Consultancy to Develop a State-specific Nutrition Investment Case in Focal States (Readvertised) at Civil Society Scaling-Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN)

1. Introduction & Background

Nigeria continues to face an alarming burden of malnutrition, which remains a critical public health and development challenge. According to the 2023 National Demographic Health Survey (NDHS), 40% of children under five are stunted, 8% are wasted, and 27% are underweight. These rates place Nigeria among the countries with the highest burden of malnutrition globally. Malnutrition is a major underlying cause of nearly 45% of child mortality in the country, contributing to poor cognitive development, increased susceptibility to disease, delayed school enrolment, reduced educational attainment and diminished lifetime earnings. A malnourished child is more likely to drop out of school and less likely to become a productive adult, perpetuating intergenerational cycles of poverty and inequality. The World Bank estimates that malnutrition could cost Nigeria up to US$1.5 billion in lost productivity annually, underlining its significant economic implications.

While the Federal Government of Nigeria has demonstrated commitment through policies such as the National Multisectoral Plan of Action for Nutrition (NMPAN) and initiatives like the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF), progress remains uneven and inconsistent across states. This is largely due to differences in political leadership, institutional capacity, financing mechanisms and the socio-cultural dynamics influencing nutrition outcomes. For instance, while states like Kaduna and Kano have made significant progress in establishing nutrition budget lines and operational plans, others still lack basic nutrition coordination platforms or data systems.

In this context, the development of state-specific, evidence-based nutrition investment cases has become imperative. These investment cases will provide a clear and context-sensitive rationale for why nutrition should be prioritized in state development plans, how much it will cost, and what returns can be expected in health, education and economic productivity. By quantifying the cost of inaction and identifying high-impact, scalable interventions – such as exclusive breastfeeding promotion, micronutrient supplementation, and treatment of severe acute malnutrition – these documents will serve as powerful advocacy and decision-support tools. Moreover, they will guide both public sector budgeting and private sector engagement, promoting sustainable, locally owned solutions to combat malnutrition at the state level.

2. Objective of the Consultancy

2.1. General Objective

The overall objective is to generate robust, evidence-based state-level nutrition investment cases that articulate the cost of inaction, expected returns on investment and context-appropriate intervention packages to guide decision-making and financing in focal states (Kaduna, Kano, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger).

2.2. Specific Objectives

The specific objectives of this consultancy are to:

• Analyze the nutrition landscape in each focal state (Kaduna, Kano, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger), including policy context, financing trends, and malnutrition burden.
• Identify high-impact, cost-effective interventions appropriate for scale-up.
• Estimate investment requirements and potential economic, health, and social returns.
• Recommend financing strategies and policy options tailored to each state.
• Produce advocacy-oriented documents for use by government, donors, and partners.

3. Scope of Work

The consultant will:

• Conduct desk reviews and contextual analyses for each focal state.
• Engage key stakeholders to validate data, assumptions, and policy directions.
• Develop full investment case reports per state, including cost-benefit models and funding scenarios.
• Facilitate validation workshops with relevant state-level stakeholders and alliance chapters.
• Compile a final consolidated report incorporating stakeholder feedback and lessons learned.

4. Expected Deliverables

The consultant will deliver the following outputs:

1. Inception Report outlining the methodology, data sources, stakeholder engagement plan and work plan.
2. Desk Review & Situational Analysis for each focal state.
3. Nutrition Investment Case Reports, including:

• Malnutrition burden and its socioeconomic implications
• Proposed interventions and cost-benefit analysis
• Investment requirements and financing options
• Policy and institutional recommendations

1. Presentation Decks for advocacy and stakeholder engagement.
2. Facilitation of Validation Workshops in each focal state.
3. Final Consolidated Report incorporating feedback from all stakeholders.

5. Duration and Timeline

The assignment is expected to last eight (8) weeks from the date of contract signing. The indicative timeline is:

• Inception Phase & Desk Review – Week 1
• Data Collection & Stakeholder Engagement – Weeks 2–3
• Drafting of Investment Cases – Weeks 4–5
• Validation Workshops – Weeks 6–7
• Finalization & Submission – Week 8

A detailed work plan will be agreed upon during the inception phase.

6. Monitoring and Quality Assurance

Monitoring the consultancy assignment will be guided by the following:

• Bi-weekly Check-ins with CS-SUNN’s national secretariat.
• Technical Reviews by a reference group comprising nutrition experts and policy analysts.
• Stakeholder Feedback from validation workshops integrated into final outputs.
• Completion Report outlining methodology, challenges, and recommendations.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs):

• Timely submission of all deliverables
• Quality and usability of investment cases as assessed by technical reviewers
• Positive stakeholder feedback from state-level validations

7. Consultant Profile

The ideal consultant must possess:

• An advanced degree in Public Health, Health Economics, Nutrition, Development Studies or related fields
• A minimum of 10 years of relevant experience, including investment case development or resource mobilization in Nigeria or Sub-Saharan Africa
• Demonstrated expertise in cost-benefit analysis and evidence-based advocacy
• Strong knowledge of Nigeria’s nutrition policy and health financing landscape
• Experience with state-level stakeholders and multisectoral platforms
• Excellent analytical, writing, and facilitation skills.