Contract type: Endline Survey for the Care Group model supported by Nutrition Action Zimbabwe (NAZ) in the Multisectoral Community Based Model for Reduction of Stunting Phase 2. Duration; 31 days (all inclusive) Starting date: 20th of January to 20th of February 2020 Deadline for submission; 15 January 2020 Background Nutrition Action Zimbabwe (NAZ) is a registered Non-governmental Organisation whose vision is a Zimbabwe without Malnutrition. The organisation has been working with various partners and stakeholders implementing nutrition specific and nutrition sensitive programmes aimed at stunting reduction. Nutrition Action Zimbabwe supported the government led Multi Sectoral Community Based Model for Stunting Reduction (MCBM) in five districts of Chipinge, Mutasa, Chiredzi, Mwenezi and Beitbridge. The Care Group Model1 was used as the main strategy for delivery of Nutrition services to targeted pregnant, lactating mothers and care givers of children in the first 1000 days of life. The Care group model was implemented in the following wards as highlighted in Table 1 below. This programme has been funded by UNICEF with support from EU. To inform future programming, documentation of experiences, lessons learnt and recommendations will go a long way to influence consolidation and scale up the Care group Model beyond the targeted five districts. A barrier analysis was done at the start of the programme to ascertain the barriers and enablers to nutrition and WASH practices existing in the communities where the strategy would be implemented. A baseline and endline survey was conducted at the end of each phase to check progress against each indicator. Key results of the project include; 1Perry H, Morrow M, Borger S et al. (2015) Care Groups I: An Innovative Community-Based Strategy for Improving Maternal, Neonatal, and Child Health in Resource-Constrained Settings: Global Health Science and Practice 358-369 2 1. Care group leaders, Elderly women and male advocates capacited to implement and coordinate scale-up of services to protect, promote and support optimal nutritional status of boys, girls pregnant and lactating women. 2. Children (boys and girls), pregnant and lactating women, caregivers and fathers in selected districts apply optimal nutrition and care practices and seek preventive and promotive nutrition service. Purpose of the consultancy. To provide support by carrying out an end of programme evaluation, review progress against each indicator, assess the overall impact of the programme, and give recommendations in future implementation of nutrition sensitive and nutrition specific behaviour change by the targeted beneficiaries. The evaluation will also help to validate key findings and outcomes made during the project baseline and endline survey. Additionally, evaluation will also review NAZ monitoring and evaluation systems for delivery of scaled up nutrition programmes. The endline study would essentially inquire the following criteria: • Nutrition: What are the current nutrition outcomes in each of the proposed communities compared to when the project started? How knowledgeable are the community members on nutrition outcomes (EBF, complementary feeding etc). Additionally, the study will ascertain the state of functionality of the care groups and their integration into existing structures. • Gender: This will be limited to assessing the influence of gender to adoption knowledge/practice and adoption of recommended nutrition behaviours among community members. The result of this will be compared against the baseline study to ascertain what has changed • WASH: To what extent are the community members aware of the key practice and knowledge of WASH? The WASH component will also involve observation walks by enumerators. Observation walks will be conducted around WASH hard-wares in the selected communities as well the general functioning-status and utilisation of these hardwares within households. • Income Generating Activities (IGAs); The survey will assess the extent to which IGAs enhanced the operations of the care groups. To evaluate the extent to which products from the IGAs were utilised within the households • Challenges: Based on the evidence from the study, what are the challenges recorded during project implementation and how can this be remedied against possible future projects. • Recommendation: Actionable recommendation based on the evidence and data collected during fieldwork to inform implementation strategies across the sectors (Wash, Nutrition and Child Protection). The major responsibilities The major responsibilities will involve carrying out an outcome assessment in the use of the Care Group Model to deliver nutrition services and products to pregnant, lactating mothers and care givers of Children in the first 1000 days of life across the 5 mentioned districts. The consultant will assess progress against each programme indicator, give an independent opinion on the overall outcome of the programme and provide recommendations to influence future programming. Additionally, the consultant will also support NAZ to develop a more robust Monitoring and Evaluation framework for the organisation in preparation for scaled up programmes. The consultancy will also involve developing and packaging a summarised report to give an overview of the progress, lessons learnt, and experiences made by NAZ since 2017 which will help to influence 3 nutrition specific and nutrition sensitive programming. Key Deliverables The consultant should deliver at minimum the following. 1. Designing and pretesting of instruments for data collection (questionnaires) 2. Identifying and training staff for data collection (enumerators) using the developed tools 3. Develop methodology for the evaluation in consultation with NAZ 4. Supervise data collection and ensure quality control 5. Inception Report 6. Data collection 7. Data processing, analysis and report writing 8. Prepare and submit a satisfactory report of the evaluation to NAZ 9. Summarised Report version for publicity and communication with external parties. Proposed Monitoring and Evaluation Framework which should capacitate the organisation to deliver scaled up programmes. Other critical aspects to be considered Provide information on current situation and changes on habits, practices, attitudes, beliefs and taboos related to infant and young child feeding practices of local populations, especially regarding vulnerable groups, women and children under 5; and related factors to any changes observed. (iv). Understand the factors that facilitate or prevent the adoption of appropriate behaviours for improving health and nutrition at the community and household level and impact of project activities on these factors; (v) Analyze, understand and highlight aspects that influenced the efficiency and effectiveness of the methodology and approach used in the implementation of the subcomponent; (vi). Identify and make key recommendations for promotion of nutrition education and behaviour change interventions, the implementation of IYCF programmes, gender’s contribution to improving nutrition levels. Candidates will be assessed against the following minimum requirements: Qualifications • Advanced Degree in at least one of the following areas\: Public Health, Food Security, Nutrition, Agriculture, Social Sciences, Statistics, Epidemiology and other relevant areas. • At least 5 - 10 years of experience in conducting studies on nutrition education, behaviour change communications, public health nutrition and food security. Good experience in data processing, analysis and production of technical reports. Other relevant work experience (essential) • Working knowledge of English and limited knowledge of Shona, Ndebele and Venda (an added advantage). • Background in a consulting role is desirable. Skills and abilities Must have a clear vision of the key accountabilities and be determined to achieve all set targets in within the given timeframe. Vast experience in Monitoring and Evaluation processes and tools and a proven track record to develop robust monitoring and evaluation systems and tools which meet the 4 national and international standards. Knowledge in Infant and Young Child Feeding Practices and the Care Group Model is desirable. Demonstrated ability to train and build capacity of others; Bilingual in English and Shona (essential), Ndebele and Venda and added advantage; Capacity to understand the needs of nutrition specific and sensitive programming, as well as the ability to communicate openly and integrate all feedback which is provided. Experience working with non-governmental organizations is essential. Competency in managing and analysing qualitative and quantitative data is essential. Submission of proposals A technical and financial proposal should be submitted for review outlining methodology and timeframe Budget Budget notes for the consultant for the endline: • Consultant should be able to take into account on their budget all human resources costs. Interested applicants must bid competitively for the works and include a detailed budget of all costs associated with the deliverable. Note that all laptops, software, and communications equipment should be provided by the Consultant. The consultant should highlight. • Enumerator Fee: The consultant should highlight the total cost per enumerator for each day, total number of enumerators required for the duration of the survey. Any other additional costs should also be highlighted in the proposal. • Accommodation: The budget should highlight cost for field accommodation required during data collection. • NAZ will provide logistical arrangement during field visits. All other costs associated with the consultancy must be included in the bid. Consultant’s fee and proposed payment structure: Consultant’s fees shall be paid as per the contract. The break-down of payment shall be based thus: • 30% upon signature of contract and submission of inception report • 40% upon submission of draft report • 30 % upon submission of final evaluation report. NAZ reserves the right to withhold payment if deliverables do not meet the requirements outlined in this Terms of Reference. In addition to the consultancy fees, the followings are possible re-disbursable costs: • Car Hire: This shall be provided only for the number of days of field work