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:

Divisional Nutrition Consultant (DNC)

Duty Station: Rangpur

Contract Duration: 12 Months

Number of Vacancies: 1 (One)

Contract Type: Contract with E-Zone

Contract Start Date: 18 April, 2021

Reporting to: Zonal Nutrition Officer

A. Objectives

The main objective of hiring Divisional Nutrition Consultant (DNC) is to provide technical support to the districts of assigned division for accelerating implementation of NNS OP by enhancing data driven evidence planning and action with effective district and City Corporations nutrition information system linked to national data portal including DHIS2 to strengthen delivery of priority nutrition interventions under NNS-OP.  The project will also introduce and operationalize innovative technologies and programmatic practices to enhance efficiency, effectiveness and accountability.

B. Background:

Chronic undernutrition remains an enduring problem in Bangladesh with 28% of children under 5 suffering from stunting nationally and with much higher rates in hard to reach areas including urban slums. To address undernutrition systematically and at scale, under the Health, Population and Nutrition Sector Development Programme (HPNSDP), the Government of Bangladesh launched the National Nutrition Services (NNS) Operation Plan, which is comprised of a set of child and maternal nutrition interventions focusing on the critical window of opportunity of 1,000 days.
 
Efforts have been made to mainstream nutrition within the existing health and family planning service delivery system all over the country including in urban areas. However, poor management and planning at district/ sub-district levels and inadequate technical capacity and skills of health workers to provide nutrition services and counselling were identified as two critical bottlenecks in the effective implementation of NNS. To address these, the Accelerating Implementation of NNS (AINNS) project was launched.  The implementation included two approaches: first, provision of a dedicated nutrition professional, Divisional Nutrition Consultant (DNC), at the division to empower and transform division capacity in planning, implementation, monitoring and reporting of the nutrition services of the districts of that division. They work with the Government counterparts to enhance their capacity on Information Management, analysis and dissemination. Their responsibility also includes monitoring and mentoring Prioritized Nutrition Result Indicators (PNRI) functionality and service data, helping to ensure that data and evidence is used to inform local level corrective actions and decision making. The second approach of the project is Competency Based Training (CBT) and mentoring of health managers and service workers, which is focused on building the skills of the health service providers through practical demonstration and hands-on practice. 

In the past two years of implementation, great progress has been achieved in terms of mainstreaming nutrition. In 46 project districts, more than 70% of health facilities under the project are equipped with essential nutrition supplies, compared to the 5% baseline figure. More than 90% of the facilities are reporting on nutrition indicators through the Government’s routine Health Management Information System (HMIS). Over 30,000 health workers were trained on CBT. As a result, cumulatively, 6.6 million caregivers have been reached with counselling on infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices, a remarkable increase from only 1% in 2014 to 70% in 2017. Likewise, 5.5 million pregnant women have received iron supplements over three years – an increase from 1.4 million in 2014. A total of 7,101 severely malnourished children –74% of the total caseload – were treated throughout the country.

Given the results, the Government aims to scale up the AINNS approach in all districts. Experiences and lessons learned from the project have guided development of the new NSS Operational Plan. Recruitment of 64 District Nutrition Officers (DNOs) has also been endorsed by the Government as civil service officials. The CBT approach has been recognized as the key strategy to rollout nutrition training and the Government is developing a national strategy to rollout Comprehensive Competency Training on Nutrition (Competency Based Training has been adopted by GoB and named Comprehensive Competency Training on Nutrition), a crucial component of the new NNS, in all districts. 

The new phase of AINNS has been launched to maintain the current momentum as well as support the above stated priorities.  The focus now is to improve the quality of nutrition counselling through system approach, introduce a comprehensive monitoring and reporting framework for standard priority nutrition indicators and to institutionalize real-time monitoring reporting.  The project will also establish multi-sectoral governance and promote a critical package of nutrition sensitive interventions to address undernutrition holistically and with equity.

UN Agency has received funding from CIFF and Gates to support these activities, including positioning 12 Divisional Nutrition Consultants to manage the project in 8 divisional districts (Chittagong-2, Barisal-2, Khulna-2, Sylhet-2, Rangpur-1, Rajshahi-1, Mymensingh-1 and Dhaka1).

C. Scope of work

In their designated district, each DNC will work closely with the Divisional Director of Health, Family Planning, DSHE and Chief Health Officer (CHO) of City Corporation/LGD to transform in all districts’ institutional capacity to plan, coordinate, implement, monitor, report and address bottlenecks for the nutrition programme. They will also engage with National Information and Planning Unit in IPHN to enhance data collection, analysis, visualization and reporting.

D. Deliverables and Schedule

The assignment is designed for the duration is of 12 months, their key duties and tasks will primarily focus on the following three thematic areas:

Strengthening divisional level capacity to support the districts to use Nutrition Information System and capacity for evidence-based planning and actions for responsive services (40%) 

  • Guide formulation of nutrition results framework with division and district nutrition targets and annual milestones for NNS OP priority indicators
  • Establish and operationalise monitoring and reporting mechanisms to track implementation on a monthly, quarterly and annual basis as part of the Government routine review and appraisal process
  • Track Supply requirement plan developed by BCO, consolidate supply status and help divisional office to report on nutrition supply gaps
  • Lead and operationalise Data Quality Audit assessments and devise Quality Improvement activities to strengthen data recording, reporting, analysis and dissemination and corrective actions
  • Help NIPU mentor divisional, district statisticians and managers to analyse the data as well effectively use DGFP and DHIS2 platforms
  • Support ZNOs to participate in divisional and City Corporations planning and review meetings to discuss performance of PNRI and programmatic areas that need strengthening
  • Participate and build internal capacity to review PNRI in district planning and review meetings and discuss performance
  • Conduct district visits COVID permitting to strengthen NIS use and improve strategic use of data in low performing districts

 

Support NNS rollout capacity building activities to enhance health workers capacity to deliver nutrition services and counselling: (25%) in selected districts/ low performing districts

  • Help NNS/IPHN to plan and rollout CCTN both face to face and online training with due diligence, mentoring support and Pay 4 Performance approach
  • Utilise monthly planning and review meeting to enhance districts and upizilla officials and supervisors to strengthen supportive supervision
  • Help NIPU introduce new jobs aids and mentor health workers to improve service delivery
  • Track supportive supervision status and follow up with districts with challenges and low performing areas
  • Provide management and technical support to institutionalise and carry out Supportive Supervision in selected
  • Engage with DLI districts to increase individual registration, reporting and the coverage
  • Support NIPU to conduct Nutrition Counselling assessments and help NNS/IPHN to discuss the findings and quality Improvement plans and activities
  • Organise missions and conduct joint field visits

Enhance programme efficiency, effectiveness and accountability utilising innovations (20%)

  • Serve as technical lead and build divisional and district resource team to introduce innovative technological and learning tools Support NIPU to follow up on Rapid Pro
  • Assist on collection on SAM assessments
  • Operationalise real time monitoring and reporting of provision of nutrition services using smart phones/tablets and online data visualisation platform
  • Engage with NIPU and divisional stakeholders to develop divisional and district profile and score card including emergency context
  • Engage and build Divisional authorities’ capacity on use of NIS tools and instutionalised PNRI data in divisional monthly meeting
  • Collaborate with NIPU to support districts and build their capacity to use NIS tools

Assist ZNOs to monitor UN Agency focus projects and support multi-sectoral Governance and promote nutrition sensitive interventions (20%)

  • In selected districts with city corporations, engage with urban stakeholders to promote minimum essential package of nutrition specific services delivery, reporting through DHIS2 in harmonised manner and undertake periodical reviews and status analysis to identify the gaps for ZNOs office to address
  • At Division level, engage with DSHE and secondary higher education stakeholders to promote minimum package of adolescent nutrition, adolescent Nutrition MIS integration and identify technical gaps for ZNOs office to address
  • Provide support to ZNO to establish and operationalise district and City Corporation level NPAN committee (DNCC, UNCC) in selected districts giving specific focus on Secondary Higher Education for adolescent nutrition and Disaster management Committee for emergency nutrition
  • Provide necessary information to ZNOs and Emergency Nutrition Officers to lead activities to strengthen emergency preparedness in high risk districts and response

Their activities will be carried out against the AINNS KPI/ deliverable matrix and monthly activity report will be shared, which will also by verified for its compliance

E. Consultancy Costs

  • Consultant will be located at assigned divisional district Rangpur-1 and report to Zonal Nutrition Officer, respective Field Office.
  • Each consultant will get 216,000 BDT per month (consolidated).
  • Each consultant will be entitled 1. 5 day leave per month and total 10 days emergency leave
  • Officer place, working station will be in Divisional Director of Health office.
  • Computer and communication will bear by the Consultant.
  • Stationary and other office equipment will bear by the Consultant.
  • Travel cost and travel arrangement in the field, will be bear by the consultant.
  • 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.

F. Qualification requirements

  • University degree in Nutrition, Public Health or any relevant field.
  • At least 3-4 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 systems important.
  • Efficient in communication-Bangla and English (oral and written).
  • Willingness to locate to district of assignment and field travel frequently, including hard to reach and remote areas.

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: 13th April 2021

No phone calls please. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted. All applications will be treated according to the merit and with strict confidentiality.