National Consultancy to coordinate and support the implementation of nutrition social behaviour change (SBC) interventions.

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 strengthen SBC for nutrition interventions in the country, by strengthening capacities at National, Provincial and District level officials. The duration of this assignment is 12 months starting as soon as possible and the consultant will be home based and 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 nutrition section to implement SBC for nutrition related activities, focusing on capacity strengthening targeting government staff and partners at National and subnational levels.

Specifically, the consultant will:

1. Support the development of a national SBC for nutrition implementation plan by the SBC taskforce.
2. In collaboration with Center of Health Statistic and Information (CHSI) oversee the provincial level work led by local SBC consultants in selected provinces.
3. Coordinate and collaborate with partners working on SBC for nutrition at selected provinces.
4. Support trainings, workshops and tools development related to SBC.

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

Qualification and experience:

• Post- graduate degree in public health, nutrition, social sciences, international development or other clearly related disciplines.
• At least 5 years professional work experience in related areas.
• Relevant work experience on Social Behaviour Change.

Knowledge and skills:

• Knowledge and experience on nutrition programming.
• Understanding of the Lao Health System at the National, Provincial and District levels.
• Experience providing nutrition technical assistance to Government.
• Capacity building experience.
• Experience managing teams remotely.
• 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 Qualification, 75 points

Degree Education in ……… (10 points)

• Post- graduate degree in public health, nutrition, social sciences, international development or other clearly related disciplines

Knowledge of ……….. (25 points)

• Nutrition programming (incl. SBC, IYCF, IMAM, micronutrients)
• The Lao Health 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 5 years professional work experience in related areas
• Relevant work experience on Social Behaviour Change
• Providing nutrition technical assistance to Government.
• Capacity building.
• Managing teams remotely.
• Working with a range of stakeholders.

Quality of past work (e.g. understanding, methodology) (15 points)

• Reference checks

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 the TOR here: VA National Consultancy to coordinate and support the implementation of nutrition (SBC) interventions.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.