Country: Madagascar
Closing date: 29 Sep 2016
TERMES OF REFERENCE
Assignment/Project Title : Consultant to support the salt iodization programme Madagascar
Assignment Type : Individual Consultancy
Assignment Duration : 2 months (October-November 2016 with 15 days in-country)
Location : Morondava and Antsiranana, Madagascar
Opening date : 22 September 2016
Closing date : 29 September 2016
If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world's leading children's rights organization would like to hear from you.
For 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children's survival, protection and development. The world's largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments.
1.Background
Madagascar has adopted mandatory salt fortification since 1995, which resulted in the significant improvement of a number of USI indicators during the first decade following the adoption of the law. Goiter prevalence decreased from 45% in 1992 to 6% in 2001 and household access to iodized salt increased from 0.5 % in 1995 to 75 % in 2004. However, since 2006 the performance of the salt iodization programme has been largely reduced, for several reasons including a recent political crisis (2009-2013) associated with budget cuts and limited funding and 2) the appearance of false allegations that associate the intake of iodized salt with the increased incidence of hypertension and related cardio-vascular accidents. Furthermore Madagascar remains one of the few large countries in the world without reliable data on the iodine status of its population.
In 2014-2015 with UNICEF support, the MoH and the National Nutrition Office (ONN) carried out the first national survey aiming to provide solid and reliable evidence on the iodine status of the population, iodine level in salt as well as salt intake. The survey data collection took place in November 2014 and included more than 1,000 salt samples and over 1,700 urine samples collected from women of reproductive age.
The final results were worrisome. The average iodine content in household salt (11.75 ppm) is below the recommended level (15 ppm). Less than a quarter of households (24.5%) have access to adequately iodized salt (≥15 ppm). The urinary iodine (UI) concentrations are very low with a median value of 46µg/l. The normal range is 100µg/l to 299 µg/l. These results, especially the median urinary iodine level, indicate a moderate to severe iodine deficiency in the population, with potential life threatening and developmental risks especially for the new born. This raises serious concerns at all levels.
A workshop was held in July 2016 under the leadership of the MoH to first validate the survey results and secondly devise an action plan to relaunch the USI programme. The workshop was attended by government officials who play a role in salt iodization programme, salt producers and salt traders, the civil society, the Iodine Global Network, and UNICEF. After two day of active deliberations the workshop identified key bottlenecks in the programme and made a collective commitment to ensure that at least 85 % of the commercialized table salt is adequately iodized by 2017 or 2018 the latest. An action plan was developed to ensure that the goal is reached. The plan includes actions such as support to slat producers to access improved iodization technology, strengthening government capacity for enforcement of the USI law through improved salt quality control and supporting the medium and small scaled salt producers in Menabe and Atsimo Andrefana form cooperatives to ease their capacity to produces iodized salt.
2.Objectives
Overall objective
The proposed consultancy follow up on the recommendation made by the workshop and those made by the Joint UNICEF (HQ and RO) and IGN mission and will look for ways to improve the quality and increase the quantity of iodized salt in Madagascar.
Specific objectives
The specific objectives are:
To improve the technical standards for the two major salt factories of GSM and CSM which includes;, inspecting the method of iodization and to secure a sustainable and affordable quality supply of potassium iodate and review the quality assurance and control methods currently in place.
To suggest ways for improving the business of the other medium and small scale producers
To build local capacity for salt quality control through a setup of a local I-team
Timeline, activities and deliverables
Working closely with the Ministry of health, the national nutrition office and UNICEF nutrition team, and under the supervision of the of the UNICEF chief nutrition, the consultant will be accountable for implementing activities and delivering on the following products in the table below.
Day 1: Meeting with UNICEF, Government and partners
Day 2: Meet with government USI officials
Day 3: Field visit to Diego, (Deliverables: field visit reports)
Day 7: Field visit to Morondava, (Deliverables: field visit reports)
Day 11-12: Work with local quality control team to prepare for producers meeting, (deliverables: Meeting agenda and however point presentation)
Day 13: Meeting and workshop with salt producers
Day 15: Wrap-up meeting with I-TEAM Debriefing with UNICEF End of mission, (Deliverables: Final report including a clear action plan for UNICEF to accompany the USI programmer)
Methods
The consultancy will involves:
Review of reports and other documents related to the Madagascar USI programme
In country visit to meet and exchange with the stakeholders
Ministry of Health,
National Nutrition Office
Salt producers
Visit of main salt production plants
A 2 day workshop with salt producers to present the new inspection methods and get their agreement to comply
Qualification
Advanced level university degree from the accredited institution* in business management, public health or international development.
Over 10 years of experience in universal salt iodization
Excellent skill in developing artisans and small scale industries in slat production and iodization
Excellent programme development skills
Excellent budgeting and facilitation skills
Fluency in oral and written French and English
3.Duration
The consultancy is for 2 months with 15 days in-country
4.Remuneration
The consultant contract will be paid based on experience and qualification and in line with value for money policy. DSA and travel cost will be covered in compliance with UNICEF rates rules and regulations.
How to apply:
1.SUBMISSION OF OFFERS
Interested candidates are requested to apply only online via the link http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/?job=499236, and should attach the following documents:
A technical offer describing in detail the methodology to be used to conduct the above tasks and to finalise the expected deliverables.
A detailed financial offer in USD clearly indicating all fees and costs (including rates and days, travel, living allowance, communication, logistics).
CV indicating necessary qualifications and all relevant experience.
Copy of the highest academic diploma
Copy of passport or national identity card.
A completed United Nations P11 form (http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/P11.doc ).
Incomplete or late submission after the deadline (**29 September 2016)** will not be considered. Only candidates shortlisted will be contacted and will receive an official response to their application.
Our job applications are also available on the site http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/
Further information, please contact: hrantananarivo@unicef.org
* See the list of accredited institutions on the link: www.whed.net
UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organisation.