Job Opportunities at Helen Keller International/USAID Advancing Nutrition

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)

 

 

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SCOPE OF WORK (SoW) FOR COMMUNICATIONS EXPERT CONSULTANCY FOR SCALING UP NUTRITION -ADVOCACY IN NIGERIA

Job Title

Consultancy to provide communications expertise for the upscaling of Nutrition advocacy in Nigeria

Project Title:

USAID Advancing Nutrition, Nigeria.

Location:

National(FCT, Ebonyi, Bauchi, Kebbi, and Sokoto states)

Type of Contract:

Individual Contractor (IC)

Contract Duration

66 non-consecutive days

Background of USAID Advancing Nutrition Project:

USAID Advancing Nutrition is the Agency’s flagship multi-sectoral nutrition project, led by JSI Research & Training Institute, Inc. (JSI), and a diverse group of experienced partners. Launched in September 2018, USAID Advancing Nutrition implements nutrition interventions across sectors and disciplines for USAID and its partners. The project’s multi-sectoral approach draws together global nutrition experience to design, implement, and evaluate programs that address the root causes of malnutrition. Committed to using a systems approach, USAID Advancing Nutrition strives to sustain positive outcomes by building local capacity, supporting behavior change, and strengthening the enabling environment to save lives, improve health, build resilience, increase economic productivity, and advance development.

Objectives of the Project:

In Nigeria, the project aims to meet the following objectives:

• Objective 1:  Strengthen multi-sectoral linkages and coordination through technical assistance to the Government of Nigeria, the Mission, and implementing partners
• Objective 2: Support the Government of Nigeria to strengthen wasting prevention and treatment services
• Objective 3: Generate evidence and test innovative approaches to improve nutrition programming and inform future designs.

Background of the Consultancy:

The National Council on Nutrition has been in existence since October 2017 but is yet to implement its communication and advocacy strategy that will include all stakeholders and raise awareness on the role of nutrition in national development.

It is obvious that policymakers and decision-makers are yet to recognise nutrition as a priority issue despite the increase in multisectoral collaboration. The purpose of this consultancy is to implement the NCN communications and advocacy strategy that will promote nutrition and behavioral change as a pre-condition for human capital development.

Objectives of the Consultancy:

1. The Communications Expert will facilitate, co-ordinate and implement with the NCFN and SCFN the communications and advocacy strategy while also strengthening capacity of implementing stakeholders on the National Social and Behavioral Change Communication Strategy SBCC strategy. This is a short-term, full-time assignment that will be embedded within the National Council on Nutrition Program Delivery Unit.
2. The consultant is to assist the NCN and the NCFN/ SCFN to implement the communications and behavioural change strategy, tailored to the National multisectoral plan of action on food and nutrition.
3. To ensure a results-oriented nutrition policy development and program implementation by relevant sectors at the Federal and State levels.
4. The consultant will support the NCN DU to facilitate the prioritization of designed nutrition interventions in a manner that responds to and surmounts complex underlying systems and processes. The focus will be to align Nutrition outcomes with the Medium-Term National Development Plan (MTNDP 2021-2025) and the National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy (NPRGS) to accelerate Human, Social and Economic Capital development.

Duties and Responsibilities:

The Communications Expert Consultant will with the NCN-DU work in close collaboration with the USAID Advancing Nutrition teams and do the following:

Expected deliverables and schedules:

The Consultant is responsible for the timely submission of the following deliverables, as part of the SoW:

• Design and produce creative media content and messaging for the NMPFAN
• Provide brand platforms on radio/TV and brand identity awareness using celebrities/TV and radio drama series
• Describe how the central idea, key messages of the NMPFAN are to be disseminated in the benefitting communities.
• Design and develop a variety of relevant messages on nutrition programming targeting different categories of beneficiaries
• Development of messages for community sensitization and advocacy
• Development of story scripts for radio drama series
• Design and develop messages for billboards, social media, handbills, flyers and all other online content
• Serve as the primary point of contact for NCN-DU to implement its communication and advocacy strategy.
• Support in capacity strengthening needs to implement the communication and advocacy strategy for NCN, SCFN and local governments.
• Capacity strengthening activities utilizing innovative methodologies to strategically disseminate behavioural change processes 
• Support the formation and revitalization of Local Government Committees for Food and Nutrition and distil activities of the SCFN to this level of coordination.

Total Deliverable Value*

1

Communication Strategy

 A system of implementing the NMPFAN Communication Strategy that includes media outreach and social media content creation. 

 10 days

2

Online-Presence

A website with links to appropriate social media handles to give visibility to Nutrition activities in country 

20 days

3

Communication Products

Products including press releases, content for website, infographs, blogs, result flyers, newsprint articles, social media posts/articles on Nutrition activities

 16 days

4.

 Report

 Knowledge management, internal and external communications, and documentation of best practices

 20 days

To be completed by the Contracts Manager.

Required Qualifications, Skills and Competencies:

Education:

• Masters or equivalent postgraduate degree in Mass Communication or related fields. 

Experience 

• At least ten (5) years of relevant and demonstrable professional experience, either in government, private sector, or academia, in the field of communications and stakeholder management. 
• Experience translating technical health/nutrition/human capital concepts, policies, programs
• Experience in arranging and coordinating press conferences, and planning events. 
• Experience in conducting quality-driven research and policy-level analysis. 
• Experience in preparing high quality policy briefs and guidance notes for use by senior policy makers. 

 Knowledge and Skills:

• Excellent communication, listening, and facilitation skills
• Ability to design activities to meet stakeholders' areas of improvement
• Ability to work effectively in a highly collaborative team environment
• Strong interpersonal skills, including demonstrated communication and personnel management skills.
• Adaptable, creative, collaborative, and able to think strategically.
• Ability to work under pressure, to tight deadlines, and in demanding and/or austere conditions. 
• Welcomes constructive feedback. 

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

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SCOPE OF WORK (SoW) FOR LEAD CAPACITY STRENGTHENING CONSULTANCY TO THE STATE COMMITTEES FOR FOOD AND NUTRITION

Job Title

Consultancy to provide organizational capacity strengthening (technical and organizational support)

Project Title:

USAID Advancing Nutrition, Nigeria.

Location:

Abuja

Type of Contract:

Individual Contractor (IC)

Contract Duration

126 non-consecutive days (xx to xx/xx/2022).

Background of USAID Advancing Nutrition Project:

USAID Advancing Nutrition is the Agency’s flagship multi-sectoral nutrition project, led by JSI Research & Training Institute, Inc. (JSI), and a diverse group of experienced partners. Launched in September 2018, USAID Advancing Nutrition implements nutrition interventions across sectors and disciplines for USAID and its partners. The project’s multi-sectoral approach draws together global nutrition experience to design, implement, and evaluate programs that address the root causes of malnutrition. Committed to using a systems approach, USAID Advancing Nutrition strives to sustain positive outcomes by building local capacity, supporting behavior change, and strengthening the enabling environment to save lives, improve health, build resilience, increase economic productivity, and advance development.

Objectives of the Project:

In Nigeria, the project aims to meet the following objectives:

• Objective 1:  Strengthen multi-sectoral linkages and coordination through technical assistance to the Government of Nigeria, the Mission, and implementing partners
•  Objective 2: Support the Government of Nigeria to strengthen wasting prevention and treatment services
•  Objective 3: Generate evidence and test innovative approaches to improve nutrition programming and inform future designs.

Background of the Consultancy:

The Government of Nigeria is committed to the reduction of hunger and malnutrition in Nigeria and to this end, the National Policy on Food and Nutrition (NPFN) which was first developed in 2001 was reviewed and launched in November 2016. In recognition of the multidisciplinary and multisectoral nature of Nutrition, the Government in collaboration with Development Partners commenced the process for the development of a multisectoral strategic plan of action using a multistakeholder participation approach. This National Multisectoral Strategic Plan of Action for Food and Nutrition (NMPFAN) was developed in line with the National Policy on Food and Nutrition in collaboration with Development Partners, the Academia and Civil Society Organizations and the Private Sector. 

This NMPFAN is used by Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) across sectors at Federal, State and LGA levels, and other stakeholders to respond to the challenges of nutrition in Nigeria specifically to inform action plans that will direct all interventions, programme, and activities to be implemented to reduce malnutrition and hunger among the vulnerable and generality of Nigerians leading to increased productivity and national development. The funded and implemented NMPFAN is expected to contribute significantly towards the elimination of all forms of malnutrition as a public health problem in Nigeria as well the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals target by 2030.

USAID Advancing Nutrition’s overall purpose is to provide technical support to the Government of Nigeria and other nutrition stakeholders to enhance nutrition programming toward achieving the overall goal of improving nutrition for a healthy, productive, and resilient Nigeria. In fiscal year 2021 (FY21), USAID Advancing Nutrition Nigeria conducted capacity assessments (using a validated Organizational Capacity Assessment Tool (OCAT)) in each of its implementing states per workplan activity 1.3.1. Conduct a capacity assessment for the SCFNs in Bauchi, Kebbi, and the Sokoto States. This initial capacity assessment informed capacity strengthening priorities and led to the development of SCFN Action Plans outlining activities, responsibilities, timeframes, and outcomes.

 Objectives of the Consultancy:

The capacity-strengthening consultant will facilitate, coordinate and in most cases, lead training and capacity-strengthening activities in response to the SCFN Action Plans, work with the Office of the Vice President to support the domestication of national nutrition policies in the states, and support the organizational capacity assessment of community-based organizations working with the USAID Advancing Nutrition Project.

 Duties and Responsibilities:

The Lead Capacity Strengthening Consultant will work in close collaboration with the USAID Advancing Nutrition teams based in the States and do the following:

• Serve as the primary point of contact for SCFN’s capacity strengthening needs to implement the SCFN Action Plans and provide support and oversight to embedded consultants at the state level.
• Support the Embedded CSConsultants in design and lead holistic capacity-strengthening activities to create an environment of continuous learning; bring in USAID Advancing Nutrition staff and other technical experts as needed

Illustrative needs may include:

• Training of Trainers (TOT)
• Leadership, management, and governance
• Financial management, analysis, and budgeting
• Monitoring, evaluation, and reporting
• Knowledge management, internal and external communications, and documentation of best practices
• Support Support the Embedded CS Consultatns in the development of guidelines, SOPs, and job aides for the continued growth in identified areas
• Support Support the Embedded CS Consultatns in the development innovative approaches to support sustainable capacity development to strengthen multi-sectoral approaches to nutrition.
• Liaise with government, and other non-governmental stakeholders to support project objectives
• Work with the project team to identify and propose priority capacity-strengthening exercises for staff and stakeholders.
• Support continuous learning and adaptation of project and stakeholders
• Ensure that all respective sectors access training and professional development resources appropriate to their skill gaps/needs.

Required Qualifications, Skills and Competencies:

Education:

Required: Masters’ degree/ PHD or equivalent related experience
Experience:

• At least 10+ years of experience in capacity strengthening at various levels, including national, state, district, and community levels.
• Organizational development experience is highly desirable.
• Experience in managing training programs for government and civil society organizations, especially at the National and state levels

Knowledge and Skills:

• Excellent communication, listening, and facilitation skills, especially in adult learning
• Ability to design activities to meet stakeholders' areas of improvement
• Ability to work effectively in a highly collaborative team environment
• Strong interpersonal skills, including demonstrated communication and personnel management skills.
• Adaptable, creative, collaborative, and able to think strategically.

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 126 days, unless revised in a mutually agreed timetable by USAID Advancing Nutrition. In this case changes in the duration of the contract will be implemented through the issuance of a contract amendment.

Duty station: Kebbi, Sokoto, Bauchi, Ebonyi, Abuja

Travels required: Yes (Within the States of operation)

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SCOPE OF WORK (SoW) FOR EMBEDDED CAPACITY STRENGTHENING CONSULTANCY TO THE STATE COMMITTEES FOR FOOD AND NUTRITION

Job Title

Consultancy to provide capacity strengthening (technical and organizational support) to the State Committees for Food and Nutrition (SCFN) in Bauchi, Kebbi, and Sokoto states.

Project Title:

USAID Advancing Nutrition, Nigeria.

Location:

Bauchi, Kebbi, and Sokoto state.

Type of Contract:

Individual Contractor (IC)

Contract Duration

90 consecutive days (xx to xx/xx/2022).

 Background of USAID Advancing Nutrition Project:

USAID Advancing Nutrition is the Agency’s flagship multi-sectoral nutrition project, led by JSI Research & Training Institute, Inc. (JSI), and a diverse group of experienced partners. Launched in September 2018, USAID Advancing Nutrition implements nutrition interventions across sectors and disciplines for USAID and its partners. The project’s multi-sectoral approach draws together global nutrition experience to design, implement, and evaluate programs that address the root causes of malnutrition. Committed to using a systems approach, USAID Advancing Nutrition strives to sustain positive outcomes by building local capacity, supporting behavior change, and strengthening the enabling environment to save lives, improve health, build resilience, increase economic productivity, and advance development.

Objectives of the Project:

In Nigeria, the project aims to meet the following objectives:

• Objective 1:  Strengthen multi-sectoral linkages and coordination through technical assistance to the Government of Nigeria, the Mission, and implementing partners
• Objective 2: Support the Government of Nigeria to strengthen wasting prevention and treatment services
• Objective 3: Generate evidence and test innovative approaches to improve nutrition programming and inform future designs.

Background of the Consultancy:

The Government of Nigeria is committed to the reduction of hunger and malnutrition in Nigeria and to this end, the National Policy on Food and Nutrition (NPFN) which was first developed in 2001 was reviewed and launched in November 2016. In recognition of the multidisciplinary and multisectoral nature of Nutrition, the Government in collaboration with Development Partners commenced the process for the development of a multisectoral strategic plan of action using a multistakeholder participation approach. This National Multisectoral Strategic Plan of Action for Food and Nutrition (NMPFAN) was developed in line with the National Policy on Food and Nutrition in collaboration with Development Partners, the Academia and Civil Society Organizations and the Private Sector. 

This NMPFAN is used by Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) across sectors at Federal, State and LGA levels, and other stakeholders to respond to the challenges of nutrition in Nigeria specifically to inform action plans that will direct all interventions, programme, and activities to be implemented to reduce malnutrition and hunger among the vulnerable and generality of Nigerians leading to increased productivity and national development. The funded and implemented NMPFAN is expected to contribute significantly towards the elimination of all forms of malnutrition as a public health problem in Nigeria as well the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals target by 2030.

USAID Advancing Nutrition’s overall purpose is to provide technical support to the Government of Nigeria and other nutrition stakeholders to enhance nutrition programming toward achieving the overall goal of improving nutrition for a healthy, productive, and resilient Nigeria. In fiscal year 2021 (FY21), USAID Advancing Nutrition Nigeria conducted capacity assessments (using a validated Organizational Capacity Assessment Tool (OCAT)) in each of its implementing states per workplan activity

Objectives of the Consultancy:

 The Embedded Capacity Strengthening Consultant will facilitate, coordinate and in most cases, lead all training and capacity-strengthening activities in response to the SCFN Action Plans. This is a short-term, full-time assignment; that will be embedded within the State Committees for Food and Nutrition (SCFN). The NCN had directed that an annual prioritized list actions be derived from the National Multisectoral Strategic Plan of Action for Food and Nutrition to provide accurate budgeting and tracking of nutrition actions.  The NCFN has undergone trainings on the development of prioritized plans and budget for inclusion in the medium-term National development plans and the medium-term expenditure framework. It is expedient that at the Subnational level the SCFN is also able to prioritize the plans from the domesticated MPFAN and cost such plans for inclusion in the state development plans .

The development of a prioritized list from the Multisectoral Plan of Action at the state will guide in achieving the following objectives:

• Coordinated interventions in line with the Policy and NMPFAN,
• Effective costing and budgeting that ensures accountability
• Systematically measure results with funding,
• Sharing lessons learned with the stakeholders, development community and policymakers.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• The Capacity Strengthening Consultant will work in close collaboration with the USAID Advancing Nutrition teams based in the States and do the following:
• Serve as the primary point of contact, and provide regular hands-on support, for SCFN’s capacity strengthening needs to implement the SCFN Action Plans
• Design and lead holistic capacity strengthening activities to create an environment of continuous learning; bring in USAID Advancing Nutrition staff and other technical experts as needed

Illustrative needs may include:

• Training of Trainers (TOT)
• Leadership, management, and governance
• Financial management, analysis and budgeting
• Monitoring, evaluation and reporting
• Knowledge management, internal and external communications, and documentation of best practices
• Support the development of guidelines, SOPs, and job aides for the continued growth in identified areas
• Support the formation and revitalization of Local Government Committees for Food and Nutrition and distil activities of the SCFN to this level of coordination.

Expected deliverables and schedules:

The Consultant is responsible for the timely submission of the following deliverables, as part of the SoW:

Del. No.

Deliverable Name

Deliverable Description

Due Date

Total Deliverable Value

NPFN and NMPFAN domestication Framework/tool

• To produce framework/tool for use in domestication of policy and development plans at state level – 10days
• Training of Trainers (TOT) on Policy, plan Framework/tool
• Training on developed framework/tool for facilitation to domesticate policy and develop plan at Focal states – 5days
• Domesticated of policy and NPFAN and set targets; workshop to domesticate policy and develop plan; validation and dissemination – 15days
• M&E framework
• Development of guidelines for routine data collection, collation, analysis, and dissemination of data with a reporting template days
• Training of Trainers (TOT)
• Training of Facilitators M&E framework – 10days
• Leadership, management, and governance
• Support SCFN to strengthen its activities; Formation and revitalization of Local Government Committees for Food and Nutrition – 25days
• Financial management, analysis, and budgeting
• Capacity Building on Operationalization of M&E Framework; Budget tracking & utilization of funds – 10days
• Knowledge management, internal and external communications, and documentation of best practices
• Support evidence based decision-making and tracking progress through training and use of data – 10days

To be completed by the Contracts Manager.

Required Qualifications, Skills and Competencies:

Education:

• Required: Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent related experience
• A master’s degree is highly desirable

 Experience:

• At least six years of experience in capacity strengthening at various levels, including national, state, district, and community levels.
• Organizational development experience is highly desirable.
• Experience in managing training programs for government and civil society organizations, especially at the state level

 Knowledge and Skills:

• Excellent communication, listening, and facilitation skills, especially in adult learning
• Ability to design activities to meet stakeholders' areas of improvement
• Ability to work effectively in a highly collaborative team environment
• Strong interpersonal skills, including demonstrated communication and personnel management skills.
• Adaptable, creative, collaborative, and able to think strategically.

Reporting and Institutional Arrangements:

The Consultant shall report all required deliverables and reports shall be submitted to the Lead Capacity Consultant and State Coordinator 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 90 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: Based at SCFN in either Kebbi, Sokoto, or Bauchi