International Consultancy to conduct a synthesis of available data and evidence to inform the prevention of stunting strategy in Syria (for non-Syrians only), Damascus, Syria, 65 working days within 4 months (remote assignment)

Job no: 570832
Contract type: Consultant
Duty Station: Damascus
Level: Consultancy
Location: Syrian Arab Republic
Categories: Nutrition, Health and Nutrition

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential. 

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone. 

And we never give up. 

For every child, commitment

BACKGROUND (RATIONALE AND CONTEXT):

By 2018, Syria was on track to achieve the sustainable development goal (SDG) of reducing by half the number of children affected by stunting by 2030. However, data from World Health Organization (WHO, 2023) Global Health Observatory (GHO) shows that the 13 years of the conflict have had a devastating impact on the nutrition situation of children leading to the reversal of the gains of the previous investment on stunting reduction. Findings from the 2023 SMART survey corroborate the WHO trend, revealing a dramatic increase in the proportion of stunted children from 12% in 2019 to 16% in 2023. If efforts to reduce stunting are not accelerated, Syria is likely to miss the SDG target on stunting and a devastating blow to the physical and cognitive development of children and their ability to learn and contribute to the economic recovery of the country. Since 2021, Syria has experienced a relative calm in hostilities. On this basis, the humanitarian community in Syria is contemplating a transition  from humanitarian programming to early recovery and restoration. With regards to the nutrition program, the transition entails developing a strategy to prevent of all forms of malnutrition and in particular stunting among children aged under five years. The strategy should take into consideration the fact that the prolonged conflict has directly and indirectly contributed to soaring poverty leaving 90% of Syrians living under USD $3.65 per capita per day. This situation has reduced the ability of  caregivers to uphold positive  care practices and their ability to afford nutritious diet for young children. Further, the 2023 SMART survey showed that nearly 7 out of 10 children live in food poverty meaning that they are fed four or fewer food groups compared to the recommended minimum of 5 out of 8 food groups. In 2023, it is estimated that nearly 50% of the primary health care infrastructure is partially closed or not functioning due to damages  caused by the conflict thereby limiting access to essential health services by the most vulnerable.

Against this backdrop, UNICEF Syria Country Office (SCO) is embarking on developing an evidence-based strategic vision of nutrition programming during the transition phase and beyond with a focus on stunting prevention. While over the last 13 years there has been no large-scale population-based survey conducted in Syria, some partners have carried out small-scale subnational surveys and studies which are not consolidated in a national database. In this regard, UNICEF is seeking the services of a consultant to collate all the available knowledge and data, conduct a detailed analysis and synthesize the outcome to inform the long-term stunting prevention agenda in Syria. Where applicable, knowledge and data from neighboring countries with similar context can be leverage as a proxy.

How can you make a difference? 

PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:

The purpose of the assignment is to support UNICEF Syria Country office to achieve the following objectives.

1. To undertake secondary data analysis of recently published publicly available data relevant to nutrition programming for women and children in the context of Syria.

2. To conduct literature review of recent peer review publications on the nutrition of women and children relevant to the Syrian context

3. To summarize the outcome of the above objectives using compelling state of the art visual methods and narrative reports to inform the stunting prevention agenda of the country office.

LOCATION (GEOGRAPHIC AREA/ DUTY STATION): Damascus, Syria

On-site working days: None – remote assignment

Off-site working days: 65 days

Field Missions/Travel: None

DURATION:

The selected consultant will work for the period of 65 workdays within 4 months. All workdays will be out of country. The exact schedule of the activities will be agreed with the consultant based on the consultancy implementation progress. The deadline for submission of final deliverables to UNICEF is at the end of the contract.

SUPERVISOR:

The consultant will be supervised and report to the UNICEF Syria Nutrition Manager. The consultant will work on daily basis with the Nutrition Section.

DESCRIPTION OF ASSIGNMENT (TASKS, SMART DELIVERABLES, DEADLINES):  

TRAVEL CONSIDERATIONS

Should “mission travel” be required, UNICEF will manage and pay for travel via Travel Authorization.  However, this will be subject to the following prerequisites: Medical Clearance, Security Clearance through the Travel Request Information Process (TRIP) system, the Basic and Advanced Security in the Field Trainings, Travel Visa, and liability waiver.

Travel cost shall be calculated based on economy class travel, regardless of the length of travel.  Costs for accommodation, meals and incidentals shall not exceed applicable daily subsistence allowance (DSA) rates, as promulgated by the International Civil Service Commission (ICSC at http://icsc.un.org).  The consultant must travel on UNICEF approved airlines.

PROPOSED PAYMENT SCHEDULE: By Deliverables

The payment of professional fees will be made in three installments, as indicated in the Description of Assignment schedule, against the submission of the deliverables and UNICEF acceptance and approval.

UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have… 

I. Academic qualifications:

Master’s degree or PhD in Public Health/Nutrition, Nutrition Epidemiology, Statistics, or a related field.

A first-level university degree with additional 2 years of required relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

II. Work experience / Technical competencies:

• A minimum of 8years of experience in conducting primary data collection or secondary data analysis and documenting public health and nutrition work at national and international level is required. Publication on stunting, IYCF, and other nutrition issues is an asset.
• Demonstrates experience in data analytics and synthesis to inform decision making.
• Demonstrates excellent writing skills, and strong communication, in particular for the development of technical documents is essential.
• Demonstrates experience and knowledge of the latest developments and issues related to public health nutrition is essential.

III. Language requirement:

Fluency in English (both written and verbal) is required