Unicef recruits a Technical support for the development of adolescent nutrition guidance for Rwanda

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Background and Purpose :

Adolescence is a critical period for the achievement of optimal health and nutrition across the life cycle. Most risks that impact maternal and new-born health (first 1000 days) exist from adolescence through adulthood. The nutritional status for adolescent girls aged 15 to 19 years in Rwanda represents a double burden of malnutrition; characterized by the coexistence of under nutrition along with overweight and obesity. In-Rwanda, 12.8% of adolescent girls 15-19 years are overweight, a rise from 9.6% in 2005 and 10.8 in 2010 (Rwanda Demographic Health Surveys). The rise is observed both in rural and urban populations. The 2015 Rwanda DHS indicated that 11% of adolescent girls aged 15 to 19 years have underweight, a slight decrease from 12.6% in 2010. The proportion of adolescent boys aged 15 to 19 years with a BMI of less than 18.5 is still high at 30.1% (RDHS, 2015). The prevalence of anaemia among 15-19-year olds is at 18.8% (RDHS, 2015). Anaemia in pregnancy increases the prevalence of maternal deaths due to postpartum hemorrhage.

Despite the prioritization of adolescent nutrition in strategic documents, nutrition programmes targeting adolescent boys and girls aged 10 to 19 years have not been implemented in the country due to lack of clear operational guidelines. National Early Childhood Development Programme (NECDP), with support from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Rwanda Country Office, requires a mid-level consultant to provide technical support to the development of adolescent nutrition guidelines and communication strategy for adolescents. The developed guidelines and communication strategy will provide a road map for the implementation of adolescent nutrition programing in Rwanda.

 

Justification :

Adolescents are in many contexts a marginalised and disempowered group. They lack a voice on the social stage, have constrained access to resources, are likely to drop out of education and are vulnerable to exploitation and violence. (Burman and McKay, 2007). Programmes to support adolescent nutrition are lagging the international call for focus on this area and the general increase in attention on nutrition nationally and internationally. The promising interventions for adolescent nutrition identified by The Lancet 2013 Series are yet to be implemented in Rwanda.

There has been lack of progress in adolescent nutrition programming, linked to insufficient policy attention on adolescent nutrition, perhaps as a result of the successful focus within the nutrition community during the first 1,000 days. The majority of nutrition policies and interventions target women during pregnancy and lactation and children up to the age of two. While the first 1,000 days remains a critical window, it is also vital to reach young girls and women before conception if the intergenerational cycle of malnutrition is to be broken. This is particularly important for the estimated 10 million girls under the age of 18 who get married each year (RMCAH, 2018) and the 16 million adolescent girls who give birth each year (WHO, 2014a). Adolescence is also known and considered as the Second Window of Opportunity because:

(a) Good nutrition and nutritional habits at this period of time determines the overall heath pattern of a nation (b) Inadequate nutrition places an adolescent in the risk of chronic disease (c) Acquiring new skills is significantly more effective in adolescence than later in life.

There is great need to come with adolescent nutrition guidelines for Rwanda to provide direction and overall guidance to adolescents nutrition programming in the country. UNICEF office in Rwanda is seeking a technical assistant to provide technical support to NECDP to develop adolescent nutrition guidelines. Such assignment requires expertise in developing guidelines and strategies and strong understanding of the adolescents programming in Rwanda.

To this end, UNICEF Rwanda is looking for a consultant  to lead the development of adolescent nutrition guidelines and come up with a communication strategy targeting adolescent boys and girls aged 10 to 19 years. 

 

Objectives :

Specifically the objectives of this technical support are to :

1. Conduct a desk review situation analysis of the adolescent boys and girls aged 10 to 19 years in Rwanda (taking lessons and results from the Hinga Weze formative research and such related studies on adolescents) ;
2. Develop an adolescent nutrition programme guideline document for Rwanda, targeting adolescent boys and girls aged 10 to 19 years old ;
3. Develop evidence based communication strategy with associated communication plan and clear objectives, targeted messages, monitoring and evaluation tools with defined indicators to document progress in terms of impact made .

Specific activities that the consultant will be involved in, to contribute to the above objectives include :

• Undertake a desk review on adolescent nutrition situation, identify issues for adolescents in Rwanda identify opportunities for integration and collaboration with other sectors ( Education, Water and Sanitation, Social Protection and Health) ;
• Conduct National and sub national consultative meetings with key stakeholders with key government, partners, and adolescents representatives to discuss key issues affecting adolescents in Rwanda and identifying key strategies and interventions for the adolescent nutrition program ;
• Lead the process of drafting, reviewing and validation of the adolescent nutrition guidelines through the participation of the national and sub-national stake holders ;
• Develop integrated key messages booklet and communication strategy on adolescent nutrition in- line with the country existing health strategy on adolescents . 

Expected deliverables :

• Inception report describing how the consultant has understood the assignment and elaborating how he or she will deliver the expected results ;
• Desk review report on adolescents nutrition situation in Rwanda ;
• National Stakeholders consultative meeting conducted, critical technical team identified, and meeting report produced ;
• Field visit to engage adolescent boys and girls aged 10 to 19 years in selected districts conducted and a report produced ;
• Key messages for adolescents developed ;
• Draft adolescents Nutrition guidelines for Rwanda ;
• Validation workshop with key stakeholders and the technical working group conducted ;
• Final adolescents Nutrition guidelines for Rwanda ;
• Evidence based communication strategy and associated plan of action with clear objectives, targeted messages, monitoring and evaluation tools with defined indicators to document progress in terms of impact on behaviour developed .

 

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

• Advanced degree in Nutrition, Dietetics or Public Health or Health Promotion or its equivalent ;
• At least five years of progressively responsible professional work experience in Nutrition and/or Health Programming ;
• Knowledge of or experience in Adolescent Health and Nutrition Programming is an asset ;
• Able to work within various teams and be able to contribute to the overall success of that team ;
• Able to demonstrate a flexible and adaptable approach to work ;
• Ability to communicate fluently in English and Kinyarwanda required ;
• Ability to write eligibly and professionally in English a must ;
• Experience in writing strategies and guidelines desirable  .

 

How to Apply :

UNICEF is committed to gender equality in its mandate and its staff. Well qualified candidates, particularly females are strongly encouraged to apply.

Interested candidates should send their complete Personal History (P11) form, which can be downloaded form (http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/P11.doc). or a CV/resume, as well as a cover letter explaining what makes them suitable for this consultancy.

Qualified and experienced candidates are requested to submit a letter of interest including a Technical Proposal outlining a road map for review and implementation timeline. In their letter of interest, candidates should highlight their previous work experience relevant to the assignment, the attributes that make them suitable, their proposed approach to the assignment.

Successful candidates will be contacted and requested to submit by email a Financial Proposal outlining the total costs for this consultancy with payment linked main deliverables

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse, and on any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

 

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.