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For every child, the right to Care.
How can you make a difference?ย
Objectives:
Develop a comprehensive national Breast Milk Substitutes Code compliance monitoring toolkit/manual for the revised Egyptian Code in alignment with the global standards. Develop a comprehensive training package about the revised Egyptian Code and monitoring tools and protocols, for health workers , academia and Code monitors, and deliver two rounds of training. Conduct awareness sessions on the revised Code among health workers, academia, relevant government officials, retailers and the BMS industry to inform them of their obligations in upholding the Code.Methodology:
The consultant will use the updated Egyptian Code of Monitoring of Marketing of Breast milk substitutes, the Code Monitoring Kit (Revised and updated 2019) and other related WHO and UNICEF guidance documents, including but not limited to the NetCode toolkits for both periodic and ongoing assessment, recent WHA resolutions on regulating the digital marketing of breast-milk substitutes, as well as best practices in countries with similar situation to Egypt.
The consultant will work in close coordination with stakeholders from the Ministry of Health and Population, including the Primary Health Care Sector and the Preventive Sector,the National Nutrition Institute, and other ministries and governmet bodies as relevant; UN agencies and academia and civil society, to:
-Identify and map stakeholders who can be responsible for code monitoring and implementation. This will include academia, civil society, academia and relevant monitoring and regulatory bodies for food and media, including digital media.
-Review existing monitoring and enforcement mechanisms in related areas, which can be positioned to monitor the enforcement of the Code, and Code enforcement mechanisms in similar countries. Identify gaps and challenges in addition to opportunities in existing systems, including for the monitoring of digital platforms in the promotion of BMS.
-Conduct key informant interviews with selected stakeholders to discuss roles in implementation according to the Egyptian Code., producing a mapping, in addition to conducting data collection from mothers, health professionals, food industry, food retail outlets, pharmacies, conferences and social media.
-Identify enforcement mechanisms and electronic reporting pathways for violations of the Code
-Develop a Terms of Reference for the national monitoring body and team, including plan for data collection and analysis, data collection instruments and assessment manuals, and the entire work plan with timeframe
-Develop, adapt, pilot test and finalise monitoring tools, protocols and training manuals for different actors in monitoring team
-Perform a desk review of promotional and informational or educational materials collected at the health facilities or retailers, of products labels and promotions on the media and social media.
-Explore and perform, if needed, a scoping review of national experience from other countries on implementation of international and national codes and identify lessons learned and best practices for adaptation and implementation in Egypt.
-Provide 2 trainings and capacity building of the designated monitoring team.
-Identify pathways to incorporate code monitoring into pre-service and in-service training for relevant monitoring teams (can we also include academic curricular?)
-Coordinate with the national health information body to set up a monitoring database with clear reporting mechanism and accountabilities for consolidating violations reported.
-Develop standard annual report template for the monitoring team providing data analysis and use, and identify dissemination channels and targets
-Develop sets of educational and awareness materials tailored for health workers, retailers, social media messages, and industry and other relevant national stakeholders to understand and promote the Egyptian Code.
-Plan and coordinate advocacy and awareness/sensitization events for UNICEF and partners about the Code, including through World Breastfeeding Week activities in different venues including scientific meetings and conferences, the Medical and Nursing Syndicates, etc.
-Develop a costed action plan for strengthening the monitoring systems for the implementation of the Egyptian code.
ACTIVITIES, DELIVERABLES AND TIMELINES, PLUS BUDGET PER DELIVERABLE:
DELIVERABLES
ESTIMATED DURATION TO COMPLETE
Payment
Report of stakeholder analysis and key informant interviews, including monitoring and enforcement mechanisms in related areas and
mapping of potential Code monitoring agencies and platforms
15 days
10%
Terms of reference for Code monitoring body and team (first draft)
Monitoring tools, protocols and manuals (first draft)
15 days
10%
Report on Pilot testing of Code monitoring tools and protocols and validation with stakeholders
5 days
10%
Terms of reference for Code monitoring body and team (second draft)
Monitoring tools, protocols and manuals (second draft)
5 days
10%
Two trainings for the Code monitoring team- training reports
8 days
20%
Draft for monitoring database and reporting templates
5 days
10%
Educational and awareness materials for health workers, retailers and industry social media
5 days
10%
Support coordination, planning and implementing 6 Awareness Events to raise importance of the Code as agreed with key
stakeholders (consultant is not required to fund events)
10 days
10%
Final report
7 days
10%
Conditions of work:
The consultant will attend regular face to face and online meetings with stakeholders and key informants and provide face to face trainings and awareness events. National partners are responsible for organizing meetings, trainings, and pilot testing of tools. The consultancy is not office based. UNICEF will cover travel- related costs outside Cairo.
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will haveโฆย
-Bachelorโs degree in medicine/nutrition. Holders of additional postgraduate degree in Lactation/nutrition/public health/paediatrics/ health care quality or relevant specialty will be an asset.
-At least 5 years of experience on lactation /nutrition in particular Code monitoring/ development of policy, legislation and programming around nutrition interventions including breastfeeding and infant and young child feeding
-Considerable experience in developing/ monitoring/ implementing national code of marketing of breast milk substitutes, and other relevant international policies around protection of Breastfeeding.
-Knowledge of the health system in Egypt
-Previous experience in developing training manuals and delivering trainings for health workers
-Previous experience in working with UN agency/or other international organizations is an asset.
-Good writing, analytical and communication skills in English and Arabic.
The consultant should declare that he has no conflicts of interest relevant to this consultancy such as receiving any funding from any companies that manufacture products within the scope of the Code in the past 5 years.
For every Child, you demonstrate...
UNICEFโs Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values
The UNICEF competencies required for this post areโฆ
(1) Builds and maintains partnerships
(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness
(3) Drive to achieve results for impact
(4) Innovates and embraces change
(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity
(6) Thinks and acts strategically
(7) Works collaboratively with othersย
[add the 8th competency (Nurtures, leads and manages people) for a supervisory role].ย
Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.
[Remove the following paragraph if not a child safeguarding elevated risk role]ย This position has been assessed as an elevated risk role for Child Safeguarding purposes as it is either a role with direct contact with children, a role that works directly with identifiable childrenโs data, a safeguarding response role, or an assessed risk role. Additional vetting and assessment for elevated risk roles in child safeguarding (potentially including additional criminal background checks) apply.
UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children.ย The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.
UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer aย wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks andย reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.
UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). 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 based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. 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, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.
UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.
Remarks:ย ย
As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.
UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable [Insert candidates from targeted underrepresented groups] are encouraged to apply.
Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally requiredย to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.ย
UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicantsโ bank account information.
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In this role, you will collaborate with colleagues across multiple locations. For effective collaboration, we encourage flexible working hours that accommodate different time zones while prioritizing staff wellbeing.
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Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.
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Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEFโs Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.
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[CO/ HQ specific: visa residence requirements: i.e.: UNICEF shall not facilitate the issuance of a visa and working authorization for candidates under consideration for positions at the national officer and general service category.]
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All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.
Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.