinants highlighted in the Situation Analysis
9 days
08- 20 March 2018
National multisector food and nutrition policy document developed and adopted by key stakeholders
30 days
21 March- 01 May 2018
Five years’ national multisector food and nutrition strategic document and costed action plan for improved nutrition with focus on mother and child nutrition developed and validated by the entire community of stakeholders conducted
50 days
02 May- 10 July 2018
End of Assignment Report – in English or Portuguese
5 days
10- 17 July 2018
(remote)
Desired competencies, technical background and experience
Competencies
The Consultant should have the following competencies:
For every Child, you demonstrate…
Our core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.
UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified candidates from all backgrounds to apply.
How to apply:
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=510413