Maternal Nutrition and Child Wasting Policy and Program Expert

Position description

The aim of this consultancy is to develop normative, agency specific and global guidance and gather learning from ongoing programmes, guide and support the development, piloting and roll-out of different tools to improve programme design and implementation, including the application of the new tools in WFP countries to undertake refinements as appropriate.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

1. Develop normative global and agency guidance on maternal nutrition and diets and on child wasting, accompanying dissemination plan and tools, and technical assistance to regional and country offices:

a) Lead technical input to the WHO operational guidance on management of Moderate Acute Malnutrition that accompanies the WHO Guideline for the prevention and management of wasting and nutritional oedema (2023). This will entail engagement with global stakeholder group of experts and consultation with country and regional offices.

b) Develop normative guidance on maternal nutrition to accompany the broader WFP wasting approach that is inclusive of prevention and supplementation for children and women. Integrate existing work on targeting and delivery tool for maternal programming into broader maternal nutrition guidance.

c) Conduct policy and programme review and analysis of maternal nutrition programming in select regions/countries to inform global approach

d) Conduct support missions to country office/regional bureau on adoption and implementation of maternal nutrition guidance and the MAM operational guidance

          2. Support the dissemination of normative guidance and tools:

a) Develop and implement dissemination plan for the maternal nutrition guidance and the targeting and delivery tool to WFP regional and Country Offices, ensuring its use and applicability is understood and documented, and that necessary capacity strengthening of WFP staff on maternal nutrition programming is provided in compliment.

b) Develop dissemination and sensitization plan on the WHO MAM operational guidance as it relates to WFP programming targeted to regional bureau and country office.

          3. Develop an implementation plan for BEP tool that includes key activities, milestones, timeframes and roles/responsibilities across CO/RB/HQ and across teams:

a) testing the new tool kit in two countries and

b) the maternal nutrition targeting and delivery tool in selected countries.

4. Collaborate across the Service on broader efforts to improve approaches on maternal nutrition, including targeting, evaluation, research and assessment of programme coverage, and SBC. Act as technical focal point for support teams within the Nutrition and Food Quality Service, including strategic partnerships, advocacy, communications, and resource mobilization.

             5. Any other support that is required to the Service.

DELIVERABLES AT THE END OF THE CONTRACT

• Normative guidance on maternal nutrition drafted and finalized.
• Normative guidance for global operational guidance on moderate acute malnutrition drafted and finalized, including dissemination plan and accompanying tools developed.
• Policy and programme analysis of maternal nutrition conducted in 5 countries.
• Implementation plan for testing the new tools in selected countries including timeframe, milestones, and roles/responsibilities.
• Report highlighting the key learnings from the roll-out of the maternal nutrition targeting and delivery tool in selected WFP Country Offices.

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

• Advanced University degree in Nutrition, Public Health International Development Social Science, or other field relevant to international development assistance.

Experience:

• 7 or more years of relevant international experience. The candidate should be able to demonstrate strong competence in the following areas:
• Good understanding of the global nutrition agenda especially on wasting
• Has experience in maternal and child nutrition programming and project management in a range of contexts/countries and working across actors and sectors
• Excellent analytical skills and ability to link data analysis to programme design in the context of WFP programmes.
• Has experience working in an international environment across a diverse range of geographical and functional areas.

Knowledge & Skills:

• Demonstrated knowledge of maternal and child nutrition in the context of humanitarian and development operations.
• Demonstrates the ability to engage key stakeholders (e.g. WFP units and external partners) in policy dialogue to strengthen maternal and child nutrition programming
• Strong interpersonal skills demonstrated by the ability to gain the assistance and cooperation of others in a team endeavour through demonstrated technical leadership.
• Strong communication and conceptual skills.

Languages:

• English (Second UN language is desirable).

Application instructions

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