Job Vacancies at the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)

Job Number: 508388
Location: Abuja, with travels to other States of Nigeria
Work Type: Consultancy

Background

• The Nigerian National Bureau of Statistics, National Population Commission with technical support from UNICEF have been conducting national nutrition and health surveys (NNHS) in the northern states of Nigeria using SMART methodology since 2010 (http://smartmethodology.org/).
• In 2014, with requests from the Federal Government, these surveys expanded in geographic scope to all 36+1 states of Nigeria, establishing a national surveillance system known as the National Nutrition and Health Survey (NNHS).  In 2016, implementation of the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey which collects similar nutrition data meant that the NNHS was postponed.
• A NNHS has been planned for 2017 to monitor the nutrition and health situation among vulnerable populations (children under 5 and women 15-49years) in the country. Findings from the survey will aid in tracking the progress of key health and nutrition indicators, and inform policy makers and program managers on priority issues/strategies for program adjustment.
• An international consultant is required to lead the survey process including training, field data collection, analysis and report writing.

Purpose of Assignment

• An international consultant is required to lead and manage all components of implementing the National Nutrition and Health Survey using SMART methodology in Nigeria; from survey planning, to field data collection, data analysis and report writing.

The Consultant will be expected to:

• Work closely with the Government of Nigeria (National Bureau of Statistics, National Population Commission, and survey steering committee.
• Manage and monitor data collection teams in the field to ensure that they adhere to survey protocol and standards. 
• Support the technical validation of the survey results and finalization at national and subnational forums.

Objective to which the Consultancy is Created
The objectives of the NNHS 2017 is to measure key nutrition and health indices in the Nigerian population; specifically children aged 0-59 months and women 15-49 years. The following are the specific indicators to be included in the survey:
Nutrition:

• Acute malnutrition among children aged 6-59 months; wasting, underweight, chronic malnutrition and overweight among children aged 0-59 months; and acute malnutrition among women aged 15-49 years.

Infant and Young Child Feeding Practice:

• Ever breastfed, early initiation of breastfeeding, exclusive breastfeeding, minimum meal frequency, minimum dietary diversity and minimum acceptable diet among children aged 0-23 months.

Child Health and Immunization:

• DTP3/Penta3 and measles immunization coverage among children aged 12-23 months; proportion of children under five with fever, Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI) and diarrhoea who received an ACT, antibiotics, and ORS and zinc respectively.

Malaria:

• Household mosquito net ownership, universal coverage of mosquito net and utilization of mosquito net by under-five children and intermittent preventive treatment.

Reproductive Health:

• Skilled birth attendance, Antenatal Care (ANC) coverage and contraceptive prevalence rate and use of iron supplementation during pregnancy among women aged 15-49 years.

HIV:

• HIV testing during Antenatal Care (ANC).

Maternal Neonatal and Child Health Week (MNCHW):

• MNCHW coverage and, Vitamin A and deworming coverage among children aged 6-59 and 12-59 months respectively.

Major Tasks to be Accomplished

• Provide primary technical guidance and advice to Government (National Bureau of Statistics, National Population Commission, Federal Ministry of Health etc.) NNHS 2017.
• Review survey and training protocols, questionnaires and other survey tools 
• Co-lead the training of survey enumerators, supervisors, and monitors on survey protocols and use of anthropometric and other survey equipment
• Manage supervision of data collection teams and ensure implementation of daily quality control measures during data collection and data entry at all levels
• Lead data analysis and report writing process

Deliverables:

• Survey protocol, data collection tools and training manual reviewed, amended (if necessary) and pre-tested
• Survey teams trained
• Data collection completed, all data entered and submitted to online platform
• Analysis of data, technical validation of results (by Nutrition Information Working Group and Government of Nigeria), finalization of Summary report, Final Report, and PowerPoint Presentation of findings.

Estimated Time:

• 4 months including planning for and implementation of the Survey, Data Analysis and Survey Report Writing.

Qualifications or Specialized Knowledge/Experience Required

• Advanced University Degree in Public Health, Epidemiology or Statistics, along with relevant technical knowledge and experience in Survey Methodologies, Research Methods etc.
• At least 5 years’ experience in coordinating and managing surveys using SMART methodology
• Experience in managing a national level surveys
• Ability to conduct data analyses using statistical software (ENA/SMART, Stata, R, SPSS, etc.)
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Documented supervisory, staff management, coordination and organization skills
• Proven problem solving skills; to assess situations, identify needs, and respond with recommendations to address supply, human resources and survey implementation issues
• Willingness to travel and work in tough field environments

Language Skills:

• Fluency in English is required

go to method of application »

Job Number: 508393
Location: Maiduguri, Borno
Work Type: Consultancy

Purpose of Assignment

• Under the supervision of the Logistics Specialist, the Construction Assistant will assist in the conception, planning, sourcing and monitoring of the construction and/or rehabilitation projects for UNICEF Maiduguri Programme sections, mainly for Protection and to some extent for Wash, Education and Operations.
• She/he is in charge of the day to day monitoring, contributing to ensuring the overall efficiency and effectiveness of processes and activities undertaken to achieve timely delivery of infrastructures.
• She/he will furthermore provide  assistance to the field office team, including inputs to the development of the construction strategies.

Specific Project Objective to which the Consultant is related:

• Child Friendly Spaces and Adolescent Centres in Gulani and Gujuba LGAs, Yobe State

Major Tasks to be Accomplished
The main responsibilities of the Specialist will include but not limited to the following:

• Participate in the UNICEF construction projects, from their planning to their implementation and monitoring.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of monitoring and supervision tools are.
• Verify the completeness and quality of the works performed by contractors and engineering consultancy companies’ in compliance with technical specifications and UNICEF quality standards.
• Participate in the performance evaluation of service providers.
• Review the accuracy of technical aspects and cost estimates received as part of the proposals from potential contractors/suppliers.
• Assist the Supply section in all tender exercises for the procurement of construction and consultancy services.
• Identify risks and report them to the management and contribute to initiate corrective action where necessary, so that maximum benefit to client and stakeholders is achieved.
• Participate in the preparation of interim - final project and handover reports and maintain the relevant project records.
• Report on the progress of deliverables and works of contractors and service providers.
• Assist the Logistics Specialist in coordinating with Operations and programmes required activities to ensure proper and timely actions from both, UNICEF’s and Government’s side.
• Review requests for payments from contractors and submit them to the Supervisor for certification along with the required documents.
• Assist in the handing over of facilities to project beneficiaries.

Qualifications

• Completion of Secondary Education in Civil or Structural Engineering, Architecture or other relevant technical area. This basic education requirement if supplemented by a University degree or relevant courses is preferred.
• Minimum 5 years of professional experience at national and/or international levels in the relevant field of civil engineering, especially in preparation of construction technical documentation;
• Experience in working in complex environments and large infrastructure and/or civil works, particularly in the field of construction technical project documentation development as well as construction supervision;
• Working experience in the area of preparation, implementation and monitoring of technical/ (re)construction projects; methodological and calculation skills;
• Experience in technical design of high-rise structure is an asset;
• Knowledge of the UN rules, procedures and regulations would be an asset.
• Working experience in UN or other international development organization would be an asset.
• Background/familiarity with an emergency would be an asset.
• Estimated time of consultancy and deadline for submission of end product:  6 months