Organization: UN Children's Fund
Country: Maldives
Closing date:
08 Oct 2017International Consultant
Advert for International Consultancy to Identify the determinants of malnutrition, and develop a Behavior Change Communication Strategy on first 1000 days of life
Maldives
ADVERT to TOR Reference Number: TOR/2017/20
Programme Information
UNDAF Outcome: Inclusive and equitable social service for children and adolescents, especially the disadvantaged and vulnerable groups improvedCPD Outcome: Inclusive and equitable social services for children and adolescents, especially the disadvantaged and vulnerable groups are improved by 2020CPD Output 1.1: Comprehensive mechanism for child and adolescent nutrition interventions strengthened, especially in the regions with high malnutrition rates.2-year intervention: Mothers & care-givers have increased knowledge and skills on IYCFJRWP 2016-2017 Activity: 1.1.1.1.2. Promote knowledge on maternal and child nutrition (with a focus on Infant Young Child feeding) among mothers and caregivers.Purpose of assignment & Background:Maldives has made remarkable progress in the last few decades, yet the nutrition status of the population has not kept pace with other socioeconomic developments in the country. Despite some noteworthy changes, the last Demographic and Health Survey (2009) indicated worrying results for with respect to children's nutrition; among children under five years of age, 18.9% are stunted, 17.3% are underweight, and 10.6% are wasted. Practice of Exclusive Breastfeeding is also low, with only 48% of infants being exclusively breastfed till 6 months. On the positive side, duration of breastfeeding is relatively high with a national average of 25.3 months. High rates of micronutrient deficiencies among children and women (e.g. Vitamin A & Iron Deficiency) are also worrying. Another emerging concern is the obesity rate, with 5.8% of children under five being obese. Undernutrition and obesity co-exist in many communities.
Irreversible damage to the brain and child's physical development caused by malnutrition during the critical thousand days between conception and second year have been well noted in recent findings and literature such as the Lancet series (2008). Without the appropriate nutrients and care within the first 1000 days of life, a child's body and brain fail to develop properly. Unlike hunger, these effects are largely invisible and irreversible. A major cause for malnutrition, is inadequate complementary feeding practices, and this particularly the case for stunting. ÂAnalysis of nutrition data of under five children in the Maldives shows a steep increase in under nutrition between 6 – 24 months, and this correlates with complimentary feeding period.
Determinants of malnutrition is linked to into three broad underlying factors; household food insecurity (including availability, affordability); inadequate care, feeding practices and unhealthy household environment; and lack of quality health care services. For some, diseases and illnesses has also been associated with under nutrition. There is a need to explore the underlying causes of malnutrition in the Maldives which will provide a better understanding and support to enhance interventions to address it.
Information and education with a focus on bringing about behavior and social change is essential to support desirable changes in complementary feeding practices. There is also a need to advocate and raise awareness for positive behavioral practices through a community based approach. Strategic Communication aimed at bringing about behavior and social change is vital to promote and support positive outcomes.
In this regard, UNICEF Maldives Country Office is seeking an international consultant to assist the Government and partners to assess the determinants of malnutrition and design a behaviour change communication strategy focusing on the first 1000 days of life, with emphasis on encouraging breast feeding, optimal feeding (Infant and Young Child Feeding - IYCF) practices, stimulation and care in this early period.
What are the objectives to which the consultancy is related?The overall result is for mothers and care-givers to have improved knowledge and skills on Infant Young Child Feeding. The purpose is to raise the profile and create value around the first 1000 days of life that ensures multiple and long-lasting benefits to the child by promoting a range of action-oriented, positive messages on infant feeding, stimulation, nurturing and child-development.
The objective of the current consultancy is to develop a Behaviour Change Communication (BCC) strategy on the first 1000 days of life, with emphasis on breast feeding, optimal feeding (IYCF) practices, stimulation and care in this early period. The specific objectives are to:
Develop a situational analysis to understand the underlying causes and issues related to malnutrition in the Maldives (based on Desk review of documents, focus group discussions and literature review).Explore the reasons for under-five malnutrition context in the Maldives with regards to common determinants such as food availability, affordability, possible illnesses and feeding knowledge and practices
Design a Behaviour Change Communication (BCC) strategy on the first 1000 days of life, with emphasis on breast feeding, optimal feeding (IYCF) practices, stimulation and care in this early periodDevelopment of a two-year action plan to roll-out the BCC strategyDevelopment of a simple monitoring planThe incumbent is expected to work closely with UNICEF, Health Protection Agency, technical team and other stakeholders.
Duty station Male, Maldives (based in the Health Protection Agency), and home-based.
The consultant is expected to work from home during the beginning and end part of the consultancy, with around 45 days in country in the middle of the assignment.
SupervisorAishath Shahula Ahmed - UNICEF, Programme Specialist; supported by Mohamed Yasir, UNICEF Communication for Development Office.
From the Government, the Head of Nutrition section in Health Protection Agency, Male', Maldives will provide support and supervision.
Major tasks to be Accomplished Situation Analysis: Conduct a situational analysis to understand the underlying causes and issues related to malnutrition in the Maldives (based on Desk review of documents, focus group discussions and literature review). Explore the reasons for under-five malnutrition context in the Maldives with regards to common determinants such as food availability, affordability, possible illnesses and feeding knowledge and practices. This can be done through undertaking a desk review of existing research and literature and focus group discussions with technical team & stakeholders. Also include review of existing data on IYCF, IEC resources and standards currently used).Identify key behavioral issues related to poor infant/young child feeding and propose recommendations that includes appropriate behavior change messages (for both target audience), as well as suggested communication channels.Present to technical team and seek comments, feedback and endorsementDevelop an inception report (with findings or issues and recommendations)Develop a communication strategy that includes:Situation: Analysis of causes of malnutrition (eg affordability, access, availability, illness, behavior issues or others). Communal Issues hindering good behavior practices or existing communication gaps in previous interventions related to IYCF to act as a baselineCommunication objectives & Behavior Change objectives including goals, targets and indicators (to monitor progress/behavior change)Target audiences (primary, secondary)Theory of Change with a sequenced plan of action (lineally outlining how expected change is to occur, and how activities will be sequenced – visually and substantively)Communication channels (with a good mix of diverse channels, including social media, mass media, community engagement to interpersonal influencers (health workers)Stakeholders and partnersProgramme approaches and positioningCommunication strategies and its design:Advocacy (addressed to local leaders – to inform and motivate appropriate leaders to create a supportive environment and tactics to engage them).Social Mobilization components (aimed at greater public audiences and tactics to engage them).Behavior Change Communication activities including messaging (aimed at target audiences)Based on the BCC plan proposed, develop a two-year action plan to roll-out the targeted activitiesDevelop a simplified Monitoring plan, which includes overall goal, targets and indicators to track changes in behavior, and outcomes (gauge knowledge or behavior change attributed to the interventions of the campaign or understand if change is occurring organically),Conduct an advocacy and validation meeting - present the BCC strategy to stakeholdersFinalise the BCC strategy, Action plan & monitoring planDevelop and present 2-page brief / advocacy document for policy makers succinctly defining the goals and targets of the campaign and policy suggestions based on desk review/findingsMajor activities / Tasks
Details of the tasks ( but not limited to) & Indicative Working days excluding weekends)
Deliverables
SitAn - Analysis of Issue: Understanding the determinants of malnutrition, and causes(3 days home based
(11 -12 days in country – 9 working days in country + weekend)
Conduct a situational analysis to understand the underlying causes, determinants and issues related to malnutrition in the MaldivesAnalysis to identify the determinants and causesof malnutrition: Explore the malnutrition context in the Maldives with regards to common determinants such as food availability, affordability, possible illnesses and feeding knowledge and practices etc).Identify key behavioral issues related to poor infant young child feeding and propose recommendations that includesappropriate communication activities including messages for behavior change, as well assuggested communication channels.Present to technical team and seek comments, feedback and endorsementInception report with a situational analysis: analysis based desk review, literature review and FGDs, on determinants of malnutrition and knowledge attitude and belief related to IYCF15 working days
Inception Report that includes Situation Analysis – identifying the determinants for malnutrition of under-five children, and key issues
2. Develop the social behavior change communication strategy
(17 days in country – 14 working days and + 3 weekend days)
Develop a BCC strategy that includes:
Situation (based on the Situational analysis of causes, issues and context)Behavior Change objectives including goals, targets and indicators (to monitor progress/behavior change)Target audiences (primary, secondary)Communication objectivesTheory of Change with a sequenced plan of action (lineally outlining how expected change is to occur, and how activities will be sequenced – visually and substantively)Communication channels (with a good mix of diverse channels, including social media, mass media, community engagement to interpersonal influencers (health workers)Stakeholders and partnersProgramme approaches and positioningCommunication strategies and its design:Advocacy (addressed to local leaders – to inform and motivate to create a supportive environment and tactics to engage them).Social Mobilization components (aimed at greater public audiences and tactics to engage them).Behavior Change Communication activities including messaging (aimed at specific target audiences)12- 14 working days
SBCC Strategy draftSimplified Monitoring plan (draft)Development of a two-year action plan
(7 days in country)Â
Based on the BCC plan proposed, develop a two-year action plan to roll-out the targeted activities with partners.Develop a simplified Monitoring plan, which includes overall goal, targets and indicators to track changes in behavior, and outcomes (gauge knowledge or behavior change attributed to the interventions of the campaign or understand if change is occurring organically)5Â working days
Draft action plan for roll-out of SBCC planM & E plan draftValidation and Finalization of Strategy & Monitoring plan
(2 days in country,
Â7 days home-based)
Present the BCC strategy to stakeholders for validationFinalize the BCC strategy, Action plan & monitoring planDevelop a 2-page brief / advocacy document for policy makers succinctly defining the goals and targets of the campaign and policy suggestions based on desk review/findings9 days
Stakeholder Validation meeting - reportFinalized BCC strategyAction plan finalizedFinalized monitoring plan2 Page briefFinal reportEstimated duration of contract For the International consultant, it is estimated that the project will take approximately 50 days between October 2017 – December 2017. Estimated calendar working days is around 40 days
Official travel involved (itinerary and duration) Travel to Male, Maldives. The consultant is expected to work from home-based during the beginning and end part of the consultancy, with around 40 days in country in the middle
Payment schedule:Deliverable
Percentage payment
Inception reportÂSituation Analysis, with context determinants such as food availability, affordability, possible illnesses key issues and change messages)10%
Behavior Change Communication Strategy – draftAction Plan – draftMonitoring plan35%
Validation meeting - report on stakeholder consultation (including comments from stakeholders)15%
Finalized BCC strategyFinalized Monitoring planSummary / 2 Page briefFinal report40%
Note:
UNICEF will only make milestone payments based on achievement of specific deliverables as listed in the table above.All payments will be subjected to acceptance of deliverable by UNICEF.Also note that UNICEF does not make advance payment and UNICEF is exempted from paying VAT and any other forms of taxes.UNICEF Maldives pays lower DSA of USD 200 per day for the time Male, Maldives. A return economy ticket based on lowest fare from the most direct route will be covered.
Qualifications or specialized knowledge and/or experience required Must have at least a Masters degree in communication, nutrition, public health or relevant fieldAt least 5 years of experience in communication for development (C4D), or strategic communication for behavior change communication.Must have experience in conducting analysis or researchExperience in developing BCC strategies and policy guidance preferably in the nutrition contextExperience working in Maldives, or exposure to the Maldivian context will be an advantageExcellent communication skills in English (oral and written), advanced skills in professional writing. Knowledge of Dhivehi language will be an advantageMust be able to manage diverse view points and work in demanding situations.
Deadline for application is 8th Oct 2017 (1200 hrs Maldives Time [GMT + 5])
Application with (i) updated CV, (ii) Updated P11 Form and separately (iii) a proposed (daily) fee in USD and a (iii) technical proposal to be submitted as attachments with the online application. UNICEF may also ask for submission of relevant work.
Application Link: https://goo.gl/wdLKSv
ONLY SHORT-LISTED APPLICANTS WILL BE CONTACTED
ANNEX 1: SELECTION PROCESS
Interested candidates should submit an application along with the following documents and a price (daily fee) proposal quoted in USD.
Technical Proposal:
The Technical Proposal should include, but not be limited to the followingDetailed understanding of UNICEF requirements (as per the ToR)
Detailed Methodology/Approach to project demonstrating how you meet or exceed UNICEF requirements for this assignment, outlining the proves for key tasks:To undertake the SitAnDevelop the BCC strategy
Accompanying documents and testimonials:
Applicants (individuals or institutions) are requested to back up their submissions by providingP11 Form
Updated CVTechnical ProposalProposed daily FeeEvidence of experience in similar types of work in terms of references and work samplesHow to apply:UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organization. To apply, click on the following link http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/?job=507579