JOB DESCRIPTION

UNICEF plays a crucial role in promoting health and nutrition in the territory of Amazonas, with a special focus on vulnerable communities affected by the drought emergency, a significant challenge for food and nutrition security. In collaboration with local governments, non-governmental organizations and communities, UNICEF supports the implementation of specific policies to combat child malnutrition among indigenous and riverine people, promoting healthy eating and ensuring timely care, through training in community nutrition surveillance for health professionals.
The organization works to ensure equitable access to health services and adequate food, strengthening local health systems and empowering professionals and communities to face the challenges posed by drought. The proposed consultancy will play a crucial role in offering technical support to UNICEF’s emergency response to the drought in the Amazon region, which has already begun in 2024. In 2023, all 62 municipalities in the state of Amazonas faced a drought emergency, resulting in severe impacts on water availability and food security for communities.
The consultancy will include the development and implementation of specific strategies to mitigate the impacts of drought on the health and nutrition of riverine and indigenous populations. This involves everything from carrying out detailed diagnoses of health and nutrition conditions to promoting healthy eating practices and implementing preventive measures against diseases related to water scarcity. It will also be essential to train local health professionals in nutritional surveillance, ensuring proper monitoring of the nutritional conditions of the affected populations.
Consultancy will be essential to strengthen local response capacity, ensuring that affected communities receive the support they need to face the challenges of drought in 2024. This will contribute to promoting the resilience and well-being of children and adolescents in the Amazon region. UNICEF will provide essential technical support to the Special Indigenous Health Districts (DSEIs) and priority municipalities affected by the drought, with the aim of developing comprehensive health and nutrition diagnoses, as well as formulating and implementing food and nutrition security plans that are climate resilient, adapting to the conditions of water scarcity and its consequences for the nutrition of local populations.

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SCOPE OF WORK:
The purpose of this consultancy is to provide technical support and guidance for the implementation of the emergency response strategy in the Amazon.

WORK ASSIGNMENTS OVERVIEW

1.1. WORK ASSIGNMENT 1: Feeding Guide for Children under 2: Prepare and deliver a specific Feeding Guide for children under 2 in emergencies and climate change, with practical guidelines adapted to the Amazonian context.
1.2. Deliverable: One document in digital booklet format
1.3. TIMELINE – 1 month from the date of contract signature
1.4. ESTIMATE BUDGET – 18,0%

2.1. WORK ASSIGNMENT 2: Integrated action guide for child health and nutrition in times of drought in the Amazon: Draw up a guide containing a comprehensive set of guidelines and strategies for municipalities in the Amazon region to implement essential health and nutrition actions during periods of drought.
2.2. Deliverable: One document in digital booklet format
2.3. TIMELINE – 2 months from the date of contract signature
2.4. ESTIMATE BUDGET – 22,0%

3.1. WORK ASSIGNMENT 3: Recording experiences of strengthening community resilience to climate change and the impact on children’s health in vulnerable situations and training in nutrition.
3.2. Deliverable: Detailed report registered with UNICEF, documenting experiences of strengthening community resilience to climate change.
3.3. TIMELINE – 3 months from the date of contract signature
3.4. ESTIMATE BUDGET – 20,0%

4.1. WORK ASSIGNMENT 4. Draw up a Protocol for the Care of Children with Malnutrition adapted to the needs of indigenous and riverine communities, taking into account the impacts of drought on the availability of food and water.
4.2. Deliverable: Template protocol for the care of children with malnutrition, adapted to the specific needs of indigenous and riverine communities affected by drought.4.3. TIMELINE – 4 months from the date of contract signature
4.4. ESTIMATE BUDGET – 25,0%

5.1 WORK ASSIGNMENT 5: Prepare a report containing lessons learned and ways forward on the implementation of nutritional surveillance in indigenous and riverine communities.
5.2. Deliverable: 1 report recording the experience produced.
5.3. TIMELINE – 5 months from the date of contract signature
5.4. ESTIMATE BUDGET – 15,0%

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MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED
• University degree in an area relevant to the health and nutrition sector.
• Extensive work experience relevant to this consultancy may be considered as a replacement for formal qualifications.
• Experience in humanitarian emergency response is an asset.
• Technical knowledge of the agenda related to the rights of children and adolescents.
• Extensive relevant work experience, especially in the development of projects focused on access to health services, management of children with malnutrition and the functioning of the health care network for indigenous and riverine communities.

LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY
Portuguese fluent.

TRAVEL PLAN
There will be three 5-day trips: Tabatinga, Tefé and to São Gabriel da Cachoeira, all departing from Manaus. The travel plan should include 3 days of boat travel to indigenous villages, covering all costs such as boat rental, boatman, fuel, personal protective equipment, insurance, etc. The proposal should encompass costs like airfare, ground transportation within cities, river logistics for travel to villages, and Daily Subsistence Allowance (DSA).

COMPETENCIES REQUIRED

• Proven experience in facilitating workshops and training sessions for multidisciplinary teams.
• Ability to work in a dynamic environment with a focus on delivering high-quality results within the deadlines set.
• Ability to critically analyze and formulate evidence-based recommendations for improvements in health and nutrition programs.
• Experience in monitoring and evaluating health programs with a focus on measurable results and impact.
• Proven ability to prepare technical reports and presentations for different audiences, including stakeholders and strategic partners.
• Sound knowledge of national and international policies and guidelines related to child health, nutrition and sustainable development.

UNICEF’S CORE VALUES

Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) To view our competency framework, please visit: UNICEF Values

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

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.

GENERAL CONDITIONS: PROCEDURES AND LOGISTICS

• • Consultant will work from home using own equipment and stationery. UNICEF will provide office space for consultative meetings when needed.
  • Consultant’s, travel costs should be included in the consultant’s fee.
  • No contract may commence unless the contract is signed by both UNICEF and the consultant and mandatory courses are completed.
  • Consultants will not have any representative, certifying, or approving authority, or supervisory responsibilities or authority on UNICEF budget.
  • The consultant will work remotely on a delivery basis.

FINANCIAL PROPOSAL

• • Costs indicated are estimated. Final rate shall follow “best value for money” principle, i.e., achieving the desired outcome at the lowest possible fee.
  • A financial proposal including the fee for the assignment based on the deliverables and number of days must be submitted. Consultants are asked to stipulate all-inclusive fees, including lump sum, administrative cost, travel cost and subsistence costs, as applicable.
  • The payment will be based on submission of agreed 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.

INSURANCE AND HEALTH COVERAGE

• • The contractor is fully responsible for arranging, at his or her own expenses, such life, health and other forms of insurance covering the term of the contract as he or she considers appropriate.
  • The contractor is not eligible to participate in the life or health insurance schemes available to UNICEF and United Nations staff members.

RESTRICTIONS

• • Consultants may not receive training at the expense of UNICEF. Notwithstanding, consultants must complete the applicable mandatory trainings before the signature of the contract;
  • In case of government officials, the contract cannot be issued without prior written clearance by the Government, or unless on leave without pay.

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.

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