UN Children's Fund Jobs in Kenya

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UN Children's Fund Jobs in Kenya

1. Nutrition Advocacy Consultant Background
Nutrition security is a human right; it is the basis for economic, social and human development.
Good nutrition throughout the lifecycle is a prerequisite to good health, which adds quality to life and contributes to healthy ageing.
The goal of Kenya Vision 2030 is to “transform Kenya into a globally competitive and prosperous nation with a high quality of life by 2030”.
Unfortunately, malnutrition is amongst the biggest threats to this Vision 2030 and Kenya’s achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.
Malnutrition greatly affects Kenya’s socio-economic development and potential to reduce poverty.
Economically, Kenya loses about Kshs 128billion every year due to productivity losses as a result of malnutrition.
Vision 2030 and many of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) – particularly MDG 1 (eradicate extreme poverty and hunger); MDG 4 (reduce child deaths); and MDG 5 (improve maternal health) – will not be reached unless the nutrition of women and children is prioritized in the national development programmes and strategies.
Without a deliberate and concerted effort, this figure will rise to Kshs. 3 trillion in 20 years and 527,000 lives will be lost.
In August 2012, Kenya joined the Scaling up Nutrition (SUN) movement, thereby signaling the country’s commitment to coordinated actions to improve the nutrition situation in the country.
The movement has drawn attention and interest from diverse stakeholders over a short duration of time demonstrating its tremendous potential.
Through sustained advocacy, there has been a number of achievements within the nutrition sector,
key among them being an improved policy environment (with the passing of the Breast Milk Substitutes Act,
Kenya Food and Nutrition Security Policy and the mandatory food fortification legislation), enhanced Government leadership, an improved and enhanced coordinated approach to implementation and monitoring and evaluation of nutrition programs as evidenced by the Kenya nutrition action plan, and inclusion of indicators in the DHIS, AOP and MTEF, and adoption of a set of high impact nutrition interventions; and increased budgetary allocations for nutrition,
Despite the success in the nutrition advocacy at the national level, the nutrition sector is faced with a number of challenges, key among them being limited funding at both national and county level and, lack of prioritization of nutrition issues at the county level,
Inadequate advocacy capacity at all levels, poor inter sectoral linkages to address malnutrition and low demand and awareness of the nutrition services.
This calls for intensified advocacy at all levels.
The Government recognizes that additional resources and strengthened systems are required to scale up nutrition interventions and end all forms of malnutrition.
However the commitment to addressing malnutrition wholesome is a challenge.
Malnutrition needs to be viewed:
(i) as an indication of inadequate realization of some of the most basic of all human rights,
(ii) as a reflection of inadequate investment and progress in a range of issues related to human capital development; and
(iii) in its significant influence on future economic development of a country.
Political commitment is required to ensure strategies to improve nutrition in Kenya are prioritized and allocated adequate resources.
Kenya’s devolution process placed new authority and responsibility for health program management and service delivery at the county level.
Funding is currently allocated at the county level which provided an opportunity to advocacy.
Purpose
The Nutrition Advocacy Consultant will support the realigning of the National Nutrition Advocacy and Communication Steering Committee (ACSM) of the Nutrition Sector, support the ACSM in developing, managing, co-coordinating, networking, implementing and monitoring of the advocacy and communication strategy and associated products with the objective of promoting awareness and understanding of nutrition.
The consultant will also support UNICEF Nutrition Section in identifying the key roles and responsibilities to contribute to the larger nutrition sector agenda.
Therefore approximately 30% of the time will be dedicated fully to UNICEF and 70% to supporting the nutrition sector.
Responsibilities

Finalization of the Advocacy and Communication strategy

Support the dissemination of the Advocacy and Communication Strategy

Support the Implementation and Monitoring of the Advocacy and Communication strategy

Capacity development and support of partners and the UNICEF nutrition team on advocacy and communications

Development of a toolkit of advocacy and communications resources for national and counties level activities

Development of a media engagement strategy and implementation plan

Support the re-alignment of the ACSM Committee and/or Working Group

Co -chairing the ACSM steering group within the MoH unit

Mapping strategic platforms within government and support MOH nutrition unit ( county and national) in optimizing messaging and advocacy actions Deliverables:
Finalised ACSM strategy that includes:

Road map of ACSM activities

Monitoring and evaluation plan of ACSM

Media engagement strategy

Capacity development sessions for nutrition stakeholders on advocacy and communications undertaken. Stakeholders at national and county level should be able to:

Understand the dynamics of effective advocacy

Be able to identify key decision-makers and their influencers through the planning process at county level

Work with Communication teams to develop appropriate targeted advocacy messages

Form alliances to effectively communicate such messages and follow up/monitor them to ensure action for nutrition improvement.

Harmonised Toolkit of advocacy and communications resources on nutrition for national and counties level developed

Up to date advocacy resources, shared and posted on the Nutrition website.

A functional ACSM Committee and/or Working Group Report outlining strategic platforms within government and support MOH nutrition unit ( county and national) in optimizing messaging and advocacy actions
Skills and Attributes Requirements
Education:

Advanced university degree in, Journalism, Communication, Political Science, Public Relations (Or an Undergraduate degree plus at least 8 years of demonstrated professional experience in advocacy, communications, external relations, public affairs, public relations or corporate communications.) Work experience:

five years’ progressively responsible and relevant professional work experience in advocacy and communication at all levels.

Background/familiarity with Nutrition advocacy Language Proficiency:Fluency in English.
Project Management Skills:

Ability to plan and implement multiple projects simultaneously, prioritize work effectively, adjust to fast-faced workplace and a strong attention to detail is required. Competency Profile
i) Core Values (Required):Commitment, Diversity and Inclusion, Integrity
ii) Core Competencies (Required)Communication, Working with People, Drive for Results,
ii) Functional Competencies (Required):Leading and Supervising [I], Formulating Strategies and
Concepts [ II ], Relating and Networking [ II ] , Persuading and Influencing [ II ], Applying Technical Expertise [ II ], Entrepreneurial Thinking [ II ]
Conditions (Important)
The consultant is expected to:

Commit fully as per the TOR

Exercise no authority on behalf of UNICEF 2. Monitoring and Evaluation Consultant for the National Safety Net Programme. (Social Protection Secretariat – Ministry of Labour)
Purpose of Assignment

The technical advisor will provide technical support and advice to the SP Secretariat in overseeing and ensuring the highest possible quality of the PIBS and the External Monitoring assignments. Scope of Work: Major tasks
Support to the PIBS:

Provide technical support and advice to the government as part of the review committee in the procurement process to identify the firm that will undertake the PIBS Survey for the NSNP;

Provide advice to the SP secretariat in the review of the inception report and subsequent questionnaires/survey instruments and other outputs from the assignment submitted by the PIBS survey firm in consultation with the government and donors (this work would complement the external support provided by Oxford Policy Management on the PIBS);

Provide technical support to the government to coordinate feedback from stakeholders on outputs under the PIBS (to ensure comments are technically relevant etc.);

Provide technical support and advice to the government during the implementation of the PIBS, to ensure that it is being implemented as per agreed plans, using the agreed instruments;

Provide technical support to the SP secretariat to maintain operational oversight and quality control of work related to the PIBS (including sampling, instruments and field testing of instruments) and provide technical support if/as needed (and identify additional support required, if applicable);

Together with the SP secretariat, review methodology for training of enumerators for the PIBS (training materials, duration, pedagogy) and quality controls for data collection and data entry;

Together with the SP secretariat, oversee field work for baseline data collection for the PIBS and review analysis of baseline data Support to the External Monitoring

Provide technical support and advice to the government on the External Monitoring assignment of the NSNP, including reviewing outputs by the firm and providing technical supervision support as needed;

Provide technical support to the government to coordinate feedback from stakeholders on outputs under the External Monitoring (to ensure comments are technically relevant etc.);

Support the second phase of the external evaluation contract focussing in specific needs of the programme and including children monitoring

Support the SP secretariat in maintaining operational oversight of the work related to the external monitoring and providing technical support if/as needed (and identify additional support required, if applicable). Expected Deliverables

An approved work plan agreed with the Ministry of Labour and UNICEF after 2 weeks of commencement of consultancy

Evaluation of expression of interests and proposals for the PIBS;

Written comments on the inception report and subsequent questionnaires/survey instruments and other outputs from the assignment submitted by the PIBS survey firm in consultation with the government and donors;

Written comments on outputs from the External Monitoring Firm;

As needed, written communications with staff working on PIBS and External Monitoring (including firms, government and development partners). Desired background and experience

Relevant master’s degree in areas related to Social Protection and Safety nets, like development economics, social science, anthropology, statistics, development Planning, Social Development, Sociology or related field

Minimum 7 years’ experience in planning, monitoring and evaluation of development programmes in developing countries.

Experience in working with senior level of government, policy makers, executives to achieve established goals and objectives.

Proven ability to conceptualize, design and implement monitoring and evaluation systems.

Ability to coach, mentor train and work as part of team to develop staff in Public Sector

Excellent skills to effectively communicate orally and in writing

Strong experience in technical writing and communication. Duration of contract and remuneration
The contract is for 60-70 days over a twelve month period.
The consultant is expected to be present in Nairobi for the duration of the contract.
Some local travel within Kenya is anticipated.
The anticipated start date is November, 2014. [1] Against which the World Bank, which is one of the development partners supporting the NSNP, would disburse funds.
How to apply:
Interested and suitable candidates should ensure that they forward their applications along with their curricula vitae, quoting the indicative fee range (Applications submitted without a fee/ rate will not be considered) to;
The Human Resources Manager
UNICEF Kenya Country Office
Email address:kenyahrvacancies@unicef.org
Qualified candidates are requested to submit a cover letter, CV, and signed P11 form which can be downloaded at UN Children's Fund Jobs in Kenya with subject line and the consultancy title by COB 19 October 2014.