UNICEF KENYA COUNTRY OFFICE

TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR INDIVIDUAL CONTRACTORS/ CONSULTANTS

Purpose of Assignment / To develop the IMAM Surge approach implementation guide, toolkit with training package and facilitate the first round of training to implementing partners
Location of Assignment / Nairobi with travel to some field locations
Duration of contract / 3 months
Start date / From: 01/01/2016 / To: 31/03/2016
Reporting to: / Nutrition Specialist
Background and Justification
The arid and semi-arid land (ASAL) regions of Kenya face recurrent drought and resulting malnutrition over the past decade. The levels of acute malnutrition have surpassed emergency thresholds several times requiring emergency nutrition response. The planning and execution of such response has traditionally been focusing on addressing the immediate needs until the next harvest by when the short-lived donor funding duration would have ended only to require another emergency response during the next hunger season following scaling back of past emergency. Consensus was reached among partners on inefficiencies of such an approach. Based on the progressively shifting thinking to addressing recurrent needs for IMAM response, CONCERN Worldwide has taken an innovative approach to pilot the use of surge model in Marsabit County. The model allows for facility level threshold setting based on capacity and caseload to define when the “emergency” alarm should be communicated to the next level to allow predictable scale up in capacity for the time required, and scale back to normal once the caseloads are below the defined thresholds.
The evaluation of this innovative approach, called Surge Model, indicated that the model has worked well in correcting the distortions in the traditional approach in responding to nutrition emergencies. Various partners have shown interest to adopt this approach and implement it in their respective operational areas. There is also growing interest beyond implementing partners by donors and the government of Kenya to use such innovative approach broadly both in geographic terms, as well as in sharing this experience and approach to other sectors responding to repeated emergencies.
Kimetrica developed a methodology for scalability model which is linked to NDMA drought early warning system (EWS) as a trigger for scaling up and down of IMAM activities at county level. It also proposed a set of guidelines, tools and procedures that would enable institutions to respond effectively and efficiently to fluctuating malnutrition rates due to natural disasters. In addition, the model proposes inclusion of nutrition specific activities in contingency planning phase particularly the “alarm” and “emergency” phase of drought cycle. To this effect, UNICEF is supporting the development of scalability model which complements the surge model as it focuses at sub-county and county level decisions as continuation of the facility level decisions by the surge model. However, the link between these two models needs further refinement.
This consultancy aims to contribute to the development of an IMAM Surge approach toolkit, implementation guide and training package based on the CONCERN experience and the KIMETRICA/ NDMA early warning model so that it is widely used. It is expected that lessons from scalability model will be employed so that the surge model covers the full range of response both at facility as well as county levels. UNICEF has a Program Cooperation Agreement (PCA) with CONCERN where the write up of training materials and tool kits for facility level surge model, and capacity building of implementing partners is already factored in. The consultant is expected to work closely with CONCERN team to support finalization of harmonized toolkit to include sub-county and county level surge through adapting and linking scalability model and surge models, building on the field level experience and desk review.
Scope of Work
1)  Goal and Objective: Under the supervision of the National Drought Management Authority (NDMA) Nutrition Program Specialist, the consultant will work closely with CONCERN technical team to develop an IMAM Surge approach toolkit, implementation guide and training package to be used by facility, sub-county and county staff based on the CONCERN surge model experience and documentation, as well as the scalability model developed for UNICEF and MOH by Kimetrica
2)  RWP areas/UNDAF output covered: This assignment links to the overall Country programme Document (CPD) 2014-18 and Rolling Workplan (RWP) 2014-16, outcome 8 on Nutrition: By 2018, increased proportions of girls, boys and women have equitable access to and use an essential package of high-impact quality nutrition interventions to reduce stunting, especially among high burden counties, vulnerable urban populations and refugees including in emergency settings. The assignment contributes to achievement of output 8.2: By 2018, high impact nutrition services are available and utilized by the most vulnerable children under 5years of age in the most deprived counties, urban settlements and refugee settings, which are responsive in times of shock and stress
3)  Activities and Tasks:
The consultant will, with support from UNICEF nutrition specialists (NDMA and Emergency) and working closely with Concern, undertake the following;
§  Conduct an extensive review of the Kimetrica scalability model for nutrition interventions in Kenya and the IMAM surge mechanism developed by CONCERN and develop a clear link between the two. Provide technical support to adapt surge model to accommodate useful concepts from the scalability model so that counties and sub-counties are also able to use the surge model in their programming.
§  Define clearly the expectations and roles of stakeholders in surge mechanism implementation
§  Provide technical inputs for the development of surge approach toolkit, implementation guide and training guide integrating both Kimetrica scalability model for nutrition interventions in Kenya and the IMAM surge model developed by concern.
§  Support integration of the surge model in the ASAL county contingency plans and in particular specific nutrition activities during alarm, serious and emergency phase of drought cycle.
§  Attend and provide technical contribution in workshops for the Surge toolkit development
§  Provide technical support to incorporate the evaluation recommendation in the surge concept
§  Support capacity development in the roll out of the surge toolkit
4)  Work relationships:
The consultant will work closely with Nutrition Specialist, emergency and NDMA nutrition specialist in undertaking his duties. The consultant will report directly to the NDMA Nutrition Program Specialist on regular basis.
CONCERN: UNICEF is collaborating closely with CONCERN in the development and refinement of the surge model. Hence CONCERN is a key partner and is fully involved in the planning and implementation of this consultancy. The consultant will engage closely with CONCERN Worldwide to identify key lessons of the surge model and incorporate in the deliverables. CONCERN will be part of all the process of vetting the materials and tools to be developed.
Government stakeholders: NDMA and MOH will remain key stakeholders and end users of the output. Therefore the consultant will closely consult with emergency nutrition unit head of FMOH and Drought contingency planning and Response manager of NDMA in collaboration with UNICEF nutrition specialists. The consultant will present the draft toolkit and materials to a forum where these government stakeholders have opportunity to review and provide substantive feedback. The tools and materials developed will be considered final only after they are accepted and endorsed by MOH and NDMA.
5)  Outputs/Deliverables:
The key outputs include:
§  A detailed analysis on the Kimetrica scalability model and CMAM surge model defining how the two can be integrated to develop common scalability model covering all levels
§  Defined roles and responsibility for stakeholders (NDMA, MoH, KRCS and other CSO/ NGO partners) in operationalization of IMAM surge/ scalability mechanism.
§  Technical inputs on the Surge Model guideline and toolkit developed under leadership of CONCERN.
§  Guidelines and training pack on integration of the model into contingency plan
Deliverables / Duration (Estimated # of days or months) / Timeline/Deadline / Schedule of Payment*
Analysis Report on the link between Kimetrica scalability model and CMAM surge model defining opportunities for integration into one overall model / ½ month (14 days) / 15th January 2016 / 31st January 2016
Incorporation of scalability model into the draft surge toolkit (to be drafted by CONCERN) with clear linkage and incorporation of sub county and county level surge mechanism; and integration of the model into county contingency plans
Draft TOR defining roles and responsibilities of stakeholders in the roll out of the surge model / 1.5 Month / 28th February 2016 / 10th March 2016
Final surge model toolkit, implementation guide and training guide incorporating sub-county and county level actions.
Final TOR defining roles and responsibilities of MOH and NDMA in the roll out of the surge model
Updated model for county contingency plan for 2016 / 1 month / 31st March 2016 / 10th April 2016
Payment Schedule
*Payment is on satisfactory completion of deliverables duly authorized by the Supervisor of contract.
Required qualifications, desired competencies, technical background and experience
a)  Education: Advanced University degree in Medicine, Public Health, nutrition, or any related technical field
b)  Specialist skills/Training: Computer skills, including internet navigation, and various office applications.
c)  Years of experience: Minimum of eight years of nutrition work experience progressively responsible on IMAM, emergency nutrition, nutrition program management and/or monitoring nutrition surveillance.
Previous experience in partnership with MOH, CBOs and of integration of IMAM services into routine child health services
Previous UNICEF experience is an advantage
d)  Competencies: working with people, drive for result, formulating strategies and concepts, communication, analysing
e)  Languages required: English

Administrative issues

Conditions

§  The consultant will be responsible to bring all necessary laptop and computer accessories.

§  Under the consultancy agreements, a month is defined as 21 working days, and fees are prorated accordingly. Consultants are not paid for weekends or public holidays.

§  Flight costs, transport costs and any other costs related to this work should be included as part of the consultancy fees. This will be not be covered separately by UNICEF

§  Consultants are not entitled to payment of overtime. All remuneration must be within the contract agreement.

§  No contract may commence unless the contract is signed by both UNICEF and the consultant.

§  Consultant will be required to sign the Health statement for consultants/ individual contractor prior to taking up the assignment, and to document that she/ He has appropriate health insurance.

§  The Form 'Designation, change or revocation of beneficiary must be completed by the consultant upon arrival, at the HR Section.

§  As per UNICEF DFAM policy, payment is made against approved deliverables. No advance payment is allowed unless in exceptional circumstances against bank guarantee, subject to a maximum of 30 per cent of the total contract value in cases where advance purchases, for example for supplies or travel, may be necessary”.

§  The candidate selected will be governed by and subject to UNICEF’s General Terms and Conditions for individual contracts.”

Risks

The likely risk for the consultancy relate to failure to complete all the tasks defined within the timelines stipulated. To mitigate against the risks, before commencement of the work, the consultant will submit a work plan on how he or she intent to carry out the work. This will be discussed and agreed with all possible challenges likely to be faced identified and addressed.

HOW TO APPLY:

Interested and suitable candidates should ensure that they forward their applications (a cover letter, CV, and signed P11 form which can be downloaded at http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/P11.doc), quoting the all-inclusive fee range (travel, accommodation, etc) with reference: KCO/SSA/NUTR/2015-036 by cob 08 January 2016 to:

The Human Resources Manager

UNICEF Kenya Country Office

Email address:

Applications submitted without the all-inclusive fee will not be considered. Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.