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 DGHS/NNS

Duty Station: Dhaka

Contract Duration: 11.5 Months

Number of Vacancies: 1 (One)

Contract Type: Contract with E-Zone

Contract Start Date: 1 June 2021

Reporting to: Nutrition Specialist

A. Objectives

The overall objective of the assignment is to support DGHS to carry out regular coordination amongst operational plans linked to Nutrition, technical/administrative guidance and supportive activities for accelerating implementation of ongoing and upcoming nutrition programmes/initiatives in Bangladesh

B. Background:

Bangladesh has demonstrated a steady improvement in child nutrition status during past two decades. However, malnutrition remains as a serious public health problem in the country with stunting and wasting at 28% and 9.8% respectively still well above SDG target levels. Low Birth Weight (LBW) remains too high at current rates of 14.8%, and indicates poor maternal nutrition.

The coverage and quality of essential nutrition service delivery across the country is thereby insufficient to continue the reduction in malnutrition. Only 39% of all children are currently visiting facilities to receive essential nutrition services. A recent assessment on the coverage of basic social services in Bangladesh further illustrates poor coverage and quality of essential nutrition service delivery, as there are deep disparities between accessibility, utilization, adequate coverage and effective coverage of IFA supplementation. Of all pregnant women, only 46.5% have access to a health facility which provides IFA supplementation within 30 minutes of walking distance, and only 3.2% actually consume 100 IFA tablets which they received through four ANC visits (effective coverage). 

Coordination between OPs including planning wing to support ADG and NNS
Coordination among nutrition-related Operational Plans (OPs) as well as different sectors is crucial in setting targets, defining strategies, effective planning, and efficient implementation with a systematic monitoring plan. For example, the procurement of IFA is managed by several OPs, in particular the National Nutrition Services (NNS), Maternal, Neonatal, Child, and Adolescent Health (MNCAH), Maternal, Child, Reproductive and Adolescent Health (MCRAH), and the Community-Based Health Care (CBHC) OPs. Unfortunately, a lack of bi- and multi-lateral coordination and consultation results in over-procurement of IFA, which is not distributed according to need. As such, strengthened coordination to bring coherence and synergies among OPs is of key importance to not only reduce supply gaps, but also to strengthen the quality and coverage of nutrition specific interventions under the Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp).

MTR recommendation – GMP integration
While only 39% of children visit facilities for essential nutrition services, other moments and points of contact between children and health and nutrition service providers remain under-utilized. In line with this, in 2020, a Mid-Term Review of the Health, Population, Nutrition Sector Program (HPNSP) - the SWAp which the afore-mentioned OPs are a part of – identified that a lack of community-based nutrition programming, in particular Growth Monitoring and Promotion (GMP), is a major weakness in the program. It therefore advised to integrate GMP into the Expanded Program for Immunization (EPI) platforms. This recommendation has been accepted by the Government in Priority Action Plan (PAP), and as such now requires guidelines and instructions on operationalization.

Emergency Nutrition Response in CXB:
Cox's Bazar (CXB) District has among the worst Health, Nutrition and Population (HNP) indicators in Bangladesh. The Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (2019)4 found a higher prevalence of stunting among children under 5 (34 per cent in CXB compared with 28 per cent at the national level).5 Shortages of human resources (HR) and an inappropriate skill-mix have led to constraints in the provision of HNP services in CXB. Only 55 per cent of the positions established under DGHS are filled.6 HR shortages can be attributed to issues of distribution, deployment and retention, as well as protracted recruitment timelines through the centralized government system. The limited HR available is almost entirely focused on the Forcibly Displace Myanmar Nationals (FDMN) crisis, leading to inadequate attention available for routine services for the local population. Other constraints include the poor conditions of health facilities, inadequate supplies of medicine and commodities and weak health care waste management systems. Increased support is required to ensure access and utilization of quality lifesaving and comprehensive primary health services and IYCF promotion with special focus on child, adolescent and maternal nutrition for FDMN and host communities, strengthen referral system, strengthen information management system.

Given  the above, a consultant is required to support  the Director General of Health Services (DGHS) and Line Director -National Nutrition Services  with inter-OP coordination of planning, implementation and procurement, as well as provide technical support in the operationalization of GMP through EPI platforms, strengthening community-based outreach, and to increase quality and coverage of nutrition services within camp and host communities

The incumbent consultant will be attached to the office/desk of the Additional Director General (Planning and Development) of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) and the office of Line Director-NNS to provide day-to-day technical support.

C. Scope of work

The overall purpose of the assignment is to support DGHS to carry out regular coordination, technical/administrative guidance and supportive activities for accelerating implementation of ongoing and upcoming health and nutrition programmes in Bangladesh.
There are several specific objectives - 

• Strengthening regular coordination among OP’s under HPNSP including NNS, MNCAH, MCRAH, CBHC, Health Information System & e-Health (HIS-e-H), Management Information System (MIS), Communicable Disease Control (CDC), Non-Communicable Disease Control (NCDC), Life skill &Health Education and Promotion (L&HEP), Hospital Services management (HSM), and Information, Education & Communication (IEC) in particular on integration of GMP into EPI
• Providing technical support to integrate GMP into EPI platforms
• Support to coordinate between DGHS, NNS and MOHFW on monitoring, quarterly reporting, and update progress of implementation of World Bank supported emergency response Program in CXB.
• Providing timely support towards implementation of ongoing and upcoming health and nutrition programmes/initiatives by HPNSP-OP’s, and other departments. 
• Capturing evidence, learnings and knowledge for development of future policy, strategy, plan programme related to health and nutrition.

Scope of work:

• Update regularly the Additional Director General (Planning and Development) of DGHS on the ongoing and upcoming health and nutrition policies/strategies/programmes in country and also the global health and nutrition evidence/commitments/priorities  
• Provide support to strengthen coordination among DGHS, NNS, HPNSP OP’s, other departments, agencies and organizations, in particular on integration of GMP into EPI platforms
• Provide coordination support between NNS, DGHS and MoHFW to oversee implementation of services in CXB
• Provide technical support to DGHS for follow-up of the implementation of actions including MTR recommendations for HPNSP regarding integration of Growth Monitoring and Promotion (GMP) into EPI services to further community-based outreach for nutrition
• Documentation of evidence, learnings and knowledge on inter-OP coordination and the process of integration of GMP into EPI platforms and their impact on community-based outreach of nutrition services

D. Deliverables and Schedule

E. Consultancy Costs

• Consultant will get BDT 225,000 per month (consolidated) excluding travel and DSA; other cost communication equipment, PC etc. will be bear by the consultant
• Working station will be at DGHS/NNS Office, Dhaka with frequent field visit to CXB
• Consultant will be located at Dhaka and report to Nutrition Specialist section, BCO- Dhaka
• 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

• Education: 
• Medical graduate/ graduation in Nutrition
• Master’s degree in public health or related field.

• Work Experience:
• Knowledge and understanding of health, and nutrition-specific and -sensitive related policy environment, institutional arrangements, programmes and key stakeholders in Bangladesh is essential
• At least 5 years working experiences in health, nutrition and others relevant field
• At least 1 year working experience in implementation of national health and nutrition policy/plan/programmes with GoB institutions (IPHN, MIS, EPI, NCD, etc)
• Working Experience in Emergency Nutrition Response  program is desirable
• Familiar with government working environment and multi-stakeholder and -level coordination
• Fluent in Bangla and English (spoken and written)

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: 23rd May, 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.