IMAM Protocol Consultant

Job Posting Organization:
UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence. Established with a mission to promote the rights of every child, UNICEF is committed to providing diverse opportunities for professional and personal development for its staff. The organization prides itself on its passionate culture and commitment to serving children and communities worldwide, offering an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Job Overview:
The overall goal of this consultancy is to prepare a final version of the revised national guidelines for the prevention and management of acute malnutrition in The Gambia. This includes conducting a comprehensive nutrition policy and landscape mapping, analyzing existing nutrition-related guidelines, and creating an inventory of resources that will inform the updating of the Gambia National Integrated Management of Acute Malnutrition (IMAM) protocol. The consultant will lead a consultative approach at national and regional levels to assess the effectiveness of current guidelines, review WHO recommendations, and adapt these for the new national guidelines. The consultant will also be responsible for revising and consolidating the updated national guideline document and updating implementation tools such as training curricula for training of trainers (TOT). Additionally, the consultant will propose a feedback mechanism to ensure future revisions of the protocol are adapted to local needs.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Conduct a thorough mapping and analysis of existing nutrition-related guidelines, including IMAM and MAMI guidelines, to inform the updating process of the Gambia National IMAM protocol.
• Create an inventory of existing national policies, strategies, programs, and guidelines relevant to the prevention and management of acute malnutrition.
• Lead a consultative approach to assess the current implementation of existing national guidelines, identifying strengths and weaknesses.
• Review WHO recommendations and facilitate discussions to agree on adaptations for the new national guidelines.
• Revise and consolidate the updated national guideline document based on the findings from the mapping and consultative processes.
• Update implementation tools, including training curricula for TOT, based on the finalized guidelines.
• Propose a feedback mechanism to ensure ongoing revisions of the protocol are responsive to local needs.

Required Qualifications:

• Post Graduate degree in clinical medicine, nutrition, and/or public health.
• At least 10 years of relevant postgraduate professional experience in nutrition, with hands-on experience in implementing programs and services for malnourished children.
• Proven experience in developing strategies, guidelines, or protocols for the prevention and management of acute malnutrition in children under five years.
• Experience working with government structures, particularly with the National Nutrition Agency (NaNA) and the Ministry of Health (MoH).
• General knowledge of UN system policies, rules, regulations, and procedures governing administration.
• Knowledge of recent WHO guidance on the prevention and management of acute malnutrition in infants and children under five years.

Educational Background:
A Post Graduate degree in clinical medicine, nutrition, and/or public health is required for this position. This educational background is essential to ensure the consultant has the necessary knowledge and skills to effectively contribute to the development and revision of national guidelines for the prevention and management of acute malnutrition.

Experience:
The position requires at least 10 years of relevant postgraduate professional experience in nutrition, particularly in implementing programs and services for malnourished children. The consultant should have experience in developing strategies, guidelines, or protocols specifically for the prevention and management of acute malnutrition in children under five years. Additionally, experience working with government structures, especially the National Nutrition Agency (NaNA) and the Ministry of Health (MoH), is crucial for understanding the local context and ensuring effective collaboration.

Languages:
Fluency in English is required for this position. This includes excellent written communication skills, as the consultant will be responsible for drafting and revising national guidelines and documentation. Knowledge of additional languages may be considered an asset, particularly if it facilitates communication with local stakeholders.

Additional Notes:
The position is a consultancy role with a focus on the prevention and management of acute malnutrition in The Gambia. UNICEF promotes a diverse and inclusive workforce and encourages applications from all qualified candidates, including those with disabilities. The organization offers a wide range of benefits, including paid parental leave and reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities. UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct incompatible with its aims and objectives, including discrimination and harassment. All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and appointments are subject to medical clearance and visa requirements.