Latest Vacancies at the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF)

Job Number: 522664
Locations: Adamawa and Bauchi
Work Type: Consultancy
Duration of this assignment: 11.5 months

Background
The maternal and new-born mortality and morbidity in Nigeria is one of the highest in the world with an estimated 576 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births (NDHS 2013). Infant and under-5 mortality rates in the past five years are 69 and 128 deaths per 1,000 live births, respectively. Under-5 mortality rate is estimated at 108.8 per 1,000 live births for 2015 as per the interagency model on U5R[1]. Globally, undernutrition contributes to 45% of all under-five deaths in 2011(Black et al, 2013) and this probably holds same for Nigeria. Nigeria contributes about 10% of the global burden of maternal deaths and 10 % of burden of children with Severe Acute Malnutrition (NNHS 2015). An estimated 110 Nigerian women die each day with a greater proportion occurring in northern Nigeria where the health and nutrition indices are poorer. Due to combination of the high mortality rate and its large population size, Nigeria has the second largest number of under five deaths in the world and the 2nd highest number of stunted under five children next to India.

Health and Nutrition indices are particular very poor in the northern part of Nigeria. Maternal and infant mortality rates are 3-4 times the national average. In Adamawa State, 15% of adult women were underweight/thin while 11.6% were overweight/obese while in Kebbi 16.6% were underweight/thin and 23.8% overweight/obese. Both conditions are associated with negative nutritional outcomes in childhood. Low birth weight, among other causes, is indicative of the poor nutritional status of the mother.  The prevalence of acute malnutrition stunting stood at 32.9 % among under five children (NNHS 2015) with the highest prevalence in the northern region

The poor health and Nutrition indices in Nigeria may be attributable to four main problems identified with Nigeria's health system which include:

• Governance and stewardship: Autonomy of the 3 tiers of government (Federal, State, and Local Government Administration (LGAs) has led to duplication of efforts, weak governance and lack of accountability;
• Human and Financial Resources: Inappropriate allocation of human and financial resources with greater support to tertiary and specialized care, instead of primary health care;
• Coverage: Low coverage of core maternal, newborn ,child health and nutrition interventions, and
• Limited access to health and nutrition services due to financial and socio-cultural barriers.

Federal Ministry of Health, Ministry of Budget and National Planning, in collaboration with UNICEF and in partnership with European Union launched the new EU-MNCHN project which seeks to contribute to addressing the sub-optimal status of health and Nutrition for women and children in Adamawa, Bauchi and Kebbi States characterized by high maternal and childhood deaths.

The goal of the project is to assist the Governments of Bauchi and Adamawa in line with their State Strategic Health Development Plans (SSHDP) to reduce maternal, newborn and child deaths by significantly improving the health and nutrition status of women and children under 5 years by ensuring an equitable and strengthened primary health care delivery system. For that, a multi-pronged approach that will strengthen primary health care systems, build community resilience and strong governance is needed. Systematic interventions in health and nutrition including HIV/AIDS, complemented with water, sanitation, social protection initiatives, and strong governance structures are bound to be more effective and efficient than single or vertical initiatives. In order to support the SMOH and SPHCDA in the implementation of project interventions at the state level, and deliver appropriately, UNICEF intends to provide technical assistance through recruitment of state consultants that will work in collaboration with the state team leader and state government stakeholders to implement and monitor MNCHN project in Adamawa and Bauchi states.

Rationale

• This position is to support the State ministry of health, state primary health care development agency and other partners in the implementation of evidence-based interventions that will result in the scale-up of and improved access to maternal and newborn health services with a particular focus on systems strengthening, local capacity building, focused mentoring in local facilities and communities in Adamawa and Bauchi States.
• The consultant will support the SMOH, SPHCDA and other partners in the implementation of various strategies and interventions that will strengthen partnership for policy reforms, sector governance and stewardship at LGA level, increased transparency and accountability, capacity building, provision of sustainable and scaled-up integrated MNCHN service delivery with equity and community participation.
  

Major Tasks to be Accomplished
State and LGA:

• Work with the SMOH, SPHCDA and other partners to support dissemination of national policy, strategy, guidelines and quality of care model for MNCHN at state and LGA level.
• Support SMOH and SPHCDA by providing technical assistance to the development of good quality state and LGA annual operational plans and their review using the Primary Health Care Mechanism.
• Support dissemination and use of approved training modules and guidelines on selected high impact Integrated Maternal New-born Child Health and Nutrition continuum of care package as defined ( such as- Focused AnteNatal Care (FANC); Skilled Birth Attendance (SBA); Emergency Obstetric and New-born Care (EmONC); Helping Babies Breath (HBB); Post Natal Care (PNC); Integrated Management of acute malnutrition, Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF), Micronutrient Prevention and Control, Community Based intervention including A New-born Care and Integrated Community Case Management (iCCM) for diarrhoea, malaria and pneumonia, etc.)
• Support state and LGA level supportive supervision, monitoring of implementation and evaluation of MNCHN programmes.

Health Facilities:

• Priority areas of work to be supported at this level and strategy based on TSS model (Training, Supplies, Supportive Supervision) including but not limited to the following
• Set up and implement a quality of care model for MNCHN services in health facilities based on integrated selected high impact interventions.
• In collaboration with state and LGA Trainers, organize and conduct trainings for health workers using approved training modules and guidelines on selected integrated high impact interventions.
• Support end user monitoring of equipment and supplies provided to health facilities.
• Participate in on the Job Training, Supportive Supervision and mentoring of health workers and ensure report is timely done and submitted.

Communities, Villages, Households:

• Support setting up/organization of structures for implementation of Community based MNCHN interventions including (but not limited) WDCs, VDCs, training of VHWs, CHEWs, CHWs, CLTS, WASHCOM, MSG, etc. and monitor respective interventions
• Support and conduct the end user monitoring of supplies and demand for MNCHN services in communities and households.
• Use and monitor implementation of updated Mama/CHEW/CBNC kits as entry point for promotion of desired health seeking behaviour and link with immunization/polio related activities.
• Work in close collaboration with C4D Consultant to promote uptake of selected high impact family care practices jointly with all sections namely Health, Nutrition, Child Protection, Media, Social Planning, WASH, advocacy and communications and WASH.
• Promote uptake of integrated Community Case Management for diarrhoea, pneumonia and malaria as well as other MNCHN community based interventions.

Minimum qualification

• University degree in Social Sciences, Public Health and/or related technical field.
• Five year's experience working on child survival issues or health projects.
• Fluency in oral and written English is required. Knowledge of another UN working language an asset. Knowledge of local working language of the duty station an asset.
• Knowledge of the latest developments and technology in related fields.
• Ability to make timely and quality judgments and decisions and very good training skills.
• Computer skills, including internet navigation and various office applications.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a multi-cultural environment and establish harmonious and effective working relationships, both within and outside the organization.
• Willingness to travel to remote regions of the country
• Initiative, passion and commitment to UNICEF's mission and professional values.

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Job Number: 522663
Locations: Adamawa and Bauchi
Work Type: Consultancy
Duration of this assignment: 11.5 months

Background
The maternal and new-born mortality and morbidity in Nigeria is one of the highest in the world with an estimated 576 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births (NDHS 2013). Infant and under-5 mortality rates in the past five years are 69 and 128 deaths per 1,000 live births, respectively. Under-5 mortality rate is estimated at 108.8 per 1,000 live births for 2015 as per the interagency model on U5R1. Globally, undernutrition contributes to 45% of all under-five deaths in 2011(Black et al, 2013) and this probably holds same for Nigeria. Nigeria contributes about 10% of the global burden of maternal deaths and 10 % of burden of children with Severe Acute Malnutrition (NNHS 2015). An estimated 110 Nigerian women die each day with a greater proportion occurring in northern Nigeria where the health and nutrition indices are poorer. Due to combination of the high mortality rate and its large population size, Nigeria has the second largest number of under five deaths in the world and the 2nd highest number of stunted under five children next to India.

Health and Nutrition indices are particular very poor in the northern part of Nigeria. Maternal and infant mortality rates are 3-4 times the national average. In Adamawa State, 15% of adult women were underweight/thin while 11.6% were overweight/obese while in Kebbi 16.6% were underweight/thin and 23.8% overweight/obese.  Both conditions are associated with negative nutritional outcomes in childhood. Low birth weight, among other causes, is indicative of the poor nutritional status of the mother.  The prevalence of acute malnutrition stunting stood at 32.9 % among under five children (NNHS 2015) with the highest prevalence in the northern region

The poor health and Nutrition indices in Nigeria may be attributable to four main problems identified with Nigeria's health system which include:

• Governance and stewardship: Autonomy of the 3 tiers of government (Federal, State, and Local Government Administration (LGAs) has led to duplication of efforts, weak governance and lack of accountability;
• Human and Financial Resources: Inappropriate allocation of human and financial resources with greater support to tertiary and specialized care, instead of primary health care;
• Coverage: Low coverage of core maternal, newborn ,child health and nutrition interventions, and iii) Limited access to health and nutrition services due to financial and socio-cultural barriers.

Federal Ministry of Health, Ministry of Budget and National Planning, in collaboration with UNICEF and in partnership with European Union launched the new EU-MNCHN project which seeks to contribute to addressing the sub-optimal status of health and Nutrition for women and children in Adamawa, Bauchi and Kebbi States characterized by high maternal and childhood deaths.

The goal of the project is to assist the Governments of Bauchi and Adamawa in line with their State Strategic Health Development Plans (SSHDP) to reduce maternal, newborn and child deaths by significantly improving the health and nutrition status of women and children under 5 years by ensuring an equitable and strengthened primary health care delivery system. For that, a multi-pronged approach that will strengthen primary health care systems, build community resilience and strong governance is needed. Systematic interventions in health and nutrition including HIV/AIDS, complemented with water, sanitation, social protection initiatives, and strong governance structures are bound to be more effective and efficient than single or vertical initiatives. In order to support the SMOH and SPHCDA in the implementation of project interventions at the state level, and deliver appropriately, UNICEF intends to provide technical assistance through recruitment of state consultants that will work in collaboration with the state team leader and state government stakeholders to implement and monitor MNCHN project in Adamawa and Bauchi states.

Rationale

• This position is to support the State ministry of health, state primary health care development agency and other partners in the implementation of evidence-based interventions that will result in the scale-up of and improved access to maternal and newborn health services with a particular focus on systems strengthening, local capacity building, focused mentoring in local facilities and communities in Adamawa and Bauchi States.
• The consultant will support the SMOH, SPHCDA and other partners in the implementation of various strategies and interventions that will strengthen partnership for policy reforms, sector governance and stewardship at LGA level, increased transparency and accountability, capacity building, provision of sustainable and scaled-up integrated MNCHN service delivery with equity and community participation.

Minimum qualification

• University degree in Social Sciences, Public Health and/or related technical field.
• Five years experience working on child survival issues or health projects.
• Fluency in oral and written English is required. Knowledge of another UN working language an asset. Knowledge of local working language of the duty station an asset.
• Knowledge of the latest developments and technology in related fields.
• Ability to make timely and quality judgments and decisions and very good training skills.
• Computer skills, including internet navigation and various office applications.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a multi-cultural environment and establish harmonious and effective working relationships, both within and outside the organization.
• Willingness to travel to remote regions of the country
• Initiative, passion and commitment to UNICEF's mission and professional values.