UNICEF is a UN organization mandated by the UN General Assembly to advocate for the protection of children’s rights, to help meet their basic needs and to expand their opportunities to reach their full potential. In Lao PDR, UNICEF is working with its partners to support the Government to realize children’s rights on survival, development, protection and participation.

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, support

UNICEF in Vientiane, Lao PDR is looking for a National Consultancy to support efforts to integrate nutrition interventions in the education sector. The duration of this assignment is 10 months starting as soon as possible and the consultant will be home-based and someday work at the UNICEF office in Vientiane, Lao PDR.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

The overall objective of this consultancy is to support the MOES to integrate nutrition interventions into the education system.

Specifically, the consultant will:

1. Support the MOES nutrition committee to coordinate interactions, including quarterly meetings.
2. Coordinate trainings for the MOES nutrition committee as per identified needs.
3. Support the definition of a minimum package of nutrition interventions to be integrated into primary and secondary schools.
4. Support the development of a package of nutrition interventions is secondary schools and its operationalization (form to be agreed, e.g.  operational guidelines, etc).
5. Support the establishment of the monitoring system for the package, as necessary, and the integration of key indicators into existing reporting platforms and information management system.
6. Support the development of a training package for government officials, including teachers for the implementation of a nutrition package for secondary schools
7. Support MOES by providing them and selected schools with technical support during the pilot of the package.
8. Support UNICEF in close engagement and coordination with key partners.

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

Qualification and experience:

• Degree in education, public health, nutrition, social sciences, international development or other clearly related disciplines
• At least 8 years professional work experience in related areas

Knowledge and skills:

• Relevant work experience on education and/or nutrition.
• Knowledge and experience on education and/or nutrition programming.
• Understanding of the Lao Education System at the National, Provincial and District levels.
• Experience providing technical assistance to Government.
• Experience collaborating with Government and Development partners.
• Capacity building experience.
• Excellent facilitation skills both face to face and online.
• Proven ability to work with a range of stakeholders.
• Good analytical and report writing skills.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Fluency in English is required- both in oral and written communication.

 Submission of applications:

Interested candidates are kindly requested to apply and upload the following documents:

• Letter of Interest (cover letter)
• CV or Resume
• Performance evaluation reports or references of similar consultancy assignments (if available)
• Financial proposal: All-inclusive lump-sum cost including medical insurance with medivac, travel and accommodation cost for this assignment as per work assignment

Assessment Criteria:

A) Technical Evaluation , 75 points

Degree Education in ……… (10 points)

• Degree in education, public health, nutrition, social sciences, international development or other clearly related disciplines

Knowledge of ……….. (25 points)

• Education programming
• Nutrition programming
• Lao PDR’s Education System at the National, Provincial and District levels.
• Excellent facilitation skills both face to face and online.
• Good analytical and report writing skills.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Fluency in English – both in oral and written communication.

Experience in ……… (25 points)

• At least 8 years professional work experience in related areas
• Relevant work experience on education and/or nutrition
• Providing nutrition technical assistance to Government.
• Capacity building.
• Working with a range of stakeholders (government and DPs)
• Quality of past work (e.g. understanding, methodology) (15 points)
• Relevant reports/ materials produced

B) Financial Proposal, 25 points

The maximum number of points shall be allotted to the lowest Financial Proposal that is opened /evaluated and compared among those technical qualified candidates who have attained a minimum 60 points score in the technical evaluation. Other Financial Proposals will receive points in inverse proportion to the lowest price.

The Contract shall be awarded to candidate obtaining the highest combined technical and financial scores, subject to the satisfactory result of the verification interview.

Please find attached the TOR here: Terms of Reference for Individual consultant_nutrition in education NAT_001 TMS.pdf

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

View our competency framework at here

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

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. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. 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.

Remarks: Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.