TERMS OF REFERENCE FORMAT
(FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANTS AND CONTRACTORS)
UNICEF-BCO : TERMS OF REFERENCE (TOR)
Title of the Assignment:
Building capacity of local level actors in mainstreaming, planning, and monitoring for nutrition through ‘District
Nutrition Support Officers’ (DNSO)
Position:
Nutrition Consultant
Number of position: 43
Duration:
11 months
Proposed Level:
NO-A
Duty Stations (Districts):
Sylhet, Maulvibazar, Habiganj, Sylhet City, Sunamganj, Khulna, Satkhira, Narail, Chuadanga, Khulna City, Bargerhat,
Barisal, Bhola, Pirojpur, Jhalokathi, Patuakhali, Barguna, Rangpur, Nilphimari, Pabna, Nawabganj, Lalmonirhat,
Panchagarth, Gaibandha, Kurigram, Rangamati, Khagrachari, Chittagong city, Bramhmanbaria, Noakhali, Comilla,
Bandarban, Cox’s Bazaar, Jamalpur, Mymensingh, Sherpur, Shariatpur, Faridpur, Tangail, Sirajganj, Dhaka city,
Kishorganj, Netrakona
Background:
In 2011, the Government of Bangladesh commenced mainstreaming of nutrition services in the Ministry of Health
and Family Welfare. Mainstreaming requires very substantial support, specifically in critical areas of (i) human
resource capacity development in nutrition, (ii) planning and monitoring of supplies, (iii) integration of nutrition in
the health management information system to guide monitoring, (iv) establishment and implementation of standards
and guidelines for all technical areas of intervention etc. UNICEF supports mainstreaming through direct support to a
number of area-based programmes which provide opportunities to coordinate interventions, develop tools and
models and to test components of the new system while at the same time expediting direct assistance to the most
vulnerable populations in the country.
At national level and through six zonal offices, UNICEF supports the planning, budgeting, procurement and
coordination required for rapid scale up of a full package of direct nutrition interventions (DNIs) throughout the
country. However, UNICEF recently supported a capacity assessment in Bangladesh which identified gaps in human
resources and capacity related to nutrition at district and sub-district levels for the implementation of the HPNSDP’s
National Nutrition Services Operational Plan (NNS-OP 2011-2016) and limited mainstreaming of nutrition in other
sectors. IPHN/NNS requires manpower and support at sub-national levels (district and upazila) which can actively
engage, support and follow-up with relevant health and family planning authorities and service providers, to ensure
nutrition is mainstreamed at all levels and aspects – including planning, budgeting, supply management, training,
implementation, coordination and monitoring on a day-to-day basis. A total of 43 districts in Bangladesh have been
identified to receive DNSO support until 2017 based on their high burden of stunting as well as Child Deprivation
Index scores. UNICEF is currently recruiting qualified nationals to constitute a global resource pool of DNSOs for
Bangladesh for these 43 districts.
Purpose of Assignment:
The purpose of this ToR is to provide human resources / technical support to local level government actors in
mainstreaming nutrition into Health and other relevant sectors (Agriculture/Fisheries/Food/Livestock, WASH,
Education, Protection, etc.) at sub-national levels, with particular emphasis on coordination, analysis, planning,
technical support, capacity building, establishment and monitoring of implementation and coverage targets, etc.
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The proposed technical support will allow both IPHN/NNS and UNICEF to expand its sub-national support and is
expected to lead to increased resource allocation to fund existing plans and targets. As nutrition mainstreaming is
relatively new in the country and the NNS/OP is still in its early phase of implementation, district level technical
support will present an opportunity to accelerate nutrition mainstreaming and pilot an innovative human resource
based support approach for nutrition that could potentially be scaled-up and supported by the MOHFW and HPNSDP
development partners in the longer-term. Indeed, the Bangladesh approach to support for EPI using District
Immunization Medical Officers (DIMO) shows how this model of support has drastically improved quality and
coverage of EPI interventions in a short period. Lessons learned from the DIMO model will be drawn on to guide the
DNSO strategy for nutrition mainstreaming into the health and other sectors.
Through support to mapping, coordination, target-setting, micro-planning, monitoring, bottle-neck analysis, on job
training etc., it is expected that the quality and coverage of the full set of Direct Nutrition Interventions (DNIs) will
increase and reach set targets, and that nutrition sensitive interventions are specifically included in district planning
across relevant sectors. Ultimately, the increased coverage of essential nutrition interventions will be a key result
expected from the support for DNSOs. DNSOs are expected to achieve this by working with local authorities and
actors to identify and overcome bottlenecks, through improved planning, coordination, quality service delivery and
monitoring of nutrition at district and sub-district levels.
Operational Modality
District Nutrition Support Officers (DNSO) will be hired on a consultancy contract with UNICEF, and will work closely
with local Government authorities, UNICEF Zonal Nutrition Officers and partners in each of their targeted districts.
DNSOs will also work with relevant actors in Health, Agriculture, Education, Social Protection sectors etc. to build
capacity and systems for increased effective coverage of both nutrition specific and nutrition sensitive interventions.
DNSOs will be provided with travel and communication allowances to allow mobility, extending to all upazilas within
their district. DNSOs will report directly to Chief, Nutrition Section and day to day support will be provided by the
designated Nutrition Specialist. DNSOs will also work as a team with UNICEF zonal nutrition officers and receive
support in their respective Division. Monthly Work and Travel plans will be developed with respective UNICEF Zonal
Nutrition Officer and approved by the Chief, Nutrition Section. DNSOs are expected to set up an office space at
convenience within duty station, although much of their work will involve travelling to the field for monitoring and
providing on the job training and mentoring to service providers.
With an ultimate objective of developing sustainable systems and capacities for nutrition, the DNSO will serve as a
bridge between the central and sub-national levels by ensuring that national nutrition policies, guidelines and plans
are effectively understood, planned, implemented and monitored, and that nutrition is more ‘visible’ on the ground.
Key duties and tasks:
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Analysis and Planning
Support district and upazila level health and family planning authorities to collect, analyse and report on standard
nutrition indicators and to record progress towards targets (in line with NNS OP and standard nutrition indicators
integrated into HMIS)
Support development of District and local level sector plans and tools for nutrition (e.g. nutrition district plans
with targets, supply forecasting, tracking and gap analysis tools, etc.)
Work with partners to identify critical bottlenecks in existing systems and identify means through which corrective
actions can be implemented (including those requiring support from outside the district)
Analyse and document evolving capacities, needs and resources with regards to mainstreaming of nutrition and
improving effective coverage of essential nutrition interventions.
Prepare technical reports on local nutrition situation analysis for UNICEF
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In collaboration with UNICEF Planning and Monitoring officers, ensure that nutrition is taken up in Convergence
Coordination meetings at district, upazila and union levels.
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Coordination
Support integration of nutrition into monthly routine coordination and planning meetings in Health and
Food/Agriculture sectors. Participate in meetings, provide technical support to agenda setting and mobilise
participation of other partners.
Facilitate multi-sectoral coordination at district level (with key relevant sectors), including identify priority
nutrition sensitive interventions for scale-up in the district context.
Support updated nutrition partner mapping every quarter.
Facilitate joint quarterly field visit with partners in nutrition.
Support UNICEF Zonal Nutrition Officers to coordinate with sectoral partners at local level for mainstreaming
of nutrition in health sector’s relevant Operational Plans (other than NNS).
Document lessons learned and best practices and provide feedback and dissemination in relevant
coordination and review meetings
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3.
Monitoring and information management
 Support monitoring of effective coverage of DNIs with authorities and implementing partners to quickly
identify those who are not benefitting from support and address bottlenecks
 Strengthen the capacity of supervisors and frontline workers in nutrition information management (data
collection, analysis and reporting) as per HMIS and MIS-FP system and tools (according to standard nutrition
indicators).
 Conduct quality and accuracy checks in collaboration with local supervisors on health and family planning
reports with regards to nutrition
 Ensure nutrition information and progress is regularly available and disseminated in a user-friendly manner
to service providers and decision makers in the district.
 Facilitate feedback from the ‘bottom up’ so that national strategies and targets are informed by practice
and the reality on the ground, by providing inputs and regular reports.
 Develop and implement a local action plan to address bottlenecks together with partners.
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Technical support
Provide mentoring and on-the-job training support to ensure health and family planning service providers are
providing full set of direct nutrition interventions according to defined standards and norms.
Support district authorities and mid-level managers in developing and implementing comprehensive nutrition
capacity development plans, with appropriate tools, based on identified needs
Facilitate management and follow-up of capacity building and training events, including post-training
supervision in collaboration with local authorities and partners
Provide technical assistance to district and sub-district managers in communication and social mobilisation
activities around nutrition to address demand side barriers and bottlenecks
Conduct joint visits routinely with authorities and partners also from other appropriate sectors
Provide technical support to district authorities during emergency situations like Flood, Cyclone or any other
natural disasters, under guidance of national Nutrition Cluster
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Each month, DNSOs will need to submit the following as per standard templates: (1) Monthly Monitoring Report of
indicators, (2) Monthly Work and Travel Accomplishment Report, (3) Monthly Work and Travel Plan for next month,
and (4) Field visit reports with an action plan for implementation of recommendations.
3. Estimated Budget as per Work Plan and Funding Source:
Detailed budget includes a monthly payment for deliverables plus allowances to cover transport, DSA,
communications, stationery and expenditure on IT equipment. (Separate detailed budget attached.)
4. Indicative assignment dates:
Total 11 months from the date of commencement (1 February 2015 to 31 December 2015)
6. Description of assignment:
Tasks
1. Assessment and planning to
build capacities of local level
actors in nutrition
mainstreaming, including
identifying gaps in supplies,
systems and implementing an
action plan to address them
2. Collaborate with local level
authorities and managers in
key sectors to monitor
standard nutrition indicators
and provide on job training and
monitoring in nutrition for
service providers
3. Strengthen capacity of
health and relevant sector
managers in planning for
nutrition (indicators, targets,
supplies) and monitoring,
including bottleneck analysis,
identification and
implementation of corrective
action
4. Support local level actors in
mainstreaming nutrition
(planning, monitoring, address
bottlenecks) and document
lessons learned, best practices
and formulate
recommendations in
collaboration with partners
End Product/deliverables
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1
Time frame
District Nutrition Equity Profile
Coordination forum for nutrition set-up
District Nutrition Partner Mapping (3W)
District Nutrition Seasonal Food Calendar
District Nutrition Job Aid/Tool Mapping
Nutrition coordination meeting
District Nutrition Gap Analysis with
Action Plan (for supplies, HR-capacity,
monitoring gaps)
Estimated coverage levels for direct
nutrition interventions with district
targets set in agreement with local
partners
Nutrition coordination meeting
Priority nutrition sensitive interventions
for scale-up identified with local partners
Estimated coverage levels for direct
nutrition interventions with district
targets set in agreement with local
partners
Bottleneck analysis
Best practices and lessons learned
Month 1
Payment
Installment1
1st payment
Month 2
2nd payment
Month 3
3rd payment
Month 4
4th payment
Month 5
5th payment
Month 6
6th payment
Updated nutrition planning and
monitoring plans and tools (as specified
above)
Nutrition coordination meeting
Progress report on scale-up of nutrition
sensitive actions
Month 7
7th payment
Month 8
8th payment
Skills based assessment of supervisors
and frontline workers who have been
trained on nutrition.
Month 9
9th payment
Monthly payment instalment should be 9.09% of total contracted amount for the period of 11 Months
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Month 10
10th payment
Estimated coverage levels for direct
nutrition interventions with district
targets set in agreement with local
partners
 Bottleneck analysis
Month 11
11th payment
 Handover Note
 Best practices report including additional
case studies
 Key recommendations and way forward
with local health and other sector
authorities
7. Qualifications or specialized knowledge/experience required for the assignment:
University degree in Nutrition, Public Health or Food Sciences
At least 2-4 years work experience in nutrition and public health required
Demonstrated strong competencies in drive for results, communication and working with people
Knowledge of the local health system an asset
Fluent in Bangla and English (oral and written)
National of Bangladesh
Willingness to locate to district of assignment and to travel frequently, including hard to reach and remote areas
8. Application Procedure
Application should be submitted with an updated CV, a completed UN Personal History Form (P-11 Form) and
copies of the latest two Performance Evaluation Reports (PERs) on or before the closing date(12 November 2014) to
the Chief, Human Resources Section, via email to: [email protected]
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