BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION

UNICEF Malawi with funding from the European Union will be implementing The Ulimi ndi Chilengedwe m’Malawi (UCHI-Nutrition) Programme, which is a component of the larger UCHI Programme, an EU-funded initiative that aims to contribute to sustainable inclusive economic growth and transformation of food systems in Malawi.  The Action is built on the premise that healthier diets for young children, adolescents, and pregnant and breastfeeding mothers are at the heart of achieving nutrition security. This can be achieved through access to diversified, nutrient-dense foods coupled with contextual, gender transformative, innovative, and evidence-based Social Behaviour Change (SBC) programmes to promote the production of nutrient-dense foods, optimal feeding practices, parenting, healthy diets, adequate hygiene practices and consumption patterns, and timely screening and referral of cases of acute malnutrition.   The UCHI Programme will be implemented over a five-year period from September 2024 to August 2029, in 10 Districts (Chitipa, Karonga, Nkhata Bay, Mzimba, Nkhotakota, Salima, Kasungu, Thyolo, Mulanje and Chiradzulu).

It is against this background that UNICEF would like to engage Regional Monitoring and Evaluation Consultants to support district implementation of the UCHI Nutrition Programme.

How can you make a difference?

• Support the design of a sound Monitoring and Evaluation System that would be able to capture nutrition and food security data at community level.
• Provide training to different stakeholders at district level on the use of indicators, data collection activities, reporting and information management.
• Provide needed training on report writing for programme and counterpart staff implementing different programme activities.
• Support the implementation of baseline line survey (type of data, questionnaires, sampling size, statistical analysis, etc.) yearly assessments and endline survey.
• Support the development of reporting systems for programme activities, reporting formats, frequency of reporting, etc.
• Supervise reporting of all programme activities in the two or three assigned districts and processing of the reports in databases and progress reports.
• Provide assistance in and supervise development of programme database(s) and, when ready, assist and supervise data entry and management of programme database(s).
• Ensure timely data collection, analysis and reporting on key programme indicators monthly.
• Support the review of data with the District Monitoring and Evaluation Coordinating Committee (DMECC) and the District Nutrition Coordinating Committee (DNCC) members and prioritize planning based on data and gaps identified.
• Prepare technical reports as may be required or requested.

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

Academic qualification:

• A minimum of a University Degree in Economics, Food and Nutrition, Agricultural Economics, Agricultural Extensions, Development Economics, Data Science, Statistics, Epidemiology or any other related subject. 

Work experience:

• At least two years of experience in undertaking research studies, monitoring and evaluation of multi-sector food and nutrition security programmes, with strong technical skills in developing reporting systems, database management and statistical analysis.
• Experience in online data collection platforms including Kobo toolbox or survey solutions.
• Should be computer literate in spreadsheet programs and data analysis software’s such as SPSS and Stata, and Microsoft Excel.
• Proven experience in conducting Data Quality Assessments.
• Experience in a developing country is required.
• Experience in health/nutrition/ agriculture/ food security programme/project development within a UN system agency is an asset.

Technical knowledge and skills:

• Technical skills in programme monitoring and evaluation are required.
• Background and/or familiarity with emergency is considered as an asset.
• Proven networking and partnership-building skills are an asset.

Language:

• Fluency in English and a local language (particularly Chichewa), both strong verbal and written skills, are essential.

Please refer to the attached full Terms of Reference  Terms of Reference_Regional Monitoring and Evaluation Consultants .pdf for more details on the consultancy and requirements.