Background and Justification
The Ministry of Health in Malawi adopted the Community-based Therapeutic Care (CTC) approach (now CMAM[1]) since 2004 with the aim of increasing coverage and accessibility of treatment for uncomplicated acute malnutrition. The approach entails decentralizing care to health centres and treating the majority of cases as out-patients through the provision of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Foods (RUTF) and basic medical care. This is complemented by supplementary feeding for moderately malnourished children. Currently the CMAM programme is reaching about 65 per cent (42,000) of the severely acute malnourished (SAM) children out of the expected case load of 69,533. This indicates the need to urgently enhance active-case finding through nutrition screening at community level for early identification of under-five children who are malnourished to be enrolled in CMAM programmes.
The recent Nutrition Rehabilitation Unit (NRU) assessment conducted in May and September, 2015 in the 101[2]NRUs revealed poor management of cases, inadequate number of well trained personnel involved in the management of cases, poor supply management (persistent stock outs), lack of M&E materials and poor infrastructure. Following the findings, some recommendations and action points were established and these need to be followed up by the Ministry of Health (MoH) in collaboration with UNICEF and partners.
Alongside the routine work, the nutrition section has been involved in emergency response following the floods and drought spell that hit the country in 2015 and earlier this year. Despite the good progress on the implementation of emergency response activities some of the activities are behind schedule hence the need of more HR in the nutrition team to effectively support Ministry of Health.
Support will be needed from the three consultants beyond the current contract period Supporting MoH in monitoring and supervision of CMAM program activities including implementation of the recommendations/action points from NRU assessment; support Designing, planning and execution of community mobilisation integrated in community care groups in ensuring active nutrition screening; Participate in aligning CMAM guideline with the WHO 2013 updates; conduct on-the-job support and mentoring as well as assessment of quality of services at district and health facility level, conduct CMAM quarterly joint supervision and monitoring and End use monitoring of CMAM supplies. The consultants will be supervised by Ministry of Health and UNICEF to ensure alignment to the 2015-2022 CMAM operation plan.
Scope of work
The main responsibility is timely nutritional and surveillance systems reinforced and strengthened (CMAM database, DHIS2, Rapid SMS and Nutrition Surveys). The following are key areas:
- Communication
- Provide timely, complete and accurate reports using country level data
- Support the Ministry of Health in preparing and releasing the Monthly and Quarterly Nutrition Information Updates/Bulletin
- Situation Monitoring and Assessments
- Support in nutrition joint assessments and monitoring
- Take lead in preparation of data inputs with emphasis on targets and achievements
- Ensures timely and accurate information on changing conditions of children and women and facilitates information exchange in order to support planning and measurement of program impact
- Provide technical support on nutrition surveillance to NGOs leading nutrition surveillance at the district level
- Program Performance Monitoring
- Support the development of monitoring and evaluation materials for nutritional screening and ensure establishment of a reporting system at all levels
- Conducting monthly review meetings in selected districts on NRU and OTP data with NGOs and health workers
- Supporting Ministry of Health in compilation and analysis of CMAM and Mass screening data
- Regularly update and share CMAM program performances with Nutrition Section for further sharing with Ministry of Health for distribution to partners
- Conduct trend analysis for NRU and OTP data to inform programming
- Provide technical support in the design, implementation and analysis of nutrition surveys, including SMART Survey
- Conduct quality check/review on the different nutrition surveys conducted in the recent (2-3) years in Malawi to identify gap areas
- Regularly update and provide data to Nutrition Section Chief for real time monitoring of CMAM program and RapidSMS-AnthroWatch
- Capacity Building
- Support identification of information gaps at national and subnational levels and provide recommendations on addressing information gaps
- Support Ministry of Health in capacity building of district level personnel on the nutrition modules e.g. CMAM integrated in the DHIS2 for reporting and use
- In coordination with sectorial technical lead agencies provide training support on data management at district Level if need arise
- Provide capacity development/mentoring/coaching to select institution in Malawi on SMART Survey methodology
Expected deliverables
- Timely, complete and accurate monthly reports using country level data
- Monitored reports with data inputs with emphasis on targets and achievements
- Periodic Nutrition surveys
- Assessments conducted and analyzed
- Monitoring general situation of MAM and SAM through CMAM database
- Effective use of nutrition data and information in supporting quality of improvement of programs at district and Facility level
- Regular analysis of Program Data
- Positioning Nutrition Information Systems within DHIS 2 at Ministry of Health for maintenance of Nutrition and Health information and its use for decision making
- Training on data management at District level in coordination with sectorial and technical lead agencies supported
Payment Schedule
Under the guidance of Chief, Nutrition and in consultation with Nutrition Specialist (L3), the incumbent will develop deliverables for each month that is accepted and signed by Chief, Nutrition. This document will be referred to as the Monthly Deliverable Schedule.
Major Task
Deliverable
Timeframe (man-days)
Comments
1.
Monthly Work plan developed
Detailed work plan with key milestones for each month
Monthly
Payment will be made on submission of monthly progress report comprise of all three deliverables. $10,000 / month which is 1/8th of the total consultancy fee.
2.
Monthly district level data compiled
25 district reports with key nutrition indicators as per DFID proposal
Monthly
3.
Produce monthly outcomes data for CMAM program performance
Monthly CMAM program performance compiled
Monthly
4.
Produce one-pager monthly nutrition update based on the CMAM data and other available information
One pager nutrition situation update developed on monthly basis
Monthly
5.
Conduct CMAM data quality audits
Monthly data quality audit report with key recommendation
Monthly
6.
Conduct 6 years’ (2011 - 2016) time series analysis on the CMAM data to inform programming
Monthly time series progress report
Monthly
7.
Provide capacity development/mentoring/coaching to select institution in Malawi on SMART Survey methodology and CMAM data management
Monthly capacity development progress report
Monthly
The consultant will be paid monthly upon submission of due deliverables mentioned in the Monthly Deliverable Schedule that are of acceptable quality to UNICEF and endorsed by the Chief, Nutrition.
Desired background and experience
- At least a Master’s degree in public health / nutrition, or master degree in statistics/ epidemiology or other related field.
- Minimum of 5 years of experience working in the field of data management, nutrition information systems
- High Level Expertise in SMART and SLEAC/SQUEAC Nutrition Survey Methodologies. A Master Trainer of will be given preference
- Knowledge in Community Management of Acute Malnutrition programmes desirable.
- Experience in supporting MoH in implementation of activity desirable.
- Previous experience in assisting governments in data monitoring and management.
- Experience in nutrition in emergencies a plus
Language Required for the Consultancy:
- Proficient in English
Other Skills and Attributes: Guidance:
- A firm command of the Nutrition Information Systems (NIS) in emergencies and development set-ups, and demonstrated experience in setting up and managing NIS in different counties
- Strong working knowledge of data quality assurance mechanisms
- Excellent skills and demonstrated evidence of using the following statistical softwares in Nutrition Information Systems Stata, R, ENA for SMART, CSPro, SPSS and MS Excel
- Proficient in the use of either QGIS or ArcGIS in developing spatial maps for information Nutrition Information System
Conditions (Important)
- The consultant will be paid based on the deliverables.
- All remunerations will be within the contract agreement
- No contract may commence unless the contract is signed by both UNICEF and the consultant
- No consultant may travel without a signed travel authorisation prior to the commencement of the journey to the duty station.
- The consultant will be required to sign the health statement for consultants/individual contractor prior to taking up the assignment, and to document that they have appropriate health insurance, if applicable.
- The Form 'Designation, change or revocation of beneficiary' has to be completed by the consultant upon arrival, at the HR Section.
- The consultant is not entitled to payment of overtime.
[1] Community-Based Management of Acute Malnutrition
[2] Two of which are not functional
HOW TO APPLY:
Qualified candidates (international candidates) are requested to submit a cover letter, performance evaluation report (if applicable), CV and Personal History Form (P-11 form) to be downloaded from the websitehttp://www.unicef.org/about/employ/index_53129.html), a financial proposal (including all eligible fees and other costs deemed necessary to carry out this assignment) on or before 12 August 2016 via e-mail address:hrmalawi@unicef.org
NOTE:
- UNICEF is committed to gender equality in its mandate and its staff. Well qualified candidates, particularly females are strongly encouraged to apply.
- Only shortlisted applicants will be acknowledged.
- Applications sent through the post office or hand delivered is not accepted.
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