National Consultant to support capacity building on nutrition specific interventions, Nutrition, Vientiane, Lao PDR, 6 months (Office based with trip)

Duty station: Vientiane

Contract Duration – 6 months

Working arrangement: Office Based with travel

 

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                                                         TERMS OF REFERENCE

Addressing the persistent burden of malnutrition in Lao PDR requires strengthened government capacity to design, implement, coordinate, and monitor a comprehensive package of nutrition interventions across the continuum of care. This includes enhancing the capacity of the health system to deliver quality maternal nutrition, infant and young child feeding, micronutrient supplementation, and nutrition counselling services, while strengthening monitoring systems and regulatory compliance. Increased technical capacity is also needed to improve multisectoral coordination and ensure the effective implementation of comprehensive nutrition interventions through the health system.

To advance and accelerate these priorities, UNICEF plans to recruit a national consultant with strong technical, liaison, and coordination skills. The consultant will work closely with the Department of Hygiene and Health Promotion (DHHP), Food and Drug Department (FDD), Mother and Child Health Centre (MCHC), Centre of Nutrition (CN), Department of Health Care and Rehabilitation (DHR), and other relevant departments to strengthen institutional capacity, facilitate stakeholder coordination, support the implementation and monitoring of key nutrition interventions, and provide technical assistance for the rollout of priority initiatives, including Maternal, Infant and Young Child Nutrition (MIYCN), and the enforcement of nutrition-related regulations, Multiple Micronutrient Supplementation (MMS), IMAM, and salt iodization;

The purpose of this assignment is to strengthen the capacity of the Ministry of Health in the planning, implementation, monitoring, and reporting of preventive and curative nutrition interventions delivered through the health system. The consultant will work closely with relevant departments of the Ministry of Health to enhance coordination, support evidence based programming, and contribute to the effective delivery of nutrition services and interventions.

If you would like to know more about this consultancy, please review the complete Terms of Reference here:  TOR x TMC0007260.pdf

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

Minimum requirements:

• Education: Bachelor`s university degree in medicine, nutrition, public health or a related field.
• Work Experience:
• At least 10 years of proven experience of working with government health system and good understanding of nutrition specific interventions in the Lao context
• Demonstrated knowledge and practical experience in the implementation of nutrition-specific preventive programmes, particularly Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) and micronutrient supplementation programmes.
• Proven experience working with development partners in the nutrition sector.
• Experience in providing technical assistance, capacity building, training, and supportive supervision for nutrition programmes.
• Experience working with provincial and district health authorities and conducting field monitoring, supportive supervision, and programme implementation activities.
• Experience in stakeholder coordination, facilitation of technical working groups, and organization of consultations, workshops, and training events.
• Skills (optional):  
• Familiar with innovative and technology-based applications to monitor nutrition programmes
• Strong understanding of government systems, internal processes, and administrative procedures related to the planning, implementation, coordination, and monitoring of nutrition programmes.
• In depth understanding of nutrition programming, namely the implementation and monitoring of nutrition sensitive interventions
• Familiarity with national nutrition policies, strategies, and coordination mechanisms in Lao PDR.
• Ability to work independently, manage multiple tasks, and maintain effective working relationships with government counterparts and partners
• Language Requirements:
• Excellent Lao language oral and written.
• Working knowledge of English
• Desirables:
• Previous experience working with UNICEF, UN agencies, international organizations, or development partners in nutrition, maternal and child health, or public health programmes.
• Experience in supporting the development, adaptation, and rollout of nutrition guidelines, training packages, and capacity-building initiatives.
• Knowledge of key nutrition interventions, including IYCF, IMAM, MMS, Vitamin A supplementation, and Universal Salt Iodization (USI).
• Previous experience in monitoring and implementation of the Breast-milk Substitutes (BMS) Code would be an asset.

 

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

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.

 

Qualified candidates are invited to submit the following documents via the online recruitment portal, TMS (Talent Management System):

• An up-to-date TMS profile and curriculum vitae (CV)
• Cover letter
• A separate financial proposal (only acceptable in the format of the linked template)  Financial Proposal TMC0007260.docx

 

Remarks:  If the TOR or financial proposal documents are not downloadable on certain recruitment platforms, please visit our official page Vacancies | UNICEF Careers.

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Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.