TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR CONSULTANT TO DEVELOP FACTSHEETS, POSITION PAPERS, POLICY BRIEFS ON THE LINK OF NUTRITION TO CHILDREN VACCINATION, CHILDHOOD KILLER DISEASES, FAMILY PLANNING AND HUMAN CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT: REFERENCE: CS-SUNN/2022 – 01/004
ABOUT CS-SUNN:
The Civil Society Scaling-Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN) is a non-governmental, non-profit making alliance, made up of organizations with a shared vision to transform Nigeria into a country where every citizen has food and is nutrition secured. We pursue this lofty goal by engaging government and non-state actors to raise awareness, sustain commitment and actions to effectively tackle under-nutrition in Nigeria. The alliance was birthed in November, 2013 at Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria, and formally inaugurated on the 7th of August, 2014.
ABOUT PINNS 2.0 PROJECT
The Partnership for Improving Nigeria Nutrition Systems (PINNS 2.0) is a project designed to strengthen the Nigeria nutrition systems to be more Result-driven, Effective, Serviceable, Efficient and Transparent (RESET). This is to facilitate the delivery of nutrition interventions and to hold government accountable on commitments made to allocate, release and use funds transparently for implementation of high-impact nutrition interventions in Nigeria through evidence-based advocacy**.**
Several factors, including lack of food, improper feeding and caring practices, economic and political structures, low status and lack of education among women, and others, cause malnutrition in Nigeria. Therefore, a multi-sectoral approach is required for reduction and eventual eradication of the scourge. The UNICEF conceptual framework (UNICEF 2013) brings to the fore the need for multi-actors, disciplines, sectors and systems in this effort as evidence increasingly suggests that solving malnutrition can benefit from a systems approach (WHO 2009; Hammond & Dube’ 2012).
The project is a continuation of the just completed PINNS 1.0 and connects the importance of optimal nutrition to attaining Nigeria’s Human Capital Development goal by 2025. The project will continue to support the Nigeria nutrition system to be more Result-Driven, Effective, Serviceable, Efficient and Transparent (RESET).
PINNs project adopts a systems approach to strengthening bodies burdened with the responsibility of reducing malnutrition in Nigeria. It pays attention to the unpredictable interaction among factors, sectors, disciplines and determinants of nutrition, bringing to the table key tools and technical support required for the effective coordination and implementation of programs. PINNs seek to focus on strengthening governance, policy implementation, effective coordination, financing, building the capacity of state actors, generation and effective communication of evidence, and promoting accountability. This collective effort will contribute to a reduction in malnutrition, improving the nutritional status of Nigerians, particularly women and children. The organizational capacity of CS-SUNN to become a leading voice on nutrition advocacy in Nigeria by deepening expertise gained from the Partnership for Advocacy in Child and Family Health (PACFaH) project and building new ones is also one of the goals the project intends to achieve.
THE ASSIGNMENT
CS-SUNN requires the services of a consultant to produce factsheets in infographic format, position papers and policy briefs on the link between nutrition, and children's vaccination, childhood killer diseases, family planning, Human capital development, and other relevant issues. CS-SUNN believes that the documents will contribute to establishing a shared and accepted understanding among various stakeholders on the importance of adequate nutrition. We expect the document to show the role adequate nutrition plays in promoting efficacy of vaccines given to children, preventing child-hood killer diseases, family planning (in the context of child-spacing), and Human Capital Development (HCD).
SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES OF THE ASSIGNMENT
Nutrition and Prevention of 50% of Childhood Killer Diseases:
Malnutrition contributes to about 45% of deaths among children under 5 years of age in developing countries, predominantly because of infections. Over 50% of these deaths are attributed to diarrhea, acute respiratory illness, malaria, or measles, conditions that are preventable or treatable with low-cost interventions like adequate infant and Young Child Feeding practices.
Although recent estimates suggest that malnutrition is associated with about 50% of all deaths among children, the association between malnutrition and all-cause mortality is not fully documented and malnutrition-related risk of death associated with specific diseases is less well described.
Specific Tasks:
ü Produce report on critical reviews of factual published knowledge, gaps, and promising opportunities for learning related to the interactions among nutrition, nutritional interventions, and childhood killer diseases.
ü Develop simplified factsheets in infographic format, position papers and policy briefs on nutrition and its contribution to prevention of 50% of childhood killer diseases.
ü Design and layout 15 minutes multi-media presentation on above.
-Show evidence on risk of death of malnourished children associated with infectious disease–malaria, diarrhoea, measles, HIV/AIDS, etc.
Nutrition and efficacy of children's vaccination:
Sufficient nutrient status supports immunity and reduce the risk and impact of infections (by supporting immune cells that destroy harmful pathogens and produce antibodies) the same cells that help to generate an effective vaccine response. Nutritional status plays an important role in immune responses to vaccination. However, over the years, studies have produced conflicting evidence. The nutritional status of a child influences its immune responses in varied and complex ways that are far from fully understood. The specific effects on vaccine efficacy have not been extensively reviewed.
Specific Tasks:
ü Produce report on critical reviews of factual published knowledge, gaps, and promising opportunities for learning related to the interactions among nutrition, nutritional interventions, and vaccine responses.
ü Develop simplified factsheets in infographic format, position papers, briefs on nutritional status of children and immunization responses.
ü Design and layout 15 minutes multi-media presentation on above
-Uphold immunization and improved nutrition are among the key factors in reducing childhood mortality.
Family Planning and Nutrition:
Breastfeeding is associated with many maternal and child health benefits, including a delay in fertility return postpartum, regarded by many as the family planning method.**
Specific tasks:
ü show evidence that women's nutritional status has a significant relationship with planning of births.
ü Develop simplified factsheets in infographic format, position papers, briefs on Breastfeeding as natural and safe birth-control method that can be used as a form of family planning and the interrelationship between planning for timing, spacing and limiting of births and promotion of better nutritional status in women.
Specific tasks:
ü show evidence that nutritional status has a significant relationship with Human Capital Development.
ü Develop simplified factsheets in infographic format, position papers, briefs on the importance of nutrition to attaining Human Capital Development and attaining Nigeria’s HCD Targets.
EXPECTED OUTPUTS
ü Report on critical reviews of factual published knowledge, gaps, and promising opportunities for learning related to the interactions among nutrition, nutritional interventions, and childhood killer diseases.
ü factsheets in infographic format, position papers, briefs on nutrition and its contribution to prevention of 50% of childhood killer diseases
ü 15 minutes power-point presentation on nutrition and its contribution to prevention of 50% of childhood killer diseases
ü report on critical reviews of factual published knowledge, gaps, and promising opportunities for learning related to the interactions among nutrition, nutritional interventions, and vaccine responses.
ü factsheets in infographic format, position papers, briefs on nutritional status of children and immunization responses.
ü 15 minutes power point presentation on nutritional status of children and immunization responses
ü report on critical reviews of factual published knowledge, gaps, and promising opportunities for learning related to the interactions among nutrition, nutritional interventions, family planning/child-spacing.
ü factsheets in infographic format, position papers, briefs on breastfeeding as natural and safe birth-control method
ü Report on critical reviews of factual published knowledge, gaps, and promising opportunities for learning related to the interactions among nutrition, nutritional interventions, and Human Capital Development.
ü factsheets in infographic format, position papers, briefs on nutrition and its impact on Human Capital Development.
ü 15 minutes power-point presentation on nutrition and its contribution to attainment of Human Capital Development.
OTHER SPECIFICATIONS:
· Report for each thematic area (Family Planning, Vaccination or Childhood killer diseases and Human Capital Development) should not exceed 10 pages, excluding annexes and references to be submitted on an agreed deadline.
· Position papers should not exceed 3 pages.
· Policy briefs should not exceed 2 pages.
· Infographics should not exceed 1 pager (front and back pages)
· PowerPoint presentation should not exceed 20 slides that can be presented in 15 minutes or less
CONFIDENTIALITY OF INFORMATION: All documents and data collected should be treated as confidential and used solely to facilitate analysis. Interviewees should not be quoted in the reports, position paper, briefs etc. without their permission.
CONTENT: All the required documents and reports in their draft and final versions shall be submitted to CS-SUNN within agreed timelines and shall remain the explicit property of CS-SUNN.
TYPE OF CONSULTANTS REQUIRED
Education:
Master's degree in public health, Health Planning, policy and management, Health Economics and financing, Public Policy, nutrition, sociology and related disciplines nutrition and or related field. Degree in Data Journalism, Graphics Design, Infographics Design and Digital Marketing.
Experience:
At least 7 years' experience of working in and or managing immunization, family planning, nutrition or related field projects/programmes. **
For specialty and quality delivery of the dual component of this consultancy; public health issues (nutrition, vaccine, family planning, child health and Human Capital Development) and graphics design, we expect the team of consultant (s) brings to the table essential skills and experience in public health programming on one hand and a team of professional graphics, infographic/digital design experts on the other as these are key to attaining the deliverables for the tasks.
Proven experience developing briefs, position papers, infographics. Journalistic writing, excellent simple, persuasive writing skills in English, ability to extract critical facts from written sources and collating them in a coherent and creative manner, knowledge of visualization, and graphic design are critical. (an example of relevant previous work mandatory and will be kept confidential if required).
Proven experience working with government authorities, stakeholders in the immunization, family planning and nutrition circle, as well as civil society organizations, academia, media, health associations/groups.
Proven experience in coordinating or leading similar projects.
Understanding the Terms of Reference:
Shows a clear understanding of the TOR and the outputs expected from the assignment.
Time management: Shows ability to work autonomously and to deliver the task in a timely fashion.
DURATION OF CONSULTANCY:
The period of this consultancy will be approximately 25 pro-rated working days, starting in January 2021 and ending on March 2022.
Management
All reports are subject to review and authorization by CS-SUNN's PINNS 2.0 project manager**.**
CONSULTANCY REQUIREMENTS:
Consultants who meet the requirements of this assignment should submit an Expression of Interest of which should include;
Anti-Sexual Exploitation and Abuse
CS-SUNN has a zero-tolerance for sexual exploitation and sexual abuse in all ramifications as its considered gross misconduct. ‘Sexual abuse’ means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions **
This vacancy is archived.