National consultant for adaptation of guideline on prevention of wasting and nutritional oedema in infants and children under 5 years, 50 w/ds, Dushanbe, Tajikistan

The purpose of the consultancy is to develop the national guidelines on the prevention and management of wasting and nutritional oedema in infants and children under five years in Tajikistan based on the new, updated WHO guidelines on the same issued in 2023.

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, Health and Nutrition 

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programs, advocacy, and operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

How can you make a difference? 

The purpose of the consultancy is to develop the national guidelines on the prevention and management of wasting and nutritional oedema in infants and children under five years in Tajikistan based on the new, updated WHO guidelines on the same issued in 2023.

Duration: 50 working days between 16 December 2024 - 30 April 2025 

Supervisor: Nutrition Officer, UNICEF Tajikistan. 

Key objectives

The key objectives of the consultancy include:

1) coordinate the formation of the technical working group to review the global guidelines.

2) facilitate the review of the global guidelines by the technical working group.

3) organize a workshop outside Dushanbe to finalize the adaptation of the global guidelines for Tajikistan.

4) translate and edit the national guidelines.

5) submit the guideline and follow up till approval by the Ministry of Health and Social Protection.

Under the supervision of the UNICEF Nutrition Officer, the consultant will work and consult closely with UNICEF’s nutrition team and other relevant UN agencies concerned with the issue as well as key government stakeholders to adapt and translate the guidelines. Detailed methodology, including the modality of review and adaptation process and timeline, will be agreed upon with UNICEF once the assignment starts and the order of the Ministry of Health and Social Protection becomes available. Briefly, the assignment will require the following:

1. Coordination of the review and adaptation workshop with the integrated management of acute malnutrition technical working group

The consultant will be expected to coordinate all necessary procedures to allow the organization of a guideline review and adaptation workshop. This includes, but not limited to, timely and regular communication with the responsible senior officials of the Ministry of Health and Social Protection on the matter, obtaining an order of the Ministry to conduct the adaptation of the global guidelines with the integrated management of acute malnutrition technical working group, and planning for a review workshop (tentatively for a week, TBD) outside Dushanbe for focused, conducive review. S/he will also be responsible for facilitating the review and discussion during the workshop and taking stock of the discussed points and agreements in terms of local contextualization and adapted recommendations.

2. Write up, translation and editing of the adapted national guidelines

The consultant will be responsible for write-up, editing, and translation of the guidelines in the Russian and Tajik languages ensuring appropriateness in the context of the local policy, clinical practices and the local health system as a whole. Additionally, s/he will also be expected to obtain final consensus on the contents of the guidelines with the technical working group members as the final draft before the guidelines is taken for review and approval through the review and approval process. The consultant will also work with the designer for layout and design appropriate for such guidelines.

3. Submission and follow up for approval

The consultant will need to facilitate the submission of the final draft of the guidelines for review and approval by the Minister of Health. This may entail briefing senior officials of the Ministry of Health and Social Protection about the work of the technical working group, addressing questions and feedback received on the guidelines in consultation with the technical working group, regularly updating UNICEF on the status of the review by the Ministry and follow up actions till the national guidelines are approved.

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

• Education: Advanced degree in Medicine, Clinical Nutrition, Public Health, or other related fields.
• Knowledge and experience in managing the national integrated management of acute malnutrition programme.
• Work experience: At least 8 years of progressive work experience in health management and/or public health nutrition in Tajikistan.
• Expertise and skills in policy and guideline drafting in the health system in the government template
• Experience working within the Ministry of Health and Social Protection senior officials and technical specialists on nutrition issues
• Excellent analytical skills and writing skills in Russian and Tajik
• Languages: Fluency in both Tajik and Russian orally and verbally.

Qualified candidates are requested to submit:

1. CV and cover letter. 

2. Technical proposal with proposed methodology/approach to managing the assignment.

3. Financial proposal specifying in TJS per day of work and subsistence costs: DSA for 5 days - Annex 3 at the following link

4. Short sample or links to related work previously conducted by the consultant.

5. Min. three referees (preferably the most recent). 

6. Applications without technical and financial proposals will not be considered.

Applications must be received in the system by 28 November 2024 on UNICEF website.

For every Child, you demonstrate… 

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS). 

To view our competency framework, please visit  here. 

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic background, and persons with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. To create a more inclusive workplace, UNICEF offers paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. Click here to learn more about flexible work arrangements, well-being, and benefits.

According to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. In its Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy 2022-2030, UNICEF has committed to increase the number of employees with disabilities by 2030. At UNICEF, we provide reasonable accommodation for work-related support requirements of candidates and employees with disabilities. Also, UNICEF has launched a Global Accessibility Helpdesk to strengthen physical and digital accessibility. If you are an applicant with a disability who needs digital accessibility support in completing the online application, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF.

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.

Remarks:  

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

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract 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 and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors 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.