Terms of Reference: For the support of the IFE-CG in 2023

About Emergency Nutrition Network (ENN)

Emergency Nutrition Network (ENN) works to reduce undernutrition globally. We enhance the effectiveness of nutrition policy and programming by improving knowledge, stimulating learning and building evidence. We are passionate about being network-driven, independent and evidence-based.

Our vision is that every individual caught up in a nutritional emergency, or suffering from malnutrition anywhere in the world, gets the most effective help possible. 

We undertake knowledge management, research and advocacy to support national governments, civil society, UN agencies, donors and academic organisations, and communities of practitioners. Through our work and collaborations, we support agencies and individuals to implement evidence-based nutrition programming, predominantly in low- and middle-income countries and in fragile and conflict-affected states.

ENN is governed by a Board of Trustees and has its head office in Oxfordshire, UK. ENN is financially supported by foundations and trusts, bilateral donors, international non-governmental organisations and United Nations agencies. For more information about ENN see our website.

What we do

Our Strategy aims to enhance the effectiveness of nutrition policy and programming by improving knowledge, stimulating learning, building evidence and providing support and encouragement to practitioners and decision-makers involved in nutrition and related interventions.

ENN’s portfolio includes projects specialising in Infant Feeding in Emergencies, Wasting and Stunting, Adolescent Nutrition and Management of small & nutritionally At-risk Infants under six months & their Mothers (MAMI), as well as our highly regarded international publication, Field Exchange (FEX).

Our People

ENN’s team is made up of a range of technical experts in nutrition, with decades of collective experience, and a small, experienced operational team. ENN is highly committed to diversity and inclusion and to enabling and promoting flexible working.

Introduction

The Infant Feeding in Emergencies Core Group (IFE-CG), hosted and coordinated by ENN since 2004, responds to emerging technical needs from frontline practitioners with guidance and support to improve humanitarian responses and save lives. It aims to safeguard the feeding and care of infants and young children in humanitarian contexts by improving awareness of Infant and Young Child Feeding in Emergencies (IYCF-E) and what is required for timely, appropriate support to minimise risks during a humanitarian response. It further aims to influence progress in the protection, promotion and support of appropriate child feeding and care during emergencies. Furthermore, the IFE Core Group is a designated global thematic working group of the Global Nutrition Cluster (GNC) Technical Alliance which aims to improve the quality of nutrition preparedness, response, and recovery, by enabling and providing coordinated, accessible, and timely technical support through multiple channels where gaps exist. 

Following the CFE review that was conducted in 2019, which highlighted the gaps in programming, complementary feeding in emergencies (CFE) programming was prioritised by the IFE Core Group. In 2021-2022, the IFE Core Group conducted two case studies on CFE in Nigeria and Sudan using the UNICEF Action Framework for Improving Diets of Young Children during the Complementary Feeding Period. With UNICEF, in 2022 the IFE Core Group also worked on documenting several examples of CFE programming which were published in a CFE special series in Field Exchange issue 68. Advancing Nutrition is also documenting two additional CFE case studies in different contexts.  

As a next step, and based on these case studies, there is a need to provide practical and sustainable guidance for countries to improve the planning, policies, and implementation of CFE interventions. To support this identified need, the IFE Core Group will engage in developing CFE programming stop-gap guidance with associated practical tools, as required, which would provide countries with a framework to strengthen CFE programming at the country level (based on the UNICEF Action Framework for Improving Diets of Young Children in the Complementary Feeding Period). The IFE Core Group will support the dissemination of this guidance through a broad range of platforms including the GNC knowledge sharing platforms, Field Exchange and other fora in which members of the IFE Core Group are engaged.  

In 2023, ENN received financial support from donors that aim to meet and further the objectives within the workplan and strategy of the IFE Core Group, for which ENN will be seeking individual consultants. The “CFE consultant” will provide strong leadership and technical expertise in support of the CFE activities of the IFE-CG.  

Objective:

The role of the CFE consultant will be to provide support to the IFE-CG Facilitator in delivering on the workplan activities under the responsibility of ENN. This will include: 

1. Building on existing work to date, identify key priorities and actions that are needed in the world of CFE to set priority actions and suggested timeline as a roadmap for action. The action plan /roadmap is intended to be a working document used as the basis for a future collective piece of work by the IFE CG to develop a CFE programming guidance
2. Drawing on the members of the IFE Core Group, establish a project bound technical advisory group (TAG) that will operate until June 2023. It would provide technical support and advise to the consultant in their development of a roadmap (activity above). This will also include a further definition of what an on-going CFE working group could be, including a draft ToR for this working group and suggested governance processes
3. In close consultation with the CFE sub-working group or TAG, and in line with the identified priorities and gaps in the CFE roadmap, the CFE consultant will identify where the immediate needs are for improved stop-gap guidance.  S/he will synthesize and analyse programming insights to support the development of CFE stop-gap guidance to support advocacy, planning, policies, research, and the implementation of interventions to improve the diets of young children in emergency contexts. This activity will be informed by the Field Exchange special series on CFE and the existing case studies on CFE

Contract arrangements 

Number of days: 48 days with details as per the description of activities below.  

Duration of the contract: it is expected that activities are to start late February and conclude no later than October 2023.   

Activities and expected outputs 

Under the guidance of the IFE-CG and with the support of the Consultant Nutritionist, the CFE consultant will:  

• Provide technical leadership on CFE programming 
• Engage with members of the IFE-CG 
• Co-lead (with UNICEF) the coordination and facilitation of technical working group 
• Lead the development of Terms of Reference for the sub-working group, in consultation with members of the IFE-CG identified by the IFE-CF facilitator  
• Develop an action plan to inform future CFE implementation guidance
• Synthesize and analyse programming insights to support the development of immediate CFE stop-gap guidance
• Draft a summary of CFE work for publication in Field Exchange, and revise to incorporate feedback from the ENN FEX editorial team

Reporting to: ENN Senior Technical Adviser

Qualifications and Experience  

Essential requirements 

• Post graduate level qualification in Nutrition/Community Nutrition or Public Health or Medicine discipline 
• Demonstrable field/applicable experience across several relevant aspects of nutrition programming in low- and middle- income countries:  CFE is essential, others include CMAM, MAMI, IYCF, Maternal Nutrition, Adolescent Nutrition 
• Experience of in-depth knowledge management, and / or projects that focus on ‘learning’ 
• Strong knowledge of the current key topics and challenges in the nutrition sector, including MAMI, Adolescent, IFE, maternal and beyond 
• Excellent communication, presentation, written and analytical skills 
• Experience of establishing and maintaining good working relationships with a wide range of stakeholders at national and global level 
• Excellent attention to detail and ability to synthesise and make sense of complex data and information, including experience of secondary data analyses, systematic literature reviews and report-writing.  
• Strong interpersonal skills, motivated, takes initiative, innovates and drives progress 
• Strong influencing and stakeholder management skills 
• Good cross-cultural awareness 
• Ability to independently manage a diverse and busy workload, prioritising effectively, and able to work both autonomously and as a member of a dispersed and diverse team 
• Experience managing a workpiece/sub-project from start to finish, including supporting other members of the team within that project 
• Demonstrable experience of working on projects funded by government and international donors  

Desirable requirements 

• Experience of the IFE Core Group or engaged in conversations around CFE 

Ways of working 

The CFE consultant will work under the guidance of the IFE-CG Facilitator and collaborate very closely with UNICEF and the established CFE Technical Advisory Group. 

ENN is a flexible working environment, with staff and consultant working from various locations and time zones. The consultant will be expected to work with flexibility to accommodate time for collaboration and for attending meetings, when necessary.  

The consultant must provide their own equipment (e.g., computer and office supplies).

Daily Rate: up to £300 (GBP)

To apply:  Please send a proposal of not more than one page, and your CV to recruitment@ennonline.net. The proposal should provide evidence that you have the essential knowledge, skills, qualifications, experience and behaviours we are seeking.

The closing date for applications is 10th March 2023. Early applications are advised as we reserve the right to conclude the process before the closing date if a suitable candidate is identified. Please include your preferred working pattern details in your application

ENN carries out appropriate due diligence checks on all workers and suppliers. These will need to be completed before the consultancy can begin. These include identity, right to work and anti-terrorism screening. For more details on what these checks include please contact - lorraine@ennonline.net