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, a Future…

Malawi is a high-risk country for climate shocks such as extreme flooding, exacerbated by diseases outbreak such as Cholera, severe food insecurity, and increased poverty due to economic shocks. In March 2023, the country was hit by the cyclone Freddy which affected at least 2.5 million people; 659,278 were displaced, 2,186 were injured, and 679 were killed. The cholera epidemic in Malawi between 2022 and 2023 resulted in over 58,000 confirmed cases, with over 1,700 deaths over an 18-month period. This   represents a 3 per cent fatality rate, which is very high.

About 4.4 million people, representing 22 percent of the Malawi population, are facing food insecurity and require food assistance between October 2023 to March 2024, according to the Malawi Integrated Food Security Phase classification (IPC) acute food insecurity analysis for June 2023 – March 2024. Of the 4.4 million, 656,721 are children under the age of five, 528,000 are adolescent girls and 264,000 are pregnant and breastfeeding women. With weather forecasts from international and national agencies anticipating El Niño conditions which are linked with delayed onset of rains, below-normal precipitation, and dry spells in southern Malawi, the food situation is likely to worsen. Undernutrition such as wasting remains public health issue with >150,000 children under five still at high risk of acute malnutrition (source: acute malnutrition burden estimate based on SMART survey 2020).

Malnutrition in Malawi is also compounded by the high prevalence of HIV among malnourished children. Thirty per cent of children living with HIV who are not on antiretroviral treatment are likely to die before their first birthday; most of these deaths occur within the first few months of life. Diagnosing and initiating treatment in children before three months of age will significantly increase their likelihood of survival.

It is against this background that UNICEF would like to engage Zonal Nutrition Field Monitors to support districts in preparatory activities for the lean season response and strengthen monitoring, supervision and reporting of nutrition activities to ensure smooth implementation.

How can you make a difference?

A. Support Coordination of Maternal Infant and Young Child Nutrition (MIYCN) and micronutrient activities in the target districts

1. Support the implementation of IYCN, Early Childhood Nutrition (ECD) and maternal nutrition activities at district level.
2. Support implementation of school age children and adolescent nutrition programming.
3. Support interventions to strengthen food systems transformation for improvement of children’s foods, food environments, and practices.
4. Promote nutrition resilience interventions to mitigate the impact of emergencies on maternal and child nutrition.
5. Support Multiple Micronutrient Supplements (MMS) and Iron Folic Acid (IFA) activities as well as salt iodization.

B. Support Coordination of Community Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) activities in the target districts

1. Provide technical support to the overall implementation of the CMAM programme including mentoring frontline workers, conducting monitoring and supportive supervision in conjunction with the District Nutritionist and the PNHAOs.
2. Assess capacity of frontline workers on CMAM program and identify key gaps for improvement.
3. Provide technical support in CMAM data management including supporting monthly data quality audits, collection, compilation and submission of CMAM data including death audits.
4. Support processes for the CMAM integration into the community case management as applicable.
5. Strengthen prevention and management of acute malnutrition during emergencies.

C. Support district level coordination and capacity strengthening in Nutrition in Emergencies (nutrition coordination, preparedness and response at district level

1. Enhance capacity for nutrition preparedness at district and lower level.
2. Strengthen coordination of nutrition emergency response at district level and lower levels.
3. Early identification and referral of children with a cute malnutrition.
4. Support Infant and Young Child Feeding in emergences (IYCF-E) activities at district and lower levels.
5. Actively participate in District Nutrition Coordination Committee (DNCC) and District Health Management Team (DHMT) meetings and report to the national level.
6. Support DNCC in the district reporting and utilization of multisectoral National Nutrition Information System (NNIS).

D. Support Supply Chain Systems Strengthening including end-user monitoring of nutrition supplies at District Level

1. Support capacity strengthening efforts in supply chain integration and End user monitoring including trainings, mentorship, and supervision.
2. Support the district teams in Stock management including reviewing Distribution plans, stock reports in LMIS and timely repositioning of nutrition supplies wherever necessary to avoid stock outs.
3. Support the District Nutritionist and Pharmacy teams in weekly tracking of stock status and provide updates to the national level for timely distribution.
4. Inspecting and enforcing the standards on keeping of stock to ensure effective inventory management FEFO, proper stacking)
5. Conduct joint end user monitoring with district teams (Nutrition/Pharmacy) and provide timely reports to national level.

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

• A minimum of a degree in public health and nutrition, or International Health and Nutrition, Family health and Nutrition, or related field

Work experience:

• Previous experience in field monitoring implementing CMAM and nutrition in emergency programs including infant and young child feeding in emergencies (IYCFe).
• More than 5 years’ work experience, experience in health systems strengthening and working with government of Malawi will be an added advantage.
• Experience and knowledge of micronutrient supplementation programs including VAS, deworming, IFA, MNPs etc.

Technical skills, knowledge and strength areas:

• Technical skills in preventions and treatment of malnutrition, mentorship and supervision, program management skills are desirable
• Knowledge of nutrition programs, Donor relations
• Strength in report writing and documentation of best practices and or lessons learnt in nutrition programmes.

Languages: 

• Strong English skills both oral and written. Strong oral skills in Chichewa and any other local language will be an added advantage.

Please refer to the attached full Terms of Reference  Terms of Reference Nutrition Zonal Field Monitors.pdf for more details on the consultancy and requirements.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS).

To view our competency framework, please visit  here.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.