National Consultant - Nutrition System Strengthening Consultant at United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF)

United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential. Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: National Consultant - Nutrition System Strengthening Consultant

Job ID: 582723
Location: Abuja (FCT)
Contract type: Consultant
Duty Station: Abuja
Categories: Nutrition

Specific Objectives
Under the overall guidance of the Nutrition Manager – System Strengthening Abuja, the consultant will:

• Provide sound technical support for the integration and delivery of nutrition services (prevention and treatment) at the national and sub-national levels.
• Strengthen national capacity for quantification, forecasting, delivery and reporting of nutrition commodities at the national and sub-national level.
• Provide support to the nutrition programme through efficient management of organizational resources and monitoring of results

Expected Results
The consultant will contribute to the following system strengthening results:

• Draft and finalize MNCHW Round 1 Report (including data validation)
• Round 2 of Maternal Newborn and Child Health Week (MNCHW) conducted across all 36+1 states, with improved integration (bundling of services)
• Multiple micronutrient supplements are incorporated into national and state-level implementation plans and state annual operational plans.
• At least ten states have the capacity and use the Nigeria Health Logistics Management Information System to report on nutrition commodities.
• DHIS-2 campaign module deployed at the national level and all 36 states + FCT.

Scope of work
The consultant will undertake key activities as outlined below (but not be limited by them).
Round 2 of Maternal Newborn and Child Health Week (MNCHW) conducted across all 36+1 states, with improved integration (bundling of services):

• Facilitate the delivery of Vitamin A Capsules (VAC) and Multiple Micronutrient Supplements (MMS) commodities to all states of the federation.
• Facilitate the implementation of the 2025 round II bi-annual MNCHW.
• Initiate the procurement and freight of Vitamin A Capsules
• Track VAC/MMS commodities for round II MNCHW implementation.
• Review the overall monitoring plan and make recommendations for MNCHW round II.

Multiple micronutrient supplements are incorporated into national and state-level implementation plans and state annual operational plans:

• Support the finalization process of the national MMS scale-up road map development and costing of MMS.
• Facilitate state-level roadmap domestication and costing with a focus on states with existing resources.
• Support the capacity strengthening of health workers on MMS integration and service delivery.

At least ten states have the capacity and use the Nigeria Health Logistics Management Information System to report on nutrition commodities:

• Facilitate NHLIMS operational needs assessment and support addressing the gaps to enhance operationalization.
•  Facilitate national forecasting and quantification exercise for nutrition commodities (Vitamin A capsule, MMS, Deworming, RUTF, etc) for the year 2026.

DHIS-2 campaign module deployed at the national level and all 36 states + FCT:

• Facilitate reporting of nutrition service delivery (Campaign and Routine) through DHIS-2
• Facilitate the finalization and dissemination of revised NHIMS tools to the sub-national level.
• Lead the coordination of partners to support the government in the printing and dissemination of the revised NHLIMS.

Deliverables and Timeline
Deliverable 1 (August – September 2025):

• MNCHW round 1 data validation conducted.
• MMS costed roadmap finalized.
• At least five targeted states have developed their costed road map and implementation plans.
• Second round distribution of MMS and VACs completed.

Deliverable 2 (October-November 2025):

• Third-party and federal monitors recruited, trained and deployed for MNCHW round 2.
• Monitoring of MNCHW conducted using the online platform and DHIS 2.
• NHLMIS rolled out in at least ten targeted states.

Deliverable 3 (December 2025 – January 2026):

• Needs assessment for IT equipment conducted and equipment procured.
• National forecasting and quantification exercise for nutrition commodities done.
• Government staff trained on the NLMIS

Deliverable 4 (February - March 2026):

• MNCHW round 2 data validation conducted.
• Ten states using the NLHMIS for supply monitoring.
• End of assignment report submitted.

Requirements
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have:

• A bachelor’s degree in public health nutrition/public health or project management or any field relevant to global health
• A minimum of five years’ progressively responsible professional work experience relevant to implementation of national/international development programmes.
• Experience working in public health/food security/nutrition-related activities.
• Experience identifying and defining nutrition issues/problems within a country.
• Experience in both development and humanitarian contexts is an added advantage.
• Experience in health/nutrition program/project development, especially within a UN system agency or organization, is an asset.
• Proficiency in MS Excel, PowerPoint and Word
• Experience in Nigeria’s Health System
• Experience in project management
• A master’s degree will be an advantage.
• Language Requirements: Fluency in written and spoken English is required.

Application Closing Date
19th August, 2025.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Note

• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.
• Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage).
• Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors.
• Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.
• The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract.
• Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment.
• It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.