International Consultancy for Nutrition Capacity Development

UNICEF is a UN organization mandated by the UN General Assembly to advocate for the protection of children’s rights, to help meet their basic needs and to expand their opportunities to reach their full potential. In Lao PDR, UNICEF is working with its partners to support the Government to realize children’s rights on survival, development, protection and participation.

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, support

UNICEF in Vientiane, Lao PDR is looking for an International Consultancy for Nutrition Capacity Development. The duration of this assignment is 12 months starting as soon as possible and the consultant will be working from the designated government office at the Department of Research Institute (DRI), MPI Laos, where she/he will be based for the duration of the assignment.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

The Consultant shall be based in Laos (Development Research Institute, MPI) with frequent travel to provincial level. She/he supports various streams of work at the Data Analysis Unit, hosted by the Development Research Institute (DRI), Ministry of Planning and Investment. The consultant will work closely with the Policy Analysis Unit hosted by the Lao Academy of Social and Economic Sciences and the UNICEF Nutrition team. This shall include the following:

1. Technical support and capacity strengthening

• Design and deliver training programmes, workshops and hands-on technical assistance to enhance the capacity of Government sectors for evidence-based decisions at national and subnational levels.
• Conduct training sessions to build stakeholder capacity in accurate nutrition data collection and quality assurance across sectors.
• Offer ongoing support to stakeholders for robust analysis of nutrition data using standardized tools and methodologies.
• Conduct secondary research and utilize existing data to complement primary data sources, enhancing the overall depth of nutrition insights.

1. Multi-sectoral nutrition programme analysis

• Conduct comprehensive analysis of nutrition data across Health, Agriculture, WASH, Education, Social Policy and other sectors to identify trends and gaps.
• Support provinces in developing multi-sector nutrition dashboards based on sectoral key indicators for nutrition.
• Document best practices, success stories, lessons learned and areas needing improvement in sectoral data management and use.
• Develop and present policy recommendations based on data-driven insights to address identified gaps in nutrition programs.

1. Support provinces for multi-sector planning and reporting

• Assist provincial teams in integrating nutrition objectives, targets and indicators into provincial sectoral plans that align with national strategies.
• Provide guidance to provinces for reporting and tracking of nutrition indicators of the National Plan of Action for Nutrition (NPAN)
• Work with stakeholders to ensure that nutrition objectives are embedded within broader socio-economic planning and budgeting processes at central and subnational levels.

1. Stakeholder engagement and knowledge management

• Support the DRI in engaging various stakeholders, including Government sectors, Donors, UN agencies, CSOs, Academia and Private sectors, to enhance coordination in nutrition data management and use.
• Promote the use of data-driven insights in policy and programme development to ensure nutrition interventions are informed by the best available evidence.
• Support the SPRI in organizing and leading workshops and seminars to share best practices, disseminate lessons learned and foster continuous learning across sectors, utilizing the NIPN website, dashboards and other digital platforms.
• The consultant will be working from the designated government office at the Department of Research Institute (DRI), MPI Laos, where she/he will be based for the duration of the assignment.

Undertake other relevant tasks to support the work of the Data Analysis Unit as requested by the Head of the Data Analysis Unit and UNICEF

The consultant will be working from the designated government office at the Department of Research Institute (DRI), MPI Laos, where she/he will be based for the duration of the assignment.

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

Qualification and experience:

• Master’s or an advanced university degree in Public Health, Nutrition, Epidemiology and Social science
• Minimum of 8 years of experience in the capacity building in nutrition data analysis and use, data quality and management, planning , monitoring, reporting and knowledge management.

Knowledge and skills:

• Demonstrated experience in designing and delivering training programmes for nutrition, developing materials and building stakeholder capacity in planning, monitoring and reporting.
• In-depth knowledge of how nutrition integrates with health, agriculture, WASH, education, and social policy, including relevant frameworks, policies and strategies.
• Extensive experience in analysing routine, surveillance and survey and other large datasets related to nutrition with proficiency in statistical tools and methodologies to extract actionable insights.
• Proven ability to develop factsheets, newsletters, analysis reports, research papers, articles, technical reports and documents for Nutrition in English.
• Expertise in developing knowledge management products for nutrition and using digital platforms for dissemination, with strong writing and presentation skills.
• Track record of successful delivery of high-level expert advice to governments and international organizations.
• Ability to work in a multidisciplinary team and have the initiative to work independently to meet deadlines.

Submission of applications:

• Demonstrated experience in designing and delivering training programmes for nutrition, developing materials and building stakeholder capacity in planning, monitoring and reporting.
• In-depth knowledge of how nutrition integrates with health, agriculture, WASH, education, and social policy, including relevant frameworks, policies and strategies.
• Extensive experience in analysing routine, surveillance and survey and other large datasets related to nutrition with proficiency in statistical tools and methodologies to extract actionable insights.
• Proven ability to develop factsheets, newsletters, analysis reports, research papers, articles, technical reports and documents for Nutrition in English.
• Expertise in developing knowledge management products for nutrition and using digital platforms for dissemination, with strong writing and presentation skills.
• Track record of successful delivery of high-level expert advice to governments and international organizations.
• Ability to work in a multidisciplinary team and have the initiative to work independently to meet deadlines.

Interested candidates are kindly requested to apply and upload the following documents:

• Letter of Interest (cover letter)
• CV or Resume
• Performance evaluation reports or references of similar consultancy assignments (if available)
• Financial proposal: All-inclusive lump-sum cost, including travel, accommodation cost and insurance with Medevac for this assignment as per work assignment.

Assessment Criteria:

A) Technical Evaluation (minimum 50 and maximum 80 Points) 80 points

Degree Education in ……… (10 points)

• Master’s or an advanced university degree in Public Health, Nutrition, Epidemiology and Social science

The Contract shall be awarded to the candidate obtaining the highest combined technical and financial scores, subject to the satisfactory result of the verification interview.

Knowledge of ……….. (20 points)

• Demonstrated experience in designing and delivering training programmes for nutrition, developing materials and building stakeholder capacity.
• In-depth knowledge of how nutrition integrates with health, agriculture, WASH, education, and social policy, including relevant frameworks, policies and strategies.
• Expertise in developing knowledge management products for nutrition and using digital platforms for dissemination, with strong writing and presentation skills.
• Track record of successful delivery of high-level expert advice to governments and international organizations.

Experience in ……… (40 points)

• Minimum of 8 years of experience in the capacity building in nutrition data analysis and use, data quality and management, planning, monitoring, reporting and knowledge management
• Extensive experience in analysing routine, surveillance and survey and other large datasets related to nutrition with proficiency in statistical tools and methodologies to extract actionable insights.
• Ability to work in a multidisciplinary team and have the initiative to work independently to meet deadlines.
• Proven ability to develop factsheets, newsletters, analysis reports, research papers, articles, technical reports and documents for Nutrition in English

Quality of past work (e.g. understanding, methodology) (10 points)

• Assessment of previous work including written and analytical skills
• Reference checks

B) Financial Proposal (maximum 20 and minimum 10 Points) 20 points

The maximum number of points shall be allotted to the lowest Financial Proposal that is opened /evaluated and compared among those technical qualified candidates who have attained a minimum 50 points score in the technical evaluation. Other Financial Proposals will receive points in inverse proportion to the lowest price.

The Contract shall be awarded to the candidate obtaining the highest combined technical and financial scores, subject to the satisfactory result of the verification interview.

Please find the TOR here: 

TOR Individual consultant Capacity Development for VA.pdf

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

View our competency framework at here

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

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.

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

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