Consultancy to Conduct Formative Study to Establish Baseline for Anemia Funding Commitment Through the Child Nutrition Funds (CNF) and Level of MMS Uptake Across Focal States at Civil Society Scaling-Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN)

Background

The PINNS 3.0 project is a comprehensive initiative aimed at addressing malnutrition among vulnerable populations in Nigeria. Building on the successes of PINNS 2.0, this phase focuses on creating a supportive policy and financial environment for optimal nutrition outcomes. Malnutrition is a significant issue in Nigeria, with over 13.9 million children under five being stunted. Maternal anaemia, affecting about 32% of pregnant women, is a critical factor contributing to this crisis. PINNS 3.0 aims to increase domestic nutrition financing by 30% by 2027, shift from Iron and Folic Acid Supplementation (IFAS) to Multiple Micronutrient Supplementation (MMS), and enhance the capacity of Civil Society Alliances (CSAs) to advocate for lasting nutrition policies. The program targets strategic states like Lagos, Kano, Niger, Nasarawa, and Kaduna, with a primary focus on optimizing budgetary allocations and spending on nutrition. The introduction of MMS is supported by strong evidence showing its benefits over IFAS, including reductions in low birth weight, small-for-gestational-age births, preterm births, and infant mortality.

Project Overview

The PINNS 3.0 program is a strategic initiative focusing on combating malnutrition among vulnerable populations, particularly pregnant women and children, in Nigeria. It builds upon the achievements of PINNS II, with an emphasis on preventing anaemia, which significantly impacts maternal and child health. Anaemia is prevalent among pregnant women in Nigeria, contributing to poor pregnancy outcomes and child malnutrition. Despite progress in reducing child stunting, Nigeria remains the country with the highest number of stunted children in sub-Saharan Africa. Addressing both maternal anaemia and child malnutrition is crucial for improving overall nutrition outcomes.

Purpose of Baseline Survey

CS-SUNN kicked off the implementation of a three-year- PINNS 3.0 Project in 1st of March 2025. The project is focused on improving nutrition systems at national and state levels by promoting accountability, strengthening capacity and conducting advocacies for increased funding, programme implementation specifically, domestication of the National Multisectoral Plan of Action for Nutrition. The project seeks to establish a baseline for anemia funding commitment through the Child Nutrition Funds (CNF) and the level of Multiple Micronutrient Supplementation (MMS) uptake across Lagos, Kano, Niger, Nasarawa, and Kaduna

The findings from the baseline survey will inform program strategies, advocacy efforts, and progress tracking throughout the project lifecycle.

The purpose of the baseline evaluation is to.

• Conduct a Formative Study: Design and implement a comprehensive study to establish a baseline for anemia funding commitments and measure the current level of MMS uptake in targeted focal states.
• Assess Funding Commitment: Identify and evaluate the current commitment levels by state governments, key partners, and stakeholders towards anemia prevention initiatives via the Child Nutrition Funds (CNF).
• Examine MMS Uptake: Determine the extent, coverage, and challenges associated with MMS uptake among targeted populations.
• Develop Data-Driven Recommendations: Based on findings, offer actionable recommendations to inform policy refinements, improve funding mobilization, and optimize delivery strategies for MMS programs.

Specific Tasks

Some of the specific tasks for the consultant are to:

• Develop and present an inception report. 
• Facilitate a pre-activity planning meeting with the CS-SUNN Project Implementation/ Management team.
• Design and validate data collection tools (quantitative and qualitative).
• Conduct field data collection in the five states including national.
• Analyze data and provide a comprehensive report with key findings and recommendations.
• Facilitate validation meetings with CS-SUNN and key stakeholders

Scope of Baseline Evaluation

The Consultant will review all relevant sources of information including documents prepared during the preparation phase (i.e. Policies, the Project Document, project reports including the Annual Project Report, project budget revisions, lesson learned reports, national/ subnational strategic policies and plans and any other materials that is considered useful for this evidence-based review). 

The Consultant is expected to follow a collaborative and participatory approach ensuring close engagement with the Project Team, government counterparts (Nutrition line MDAs) and other key stakeholders as engagement of stakeholders is vital to a successful review. Stakeholder involvement should include interviews with stakeholders who have project responsibilities, including but not limited to the CS-SUNN project implementation team, Management team, CSOs and Government personnel. 

The Consultant is expected to conduct field visits to two project locations as well as the Federal level and conduct telephone interviews with others: Kaduna, Niger, Kano, Nasarawa, Lagos and Federal.

Some of the areas of the study will include

• Funding Landscape:
  • Review existing funding flows to CNF and dedicated anemia programs.
  • Map institutional commitments and funding gaps.
  • Evaluate the budgeting process, fund allocation, and monitoring mechanisms currently in place.
• MMS Uptake Analysis:
  • Determine current uptake rates and geographic variability.
  • Identify barriers and enablers affecting the uptake among target groups.
  • Compare MMS uptake across both urban and rural settings, where applicable.
• Stakeholder Mapping:
  • Engage with government agencies, implementing partners, health facilities, and community-level organizations.
  • Understand stakeholder perceptions, knowledge and strategies regarding anemia prevention and MMS programs.

Approach and Methodology

The baseline evaluation is to be carried out across the project locations of Kaduna, Niger, Kano, Nasarawa, Lagos and Federal by an independent consultant using a combination ofqualitative and quantitative methods. The consultant is required to elaborate a detailed baseline design and methodology as part of their Work plan. The baseline design document should include a series of data collection instruments

Data Collection Methodology

The consultant isexpected to employ a variety of data collection and analysis techniques for both quantitative and qualitative data to ensure a comprehensive baseline exercise. This will likely include, at a minimum, Surveys, Focus Group Discussions, and Key Informant Interviews 

Expected Deliverables 

All written documents are to be submitted in English using Microsoft Word in soft and hard copy. The main body of all reports should be written in simple, non-technical language (i.e. plain English), with any technical material to be presented in annexes.All primary data collected and analysis conducted for the purpose of the baseline will remain the property of CS-SUNN and must be submitted electronically andin a clear and comprehensible format in Microsoft Excel and Word.

By the end of the assignment, the following output will be expected:

• Inception Report: A detailed report on the consultant’s proposed final baseline design and methodologywill be submitted to CS-SUNNfor approval days after signing the contract. This will provide preliminary understandings based on document review, rationale and a detailed description of the methodology andtools, analytical methods, budget with a breakdown ofcosts and a detailed work plan for the entire exercise. Any draft questionnaires or interview forms will also be submitted for review at this stage
• Interview Notes and List of Resource Documents: The Consultant shall provide CS-SUNN summaries of all key meetings, and discussions conducted during the baseline and copies of any relevant documents and reports gathered during the baseline. 
• Summary Presentation of Findings to CS-SUNN and Stakeholders: The Consultant shall present initial findings to CS-SUNN for review, comment and feedback. A PowerPoint presentation and handout (maximum of two pages) shall be prepared for the presentation through a workshop to the project stakeholders preferably via online platform. The Consultant shall consider CS-SUNN and stakeholder comments and revise the draft report as appropriate.
• Baseline Report: A draft baseline report is due within three business daysof receiving CS-SUNN’s feedback to the draft report. The final baseline report should not exceed 45 pages excluding annexes

The baseline report shall include the following:

• Executive Summary (3 pages)
• Background.
• Introduction. 
• Methodology.
• Findings.
• Conclusions (1 -2 pages)
• Annexes, including:
  • Scope of Work
  • Data collection tools
  • Key data sets, including interview transcripts 
  • List of key informants

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/ Public Policy/ Nutrition, Sociology or other related disciplines. 
• S/He should have an in-depth understanding of how the Nigeria Nutrition Systems work, the challenges and how to address gaps and way forward. 
• S/He must also have proven quantitative and qualitative research and drafting skills with extensive experience in the development of training curricula and materials. 
• S/he must also have a proven ability and experience in leading and facilitating training workshops on multidisciplinary and multicultural terms, multidisciplinary skills and the ability to communicate effectively as well as the ability to work independently and as a part of a team.
•  Sensitivity to regional, political, gender and cultural balance, readiness to travel across the states by road/air and a high standard of professionalism will be added advantages.

Application Processes and Timing

Interested consultants who meet the qualifications are to send an expression of interest by submitting a formal application with the following: 

• Curriculum Vitae
• Technical offer containing work plan and methodology.
• Proposed budget with (a) daily consultancy fee – all taxes and duties included (b) travel, accommodation and subsistence costs (if applicable).

Timing of Consultancy

The assignment is expected to be completed over a period of 20 calendar days - this period includes provision of all deliverables and travel time. The assignment will be carried out in Abuja and the project states; Kaduna, Niger, Kano, Nasarawa, and Lagos will last for 20 working days.

Criteria for selection

A two-stage procedure shall be adopted in evaluating the proposals. The technical evaluation shall be carried out first, followed by the financial evaluation. The technical evaluation has 70% and financial proposal 30% weights. The evaluation items expectation and maximum score are presented in the table below