National Nutrition & Dietetics Policy Consultancy, Hybrid + travel, #594205

Organizational Context

UNICEF operates in over 190 countries and territories, dedicated to saving children's lives, defending their rights, and helping them fulfill their potential from early childhood through adolescence. We are committed, passionate, and proud of our work, viewing the promotion of every child's rights not just as a job, but as a calling. UNICEF fosters career growth with diverse opportunities for professional and personal development.

Job Purpose

The consultancy aims to support the Ministry of Health (Division of Nutrition and Dietetics), the National Nutrition and Dietetics Policy Secretariat, and the Multisectoral Committee (MSC) in Kenya. The primary objective is to undertake a comprehensive process of policy development for nutrition and dietetics. This involves a deep dive into the policy, legal, and institutional landscape, generating evidence to define key policy issues, and structuring a robust national policy. The consultant will play a crucial role in facilitating stakeholder engagement, ensuring public participation, and validating the policy to ensure it is comprehensive and widely accepted. Ultimately, the goal is to finalize the Nutrition & Dietetics Policy and develop associated knowledge products, ensuring alignment with national health objectives and UNICEF's commitment to child well-being.

Responsibilities

The consultant will lead and manage the entire policy development lifecycle for the National Nutrition and Dietetics Policy. This includes initiating the process with a detailed inception phase and developing a comprehensive work plan. A thorough analysis of the existing policy, legal, and institutional framework related to nutrition and dietetics will be required. The consultant must generate evidence to inform policy decisions and clearly define critical policy issues. A significant part of the role involves structuring and drafting the policy document itself. Crucially, the consultant will be responsible for facilitating high-level engagement with various stakeholders, building consensus, and ensuring effective coordination among different sectors. Public participation and validation of the draft policy will be facilitated to ensure broad buy-in and relevance. The consultant will also be responsible for finalizing the policy document and developing knowledge products to support its dissemination and implementation. Regular reporting on progress and updates to relevant bodies will be essential throughout the 15-month contract period.

Work Experience

At least 15 years of senior-level experience in nutrition or public policy. Demonstrated expertise in designing country-level health and nutrition programs, policy formulation, strategic planning, developing costed multisectoral strategies, and monitoring and evaluation. Proven track record in developing high-quality nutrition and health policies, conducting planning, facilitating teams, and managing monitoring and evaluation within timelines. Experience in developing national policies, multisectoral coordination, and facilitating high-level technical processes is essential. Prior work in Kenya is an advantage.

Skills

Policy Analysis and Synthesis, Strategic and Analytical Thinking, High-Level Technical Writing, Stakeholder Engagement and Consensus-Building, Nutrition Program Design, Policy Formulation, Strategic Planning, Multisectoral Strategy Development, Monitoring and Evaluation, Facilitation Skills, Independent Work, Teamwork in Multicultural Environments

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