National Consultancy to support implementation of Nutrition Program, National, Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Uzbekistan Country Office, Health, 6 months

Organizational Context

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential. We are committed to promoting the rights of every child, offering diverse opportunities for professional and personal development, and fostering a diverse and passionate culture.

Job Purpose

The purpose of this consultancy is to provide specialized technical and coordination support to the Ministry of Health and UNICEF Uzbekistan in advancing priority nutrition activities across the country. This involves a critical role in the development, review, and technical support of essential health and nutrition-related policies, strategies, guidelines, standards, and regulatory frameworks. A key focus will be on strengthening breastfeeding promotion, protection, and support programmes, leveraging familiarity with BFHI and infant and young child feeding (IYCF) approaches. The consultant will also contribute to enhancing the health system and regulatory environment, preparing analytical, technical, and policy documents, and coordinating technical consultations and multi-sectoral processes to ensure effective implementation and progress in Uzbekistan's nutrition agenda.

Responsibilities

The consultant will be responsible for providing specialized technical and coordination support to the Ministry of Health and UNICEF Uzbekistan, specifically aimed at advancing priority nutrition activities throughout the country. This encompasses a broad range of duties, including leading or significantly contributing to the development, comprehensive review, and technical support for critical health and nutrition-related policies, strategies, guidelines, standards, and regulatory frameworks. A core responsibility involves the implementation and strengthening of breastfeeding promotion, protection, and support programmes, requiring a deep understanding and application of BFHI and infant and young child feeding (IYCF) approaches. The role mandates close collaboration with the Ministry of Health and other national stakeholders, leveraging strong knowledge of Uzbekistan's health system and regulatory environment to meticulously prepare analytical, technical, and policy documents. Furthermore, the consultant will be tasked with coordinating technical consultations, facilitating policy dialogues, overseeing research activities, and managing multi-sectoral processes that involve both government entities and development partners. This ensures all efforts are aligned with WHO and UNICEF recommendations and international standards pertinent to breastfeeding, nutrition policy, BFHI, and broader public health initiatives. Desirably, the consultant will also contribute expertise in digital health systems, monitoring frameworks, or the digitalization of health and nutrition indicators.

Work Experience

At least 15 years of progressively responsible professional experience in maternal, newborn and child health, nutrition, breastfeeding, public health or health systems strengthening. Experience in digital health systems, monitoring frameworks or digitalization of health and nutrition indicators is strongly preferred.

Skills

Communication, Coordination, Analytical skills, Policy development and review, Technical support (health/nutrition), Breastfeeding promotion (BFHI, IYCF), Health system knowledge (Uzbekistan), Regulatory environment knowledge (Uzbekistan), Document preparation (analytical, technical, policy), Stakeholder coordination, Digital health systems (preferred), Monitoring frameworks (preferred)

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