Crisis Response – IYCF-E Specialist

Background

FHI 360 is a global organization operating in over 60 countries, focused on advancing equity, health, and well-being through data-driven, locally led solutions. FHI 360’s Crisis Response team enhances the organization’s efforts by offering technical expertise in response to the increasing humanitarian crises worldwide. The Crisis Response team plays a crucial role in areas experiencing fragility, emergencies, and conflicts, especially where FHI 360 has ongoing development projects. Through an integrated approach, the Crisis Response team aims to improve the health and well-being of those affected by crisis by working closely with communities and local actors. FHI 360’s Crisis Response programming focuses on the provision of essential services in health, nutrition, protection, and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) to meet immediate needs while supporting the longer-term recovery and restoration of critical lifesaving services.

Placing a strong emphasis on age, gender, and diversity approach in its programming, Crisis Response targets the most vulnerable populations, including women, children, the elderly, persons with disabilities, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and all internally displaced persons (IDPs). Adhering to humanitarian and safeguarding principles, Crisis Response programming ensures the safety, dignity, and the rights and decisions of program participants.

FHI 360’s Crisis Response team is responding to the humanitarian emergency with the Ukraine Humanitarian Assistance Response Program (UHARP II), providing integrated health, mental health, and protection programming focused on decreasing morbidity and mortality among conflict-affected communities.

FHI 360 recently started up nutrition programming focused on Infant and Young Child Feeding in Emergencies (IYCF-E).

FHI 360 is recruiting for a IYCF-E Program Manager consultant to manage the nutrition programming in the start-up phase and provide technical leadership. Based in Dnipro city (FHI 360 main office) and with periodic travel to sub-offices and field sites, the position is envisioned for a 3-month deployment with the possibility of extension.

Scope of Work

Under the supervision of the Health Coordinator, the IYCF-E Specialist consultant will provide temporary oversight of the mission’s nutrition programming, including technical leadership of the sector for a specific period of time. FHI 360’s IYCF-E activities include IYCF-E counseling for prenatal and postpartum women in health facilities, linkage of beneficiaries to mental health service, training of healthcare workers on IYCF-E, the development and provision targeted informational materials on IYCF-E through different media, and establishment of mother-baby spaces (IYCF-E-E corners) within health facilities.

The IYCF-E Specialist will work closely with the Health Coordinator and FHI 360 HQ Emergency Nutrition Technical Advisor to identify and define priorities for future program development in the nutrition sector, as well as develop concepts for new initiatives that can be incorporated into the existing nutrition programming.

The IYCF-E Specialist will also work closely with the FHI 360 Monitoring Evaluation and Learning (MEAL) team to ensure that high-quality program monitoring systems are in place and develop plans for program evaluations (including to assess and document pilot initiatives).

Specific Tasks and Responsibilities:

• Provide oversight of the mission’s IYCF-E activities, ensuring that all components of the IYCF-E program are functioning properly, providing quality care to all the beneficiaries while respecting guidelines and principles of good practice (e.g. the Operational Guidance on IYCF-E, the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes, and SPHERE standards,). Develop recommendations for improvements and areas where programming can be strengthened.
• Provide support to the recruitment process for nutrition staff, including IYCF-E counselors working at field sites.
• Lead the development of technical materials, tools, and trainings on nutrition, as well as mentorship tools and approaches for health workers who have participated in trainings.
• Support the integration of MHPSS into IYCF-E programs in collaboration with the MHPSS Program Manager.
• Identify capacity building needs of FHI 360’s IYCF-E counselors and organize relevant trainings (online and/or offline).
• Review and update the nutrition (IYCF-E) work plan and logical framework, in collaboration with the Health Coordinator and Senior Nutrition Officer.
• Review and update systems for routine data collection for nutrition (IYCF-E) activities, in coordination with the MEAL team.
• Represent FHI 360 at Nutrition technical working group (TWG) meetings and other meetings with relevant nutrition/health stakeholders.
• Support the technical development of program evaluations of nutrition activities, working with the Health and MEAL Coordinators, and facilitate the documentation of the key IYCF-E activities being implemented by FHI 360, including lessons learned and best practices.
• Support the development of the mission’s nutrition strategy, including identifying and defining priorities for future program development based on the current gaps (working closely with the Health Coordinator and FHI 360 HQ Emergency Nutrition Advisor), and based on the strategy may develop concepts for new initiatives that can be incorporated into the existing programming.
• As a part of the strategy, identify opportunities for integration of nutrition activities with other program activities (health, protection, WASH)
• Any other related tasks as requested by the Health Coordinator.

Deliverables/Milestones & Due Dates:

1. Based on overall oversight and field visits, a 3-5-page summary report providing recommendations for improvements and areas where programming can be strengthened. Due: 31 July 2024
2. Training, tools, and technical materials developed/ compiled and rolled-out to relevant staff and partners for capacity building. Due: 31 July 2024
3. Updated workplan and logical framework for nutrition programming. Due: 10 June 2024
4. A 3-5 page report documenting lessons learned and best practices from FHI 360 nutrition program implementation to-date in the UHARP II project. Due: 31 July 2024
5. Meeting notes compiled from all nutritional technical working group meetings and other meetings with relevant nutrition/health stakeholders. Due: 30 May 2024; 30 June 2024; 31 July 2024
6. Develop materials for nutrition specific program evaluation, leading one evaluation during the consultancy period. Due: 31 July 2024
7. A 2-page FHI 360 Ukraine Nutrition Strategy, identifying and defining priorities for future program development based on the current gaps. Due: 31 July 2024

Location of Work: Dnipro, Ukraine; with travel to sub-offices for supervision

Travel:

• Level of Effort: 3 Months
• Period of Engagement: May 1 – July 31, 2024
• Travel, local per diem, danger pay, and accommodation are provided.

Required Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in a field related to the nutrition sector. Master’s degree is an advantage.
• At least 5 years of professional experience with technical design and implementation of nutrition programming (especially IYCF-E). At least 2 years working with international NGOs in humanitarian response missions.
• Strong technical competence in Infant and Young Child (IYCF) approaches and standards (both for emergencies and non-emergency contexts).
• Strong technical knowledge of IYCF-E Operational Guidance, the Sphere Standards and the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes.
• Experience starting up IYCF-E programs in humanitarian contexts is an advantage.
• Experience training and building capacity of local staff and partners on nutrition and IYCF-E is an advantage.
• Experience working on IYCF programs in middle-high income countries is an advantage
• Strong program/technical and budget management skills, planning, reporting, monitoring and evaluation skills.
• Strong written and oral communication skills. Able to effectively represent the organization with external stakeholders.
• Fluency in English required.
• Knowledge of Ukrainian or Russian is an advantage (but not required).
• Able to deploy quickly.
• HEAT or UN SSAFE Training within the last five years highly recommended.

Evaluation Criteria: Proposals will be evaluated in accordance with the following criteria:

• Expertise in humanitarian programming and implementation
• Consultancy or employment experience with similar organizations
• Ability to deploy quickly

FHI 360 Disclaimers

• FHI 360 may cancel the solicitation and not award
• FHI 360 may reject any or all responses received
• Issuance of the solicitation does not constitute an award commitment by FHI 360
• FHI 360 reserves the right to disqualify any offer based on failure of the offeror to follow solicitation instructions
• FHI 360 will not compensate any offeror for responding to solicitation
• FHI 360 reserves the right to issue award based on initial evaluation of offers without further discussion
• FHI 360 may choose to award only part of the activities in the solicitation, or issue multiple awards based on the solicitation activities
• FHI 360 reserves the right to waive minor proposal deficiencies that can be corrected prior to award determination to promote competition
• FHI 360’s supplier terms and conditions can be found here while our consultant terms and conditions can be found here