Call for Expression of Interest To Conduct Capacity Assessment of Government and CSO Networks using 4Children Capacity Assessment Tool at Catholic Relief Services (CRS)

Initiated in September 2014, The Comprehensive, Coordinated Care for Children Project (4Children) is a five†year USAID†funded consortium of organizations led by Catholic Relief Services with partners IntraHealth, Maestral, Pact, Plan and Westat. 4Children designed to improve health and wellbeing outcomes for OVC affected by HIV and AIDS and other adversities. 4Children draws on global evidence, which illustrates that HIV and other adversities are best prevented and addressed when families and children have access to both high quality health and social welfare services. 4Children helps countries to identify practical and appropriate policies, programs and services that reduce the risk of HIV and maltreatment and promote child well-being. It promotes approaches that address the unique needs of each child and family, including strengthening front line social service workforce and case management systems.
The United States Government (USG) has made a significant investment in the prevention and response to HIV and AIDS in Nigeria over the past decade. In fiscal year 2015, more than 800,000 children benefitted from PEPFAR-supported services. Currently, PEPFAR-funded OVC programming is occurring across the country in approximately 180 LGAs.

Under PEPFAR 3.0, approaches will focus on the highest impact interventions in key geographic areas where data demonstrate the highest prevalence of HIV. In Nigeria, this has resulted in the identification of 32 LGAs where facilities report the highest prevalence of HIV. These LGAs, also referred to as “scale up” LGAs, will be the focus of intense PEPFAR-funded interventions aimed at significantly decreasing the rate of new HIV infections and successfully treating existing cases and controlling the spread of the disease. Future interventions will have an increased focus on linking OVC and their caregivers to HIV testing and counseling (HTC) and treatment and outreach to adolescent girls to prevent new HIV infections. Through this new focus, it is anticipated that 300,000 OVC will be graduation or transitioned from current programming by end of fiscal year (FY) 2016 and an additional 600,000 OVC by end FY 2017.

To achieve these targets, 4Children will implement a two year project focused on the provision of technical assistance to PEPFAR OVC Implementing Partners, Government of Nigeria entities and Networks to graduate and transition OVC households and children from care and support. To support these efforts, the project will strengthen programming around sustainability planning, case management and referral of OVC and vulnerable households to health facilities, household economic strengthening activities parenting, and youth/adolescent girl programming, as well as supporting the development of a HIV-sensitive social service system.

OBJECTIVES OF THIS CONSULTANCY
 4Children require skilled and experienced consultants to assist in the conduct, analysis and reporting of capacity strengthening outcomes based on initial assessment conducted for State Ministries of Women Affairs and Social Development and Civil Society Networks (AONN). The consultant will be for a duration of 21 working days with 15 days in field. The assignment will be executed with two consultants covering 4 states each within the stipulated working period.

SPECIFIC TASKS
The scope of the consultancy will include but not limited to:

• Conduct detailed institutional capacity assessment for State Ministries of Women Affairs and Social Development and CSO Networks (AONN).
• Identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of the institutions related to system improvement and sustainability.
• Measure significantly progress made by the institutions after initial assessment.
• Document lessons learnt and promising practices following deployment of 4Children tool, accompaniment and capacity strengthening approach.
• Conduct a trend and cascade analysis showing demonstrable growth for each institution and zonal level.
• Review capacity strengthening improvement plans and propose follow-on intervention for strengthening sustainability for selected institutions; and
• Develop process report and learning documentation that depicts results from 4Children capacity strengthening approach for government and CSO networks.

COVERAGE/LOCATION OF CONSULTANCY SERVICE

• 12 States (including Abuja).

METHODOLOGY

• A desk-based review of any existing information and capacity strengthening interventions will be conducted; Field-based capacity assessment with representatives of Institutions to identify progress, promising practices and challenges in 4Children capacity strengthening approach.

OUTPUTS/DELIVERABLES
The specific outputs will include:

• Learning documentation on 4Children Capacity Strengthening approach
• Completed copies of Sustainability Capacity Assessment Framework and Tool (SAF-T) for each assessed institution;
• Scorecard report on capacity strengthening results;
• Process and consultancy report
• Comprehensive Capacity Assessment Report by zone and National

DURATION AND TIMELINES

The consultancy will utilize up to 2 persons per work day spread over a period of one month.

The period and duration of assignment is stated thus:

Task

Timeline

Responsibility

Training and Orientation of Consultants on SAF-T and debrief on reassessment plan

August 10 – 11

4Children

Conduct capacity assessment for 12 SMWASD, AONN

August 14 – 25

Consultants

Harmonization and analysis of data

August 28 - 29

Consultants

Reporting, Documentation and Consultancy report

August 30 – September 2

Consultants
20 days (with weekends)


LIAISON AND REPORTING

• The Consultant will report to the Sustainability Direction on all contractual obligations and liaise with 4Children Government System Strengthening and Organization Capacity Strengthening Advisors for day-to-day delivery of the assignment.
• The consultant will implement the assignment under the guidance of Technical focal point persons and technical staff at zonal levels.
• All reports shall be submitted to the Sustainability Director. 4Children shall certify all deliverables before CRS effects any payments.

CRS/4Children Support to the Consultant:

• 1. Access to all past reports and data relevant to this assignment;
• 2. Access to the 4Children Office and needed infrastructure;
• 3. Assistance to gain access to relevant stakeholders for discussions and to obtain information pertaining to the consultancy;
• 4. Logistics for visits to stakeholders in states.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

Education:
University degree in Public Health, Public Administration, Business Administration or Organizational Management or Leadership, or equivalent degree with proven capacity strengthening experience

Experience:

• Five years of experience in organizational development and provision of technical assistance to international non-governmental organizations and/or civil society and faith-based organizations preferably to those engaged in HIV care and treatment and/or OVC services delivery.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain positive relationships with and accountability towards diverse actors including donors, PEPFAR OVC, government, and civil society partners.
• Excellent capacity and system strengthening skills including the demonstrated ability to conduct assessments, analysis, monitoring, and reporting as well as the ability to develop practical solutions within set deadlines.
• Experience in quality improvement science, using data to inform decision-making and sustainability planning/monitoring a plus.
• Excellent negotiation and analytical/problem solving skills.
• Strong interpersonal, partnership, and training, facilitation and mentoring skills.
• Excellent written and oral communications skills in English.
• Knowledge of GON OVC service delivery standards and PEPFAR programming, process, guidance and frameworks is strongly preferred.
• Proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office suite, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook.

PAYMENT SCHEDULE
Payment will be disbursed as per schedule of timely deliverables and the ad hoc staff will be paid for each level of effort for the completion of agreed deliverable. The ad hoc staff is expected to make a formal presentation of their report to the project team.

Please note that CRS will deduct and remit to the Federal Inland Revenue (FIR) a 5% withholding Tax from the total consultancy fees in accordance with the Nigerian Tax Law.