Consultant Facilitator for Inpatient Management of Severe Acute Malnutrition

Job Posting Organization:
The World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Africa (AFRO) is dedicated to providing technical leadership and support to Member States in the implementation of WHO normative guidance to combat malnutrition. Established to address public health challenges, WHO AFRO focuses on improving health outcomes across the African continent. The organization operates in multiple countries, working collaboratively with various partners to enhance health systems and ensure the well-being of populations. WHO AFRO's mission includes addressing all forms of malnutrition, particularly child wasting, which remains a significant public health concern in the region.

Job Overview:
The position of Consultant Facilitator for Inpatient Management of Severe Acute Malnutrition is crucial for addressing the ongoing public health challenge of child wasting in the African Region. The consultant will play a pivotal role in supporting countries to implement WHO-approved training packages on the inpatient management of severe acute malnutrition (SAM) with medical complications. This role involves conducting training of trainers (ToT) sessions, providing clinical mentorship, and delivering cascade trainings for health workers involved in SAM case management. The consultant will also assist in identifying capacity gaps and implementation challenges, ensuring that health workers are equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to manage cases of SAM effectively. The overarching goal is to strengthen the capacity of health systems to address malnutrition and improve health outcomes for children under five years of age.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant will be responsible for a variety of tasks aimed at enhancing the management of severe acute malnutrition in healthcare settings. Key duties include:

• Reviewing and applying WHO-approved training packages on the inpatient management of SAM with medical complications, ensuring that they are technically accurate and ready for implementation at the country level.
• Conducting training of trainers (ToT) for national and subnational trainers using WHO standardized materials and competency-based training approaches.
• Supporting and/or delivering cascade trainings for health workers involved in inpatient SAM case management at facility and subnational levels.
• Providing practical clinical mentorship during training activities conducted in hospitals or stabilization centres.
• Supporting WHO and Ministries of Health in identifying capacity gaps, implementation challenges, and priority follow-up actions related to SAM case management.
• Delivering technical reports summarizing activities conducted, key findings, implementation challenges, and recommendations for follow-up support.
• Engaging in assignments that may be implemented in development, fragile, or humanitarian settings, depending on country needs and programme priorities.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a Master’s degree in medicine, Nutrition, or Public Health/Public Health Nutrition from a recognized institution. An advanced university degree in a relevant field such as Paediatrics and Child Health, Public Health and Nutrition, International Emergency Health and Nutrition, or Epidemiology is desirable. Essential qualifications include a minimum of five years of relevant professional experience in the prevention and management of acute malnutrition, particularly in children under five years of age. Candidates should demonstrate experience in clinical management of SAM, application of WHO normative guidance, and capacity strengthening through training and supervision of health workers. Familiarity with the 2023 WHO Guidelines on the prevention and management of wasting is also desirable.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a Master’s degree in medicine, Nutrition, or Public Health/Public Health Nutrition from an accredited institution. An advanced degree in related fields such as Paediatrics and Child Health, International Emergency Health and Nutrition, or Epidemiology is preferred. Candidates must have a strong foundation in the principles of nutrition and public health, particularly as they relate to child health and malnutrition.

Experience:
Candidates should have at least five years of relevant professional experience at national and/or international levels in the prevention and management of acute malnutrition, specifically child wasting. This includes demonstrated experience in the clinical management of severe acute malnutrition in inpatient settings, as well as experience in the application and dissemination of WHO normative guidance. Experience in developing and implementing national strategies and guidelines related to acute malnutrition is essential, along with documented experience in capacity strengthening through training and supervision of health workers.

Languages:
Expert knowledge of English, French, or Portuguese is essential for this position. Intermediate knowledge of other UN official languages is desirable, as it may enhance communication and collaboration with diverse stakeholders in the region.

Additional Notes:
This position is subject to local recruitment and will be filled by candidates recruited in the local commuting area of the duty station. The remuneration for this role falls within Band level B, with a monthly salary ranging from USD 7,000 to 9,98

• The WHO is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and encourages applications from women, persons with disabilities, and nationals of underrepresented Member States. Candidates may be required to provide proof of vaccination as per WHO requirements before undertaking an assignment. The organization also emphasizes the importance of integrity and ethical standards in its workforce.