National Consultant - Midline Survey for Integrated Basic Nutrition Response to the Humanitarian crisis including multisectoral pilot (INP+) at UNICEF

Job Number: 518741
Location: Abuja
Work Type : Consultancy
Duration of the contract: 4 months

Background

• Action Against Hunger (AAH), United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), and the World Food Programme (WFP) are implementing a joint project, the Integrated Basic Nutrition Response to the Humanitarian Crisis in Borno and Yobe including a multisectoral pilot (INP+) from April 2017 to March 2019. The project's interventions focus on the first 1000 days of life from the start of a woman's pregnancy to a child's second birthday. This period provides a critical window of opportunity for preventing undernutrition and its consequences.
• The DFID-funded project is implemented in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Budget and National Planning, the Federal Ministry of Health, the National and State Primary Health Care Development Agencies, and the State Ministries of Health. It aims to improve the nutritional status of children under five years, and pregnant and lactating women, through interventions linked to prevention, detection and treatment of undernutrition.
• As part of the overall INP+ project, a multi-sectoral pilot is being implemented in Shani and Nangere LGAs in Borno and Yobe States, respectively. The pilot integrates interventions that address the immediate and underlying causes of malnutrition within one package. While nutrition-specific interventions like the prevention and treatment of acute malnutrition, promotion of optimal infant and young child feeding practices, and micronutrient supplementation address the immediate causes of malnutrition, nutrition-sensitive interventions such as water, sanitation and hygiene activities, livelihood support, early childhood development, child protection, and health activities target the underlying causes.
• In February 2018, a baseline survey was carried out for the multi-sectoral pilot in the intervention LGAs (Nangere and Shani) and control LGAs (Bayo and Gujba). The midline survey should be carried out in the first quarter of 2019.

Purpose of Assignment

• In the context of the stated program background, the project is mandated to demonstrate the impact of having a multisectoral intervention to be able to do this, an objective measurement of the current situation before implementation of the project is necessary. A neutral and independent person is then required to conduct the objective measurement.
• The main purpose of the assignment is to coordinate/carry out, in collaboration with the INP+ consortium and the National Bureau of Statistics, the systematic data collection, analysis and reporting on the midline status of the INP+ multisectoral pilot in the intervention LGAs (Nangere and Shani) and control LGAs (Bayo and Gujba).
• The midline report should measure the progress of the INP+ multi-sectoral pilot activities over the course of its implementation, include information to explain any variances in the different interventions and targeting modalities, include a midline cost effectiveness/value for money analysis and provide recommendations for the next stage of the pilot.

Major Tasks
The consultant, in collaboration with National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), is expected to:

• Define a methodology which will utilize a mixed-methods approach for the midline survey within 2 weeks of engagement. The study design will have special focus on health and nutrition with anthropometry and mortality indicators being the primary indicators of the study. S/he will ensure that the midline survey design of the midline survey adopts a quasi-experimental design to make a comparative analysis of the different implementation packages/modalities. The survey design including the sampling methodologies (multi stage cluster sampling preferred) to be adopted will have to be spelt out clearly in the survey protocol which will be finalized by the consultant and shared with the consortium partners.
• Develop a comprehensive workplan and budget for the midline survey activities. The budget should cover all necessary costs that will be associated with the survey and should be submitted to the consortium partners for approval by the 3rd week of engagement.
• Use an integrated approach in developing data collection tools and instruments incorporating Education, WASH, FSL and social protection components bearing in mind the unique differences in the pilot packages being delivered in the respective pilot LGAs. S/he will oversee the deployment of the finalized data collection tools and instruments on the mobile platforms (Open Data Kit) and also coordinate the training of the data collectors. The data collection phase starting with the training of the data collectors is expected to start by the 4th week of engagement and lapse for a maximum period of 7 weeks.
• Take the lead in the midline survey data collection, cleaning and analysis with guidance from consortium partners. Since data will be collected real time with the mobile-based data collection technology, the consultant is expected to conduct daily validation and logic checks on the collected data and give daily feedback to the data collection team. A presentation of the preliminary findings of the survey should be made to the partners a maximum of 2 weeks from the completion of the field data collection exercise.
• Produce and submit a final midline survey report which will be shared with the partners for review and approval. This should be done no later than the 15th week of engagement of the consultant.
• The major tasks and suggested timeline identified above is meant to give a brief overview of the assignment and is by no means exhaustive; further information will be provided to the consultant on engagement.

Qualifications or Specialized Knowledge/Experience Required

• Education: Advanced University degree in Health, Nutrition, Public Health, Epidemiology, Economics, Food security, Statistics or and related field of study
• Demonstrated 5 years experience in conducting Formative, Interim and Summative evaluations
• Experience in Monitoring and Evaluation and knowledge management procedures
• Knowledge and experience in application of SMART methodology for nutrition surveys
• Experience working in conflict environment
• Experience in application of Randomized Control Trial or Quasi Experimental Study design will be an added advantage
• Demonstrable knowledge and use of statistical software for data analysis
• Fluency in English (verbal and written); knowledge of Hausa and/or Kanuri language is highly desirable.
• Knowledge of multi sector system response and cross disciplinary experience in nutrition, health, food systems, agriculture is desired.
• Proven survey management and report writing skills (sample will be required).