Rwanda Nutrition Consultant

Nutrition is a key sector for a country’s sustainable development. It contributes to achieving the Millennium Development Goals, to which Rwanda has committed itself as a member of the international community. Malnutrition affects all development sectors and has high social and economic costs such as increased mortality and morbidity, loss of human potential, decrease in skills and intelligence, lower productivity, and higher poverty. According to the preliminary results of the 2010 RDHS chronic malnutrition (stunting) affects 44% of children under 5 years of age constraining good health and delaying normal growth, underweight (low weight for age) affects 11% and wasting (acute malnutrition or low weight for height), which is associated with a high death rate, affects 2.8% of these children. Compared to the 2005 RDHS (using the 2006 WHO Growth Standards) when stunting was at 51%, underweight 18% and wasting stood at 5%, there has been signs of improvements in the nutritional situation of children under the age of five. However, regional disparities still indicate that the Northern Province has the highest stunting burden at 50.7%, Western 49.9%, Eastern 43.9% and Southern at 42.3% with Kigali City having a prevalence of 23.5%. While previous national data sets on malnutrition showed no differences by sex, the preliminary 2010 DHS results suggest that male children are more likely to be malnourished than female at a prevalence of 47.4% and 41.1% respectively. Since 2009, Rwanda has accelerated efforts to address the problem of malnutrition particularly at policy level with both policies and guidelines to address the various types of malnutrition already elaborated and adopted. The First National Nutrition Summit (November 2009) concluded with a consensus statement that included, among other resolutions, a proposal that “District-level nutrition planning, budgeting, coordination, and monitoring will be absolutely essential components of the country’s programme to eliminate malnutrition”.

Responding to this resolution and in recognition that prevention and elimination of malnutrition as a high priority, the Government of Rwanda developed a National Multisectoral Strategy for Elimination of Malnutrition (NmSEM) and has committed to support district level planning and implementation led by district Mayors and a cross-sector team. In order to move the agenda of nutrition forward especially at the decentralized levels, the Ministry of Health and partners organized a series of workshops to support district teams prepare their respective District Plans to Eliminate Malnutrition (DPEMs) aligned to the NmSEM and operationalize them. The activities within the DPEMs are underpinned by a large component of community-based nutrition-sensitive/related multisectoral interventions. These interventions are an expansion of the CBN model that the UNICEFCO has been supporting in 14 districts implementing and scaling up community-based nutrition interventions. In the light of the new Strategy, CBN interventions will include innovative activities such as home-based fortification of infant complementary foods. Close follow-up and documentation of the process and implementation of the interventions is critical.
UNICEF Rwanda, with funding from USAID/Rwanda, proposes to support this GOR initiative which is in line with the recently adopted Road Map for Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) and encompasses (a) multi-stakeholder platforms at different administrative levels in the country to ensure joint efforts and a shared responsibility for results, (b) joint action by different stakeholders to encourage advocacy, (c) better support for monitoring of progress, and, (d) stronger governance and coordination of intergovernmental action. Consequently, and in order to meet this challenge, the Nutrition Unit proposes to recruit temporary assistance bolster its technical capacity to document the process of modeling the implementation of District multisectoral Plans for the Elimination of Malnutrition (DPEMs) including the planning and implementation processes involving all stakeholders, identify the challenges, successes and lessons learnt during the period between September and December.

Objective of the consultancy The purpose of this consultancy is to support the CO to appropriately support the GOR document the process of modeling the implementation of District multisectoral Plans for the Elimination of Malnutrition (DPEMs) in 6 districts with a focus on the following specific objective: Provide technical assistance to the Nutrition Desk/MOH and partners for documenting the implementation of DPEMs - including the planning and implementation processes involving all the main stakeholders – government, international development partners (UN, multilateral and bilateral agencies), and civil society, identify the challenges, successes and lessons learnt during this period.

Main tasks of the consultant: Document key actions at all each stage in the implementation of the various interventions in the DPEM between January and August 2011 including the planning and implementation processes, challenges, successes, and lessons learnt. Document key actions in the implementation of the various interventions in the DPEM between September and December 2011 including the planning and implementation processes, challenges, successes, and lessons learnt. Prepare a monthly progress reports based on a preliminary data analysis of all activities implemented between September and November 2011 in the context of the DPEM in the 3 UNICEF-supported districts modeling implementation of the DPEM and home fortification. In addition, support documentation of DPEM in the other partner 3 district implementing DPEM. Continue the monthly data collection, collation and analysis of 15 districts currently implementing CBN showing progress made on programme indicators including coverage, reduction of underweight as well severe acute malnutrition. Use the data analysis to detect geographical disparities. Select the best 4 districts implementing CBN and conduct sector level analysis of CBN indicators to show progress, performance as well as detect disparities within districts and use this to support an equity focused approach towards narrowing the gaps and improved programme implementation.

Deliverables Outputs to be produced during this consultancy period include: September 30, October 31, November 30 and December 20: 1. Monthly District level CBN Data in 15 districts 2. Monthly Sector level CBN data in 4 districts December 20, 2011: Final Consultancy Report – consisting of a documentation of the planning and implementation processes, challenges, successes and lessons learnt during the modeling of DPEM implementation in 6 districts.

Profile of the consultant The consultant should possess following: EDUCATION: University degree in Nutrition or Social Sciences, such as International Development. LANGUAGE: Fluency in English and/or French required. EXPERIENCE: At least 2 years experience in preparation documentation for advocacy and experience in research with particular focus on qualitative research methodologies in Nutrition or related health field is an asset. COMPETENCIES: Proven excellent written and oral communication skills; effective organizational skills and strong interpersonal and intercultural skills. Computer literacy especially with Excel and database management is required.

Duration of consultancy The duration of the consultancy will be from the time of appointment to December 15, 2011.

Working arrangements The consultant will work in collaboration with the Nutrition Desk/MoH and its partners during the DPEM implementation including the home fortification intervention. The consultant will work under the direct supervision of the Nutrition Specialist and receive honoraria at L-2 level depending on experience as determined by UNICEF Rwanda/HRO. Payment will be at the end of contract and based

N.B. Applications to be sent to: Rwajobs@unicef.org

Closing date:07/09/2011