Consultancy: Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) Nutrition Consultant (2 Consultants) – Req.#572335

The IPC Nutrition Consultant will be responsible for playing an active role in the implementation of the above-mentioned road map on the basis of loan to the IPC GSU. This will include providing technical support to and quality assurance of IPC AMN analyses, guidance to country level partners on nutrition data collection and analyses as inputs to IPC exercises, and support to normative work among others.
This position will support pro-active exchange and collaboration between UNICEF, the IPC GSU, academic and national agencies, and relevant partners. This position will work in close collaboration with the members of the IPC GSU team, and in close collaboration with other IPC Nutrition Specialists and regional team members,

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, hope.

Consultancy Title: Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) Nutrition Consultant (2 Consultants)

Section/Division/Duty Station: Nutrition Section, Programme Group – NYHQ

Duration: July 1, 2024, to December 31, 2024

Home/ Office Based: REMOTE

About UNICEF

If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world’s leading children’s rights organization would like to hear from you. For 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children’s survival, protection and development. The world’s largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments. UNICEF has over 12,000 staff in more than 145 countries.

BACKGROUND

Purpose of Activity/ Assignment:

The IPC is a global multi-partner initiative to facilitate decision-making on food security and nutrition crises at national, regional and global level. IPC incorporates a meta-analysis approach drawing on evidence from a broad range of sources to conduct consensus-based analysis among key stakeholders. The IPC is currently implemented in more than 30 countries and keeps expanding in response to growing food insecurity and increased levels of malnutrition globally. The operational arm of the IPC Partnership is the Global Support Unit (GSU).

In response to the increasing demand for full integration of nutrition analysis within IPC food security analysis, the IPC Acute Malnutrition (IPC AMN) scale was first rolled out in 2016. Since then, the use of the IPC AMN scale has expanded reaching over 20 countries to date. The IPC AMN has been recommended by the Global Nutrition Cluster (GNC) as the primary tool for nutrition situation analysis in all countries where AMN is of concern.

As the demand for IPC AMN findings has been growing, there is a need to step up human capacity to support high-quality IPC AMN analyses and ensure synergies with nutrition information systems and the humanitarian programme cycle, to better inform decision-making. To take up the challenge, the IPC GSU and global Nutrition partners have agreed to join forces and embark on the development and implementation of a joint road map to enhance the IPC AMN scale. This road map encompasses a wide range of activities that require multi-partner collaboration and engagement to mainstream and enhance nutrition within the IPC initiative.

UNICEF is one of the 19 organizations that form the IPC global partnership. As such, UNICEF plays a key role in ensuring that nutrition is well integrated into IPC approaches and outputs. This includes active engagement in the delivery of quality IPC Acute Malnutrition analyses and communication products, where and when needed; as well as engagement and support to the integration of nutrition data, analysis and expertise in IPC Acute Food Insecurity analyses, in particular in countries/territories facing severe acute food insecurity and very high levels of acute malnutrition and thus at risk of Famine. 

Scope of Work:

The IPC Nutrition Consultant will be responsible for playing an active role in the implementation of the above-mentioned road map on the basis of loan to the IPC GSU. This will include providing technical support to and quality assurance of IPC AMN analyses, guidance to country level partners on nutrition data collection and analyses as inputs to IPC exercises, and support to normative work among others.

This position will support pro-active exchange and collaboration between UNICEF, the IPC GSU, academic and national agencies, and relevant partners. This position will work in close collaboration with the members of the IPC GSU team, and in close collaboration with other IPC Nutrition Specialists and regional team members.

Under the direct supervision of UNICEF Nutrition Specialist, the IPC Nutrition Consultant will be responsible for:

Capacity building

•     Conduct IPC AMN trainings for global, regional, and country-level partners.

•     Conduct other training on thematic topics related to nutrition analysis and/or assessments methods.

•     Support preparation of training and analysis packages, cross-country learning exchange package and manage the IPC Community of Practice at the country and global level.

Technical Support

•     Support country IPC TWG for the preparation of IPC AMN analyses, including gathering, re-analyzing, and organizing data.

•     Lead and facilitate IPC AMN analyses with IPC regional coordinators and partners at the country level.

•     Provide remote technical support and quality oversight for IPC AMN analyses led by partners.

•     Provide technical support to country IPC Technical Working Groups for nutrition analysis within IPC Acute Food Insecurity (AFI) analyses, and the analysis of linkages between IPC acute malnutrition and acute food insecurity.

Quality assurance

•     Provide support for the development of IPC AMN reports and other communication outputs, including joint IPC AMN – AFI communication products.

•     Conduct quality reviews of IPC AMN analyses and provide support to IPC Famine reviews preparation and Secretariat, as needed.

IPC AMN Road Map Activities

•     Lead or support other activities included in the multi-partner road map, related to data collection, capacity development and quality assurance.

•     Ensure pro-active exchange and collaboration with UNICEF team members, the IPC GSU and relevant partners

Terms of Reference / Key Deliverables:

Capacity building

•     Conduct 3-4 IPC AMN training for global, regional, and country-level partners – hybrid format; with both in person and remote participation.

15 July- 30 Sept 2024

•     Conduct up to 3 trainings on thematic topics related to nutrition analysis and/or assessments methods for nutrition and good security cluster partners, and national entities.

1-30 Nov 2024

•     Develop or Adapt 2 tools for Capacity strengthening of FS and Nutrition cluster partners.

15 Sept 2024

•     3 webinars completed to manage information exchange in support of the IPC Community of Practice at the country and global level.

15 Dec 2024

Technical Support for nutrition analysis in 15 priority countries

•     2 calls per month to cluster partners completed to conduct 1-1 support for national cluster partners to conduct training, data gathering re-analyzing, organizing data. analysis, and report writing.

30 Nov 2024

•     Manage 6 IPC AMN analyses and engage national nutrition partners, regional coordinators and partners.

30 Nov 2024

•     Provide remote technical support for a maximum of 10 IPC AMN analyses led by partners.

1 Dec 2024

•     Provide remote technical support to 15 country IPC Technical Working Groups for nutrition analysis within IPC Acute Food Insecurity (AFI) analyses, and the analysis of linkages between IPC AMN and acute food insecurity.

20 Dec 2024

Quality Assurance, Report development in 15 priority countries     

•     Draft and finalize 10 key communication outputs, including joint IPC AMN – AFI communication products.

2 outputs by 15 Sept 2024 / 4 outputs by 15 Oct 2024 / 4 outputs by 30 Nov, 2024

•     Conduct quality reviews of 6 IPC AMN analyses and provide support to a critical IPC Famine reviews preparation, as needed.

2 reviews by 31 Aug 2024 / 4 reviews by 30 Nov 2024

IPC AMN Road Map Activities

• Draft, share and finalize multi-partner road map, to improve data collection, capacity development and quality assurance with nutrition cluster partners and members of the IPC AMN group.

15 Dec 2024

Qualifications

Education:

• Master university degree in Nutrition, Public Health, Humanitarian Management, Business Management, Data and Epidemiology
• Fluency in English and French
• Another UN language is considered a strong asset.

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required :

•      Minimum 10-year experience in nutrition in emergencies

•      5 years UN experience, preferably UNICEF

•      Minimum 5 years’ experience working on Nutrition Information Systems in emergency contexts.

•      Experience in the IPC Acute Malnutrition

•      Excellent communication, influencing, negotiation and problem-solving skills

 Requirements: 

Completed profile in UNICEF’s e-Recruitment system and

• Upload copy of academic credentials
• Financial proposal that will include/ reflect :
  • the costs per each deliverable and the total lump-sum for the whole assignment (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference.
  • travel costs and daily subsistence allowance, if internationally recruited or travel is required as per TOR.
  • Any other estimated costs: visa, health insurance, and living costs as applicable.
  • Indicate your availability
• Any emergent / unforeseen duty travel and related expenses will be covered by UNICEF.
• At the time the contract is awarded, the selected candidate must have in place current health insurance coverage.
• Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed satisfactory deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant.

U.S. Visa information:

With the exception of the US Citizens, G4 Visa and Green Card holders, should the selected candidate and his/her household members reside in the United States under a different visa, the consultant and his/her household members are required to change their visa status to G4, and the consultant’s household members (spouse) will require an Employment Authorization Card (EAD) to be able to work, even if he/she was authorized to work under the visa held prior to switching to G4.  

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results. View our competency framework at: Here

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment. 

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. 

Individuals engaged under a consultancy will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants. Consultants are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws. 

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.