Background and Rationale 

Nutrition International has been supporting the Government of Ethiopia in the implementation of national food and nutrition policies, strategies, directives, and standards to alleviate micronutrient deficiencies in the country. NI has been key partner of the national salt iodization program since the USI legislation enacted in 2011. NI has been providing financial and technical supports aimed to improve and sustain the supply of adequately iodized salt to the people of Ethiopia.

 NI’s support mainly focuses on the following strategic initiatives: 

1. Involve in the development and implementation of program policy and strategy to improve regulatory enforcement capacity and quality control and quality assurance by providing training, monitoring tools, Technical and Financial assistance to conduct market assessment and surveillance, CIF inspection and audit. 

2. Support enabling environment for quality iodized salt production like premix and raw salt supply management system. NI has been also provided training, onsite mentoring support to CIFs.

 3. Involve and support USI program governance structure and decision through USI stakeholders’ coordination, coverage, and impact surveys. 

FNS baseline survey preliminary report published March 20231 , percentage of consuming adequately iodized salt was 51%, while consumption of over iodized salt has significantly increased (25%) and 24% of HH were found to consume inadequately iodized salt. There is also similar finding from the national post market surveillance (PMS) conducted by EFDA in 20222 . The surveillance was conducted on samples collected from different selling outlets showed that only 47% of salt samples have the required iodine content (20-40 ppm) in the standard (CES 703 ). Fifteen percent of tested samples fall below the standard, whereas 38% of the salt samples were over-iodized.

 As part of the response to the above findings, the National Food Fortification Technical Committee4 conducted iodization process assessment at CIFs was conducted to clearly identify irregularities in production of iodized salt. The assessment revealed that. 

1. The premix pumped to raw salt was not automatically adjusted to the amount of salt flowing. 

2. CIFs have not regular schedule to check iodization levels, functions of pump, sprayer or dropping nozzle to recalibrate the premix addition rate

The purpose of the assignment is to improve market supply of adequality iodized salt in the country. accordingly, NI planned to hire consultant that work with the national FFTC:

             1. To develop feasible iodization quality improvement solutions,

              2. To provide hands-on technical support on critical iodization process bottlenecks like mass flow rate monitoring, check plan, monitoring, and pump calibration skill, 

               3. To provide costed options to set up automated iodization mechanism. 

Scope of work :

                   1. Develop the critical gap assessment and iodization process mapping tool – 2 days. 

                    2. Conduct supervision/inspection and review premix potassium iodate mixing ratio in 5 Central Iodization Facilities (CIFs) – 15 days.

                     3. Critically inspect the spraying or dropping process and functionality of the equipment in 5 CIFs – 3 days

                     4. Prioritize iodization process core gaps and challenges for adequate iodization – 2 days.

                      5. Develop and provide customized iodization process Standard Operating Procedures (SoPs), checklists and recording formats for optimum salt iodization process – 2 days. 

                      6. Provide the practical training or hands-on mentorship assistance to 5 central iodization facilities (CIFs) that are supplying 90% iodized salt to the market – 33 days. 

                      7. Identify spraying technology needed or additional infrastructure to adequately iodize salt for 5 CIFs – 2 days. 

Deliverables :

•  Submit inception report. 

•   Conduct the deep situation assessment of the CIF technological and infrastructure assessment report. 

•  Prioritize the gaps and challenges for ideal iodization. 

•  Provide practical onsite technical support for selected CIFs on establishment of automated iodization system (validation, verification & calibration system).

•   Prepare and submit SoPs, internal audit checklists and monitoring formats for proper validation, verification & calibration system

Support 

      The Consultant will receive support from NI country office to identify operation CIFs and other responsible government and CIF personnels to visit and assist facilities, schedule interviews, technical support will be provided by the Food Fortification, Senior Program Officer

Job Requirement 

Required Competencies and Knowledge 

•  MSc Degree in Food Technology, Food Engineering and related fields

•   A minimum of ten years of work experience in in food processing industry preferably in salt iodization facilities. 

•  Practical experience in setting-up spraying unit & validation/verification, & calibration in central iodization facilities. 

•  Training in nutrition, food safety, food science, food fortification is an added advantage.

•   Excellent interpersonal skills, cultural sensitivity, and ability to communicate effectively. 

•  Excellent writing skills in English 

• Ability to adhere to tight deadlines, exercise discretion and maintain confidentiality.

How To Apply

Application 

Interested candidates are requested to send the following information: 

1. Technical proposal including a submission/cover letter, availability of a consultant, information on experience, and implementation plan.

 2. Financial proposal including daily rates, costs for travel, accommodation, per diem, and/or professional/consultancy /subcontracting fees. 

3. Recent samples of 1 comparable pieces of work

 Please include in the subject line for submission: Food Technologist/Engineer to provide hands-on technical support to Central Iodization Facilities (CIFs) to identify operational challenges and improve premix addition mechanism.

 To the address: Program.applicationETH@NUTRITIONINTL.ORG 

Due date: June 30, 2024, before 5:30 PM Additional Consideration: Female qualified candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.