CONSULTANCY ON MATERNAL AND INFANT NUTRITION ADVISOR CHILDREN IN EMERGENCIES (WAN-U), MALI

BACKGROUND

The Global Nutrition Cluster Technical Alliance (GNC) Technical Alliance or Alliance) is an initiative for the mutual benefit of the nutrition community, and affected populations, to improve the quality of nutrition in emergency preparedness, response, and recovery. The GNC Technical Alliance Partners are made up of the GNC partners and other individuals, organizations, initiatives, and academia at global, regional, and national levels that hold nutrition technical expertise across the humanitarian and development spheres.

The Alliance’s Technical Support Team (TST) provides on-demand technical support for nutrition in emergencies both remotely and in-country.

The Mali Nutrition Cluster has requested the support of the TST to provide home-based remote/in-country support to strengthen the capacity of the cluster and its partners on Maternal and Infant Nutrition Advisor for Young Children in Emergency Situations (WAN-U).

OBJECTIVE

Provide technical support to improve the quality and scale-up of the IYCF-E response in Mali through the development of an evidence-based and collaborative action plan and capacity-building initiatives to support key nutrition partners to implement the action plan. It is expected that the support will help to improve the understanding of the IYCF-E context, including risks and mitigating factors on gender and Gender Based Violence (GBV) in IYCF-E. The technical support will also strengthen the IYCF-E Technical Working Group to ensure ongoing effectiveness in the IYCF-E response.

SERVICE DESCRIPTION

A detailed ToR (Terms of Reference) is under development. It will likely include the following activities:

• Desk Review of existing IYCFE-E-resources, tools, and guidance, and development of a toolkit.

• Provide technical advice and support for the development of an IYCF-E toolkit.

• Assess IYCF-E capacity sharing and capacity building needs among partners and develop a plan to address them.

• Based on the findings from the IYCF-E capacity assessment, develop and deliver a three-day IYCF-E training.

• Develop a guidance note and sensitization session for harmonization with other sectors.

• Develop and lead a 2-hour orientation session for multi-sector partners on operational guidance and multi-sector guidance note.

• Develop an appropriate, evidence-based IYCF-E action plan ensuring input from all relevant stakeholders and inclusion of internally Displaced Persons (IDP) sites and North Mali.

• Support Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) Technical Working Group (TWG) to evaluate, monitor and strengthen the quality of IYCF-E activities, including oversight of IYCF-E activities, workplace coaching, and accountability to affected populations.

TIMELINE

TBC but likely around 10 weeks (4 weeks of remote work and 6 weeks of in-country work). Looking to start ASAP (Early March 2023).
PROFILE
Required:

1. Master’s degree in Economics, Social Science, Nutrition, Public Health, or a related field.
2. At least 8 years of work experience in nutrition and public health in emergencies.
3. Demonstrated experience in designing and leading Maternal and Infant Nutrition interventions for Young Children in Emergency Situations (WAN-U).
4. Demonstrated experience in capacity building, including conducting a learning needs assessment, capacity assessment, and capacity building strategies.

Desired:

1. Experience in the development of innovative training tools.
2. Experience in organizing and facilitating knowledge exchange workshops.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES, AND OTHER ATTRIBUTES
Required:

1. Demonstrated understanding and commitment to humanitarian principles.
2. Strong skills in coordination and the ability to work effectively with a range of stakeholders, including nutrition clusters, partners, and the Ministry of Health.
3. Highly developed writing skills – both at a programmatic level (assessment reports, proposals) and at a policy level (policy papers, guidance notes).
4. Strong communications skills (both written and verbal) at a level appropriate for high-level external representation presentations).
5. Flexibility in ways of working
6. Ability to analyze diverse information and develop recommendations for an appropriate response to emergencies.
7. Ability to work in English to a high standard.

Desired:

1. Working knowledge of French

SELECTION CRITERION

– Experience in designing, implementing, and evaluating IYCF-e
– Experience in DRC (Democratic Republic of Congo) or region
– Ability to work in French.
– Daily rate

DUTY STATION/LOCATION
The consultant will work both home-based and in the country and might be required to apply for flexible working hours.

SUPERVISORS
The consultant will be supervised by both the TST Coordination Unit (based at AAH Canada) and the in-country requester (Mali Nutrition Cluster).

CONTRACT MODALITY
Fixed-term deliverable-based contract.
Applications are open to individuals, teams of people, or organizations.