Consultant (Technical Support) at Helen Keller International

Purpose:  The consultant will provide technical support to the implementation of the SBC activities through USAID Advancing Nutrition Nigeria

Period of Performance: January-August 2023

A.     Objectives

1.      The main objective of the consultancy is to strengthen the quality and coherence of SBCC on nutrition and sustainable consumption and production across food systems, with a focus on specific programs in a way that yields positive gains in nutrition.

2.      The second objective is linked to the increased uptake in nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive services specifically to contribute to reshaping food choices through partnering with community-based organizations, governments, health facilities, and communities for diversified diets.

B.      Duties and Responsibilities

The consultant will work in close collaboration with the USAID Advancing Nutrition teams based in Nigeria and US to do the following:

1.       Generate evidence: Conduct key informant interviews to complete or complement desk reviews. Design and manage the implementation of new formative research, including secondary analyses of national data, human-centered design research, and market assessments, to increase understanding of consumer behaviors as regards food value chain and MIYCN in collaboration with governments, partners, and contractors.

2.      Determine food value chain and MIYCN challenges from an SBC lens: Provide in-country and remote technical guidance in identifying challenges of food value chains and MIYCN as well as the determinants and influencers of change in consultation with governments and stakeholders.

3.      Develop SBC strategies and operational plans. Draft and elaborate key elements of SBC strategies. Design and facilitate stakeholder consultations to co-create SBC strategies and activities tailored to priority and influencing groups for improved food value chain adoption and MIYCN. Elaborate budgeted implementation plans based on SBC strategies in partnership with the government and other stakeholders. Provide technical support for the validation of SBC strategies and plans.

4.      Lead the design of SBC communication tools: Collaborate with governments, and stakeholders and manage communication agencies to plan, design, pre-test and produce tools and communication vehicles to support food value chain and MIYCN objectives and strategic interventions. Provide guidance and use social media to contribute to achieving SBC objectives.

5.       Contribute to measurement, learning, and evaluation activities: Provide technical support to SBC measurement, learning, and evaluation activities, including monitoring the implementation of the country work plan.

6.       Develop or revise toolkits, document, and disseminate: Revise regional toolkits based on in-country experiences and lessons learned. Contribute to the documentation, dissemination, and reporting of USAID Advancing Nutrition project activities, experiences, and results for partner and donor updates, publications, social media, and relevant communication channels.

Activities will likely require travel to Bauchi, Kebbi, Ebonyi, and Sokoto states.to monitor implementation, provide onsite coaching, and to meet with stakeholders. The total LOE is approximately equivalent to 112 days (14 days per month for 8 months).

E.   Consultant Qualifications

The consultant will have the following minimum qualifications:

• 10+ years of experience in SBC implementation of international nutrition/public health programs.
• Minimum of a Master’s degree in nutrition, public health, social sciences, medical anthropology, or a related field.
• Deep understanding of demand creation strategies and approaches
• Experience in translating SBC research into implementation
• Experience writing technical reports.
• Experience managing and building the SBC capacity of colleagues or community-based organizations
• Experience with USAID-funded activities
• Proficient in English (written and oral communication skills) and Hausa (oral communication skills)

Reporting and Institutional Arrangements:

The Consultant shall report all required deliverables and reports shall be submitted to the SPO USAID Advancing Nutrition, Nigeria

Consultancy Fees:

Fees will be paid based on agreed deliverables for an all-inclusive rate including but not limited to insurance, allowance, overhead, lodging, miscellaneous costs etc. All quotations and costings should be in Naira.

Duration of Assignment, Duty Station and Travel:

The Consultant will be engaged for approximately equivalent of 66 days, unless revised in a mutually agreed timetable by USAID Advancing Nutrition. In which case changes in the duration of the contract will be implemented through the issuance of a contract amendment.

Duty station: National (Specific to Kebbi, Sokoto, Bauchi, Ebonyi, Abuja)

Travels required: Yes (Within the States of operation)