Nutritious Food Consultant at Helen Keller

The name Helen Keller is known around the world as a symbol of courage in the face of overwhelming odds, yet she was much more than a symbol. She was a woman of luminous intelligence, high ambition and great accomplishment who devoted her life to helping others. Helen Keller, our co-founder, envisioned a world without barriers to human potential. Guided by her fierce optimism, we have been working on the front lines of health and well-being for more than 100 years. Working in 19 countries across Africa and Asia-as well as in the United States-we are dedicated to eliminating preventable vision loss, malnutrition, and diseases of poverty.

Job Position: Consultant to Illustrate the Stories Developed for Promoting Nutritious Food Consumption Among Children Aged 5-7 years

Job Locations: Bauchi, Kebbi, and Sokoto

Job Description

1. USAID Advancing Nutrition is the Agency’s flagship multi-sectoral nutrition project, led byJSI Research & Training Institute, Inc. (JSI), and a diverse group of experienced partners.Launched in September 2018, USAID Advancing Nutrition implements nutrition interventions across sectors and disciplines for USAID and its partners.
2. The project’s multi-sectoral approach draws together global nutrition experience to design, implement, and evaluate programs that address the root causes of malnutrition. Committed to using a systems approach, USAID Advancing Nutrition strives to sustain positive outcomes by building local capacity, supporting behavior change, and strengthening the enabling environment to save lives, improve health, build resilience, increase economic productivity, and advance development. In Nigeria, the project aims to meet the following objectives

Objectives of the Project

1. Objective 1: Strengthen multi-sectoral linkages and coordination through technical assistance to the Government of Nigeria, the Mission, and implementing partners
2. Objective 2: Support the Government of Nigeria to strengthen wasting prevention and treatment services
3. Objective 3: Generate evidence and test innovative approaches to improve nutrition programming and inform future designs

Preamble on the activity

1. Children aged 5-7 years are at a critical age for their cognitive and physical development. Proper nutrition during this age group is essential for their growth and development. However, many children do not consume a balanced diet that includes all the essential nutrients. In FY22, USAID Advancing Nutrition organized consultation workshops with various food systems actors in Kebbi, Sokoto and Bauchi where priority food groups were identified and selected.
2. USAID Advancing Nutrition Project intends to use the findings from these consultations (alongside other consultations) to promote the consumption of nutritious food, including micro-nutrients in children using storytelling. To achieve this, the project has contracted a qualified and experienced consultant to develop this story and is currently seeking to engage a consultant to illustrate these stories to pique the interest of the target audience.

Schedules and Deliverables
The contractor is responsible for the timely submission of the following deliverables, as part of the SOW:

The total LOE is approximately 22 days non-consecutive. All required deliverables and reports shall be submitted to the Senior Program Advisor, USAID Advancing Nutrition

Tentative Timeline

1. The anticipated duration to complete this task is 22 LOE, between July toAugust 2023.

Ethical and Legal Matters
The ownership of the draft and final documentation belongs to the agency and the funding donor exclusively. The document, or publication related to it, will not be shared with anybody except USAID Advancing Nutrition has approved of it. USAID Advancing Nutrition is to be the main addressee of the report. USAID Advancing Nutrition is likely to share the training report with the following groups:

1. Donors
2. Various coordination bodies
3. Government stakeholders

For independent consultancies, the consultant must not have any links to project management or any other conflict of interest that would interfere with the independence of the activity.

Intellectual Property Right

1. All documentation related to the assignment (whether or not in the course of duties) shall remain the sole and exclusive property of USAID Advancing Nutrition.

Job Requirements
The consultant will have the following minimum qualifications:

1. Candidates should possess a Bachelor’s Degree with 4-10 years experience
2. Strong artistic skills: The illustrator should have a proven ability to create visually appealing and engaging illustrations, with a focus on vibrant colors, attractive characters, and imaginative settings.
3. Experience in children’s illustrations: The ideal candidate should have a portfolio showcasing previous work specifically aimed at children, demonstrating an understanding of the unique visual storytelling techniques that resonate with young audiences.
4. Familiarity with nutrition concepts: A good grasp of basic nutrition principles and an ability to convey them visually in a simple and engaging manner is crucial. The illustrator should be able to incorporate elements like fruits, vegetables, and healthy eating habits into their designs.
5. Creativity and storytelling ability: The illustrator should possess a creative mindset and an aptitude for storytelling. They should be able to bring characters and narratives to life through their illustrations, making them relatable and captivating for children.
6. Knowledge of child development: Understanding the cognitive and emotional development of children under 10 years old is important for creating illustrations that resonate with their age group. The illustrator should be able to tailor their designs to suit different stages of development.
7. Proficiency in digital illustration tools: Strong proficiency in digital illustration software such as Adobe creative suite is essential. The ability to work with various digital drawing tablets and tools is also beneficial.
8. Collaboration and communication skills: The illustrator should be able to effectively communicate and collaborate with writers, editors, and other team members to bring the nutritious stories to life. Clear and prompt communication is crucial for understanding project requirements and incorporating feedback.
9. Attention to detail and ability to meet deadlines: The illustrator should demonstrate excellent attention to detail, ensuring accuracy in their illustrations and adherence to project timelines. Meeting deadlines and managing time effectively is essential for delivering high-quality work on time.
10. Adaptability and willingness to accept feedback: The illustrator should be open to receiving feedback and making revisions as necessary. They should be able to adapt their style and approach to meet the specific requirements of each project and accommodate feedback from clients and stakeholders.
11. Passion for children’s education: A genuine passion for educating and inspiring children through creative illustrations is essential. The illustrator should have a strong desire to contribute positively to children’s development and well-being through their artwork.

Application Deadline
4th August, 2023.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should forward their CV to: nigeria.recruitment@hki.org using the Position as the subject of the email.