TERMS OF REFERENCE (ToR)
Position: Senior Consultant Nutrition – (SAM, IYCF, EGF, Food systems strengthening, Climate and Nutrition)-1Position
Location: Centre of Excellence - Child Health & Nutrition, Capital Hospital, Bhubaneswar, Odisha (Supported by UNICEF)
Reporting to: Director, Capital Hospital (Direct) & Nutrition Specialist, UNICEF (Technical)
Background:
Stunting, an irreversible outcome of chronic undernutrition, occurs early in life starting from conception until two years of life, diminishing one’s physical, cognitive, and productive capacity. Though stunting in Odisha declined from 43.1% (NFHS-3) through 34.1% (NFHS-4) to 31% (NFHS-5), the latest NFHS-6 (2023–24) data show a further decline to 26.8%, indicating progress but also the continued need for focused action under SDG 2. However, acute malnutrition remains a major concern. In Odisha, wasting among children under five has increased from 18.1% in NFHS-5 to 22.1% in NFHS-6, which is above the national average of 19%. Severe wasting has reduced slightly from 6.1% in NFHS-5 to 5.8% in NFHS-6 but continues to require close programmatic attention. Based on the NFHS-6 estimates, moderate wasting accounts for 16.3% of children under five, underscoring the need for early identification and timely counselling before children deteriorate into severe acute malnutrition. Early initiation of breastfeeding is also a concern in Odisha. Institutional delivery has improved from 85.3% in NFHS-4 to 92.2% in NFHS-5 and further to 93.9% in NFHS-6, yet breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices need sustained strengthening. Odisha had shown a significant increase in the proportion of children aged 6–23 months receiving an adequate diet from 8.5% in NFHS-4 to 20.4% in NFHS-5; however, this declined to 14.9% in NFHS-6, indicating that adequate complementary feeding remains low and requires continued attention. All this leads to early growth faltering, or children not growing adequately, which eventually leads to anthropometric growth failure or malnutrition.
As climate vulnerabilities, extreme weather events, and agricultural disruptions increasingly threaten local dietary diversity and food security, strengthening Odisha’s food systems is critical to ensuring continuous access to safe, nutrient-dense foods for young children and mothers. Integrating climate-smart strategies with food system strengthening will build community resilience against climate shocks, protect early childhood nutrition outcomes, and directly support optimal IYCF and SAM/MAM management interventions across the state.
UNICEF is committed to promoting adequate food, food environments and practices in early childhood, especially complementary feeding; improving timely and early detection of growth failure in young children with a focus on screening and linking to quality counselling; and improving care of low-birth-weight infants and wasting in children under six months. The Consultant will provide technical support to capacity building, knowledge management and review of various interventions for promotion of optimal IYCF practices, SAM management at facility and community level and early detection of growth failure.
With this background CoE Child Health & Nutrition invites application for the post of Senior Consultant Nutrition (SAM, IYCF, EGF, Food systems strengthening, Climate and Nutrition) for the state of Odisha.
Purpose of the Assignment:
The Senior Consultant Nutrition will provide technical support for promoting Infant and Young Child Feeding practices; strengthening facility and community-based management of acute malnutrition; improving early detection of growth failure through screening, counselling, and care of low-birth-weight infants and wasting in children under six months; and advancing child-centred food systems strengthening, climate-resilient diets, food environments, and related nutrition actions in the state.
Educational Qualifications:
• A master’s qualification in nutrition; public health; social sciences or related disciplines. A PhD in public health, Nutrition, Dietetics, or a related field will be an added advantage.
Work Experience:
• At least 10–15 years of professional experience in public health nutrition, child health, or maternal and child health programmes.
• Demonstrated experience in implementing or supporting Infant and Young Child Feeding, complementary feeding, SAM management, early growth failure, or related nutrition interventions.
• Experience in capacity building, including training, mentoring, and providing technical support to government, health system, community, and partner stakeholders.
Skills and Competencies:
• Strong technical knowledge of optimal Infant and Young Child Feeding practices, complementary feeding, and facility- and community-based management of acute malnutrition.
• Good understanding of food systems, climate change, disasters, and nutrition, including their implications for child diets, food environments, and nutrition programming.
• Ability to use data for planning, monitoring, analysis, reporting, and review of nutrition outcomes, including early detection of growth failure.
• Strong advocacy, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills for working with policymakers, programme managers, frontline workers, communities, and partners.
• Ability to work effectively with multidisciplinary teams, including healthcare providers, community health workers, government counterparts, and development partners.
Language and Communication:
• Proficiency in English and Odia language.
• Soft and excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
Roles and Responsibilities:
• Provide technical support for quality implementation of the MAA programme, with emphasis on strengthening early initiation of breastfeeding in health facilities, improving counselling for breastfeeding and complementary feeding, and promoting optimal Infant and Young Child Feeding practices.
• Support facility- and community-based management of acute malnutrition, including strengthening systems for early identification, referral, counselling, follow-up, and continuity of care for children with wasting and severe acute malnutrition.
• Provide technical inputs to improve timely detection of growth failure in young children through routine screening, growth monitoring, data review, and linkage with quality counselling and appropriate services.
• Support improved care of low-birth-weight infants and children under six months with wasting, including guidance on assessment, counselling, referral, and follow-up within existing health and nutrition platforms.
• Contribute to nutrition-sensitive food systems and climate-resilient nutrition actions by supporting programme reviews, capacity building, knowledge management, and coordination with government and partner stakeholders.
Remuneration and entitlements
Remuneration payable to the selected candidate in the form of professional fees shall be attractive and in alignment with market norms.
Period of Engagement: Upto 31st December 2026 (with possibility of extension depending on the work performance and on the need for the position and budget availability).
Last Date for Application: Apply by 21st August 2026
How to Apply: Complete the Google Form using the following link: https://forms.gle/nuCamSL82rz5ddew5
Note: Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview.