TERMS OF REFERENCE
Recruitment of two Consultants to Teach Nutrition in Health/Medical Schools and Universities
1.Introduction
The West African Health Organization (WAHO) wishes to recruit 2 Consultants, specialized in Nutrition, to assist in building the capacities of nutrition and health Units.
2.Background and Rationale of the Consultancy
In West Africa, high prevalence of under nutrition contributes directly to high rates of low birth weight, delayed physical and cognitive development, and excessive rates of morbidity and mortality in infants, young children and Women of childbearing age.
Thus, while recognizing that the lack of skills is one of the factors hampering progress in nutrition in West Africa, the West African Nutrition Capacity Development Initiative (WANCDI) conducted, in 2013, a review of nutrition education in medical/health universities and schools in the ECOWAS. These studies revealed important gaps in terms of human resources and weaknesses in nutrition education in schools and universities.
In the light of the above, WAHO, UNICEF and the African Development Bank (AfDB) have initiated a project tagged “West African Nutrition and Food Security Capacity Development’ (PRENFOS) whose objective is to strengthen nutrition training in the ECOWAS region.
3.General objective
The main objective is to develop modules and harmonize nutrition training curricula in health/medical schools and universities.
4.Position of Consultants:
Under the supervision of the Professional Officer in charge of Nutrition, the Consultant will work with the Professionals in charge of Curricula Harmonization at WAHO and the PRENFOS Project Coordinator. Throughout the process, they will work with the partners involved in the implementation of the project, namely: the African Development Bank and UNICEF.
5.The main tasks to be discharged by the Consultants are as follows:
Training Curricula of Nutrition Professionals
- Define the minimum competency criteria required to be considered a Nutritionist/Nutrition Professional in the ECOWAS region
- Define Regional Strategic Guidelines for capacity building of nutrition education Institutions
- Review existing nutrition education curricula in universities (at the Bachelor, Master and Doctoral levels), while identifying the areas to be improved.
- Revise and harmonize nutrition education curricula in universities.
- Facilitate a workshop to validate the developed curricula.
Development of training modules for health schools (medical, nursing, midwifery, nursing aides)
- Review existing nutrition training modules and curricula in health schools (medical, nursing, midwifery, nursing aides/auxiliaries), while identifying the areas to be improved.
- Revise and harmonize nutrition modules in health/medical schools
- Work with WAHO and the Regional Nutrition Working Group to complete the module validation process.
- Facilitate a workshop to validate the developed curricula.
6.Expected results :
Expected results are as follows:
- The curricula for Bachelor, Master and PhD programmes in nutrition of training schools, harmonized and validated.
- Nutrition training modules are developed and validated for health schools and universities.
- Strategic Guidelines for capacity building in nutrition, defined.
7.Duration of Assignment and Duty Station
This consultancy mission shall be carried out within a 4-month period. The consultants will be based in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso and will conduct field missions if necessary.
8.Consultants' Profiles
8.1Education and Qualifications
The designated Consultant must have a Doctorate/PhD (or a professional equivalent) in Nutrition, Public Health, Epidemiology, Medicine, or any other related field.
8.2Experience and Core Competencies
The Consultant must have the following experience and skills:
- Have at least 5 year-experience in teaching nutrition at the university or tertiary institution.
- Have a minimum of 5-year experience in the development of nutrition curricula and be familiar with the different stages of the process to roll out nutrition modules in training curricula.
- Knowledge and a thorough understanding of the context and current political developments in nutrition and health issues in the West African region.
- Ability to work in a multinational environment and with a variety of partners at national, regional and global levels;
- Good time management skills, including the ability to meet deadlines and handle multiple tasks at a time with a high degree of autonomy ;
- Excellent command of the use of information technology.
- Must be fluent in one of the official languages of ECOWAS (English, French and Portuguese)A working knowledge of any of the other languages would be an advantage.
9.Criteria and Submission of applications :
This position is open to ECOWAS Citizens in priority, though candidates from outside ECOWAS may also apply.
Each application must include:
- A Letter of interest
- An updated Curriculum Vitae
- Certified copies of certificates and diplomas
- A technical proposal which provides details about the work approach and methodology
Applications should be forwarded to the following address:
Director General
West African Health Organisation
175 Avenue Dr. OuezzinCoulibaly
01 BP 153 Bobo Dioulasso 01
Burkina Faso
Email:
Deadline for receipt of Applications:17/03/ 2017 at 11:00 UT
Duly qualified Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
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