Consultant Positions at Save the Children

Introduction to Save the Children and project background

Save the Children has over 20 years’ experience of supporting the health sector in Nigeria, focusing mainly on the primary health care. It has been engaged in a number of support areas ranging from providing local technical capacity at service delivery points to a broader health system strengthening at central level. At community levels, Save the Children has sound experience of working with community structures and building relationship between them and health facilities. The organization has been operational in the Northern Nigeria since 2001. The Stop Diarrhoea project is an initiative supported by Reckitt Benckiser aimed at contributing to a two third reduction in diarrhoea-related deaths among children under the age of five in Somolu, Lagos State, Nigeria.

Incidence, risk factors and treatment of diarrhoea in Nigeria

Nigeria has high incidence of diarrhoea cases in children across the geo-political zones, especially in children 0-5years, resulting in percentage increase in children being affected by diarrhoea. Repeated episodes of diarrhoea exacerbate children’s poor health status and accelerate malnutrition, creating a deadly cycle of infection and malnutrition.

The recent 2013 NHDS shows that 10% of children under age 5 were reported to have had diarrhoea in the last two weeks and 2% had diarrhoea with blood with an average 7.5% of children with diarrhoea cases reported in Lagos State. Diarrhoea was most common among children aged between 12–23 months (17%) and least common among those aged between 48-59 months (5%). Diarrhoea with blood was also most common in children age 12-23 months.

Dehydration caused by diarrhoea is a major cause of illness and death among young children, even though the condition can be easily treated with oral rehydration therapy (ORT). Exposure to diarrhoea-causing pathogens is frequently related to the consumption of contaminated water and to unhygienic practices in food preparation and disposal of excreta. The combination of high cause-specific mortality and the existence of an effective remedy make diarrhoea and its treatment a priority concern for the health sector. Diarrhoea leads to stunting due to its association with poor nutrient absorption and appetite loss. Thirty-seven percent of children under age 5 are stunted, eighteen per cent are underweight.

Children of mothers with no education were twice as likely as children of mothers with more than a secondary education to have had diarrhoea. There was also a direct relationship between family wealth and diarrhoea prevalence, with children from wealthier households being less likely to have diarrhoea. Overall, 29 percent of children under age 5 with diarrhoea were taken for advice or treatment at a health facility or provider across the LGAs in Lagos.

Some of the key measures to prevent childhood diarrheal episodes include promoting exclusive breastfeeding, hand washing with soap, improving hygiene and quality of drinking water, vitamin A supplementation and promoting rehydration and zinc intake as prescribed in the WHO/UNICEF 7-point plan for diarrhoea prevention and control. ORS and Zinc remains the cornerstone of appropriate case management of diarrheal dehydration and is considered the single most effective strategy to prevent diarrheal deaths in children under 5.

The Stop Diarrhoea Initiative (SDI)

Through the Stop Diarrhoea Initiative (SDI), Save the Children in partnership with the Lagos State Government and Reckitt Benckiser (RB), aim to fully implement the WHO/UNICEF 7 point plan as a Signature Programme in Shomolu Local Government Area (LGA). This four year programme will contribute to Save the Children and RB’s global ambition of removing diarrhoea as a top five leading cause of death amongst children by 2020. In line with Save the Children’s theory of change, the programme will: test the effectiveness and efficacy of the WHO/UNICEF 7 point plan; collate evidence to demonstrate proof of concept and value for money and advocate the Lagos State and Federal Government of Nigeria, and its partners, to replicate and scale up the approach nationally.

The Stop Diarrhoea Initiative (SDI) focuses on the treatment and prevention of diarrhea in the targeted communities. The aim is to contribute to at least 50% reduction in the prevalence of diarrhea. The core programme elements include child health, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), advocacy, community capacity building/participation, service delivery and partnership.

Purpose of the Household Survey

The purpose of the research is to measure progress achieved against the SDI objectives in Shomolu LGA after first Year of implementation through a household survey focused on a pre-agreed set of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). The survey will provide a breakdown of results between intervention areas supported in Year one and intervention areas not yet supported by SDI.

Findings from this research will support the project’s accountability requirements to its many stakeholders, and will provide invaluable information to the project’s implementing partners prior to the commencement of the Year two activities.

This process is a key component of the stepped wedge design upon which the SDI project is been implemented.

Target audience: Primary caregivers of children less than five years in Shomolu.

Key Indicators of interest

This list is not exhaustive and may include additional indicators.

1. % households reporting access to improved sanitation facility

2. % households in target areas with access to safe drinking water / improved sources of drinking water

3. % households practicing safe water treatment and storage

4. % of households practicing hand washing with soap and water at three critical times

5. % of households / carers in the target communities identify diarrhoea and its associated risk factors

6. % of children under five with diarrhoea treated with ORS and Zinc according to National guidelines

7. % of caregivers/ mothers with knowledge on home management of diarrhoea and treatment with ORS and Zinc

8. % of caregivers practicing continued breastfeeding during diarrhoeal illness

9. % women practicing exclusive breastfeeding

10. % of households in the target communities identifying diarrhoea and its associated risk factors

    Research Methodology

    The research methodology will consist of a statistically robust household survey in the Shomolu LGA using a structured questionnaire developed in collaboration with Save the Children and focused on a set of pre-agreed indicators.

    The proposal should provide details on the sampling framework, the sample size and corresponding power calculations, and the proposed surveying techniques and protocols.

    The design will be expected to allow for disaggregation of findings between intervention areas supported in Year 1 and intervention areas not yet supported by SDI.

Educational background, skills and competencies required

• At least MSc degree in statistics, sociology, demography, psychology or any other related social sciences. A Ph.D. holder in any of the above subject will be an added advantage and preferred

• At least 5 to 10 field experience in previous work related to survey or operation research.

• Demonstrable and practice ability indicating good experience in household survey through previous work in rural communities.

• Experience in quantitative and contemporary statistical packages.

• Experience in conducting high quality quantitative research in communities in Nigeria;

• Experience of conducting research in the area of public health and / or water and sanitation;

• Child safeguarding and Ethical considerations regarding data collection, including confidentiality must be clearly highlighted in the methodology. Planning should take into consideration Ethical Checking Requirements in country.

  Key deliverables and outputs of this research

• A detailed Technical and financial proposal

• An inception report, including a final methodology and data collection tools for the household survey; to be reviewed and approved by Save the Children before start of field work

• A feasible and realistic work plan for the research

• A short pilot report summarising the findings of the pilot and the recommended adjustments, if any, to the data collection tools or surveying techniques;

• A draft report presenting the research findings, compliant with the TOR requirements and with the report template to be developed during the inception phase; to be reviewed by Save the Children;

• A final report addressing the comments and suggestions made by Save the Children and partners on the first draft; to be reviewed and approved by Save the Children

Reference materials to be reviewed by the consultant to be reviewed during inception phase

• Stop Diarrhoea Initiative project proposal

• Stop Diarrhoea Initiative baseline report and KAP survey

• The consultants should also be able to carry out their own individual on-line research and browsing on the topics under research.

1. Background and Statement of the Problem

In Nigeria, there exists a high prevalence of water and sanitation related diseases, causing many people, children in particular, to fall ill or even die. Improved hygiene practices are essential if transmission routes of water and sanitation related diseases are to be cut. Whereas appropriate hygiene education can bring about the intention to change hygiene behavior. For most hygiene behaviors appropriate water and sanitation facilities are needed to allow people to transform intention to change into real change

Generally, many schools in Nigeria are without access to potable water, adequate sanitation, safe recreational facilities and school meal services. Introduction of sound sanitary habits and safe practices to the children early in life makes them imbibe the culture of cleanliness and safety. Children are future parents and what they learn is likely to be applied in the rest of their lives. This ensures the sustainability of sound sanitation practices. School Sanitation therefore provides the practical example of healthy living. (Policy guidelines on sanitation 2005)

After the family, schools are the most important places of learning for children; they have a central place in the community. Schools are a stimulating learning environment for children and stimulate or initiate change. If water, sanitation and hygiene facilities in schools are available, they can act as a model, and teachers can function as role models. Schools can also influence communities through outreach activities, since through their students, schools are in touch with a large proportion of the households in any given community.

WASH in Nigeria schools is generally poor as most schools lack potable water and adequate waste disposal facilities. Most schools are poorly lit, overcrowded without proper ventilation and are sited in areas that are noisy and hazardous due to road and human traffic. School buildings especially the public ones are often dilapidated, mouldy, and are usually in unkempt environment overgrown with weeds.The lack of separate and decent water, sanitation and hygiene facilities in schools discourages children, particularly girls, from attending school full time and forces some to drop out altogether.

In view of the above therefore, Save the Children International (SCI), Nigeria, is partnering with Reckitt Benckiser to undertake a Stop the Diarrhea programme in Shomolu LGA over the next four years. As part of implementing the WASH aspect of the programme, SCI Nigeria intends to engage a consultant to carry out a compressive assessment of WASH facilities especially the Sanitation facilities in Ten (10) selected Schools in Somolu LGA and Bariga LCDA

1. Project Information

Stop Diarrhea Initiatives (SDI) Project is funded by Reckitt Benckiser (RB) and is being implemented by Save the Children Nigeria in conjunction with Government of Nigeria to tackle diarrhea as a public health challenge and reduce the number of children who die from childhood preventable diseases. The project is being implemented in the entire communities, selected Schools and PHCs in Shomolu LGA and Bariga LCDA.

Save the Children in partnership with the Lagos State Government aim to fully implement the WHO/UNICEF 7 point plan as a Signature Programme in Shomolu LGA, the components of the plan are;

1. Rotavirus and Measles Vaccination

2. Promotion of early and exclusive breastfeeding and Vitamin A supplementation

3. Promotion of hand washing with soap

4. Improved water supply quantity and quality, including the treatment and safe storage of household water

5. Community wide sanitation promotion

6. Fluid replacement to prevent dehydration- Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS)

7. Zinc treatment

8. Objective

The objective of this consultancy is aimed at achieving the following;

• A child-friendly toilet devoid of all obstacles and appropriate to local cultural, social and environmental conditions at all time.

• Re-design the existing toilet to accommodate child friendly features and construction

• There is a cleaning and maintenance routine in operation that ensures water point security good hygiene

• Maintenance personnel availability- Cleaners and technicians

• Systems for the improvement and preservation of water

• Wastewater drainage systems to manage and dispose of human faeces

• Solid waste management, disposal and recycling systems and hand washing facilities

4. Scope of the Consultancy Services

The scope of the consultancy service is to accomplish the following activities and evaluation;

• A design of child friendly toilet that will accommodate all child friendly features to attract children using the toilet.

• Appropriateness of the design in line with Lagos state child friendly initiative

• Maintenance arrangements, including availability of spare parts

• Safe water handling and storage

• Categorize the toilets into various categories- Compartmentalisation

• Prepare Bill of Engineering Measurement and Evaluation (BEME)

• Prepare Bill of Quantities (BOQ) for the rehabilitations/repairs of each fault or new amendments

• Ensure prompt compilation and submission to SCI of the assessment report or any other relevant report requested by SCI WASH Team.

5. Quality Assurance Plan

The consultant will ensure quality assurance in this work in both the actual assessment and technical report. This is to ensure basic understanding for a non-technical person.

6. Outputs and Deliverables

Consultants shall submit before the final copy, a first draft of the assessment report to SCI WASH unit that includes but not limited to the following;

• A well-structured technical dimensions, unit of measurements, and quantity/ load of work

• Corresponding bill of quantity (BOQ) for each identified repair and amendments

• Technical specification, make and efficiency of each item or materials to be replaced or applied for better performance

• Bill of Engineering Measurement and Evaluation (BEME)

• Quantity and quality of water at each toilet

• Pictorial documentation of the status of each facility selected for repair or construction work

• School toilet history and management structure both super structure and sub- structure

• Duration of consultancy

This activity is expected to be completed within 15 working days all inclusive of report writing

1. Minimum educational and technical competencies of the consultant

A reputable Mechanical/Civil / Water Engineering consultant/firm with:

• Proven track record and a minimum of 20 years’ experience in water Engineering, Civil or building Engineering industry.
• Experience in water sanitation and hygiene (WASH) is mandatory
• Evidence of having supervised projects of equal or higher value within the last 2-3 years.
• The Consultant must have valid and documented tax clearance and insurance policy
• Evidence of previous experience working with SCI and other development and or donor organisations in a similar work area is an advantage.
• Knowledge of Child Safeguarding policy is a must