Consultant for Baseline Study on Level of Implementation of NMSPAN with Focus on Maternal Nutrition & IYCF at National & Focal States at Civil Society Scaling-Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN)

Background
The Partnership for Improving Nigeria Nutrition Systems (PINNS) is a project designed to strengthen the Nigeria nutrition systems to be more Result-driven, Effective, Serviceable, Efficient and Transparent (RESET). This is to facilitate the delivery of Nutrition interventions and to hold government accountable on commitments made to allocate, release and use transparently funds for implementation of high impact Nutrition interventions in Nigeria through evidence-based advocacy.

Malnutrition in Nigeria is caused by several factors including lack of food, improper feeding and caring practices, economic and political structures, low status and lack of education among women, etc. Therefore, a multi-sectoral approach is required for a reduction and eventual eradication of the scourge. The UNICEF conceptual framework (UNICEF 2013) brings to the fore the need for multi-actors, disciplines, sectors and systems in this effort as evidence increasingly suggests that solving malnutrition can benefit from a systems approach (WHO 2009; Hammond & Dube’ 2012).

PINNs project adopts a systems approach to strengthening bodies and structures burdened with the responsibility of reducing malnutrition in Nigeria. It pays attention to the unpredictable interaction among factors, sectors, disciplines and determinants of nutrition, bringing to the table key tools and technical support required for the effective coordination and implementation of programs. PINNs seeks to focus on strengthening governance, policy implementation, effective coordination, financing, building the capacity of state actors, generation and effective communication of evidence and promoting accountability. This collective effort will contribute to a reduction in malnutrition, thereby improving the nutritional status of Nigerians, particularly women and children. The organizational capacity of CS-SUNN to become a leading voice on nutrition advocacy in Nigeria by deepening expertise gained from the Partnership for Advocacy in Child and Family Health (PACFaH) project and building new ones is also one of the goals the project intends to achieve.

Rationale
The National Multi-Sectoral Plan of Action for Nutrition (NMSPAN) is expected to aid the implementation of nutrition-related interventions at both the federal and state levels in Nigeria. Full Implementation of the strategy will lead to improved nutritional status of women and children and will inadvertently improve the health status of families, thereby reducing the risk of malnutrition among vulnerable groups in the country. Information garnered during the study, will be utilized by CS-SUNN to conduct evidence-based advocacy for improved funding and implementation of the NMSPAN with particular focus on high impact interventions in the Health and Agriculture sector strategies.

The National Strategic Plan of Action for Nutrition (NMSPAN) is currently being finalized by nutrition stakeholders in Nigeria under the leadership of the Ministry of Budget and National Planning. The document is a multi-sectoral plan that seeks to address the multi-sectoral issues towards improving nutrition in Nigeria. The Plan is purposed to operationalise the reviewed National Policy on Food and Nutrition (NPFN) that speaks to all sectoral contribution to combating malnutrition.

The PINNS project will support and advocate for the Implementation of the NMSPAN focusing more on evidenced based advocacy for high impact nutrition interventions such as IYCN, Maternal nutrition and staple food fortification. These interventions are mainly in the Health and Agricultural sector strategies, thus the need for the consultant on this assignment to focus on measuring the level of implementation of these high impact interventions in these strategies in the first instance, regardless of the fact that the NMSPAN is still being developed.

Purpose of Assignment

• The purpose of this assignment is to firstly, conduct a baseline study on the level of implementation of the NMSAPN with a focus on Maternal and Child Nutrition and IYCF in focal states (Lagos, Kaduna, Niger, Kano, Nasarawa) and National and secondly, to produce state specific policy briefs and factsheets to be used for advocacy.

Specific Tasks
The specific tasks for the consultants are:

• Develop a baseline study design to track Policy, budget allocation and releases for Implementation of the NMSPAN with focus on the National Strategic Plan of Action for Nutrition (NSPAN) and Agricultural Sector Strategies for the fiscal years of 2015, 2016 and 2017 in nutrition related Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) at the National and focal states. The study design must clearly bring out the level of funding and implementation of high impact interventions like IYCF, Maternal nutrition, staple food fortification etc.
• Develop and produce baseline study tool
• Conduct baseline study
• Identify regulatory barriers to the smooth implementation of nutrition programmes, allocation and release of funds
• Triangulate findings against regional / global best practices
• Develop a comprehensive report which should be peer reviewed for quality and output at the end of the assignment
• Develop state-specific policy briefs and factsheets proffering policy related recommendations and calls to action to policy makers and other key stakeholders.

Expected Outputs
By the end of the assignment the following outputs will be expected:

• A final report on baseline study on the level of implementation of the NMSPAN with focus on maternal and child nutrition and IYCF at the National and focal states.
• Final state-specific policy briefs and fact sheets with recommendations and calls to action on the implementation of the NMSPAN.
• Study design, tools used.

Type of Consultants Required

• The consultant should have extensive knowledge of the Nigerian health/Nutrition systems and policy landscape with experience in implementing public health programmes, especially MNCH and nutrition-related services.
• The consultant will be expected to have an advanced degree in Public Health, Health Planning, Policy and Management, Epidemiology, Health Economics and Financing, Public Policy, Nutrition, Sociology and related disciplines.
• S/He should have an in-depth understanding of how the Nigeria Nutrition System works, the challenges and how to address gaps and way forwards.
• S/He must also be vast in collecting and analyzing both quantitative/qualitative data.