Nutrition Consultant SSA9 at World Food Programme (WFP)

JOB PURPOSE

• Kenya jointly has the third-largest HIV epidemic in the world (alongside Tanzania) with 1.5 million people living with HIV. HIV continues to be a leading cause of adult morbidity and mortality. Stemming new HIV infections among adolescents and young people aged 15-24 years, the situation blamed on the layered challenge of adolescent pregnancies and sexual and gender-based violence, now dubbed the triple threat. These overlapping challenges of new HIV infections increased by 7.3% in 2021 from 32,027 to 34,540 in 2021 in Kenya for the first time in a decade. 67% of these new infections are among women and girls and 53% of deaths are among men.
• Efforts by the government and stakeholders have seen the country’s HIV response yield a 58% decline in annual AIDS-related deaths from 52,964 in 2010 to 22,373 in 2021 reflecting a five-fold increase in the number of people living with HIV on life-saving antiretroviral treatment, from about 250,000 thousand in 2010 to 1.12 million in 2021. The mother to child transmission (MTCT) rate stands at 8.6% an indication that there is still a lot of work that needs to be done.
• The Ministry of Health through NASCOP spearheads biomedical interventions on the fight against HIV and AIDS. NASCOP contributes to the bulk of the implementation of the Kenya Aids Strategic Framework (KASF 11 2020-2024). NASCOP in collaboration with WFP are planning to undertake revision /update nutrition treatment protocols in line with current guidelines and evidence.
• The Nutrition treatment protocol will provide up-to-date information that is needed for effective nutrition counselling, care and support for people living with HIV. The combination of knowledge and skills presented will enable to provide quality nutrition care and support at various service points, and thereby contribute to improving the nutritional and health status and quality of life of people with HIV.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

Under the overall authority of the NASCOP nutrition technical lead and WFP program officer :

• The consultant will lead the review and finalization of Nutrition treatment and diagnosis protocol to be used by HIV programs frontline service providers in the health, nutrition, agriculture, education, civil society, and social services sectors among others.
• Review the draft treatment protocol to make it more user friendly.
• Identify good practices and innovative approaches contained in the other documents and then incorporate them into the updated protocol if applicable in Kenya.
• Finalization of the protocol and provide expertise in designing the final document.
• Support in inserting and ensuring the photos/pictures are sharp, clear, and well labelled.
• Ensure that all references are well captured and cited.
• Ensure all sections of document are complete.
• To arrange the tables (should not flow to next page) and ensure proper titles and numbering.
• Work on the top and back page by ensuring that appropriate pictures are inserted as provided by NASCOP/WFP.
• Share a copy of completed document to NASCOP/WFP for approval before final printing within a specified period.
• Lead 2 consultative forums with key stakeholders.

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• An advanced degree in Nutrition, food science or any other related field.
• Minimum of 8 years’ experience implementing strategic Nutrition programs
• Expertise in nutrition programming and addressing challenges related to achieving tasks.
• Experience in or familiarity with the health and nutrition sectors of countries in Eastern and Southern Africa is advantageous.
• Strong writing, analysis, and communication skills.
• Previous assignment/work with other UN bodies preferred.

EXPECTED RESULTS / TIMELINES

• A user-friendly Nutrition treatment protocol and the final validated nutritional management protocol of PLHIV.
• A treatment protocol adapted to the Kenyan context.
• To be delivered within a period of 20 working days spread in 3 months.

DESIRED EXPERIENCES FOR ENTRY INTO THE ROLE

• Experience and exposure 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.