Under the Country Programme Action Plan (CPAP) 2023–2027, UNICEF is providing technical support to the Government of Nepal to strengthen implementation of quality nutrition services under the Multi-Sector Nutrition Plan III (MSNP‑III) for 2023–2030. Led by the National Planning Commission, MSNP‑III builds on earlier achievements and aligns with global commitments including SDG 2030. Approved on 1 February 2024, MSNP‑III is supported by the European Union with €23 million in budgetary and complementary assistance for 2024–2026, with UNICEF playing a critical role in meeting Disbursement Linked Indicators and scaling priority nutrition interventions. This consultancy supports Lumbini Province to improve nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive programming through stronger governance, institutional capacity, coordination, evidence-based planning, and resource mobilization. The consultant will assist provincial and local governments to integrate MSNP priorities into plans and budgets, strengthen service delivery and monitoring systems, promote social and behavioural change, build partnerships, and enhance accountability to improve nutrition outcomes for vulnerable populations.

Working arrangement: Office Based

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As per the CPAP 2023-2027, UNICEF has been providing technical support to the GoN of Nepal for the effective implementation of quality nutrition services under the broader framework of Multi-Sector Nutrition Plan (MSNP-III), spanning from 2023 to 2030. The MSNP III has been developed under the leadership of the National Planning Commission (NPC) to build on the achievements of MSNP-II and attain international commitments such as the Sustainable Development Goal 2030 (SDG 2030), the Nutrition for Growth Summit 2021 and the UN Food Systems Summit 2021. MSNP-III was approved by the Government of Nepal (GoN) on February 1, 2024, and has garnered continued support from the European Union (EU), which has committed €23 million for its implementation from 2024 to 2026. This support is structured through direct budgetary contributions and complementary measures facilitated by UNICEF as per the Co-financial agreement (FA) between the GoN and the EU.

The success of the EU’s budgetary support for MSNP-III heavily relies on the critical complementary role to be played by UNICEF. Technical assistance from UNICEF is vital for achieving the key objectives of MSNP-III, particularly in meeting Disbursement Linked Indicators (DLIs) that are linked to fund disbursements. Additionally, UNICEF’s expertise will be essential in scaling up key priority nutrition specific interventions as well as nutrition-friendly governance mechanisms at the local level, enhancing capacities across all relevant sectors, promoting social behaviour change, and strengthening monitoring and evaluation systems, including sectoral information management and quality reporting. Given these requirements, UNICEF’s technical assistance is crucial to sustain past progress and accelerate efforts toward achieving the ambitious goals of MSNP-III. Further, the financing agreement signed between GoN and the EU on October 4, 2024, governs UNICEF technical support to implement MSNP- III as stated in the Country Program Action Plan (2023-2027).

The objective of this consultancy is to provide technical support to the Lumbini Province Government to strengthen the implementation of nutrition specific and nutrition sensitive interventions under the framework of the Multi Sector Nutrition Plan III. The support will focus on strengthening nutrition responsive governance, institutional capacity, and coordination across federal, provincial, and local levels. The consultant will facilitate the alignment of MSNP III interventions with relevant government policies and sectoral priorities, promote the use of evidence and data in decision making, and support improved planning and budgeting processes and leverage domestic resources to enhance the effectiveness and accountability of nutrition investments at subnational levels.

Scope of Work:

The Nutrition Consultant will support the Provincial Health Directorate, Provincial Planning Commission and local governments in Lumbini Province to strengthen the implementation and scale up of priority nutrition interventions. This includes supporting the integration of MSNP priorities into provincial and local periodic plans, as well as annual programmes and budgets. The consultant will also support the analysis, and use of evidence to inform planning, decision making, and programme improvement as well aa expanding and strengthening key initiatives such as the Lactation Management Unit, Mother Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative, Integrated Management of Acute Malnutrition, Family MUAC, Maternal Iron Containing Supplements (IFA/ MMS) distribution programme, School Health and Nutrition/ Weekly Iron folic acid tablet distribution programme, Adolescent and Maternal Nutrition programme, and Emergency Preparedness and Response. These efforts contribute to the achievement of the Multi Sector Nutrition Plan III goals of improving nutrition outcomes and advancing sustainable development.

This consultancy contributes to UNICEF programme Outcome 2 and its four outputs. “ Outcome 2: By 2027 The most vulnerable infants, young children, adolescents, and pregnant and breastfeeding women, especially from underserved communities, can access and utilize gender-responsive, quality, high-impact nutrition interventions and adopt healthy diets and nutritional care practices”.

The consultant will provide technical assistance to the Ministry of Health in Lumbini Province, Provincial Health Directorate, Provincial Planning Commission, Province Health Logistics Management Center, Province training centers and local governments to institutionalize nutrition interventions across subnational systems. This includes supporting the integration of MSNP priorities into provincial and local periodic plans, as well as annual programmes and budgets. The consultant will also support the generation, analysis, and use of evidence to inform planning, decision making, leveraging domestic resources and programme improvement.

In addition, the consultant will assist in the design and implementation of community engagement, communication, and advocacy initiatives to strengthen demand for quality nutrition services and improved nutrition practices. The role will also involve technical leadership & coordination during programme planning & implementation, system strengthening, facilitating evidence based policy dialogue, and strengthening strategic partnerships among government institutions, UN agencies, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders to advance multi sectoral nutrition actions to address the triple burden of malnutrition (undernutrition, overweight/obesity and micronutrient deficiencies) among children, adolescent and women of reproductive age (WRA) in Lumbini province. A key component of the assignment will be strengthening institutional capacity at the provincial and local levels. This includes technical support to the Ministry of Health in Lumbini Province, the Provincial Health Directorate, the Provincial Logistics Management Unit, the Provincial Health Training Center, health facilities, Provincial Planning Commission, MSNP Coordinators and Facilitators, and the Nutrition Technical Committees, Supply Chain Management Committee nutrition and Food Security Steering Committees. The consultant will also support coordination mechanisms, monitoring of programme progress, and documentation and sharing of lessons learned to strengthen governance, accountability, and sustainability of Nutrition Specific and Sensitive interventions.

Key Responsibilities:

• Strategic and Technical Support: Provide technical assistance to provincial and local governments to integrate nutrition priorities into policies, plans, and programmes. Strengthen multisectoral coordination mechanisms for the effective implementation of the of Nutrition Specific and Sensitive interventions.

• Programme Implementation and Coordination: Support the Provincial Ministry of Health, Provincial Health Directorate, Health Offices, Provincial Planning Commission, MSNP coordinators, and local governments in implementing and scaling up priority nutrition interventions. Facilitate coordination among relevant sectors, development partners, and stakeholders to ensure effective programme delivery.

• Programme Management and Results Monitoring: Support subnational government for evidence based targeted programme planning, management, and delivery of results. Monitor implementation progress, identify bottlenecks, and facilitate timely corrective actions to improve programme performance.

• Capacity Strengthening: Strengthen the capacity of province and local level sectoral staff, MSNP coordinators and facilitators, health workers, and Female Community Health Volunteers to enhance the quality and coverage of nutrition specific and nutrition sensitive interventions and emergency preparedness and response.

• Monitoring, Reporting, and Knowledge Management: Support routine monitoring and reporting of programme implementation. Strengthen the use of information systems such as DHIS2 and INIMS for evidence-based decision making, and document good practices, innovations, and lessons learned to inform programme improvement.

• Advocacy, Partnerships: Support advocacy for increased domestic investment in nutrition. Strengthen networking and partnerships with government entities, civil society, and development partners at provincial and local levels.

• Social and Behavioural Change: Facilitate social and behavioural change initiatives that promote improved nutrition practices and nutrition friendly governance.

• Evidence generation and knowledge management: Facilitate document key lesson learned from the MSNP implementation in the form of provincial policy briefs, human interest stories, success stories, best practice, audio/ video materials and video clips, implementation science research papers.

• Field visits: Conduct field visits to support programme monitoring, joint supervision, on-site coaching, and facilitation of capacity-building activities across palikas in the 12 districts of Lumbini Province, with additional travel outside the province as required.

Note: All deliverable/travel reports need to be submitted to the Chief of Field Office, the Nutrition Section Chief, and relevant Output Managers for review and documentation purposes.

If you would like to know more about this consultancy, please review the complete Terms of Reference here: Download File Terms of Reference TMC0001243.pdf

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have… 

Minimum requirements:

  • Education:
  • Master’s degree in nutrition, public health, nutritional epidemiology, global/international health and nutrition, health/nutrition research, policy and/or management, health sciences, nutritional epidemiology, or another health-related science field.
  • Work Experience:
  • A minimum of five years of professional experience in one or more of the following areas is required: nutrition, public health, nutrition planning and management, or maternal, infant and child health/nutrition care, and system strengthening.
  • At least three years of experience of working at the national or sub-national level in planning, programming, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of technical cooperation programs related to Nutrition/Health/MSNP with government and non-government organizations.
  • Demonstrated experience in coordination, data analytics, facilitation, and capacity-building within a nutrition/public health programme context.
  • Knowledge and experience of working on nutrition specific programming and MSNP at Provincial and Local level.
  • Skills:
  • Proficiency in MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) and database management including ICT.
  • Ability to work independently, take initiative, and deliver timely, high-quality results.
  • Strong communication, advocacy, and social mobilization skills.
  • Language Requirements:
  • Excellent Nepali and English writing and verbal communication skills.
  • Fluency of local languages is an asset.

Desirables:

  • Experience in health and nutrition system strengthening in development contexts.
  • Prior coordination experience with multistakeholder platforms at provincial or local government level.

For every Child, you demonstrate care...

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UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). 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 based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. 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, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

Qualified candidates are invited to submit the following documents via the online recruitment portal, TMS (Talent Management System):

Remarks:  If the TOR or financial proposal documents are not visible on certain recruitment platforms, please visit our official page Vacancies | UNICEF Careers.

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