VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT

E-Zone HRM Limited is a management consulting group providing one-stop solutions to clients who seek improved and sustainable profitability through the effective use of their people and resources. We specialize in delivering innovative and value added services that promote revenue growth and cost containment.

E-Zone HRM Limited has a formal agreement with one of the United Nations Agency to provide outsourcing services under a third party contract.

E-Zone HRM Limited is now accepting applications from Bangladeshi Nationals for the following vacancies under third party outsourcing contract modality:

National Consultant for Maternal Nutrition (NoB)

Duty Station: Dhaka with extensive field visits at Kurigram, Rangpur and Bhola, Barishal

Contract Duration: 136 days over 8 months period (17 days per month)

Number of Vacancies: 1 (One)

Contract Type: Contract with E-Zone

Contract Start Date: 22 May, 2023

Reporting to: The consultant will be reporting directly to Nutrition Officer

A. Purpose:

The purposes of this assignment are to:

1. Technical support to improve the coverage and quality of maternal nutrition services through ANC platform
2. Technical support and monitoring implement MMS demonstration program under 2 districts.

B. Background:

Maternal and child undernutrition cause 45% of all deaths in children aged 0-59 months in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). Among surviving children, these forms of undernutrition impair children’s physical growth and brain development, school readiness and educational achievement, and earning potential and productivity in later life. Globally, about 151 million children under 5 remain stunted and their physical growth and brain development compromised. Evidence indicates that a substantial proportion of childhood undernutrition has its origins in the fetal period. Maternal undernutrition in the form of short stature and low body mass index is related to small for gestational age births and other adverse pregnancy outcomes. In all, it is estimated that small for gestational age births may account for ~20% of the stunting burden observed in low- and middle-income settings as well as~20% of neonatal mortality. One particularly widespread problem of maternal undernutrition in low- and middle-income countries are deficiencies in micronutrients.

In Bangladesh context, one third of Bangladeshi pregnant women are underweight and 42% of ever married women of reproductive age (15-49 years) are anaemic. A body mass index (BMI) of less than 18.5 is observed among 24% of ever married women of reproductive age. Around 13% of women in reproductive age are severely stunted (less than 145 cm) leading to prolonged/obstructed labour, the proportion of which out of the causes of maternal death has remained unchanged for a decade in Bangladesh. Fifty percent of women suffer from iron deficiency anaemia and 2.8% from night blindness. Though women’s nutritional status has improved slightly over the years, maternal malnutrition still contributes to a high rate of maternal mortality and under weight babies and further contributes to high stunting rates in children under 5 specially in first 2 years of their lives. At the same time, overweight and obesity are increasing, thus contributing to Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) and pregnancy-associated metabolic risks.

The Government of Bangladesh (GoB) has few policies in place supporting maternal nutrition interventions such as provision of dietary counselling and iron and folic acid supplementation (IFAS) and has attempted to strengthen institutional delivery and improve quality of antenatal care (ANC) services at health facilities, the overall emphasis on maternal nutrition is limited.  To illustrate, only little attention is given to maternal nutrition in the Comprehensive Competency-based Training on Nutrition (CCTN) designed by the Government of Bangladesh for service providers. Similarly, the quality of ANC services in Bangladesh remains low, as only 31% women receive four or more antenatal care visits. No recent data is available on consumption of IFA supplementation during pregnancy, but coverage is likely to be low.

Furthermore, a 2016 national expert consultation recommended that IFA programs should be strengthened through actions on both the demand and supply sides as well as improved monitoring to inform program implementation. Given the minor role of iron deficiency as a contributor to anemia, possibly related to high iron concentrations in groundwater in many parts of the country, the consultation recommended to lower the recommended iron dose offered to pregnant women as part of the standard of care from 60mg to 30mg. To address the high prevalence of other micronutrient deficiencies that contribute to anemia in the country, the consultation recommended that the Government of Bangladesh consider replacing iron/folic acid supplementation with prenatal multiple micronutrient supplements (MMS) among pregnant women.

To this end, the Government of Bangladesh under the leadership of the National Nutrition Services, Institute of Public Health Nutrition (NNS, IPHN) with UN AGENCY’s support has taken action in conducting the situation analysis on the maternal nutrition service and current initiatives to improve the coverage and quality of maternal nutrition services through ANC platform, including the use of MMS; adapting WHO ANC 2016 Guidelines; improving maternal nutrition training guidelines and materials of the CCTN. The adaptation of the WHO ANC 2016 has taken place and the English version of the National Maternal Nutrition Guidelines has been finalized and endorsed by the established Technical Working Group.  The next step, guideline endorsement by MOHFW is pending. As recommended by the TWG and agreed by the NNS, IPHN, the development of specific Operational Guidelines, Action Plan and costing exercise for the action plan of the maternal nutrition guidelines have been initiated by DIKODA, hired by UN AGENCY. Other actions that have been initiated under the leadership of NNS, IPHN include strengthening maternal nutrition services including the use of prenatal MMS through ANC public health platform, as well as improving quality of nutrition services for pregnant women and care for low-birth weight (LBW) infants. Under this program focus will be on monitoring quality of implementation, reporting and data management including capacity development, implementation and monitoring support at 10 RMG factories. Program will also have formative research and end line survey.

To this end, UN AGENCY would like engage e-Zone for a dedicated national consultation to provide technical assistance for maternal nutrition initiatives and MMS program. The consultant will play role as liaison to the NNS, IPHN and 10 RMG factories.

C. Objectives, Purpose and Expected Results:

The overall objective of the project is to improve the coverage and quality of maternal nutrition services through ANC platform, including the use of MMS under 2 districts.

The purpose of this assignment is to engage one dedicated national consultant through E-Zone to support following tasks

• Develop workplan for the given tasks and assignments with clear methodology and detailed timeline in Gantt Chart
• Function as liaison officer to the NNS, IPHN to support maternal nutrition programme implemented with UN AGENCY’s support.
• Support organizing required meetings related to maternal nutrition programme (including logistics arrangement, DCT request)
• Support implementation of the demonstration programme at two demonstration districts to strengthen maternal nutrition and the use of MMS, in coordination with ZNO of Rangpur and Barisal, and icddr,b field team; and maternal nutrition investment to improve maternal nutrition & prevention and care for LWB infants, including field visits
• Support implementation of the demonstration programme to strengthen maternal nutrition including the use of MMS at Ready Made Garments (RMG) factories, in coordination with NNS, IPHN and icddr,b, including regular visits to RMGs
• Support work related to endorsement of National Maternal Nutrition Guideline by MOHFW
• Support work related to national dissemination of the national maternal nutrition guidelines
• Support work related to the development, finalization and approval of Operational Guidelines, Action plan and costing of action plan based on the developed National Maternal Nutrition Guidelines including support to the international consultants/consultancy firms
• Monitoring visits at two districts once in a month to provide technical assistant, identify gaps/barriers and find solutions of gaps in coordination with NNS/UN AGENCY/icddr’b
• Ensuring and monitoring availability of supplies (ANC cards and MMS) are available at all implementation centres

The expected results are

• Accomplishment of MMS demonstration program as per design
• Operational Guidelines, Action plan and costing of action plan of National Maternal Nutrition developed

D. Description of Assignment:

• Accomplishment 1: Support and monitor, capacity development training and initiation of implementation of MMS supplementation program at 10 RMG factories in coordination with NNS/ UN AGENCY and icddr’b
• Accomplishment 2: Support and monitoring completion of cohort study, Formative Research and end line survey for under MMS demonstration program
• Accomplishment 3: Support and monitoring endorsement of National Maternal Guideline and development, finalization and approval of Operational Guidelines, Action plan and costing of action plan based on the developed National Maternal Nutrition Guidelines
• Accomplishment 4: Organize TAG meetings, support to the sub-national level coordination meetings

E. Deliverables:

F. Consultancy Costs:

• The Consultant will get Total Fee BDT 1,390,872.00 (BDT 10,227/day x 136 days) as per above deliverables.
• Travel Cost (DSA for outside Dhaka Travel, Air Ticket, Rented Vehicles Cost will be paid at actual upon submission of Invoices/ Receipts).
• The Consultant will be responsible to pay all taxes as per government rules and regulations. E-Zone will make statutory deductions towards income tax as per government rules and regulations.

G. Administrative issues:

• The consultant will report to the Nutrition Specialist, Nutrition section, UN AGENCY Bangladesh and submit the deliverables outlined under-reporting requirement.
• Consultant will receive payments as per deliverables (Fee, DSA and relevant travel cost), any other expenses such as communication, stationary equipment, laptop etc. will be borne by the consultant.
• Working place will be in Nutrition Information & Planning Unit (NIPU), National Nutrition Services.
• For payment by E-Zone on due time, the Supervisor will forward the certified attendance sheet and confirmation of receiving expected deliverables for the respective period.
• Consultant will be responsible to pay all taxes as per government rules and regulations.

H. Profile Requirements & Qualification Skills:

• Advanced university degree in Nutrition, Public Health, Food Sciences or any relevant field
• At least 7 years’ work experience in community nutrition/ public health required
• Demonstrated competency with working with people
• Strong data management and analytical skills
• Strong computer skills
• Experience of planning and coordination
• Knowledge of health system is a priority
• Efficient in communication both in Bangla and English language (oral and written form)
• Willingness to travel as per assignment and field travel frequently, including hard to reach and remote areas all over the country

This position is open for Bangladeshi Nationals only. All candidates, irrespective of gender, religious and ethnic backgrounds can apply for the vacancies.

The UN Agency prides itself as fostering a multicultural and harmonious work environment, guaranteed by a zero-tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse, and on any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment and discrimination. All selected consultants will undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Candidates with the required profile and proven experience, who meet these qualifications, are invited to submit their application in English clearly mentioning the Job Title along with a meaningful cover letter, updated CV, recent PP size photographby email to:

jobs.un@e-zonebd.com

Last Date of Application: 10 May, 2023

Please mention the Applied Position Name on the subject line of your email