State Engagement Strategy Development Consultancy For The Child Development Grant Programme at Save The Children

Overview
The Child Development Grant Programme - CDGP (DFID Funded) provides an unconditional cash transfer of 3,500 NGN (approximately £14) per month for up to 60,000 pregnant women and women with children under the age of two (2) in Zamfara and Jigawa. It is a joint programme with Action Against Hunger (ACF). The programme is aimed at reducing the prevalence of stunting and infant mortality. There are 4 key outputs of the programme:

Output 1: Design and delivery a secure payments mechanism providing regular, timely cash transfers to 60,000 pregnant women and women with under-2s.
Output 2: Effective system for mobilisation, targeting and complementary interventions.
Output 3: Enhanced government capacities for managing cash transfers in focus States.
Output 4: Evidence of cash transfer modalities and impacts provided to policymakers and practitioners at State and Federal levels.

Objectives of the Consultancy
A key requirement of the CDGP is to secure increased political and institutional commitment to implement effective state-wide social protection programmes that ensures improved nutrition, food security and poverty reduction for women and children. For this reason, advocacy and community engagement is an important function of the programme. The primary objectives of the consultancy are two-fold:

• To develop a state engagement strategy for Jigawa and Zamfara States and
• To develop an advocacy framework accompanying the strategy

Both the State Engagement and Advocacy Strategies for Zamfara and Jigawa will outline the key stakeholders, activities and processes for state engagement in order to build government commitment and ownership of effective state-wide social protection programme for women and children. The state engagement strategy will be based on the key political drivers and constraints to the institutionalization of the CDGP model in the two states. The Political Economic Analysis of the states should guide the development of these documents.

Deliverables

• A draft advocacy framework for the Child Development Grant Programme – no more than 10 pages
• A draft State Engagement Strategy with SMART Indicators, M&E Plan and Detailed Implementation Plan (DIP)

Desirables

• Advanced university degree
• A sound understanding of the political economy of Northern Nigeria (particularly Zamfara and Jigawa)
• Ability to speak local language
• Experience of developing advocacy and state engagement strategies
• An awareness of social protection and poverty reduction policies
• Previous experience in development of analytical reports and policy documents related to partnerships
• Ability to synthesize and analyze large amounts of information combining quantitative and qualitative data
• Understanding and knowledge of the Nigerian context
• Excellent written English
• Knowledge of rights-based approach to programmes