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:

Consultant - Coordination and Technical Support (Re-advertisement)

Duty Station: Cox’s Bazar Sadar, Cox‘s Bazar.

Contract Duration: 11.5 Months

Number of Vacancies: 1 (One)

Contract Type: Contract with E-Zone

Contract Start Date: 1 April, 2021

Reporting to: Nutrition Manager

A. Objectives, Purpose and Expected Results

The UN Agency aims to transform the quality of lives of vulnerable people, especially children, women and adolescent girls, by improving their nutritional and health status as they are often the most vulnerable with greatest unmet needs. Access to good nutrition is a universal human right. UN Agency Nutrition program seeks to address preventative and curative needs of all children 0-59 months, adolescent girls, adolescent boys, women of reproductive age, and all caregivers of children 0-59 months in the Rohingya camps and Host Community. For ensuring nutrition programme in the camps and host communities, UN Agency in partnership with GOB and NGOs (National and International) are implementing nutrition screening, SAM identification, treatment of SAM children, Community Management of Acute Malnutrition for Infant (CMAMI), counselling on Infant and Young Child Feeding practice (IYCF) for pregnant and lactating mothers, maternal nutrition, micronutrient supplementation, system strengthening and also nutrition sensitive intervention through multisectoral approach. The Civil Surgeon and his team are playing a vital role to support the implementation of UN Agency funded projects in the camps and the host communities.

As the Civil Surgeon and his staff – have very wide responsibilities, they do not have much time to provide technical, monitoring and mentoring support for the nutrition related activities, in addition, they do not have the adequate capacity for providing support either. There are some challenges to institutionalize the support for the nutrition programs in the CS office such as 1. Nutrition programming and activities from government side are mostly ad-hoc basis and specific event based. 2. Community level nutrition activities are NGO dependent; government played some supervisory role. 3. Regular monitoring of nutrition activities, supply management, information management in camps and host communities needs strengthening. 4. Nutrition agenda is not considered a priority for discussion and follow up in health and other coordination forums. To overcome these challenges and adhering to our agreement with the WB under the Additional Financing for Health Sector Support Project , UN Agency is proposing to deploy a mid-level Consultant; it is pertinent to mention that earlier too we had deployed one such consultant, but because of some reasons, the contract was not extended for that consultant.

The proposed position is to support the CS office as a technical person for scaling up Nutrition programming, especially in host community with WB and DEVCO supported projects. With both DEVCO and WB2, UN Agency is planning to scale up Community Based Nutrition Program across the 8 up-zilas; thus having a technical person deployed in CS office will facilitate the proposed scale-up and at the same time UN Agency also wants to strengthen the capacity of the CS office for Nutrition. This person will also serve as a link between the CS office and the Institute of Public Health Nutrition (IPHN) in Dhaka, ensuring that Government at the national level is not only informed but stays on top of things with regards to nutrition programs in the humanitarian response in Cox’s Bazaar; this requirement is based on the feedback received form the IPHN and WB colleagues.

Considering the above-mentioned challenges and project requirements, UN Agency proposes to second a mid-level technical person to support the CS Office and to be based mostly in Cox’s Bazaar, strengthening health system and essential nutrition services by providing critical technical and managerial support. In addition, he/she will provide technical assistance to project planning, coordination, monitoring and reporting for the various nutrition interventions based on the needs of UN Agency Nutrition Section, Nutrition Sector, CS office & IPHN. Actively monitor programmes/projects and analyzing the progress of the joint responses, identifying gaps and challenges and provide appropriate corrective measures to strengthen effective implementation of the response in the Refugee camps and host population. Furthermore, He/she will ensure effective, transformative and predictable oversight functions and coordination between Nutrition Section, Nutrition Sector, the Civil Surgeon’s Office and IPHN. A NOC level National Consultant for Nutrition is being proposed for strengthening nutrition programming, coordination and Government participation and ownership and to also ensure up to date information flow between IPHN, the Civil Surgeon’s Office in CXB.

B. Background:

The influx of Rohingya refugees from northern parts of Myanmar’s Rakhine State into Bangladesh since 25 August 2017 resulted in a mass displacement of refugees. While the situation has stabilized significantly in 2020, the nutrition indicators still require substantive and coordinated support to be provided by the Government of Bangladesh and the humanitarian partners. SMART Survey Round-4 in the Rohingya camps from October 2019 showed a Global acute malnutrition (GAM) rate of 10.9 per cent which was 11.0 per cent in 2018, this is considered as 'high' based on the new UN Agency prevalence thresholds. A slight reduction was recorded in Severe acute malnutrition (SAM), with a 0.9 per cent prevalence in 2019 compared to 1.1 per cent in 2018. The 2019 SMART survey indicated that 32.6 per cent children under 5 were chronically malnourished (stunted), which is considered as very high based on the new UN Agency prevalence thresholds. The survey also reflected poor Infant and young child feeding practices as indicated by 26.4 per cent children 6-23 months having a minimum acceptable diet supplemented by 44.8 per cent had minimum dietary diversity and 56.2 per cent reached minimum meal frequency, which highlighted the need to implement a comprehensive IYCF interventions. COVID-19 containment measures directly and indirectly impacted the delivery of nutrition services in the camp. COVID-19 is slowly affecting the nutritional status of children and this is evident from the three mass MUAC screening drives undertaken during June/July, October and December 2020; the GAM (MUAC < 13.0 cm) prevalence increased from 8.5 percent in June/July to 10.5 percent in October 2020. In addition to that, between the months of June-September monitoring of nutrition services through mobile phones found an average of 53 per cent mothers feeding less diverse food to their children while 46 per cent fed less quantity food and 45 per cent reported food shortage in their house.

The fifth round SMART survey completed in December 2020 continues to indicate an ongoing public health emergency among all Rohingya children in Cox's Bazar. Acute malnutrition rates in Z-scores remained steady at 11.3 per cent compared to 10.9 per cent in October 2019 in the Makeshift Settlement. MUAC based malnutrition prevalence slightly decreased from 4.9 per cent to 3.1 per cent due to possible impact of expanded MUAC only programing as a result of COVID-19 pandemic. The severe acute malnutrition rate increased slightly from 0.0 percent to 0.6 per cent as the wasted children by MUAC has higher and increased chance of being detected. Stunting and Underweight prevalence in Z-scores are respectively 34.2 per cent and 30.8 per cent continue to remain very high (≥ 30 per cent).

Considering the situation, it will be extremely important to intensify the nutrition response through the curative and preventive activities to address the impact which occurred due to COVID-19 related restrictions and constraints as well.

C. Description of Assignment

This Consultant will be very instrumental for Civil Surgeon Office to maintain and strengthen the effective collaboration and coordination with GOB stakeholders such as IPHN, Nutrition Sector and Sector Partners, other UN and Donors. In addition, he will be responsible to strengthen essential nutrition services in Community Clinics, Union Health and Family Welfare centres (UH&FWCs), Upazila Health Complexes (UHCs) and District Hospital in the host community and ensuring he camp. He will also provide critical technical and managerial support to Civil Surgeon Office, Cox’s Bazar for scaling up of IYCF counselling, GMP programme strengthening in the host communities at community/CC level and in the camps. Besides this, he will actively monitor programmes/projects through field visits and exchange information with stakeholders to assess progress, identify bottlenecks and potential problems, and provide updates to the Civil Surgeon Office, Cox’s Bazar and IPHN, DGHS on regular basis.

D. Deliverables and Schedule

• Inception report, with detailed work plan
• Enhance Effective and Predictable Coordination mechanism between CS office and IPHN: Work closely with CS office participate in relevant meeting such as District and Upazilla level health Coordination meeting, Nutrition sector meeting and ensure nutrition services are implemented by following the relevant guidelines and standards of the GoB. (Consider as continuing deliverable for all months)
• Closely work with Civil Surgeon Office, Cox’s Bazar to strengthen essential nutrition services in Community Clinics, Union Health and Family Welfare centres (UH&FWCs), Upazila Health Complexes (UHCs) and District Hospital in the host communities and in the camps. (Consider as continuing deliverable for all months).
• Provide critical technical and managerial support to Civil Surgeon Office, Cox’s Bazar for scaling up of IYCF counselling, GMP programme strengthening in the host communities at community/CC level and in the camps. (Consider as continuing deliverable for all months).
• Work with UN Agency Nutrition Section and Civil Surgeon Office, District Hospital and Upazila Health Complexes to improve SAM unit in host communities and CMAM implementation in the camps. (Consider as continuing deliverable for all months)
• Support strategic partnership with providing quality technical advice, facilitating effective knowledge management, and providing technical assistance to project planning, coordination, monitoring and reporting in collaboration of UN Agency Nutrition Section, Nutrition Sector, CS office & IPHN. (Consider as continuing deliverable for all months).
• Actively monitor programmes/projects through field visits and exchange information with stakeholders to assess progress, identify bottlenecks and potential problems, and provide updates to the Civil Surgeon Office, Cox’s Bazar and IPHN, DGHS on regular basis. (Consider as continuing deliverable for all months).
• Support the GoB in reviewing and analysing the progress of the joint responses, identifying gaps and challenges and provide appropriate corrective measures to strengthen effective implementation of the response in the Refugee camps and host population. (Consider as continuing deliverable for all months)
• Joint Field Monitoring Visit: Prepare and facilitate joint field visits of IPHN, CS office and partners and monitor the response implementation and ensure that activities are operated as per GoB policies and guidelines. Prepare final report, field visit report etc. and submit to Sector and CS office, CXB and IPHN. (Consider as continuing deliverable for all months)

E. Consultancy Costs

• The consultants will get BDT 300,000.00 per month for 11.5 months as a consolidated package which includes lumpsum travel cost in duty station, so consultant will not claim any travel cost in addition to this. If the consultants are required to travel outside their duty station, prior approval will be required, then travel and DSA costs will be reimbursed at actuals.
• UN Agency will not provide consultant with computer/laptops/printers/office space.
• Stationery, communication and other office equipment costs will not be provided directly to the consultant but through Civil Surgeon office.
• 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

• Masters in medical science/Health, Nutrition etc. or a medical graduate with over 15 years of clinical/management experience
• Experience of working with government agencies, local authorities, international organizations, NGOs and communities in the field of Health and Nutrition and preferably including emergency contexts.
• Ten years of progressively responsible professional work experience at the district or national levels in Program management, monitoring and evaluation, in the area of Health and Nutrition.
• Fluent in English and have effective communication skills.

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 photograph by email to:
jobs.un@e-zonebd.com

Last Date of Application: 20th September, 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.