Jobs in Zambia and Zimbabwe

United Nations World Food Programme Zambia Job Recruitment: Consultant

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Call for Expression of Interest to conduct Infant and Young Child Nutrition (IYCN), HIV and Food Security Baseline Assessment in SUN-WFP-FAO project sites in Mumbwa

The World Food Programme (WFP) is the world’s largest humanitarian agency, fighting hunger globally. WFP and FAO Zambia are seeking a Consultant to conduct a baseline assessment in support of our complementary feeding programme using locally produced foods in Mumbwa district, Zambia.

1.0 Background

In 2014, following a Call for Proposals under the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Funds, WFP Zambia successfully submitted a joint proposal with FAO to promote complementary feeding using locally produced foods in Mumbwa district. Under this project WFP-FAO Zambia will support the Government through the Mumbwa District Nutrition Coordinating committee (MDNCC) in addressing child under nutrition using a multi-sectoral lens linking HIV, Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH), education and agriculture. The SUN-WFP-FAO project has a principal objective of contributing to reduction of morbidity and mortality resulting from under nutrition focusing on pregnant and lactating women with children 6 to 23 months of age. The project will employ community based approaches that will include community mobilization, Infant and Young Child Nutrition (IYCN) in the context of HIV and gender, hygiene and sanitation. As part of livelihoods support, the project will help improve household income and agricultural productivity by linking small scale farmers to Home Grown School Feeding (HGSF) through the Ministry of Education with support of WFP Zambia. Technical and material inputs like seeds will be provided to small scale farmers through the Government-FAO led Conservation Agriculture Scale Up Project (CASU).

2.0 Rationale

The baseline results will be used as basis for project intervention design at the start of the project and will also serve as critical input to enhance the quality of other projects/ programs in Mumbwa.

3.0 Main Assessment Objective

The main objective is to understand existing knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) in SUN-WFP-FAO project sites focusing on;

  • Infant and Young Child Nutrition;
  • Diverse food production and utilization among targeted households;
  • Linkages between smallholder farmers and the HGSF
  • Conservation Agriculture’s and its contribution to good nutrition;

4.0 Scope of the assessment

The assessment will aim to achieve the following specific objectives:

  • Assess nutrition and HIV knowledge, attitudes, and practices among pregnant and lactating women of children 6 to 23 mothers, school teachers and learners in project sites.
  • Measure diverse food production and household dietary diversity in the project sites.
  • Assess women’s access to land and household resources.
  • Provide appropriate recommendations to address identified gaps under items (i) & (ii) above.
  • Assess women’s access to land and household resources.
  • Assess availability and usage of current communication channels and IEC materials for IYCN and HIV messaging.
  • Assess potential and usage of school gardening as a means for skills transfer to the learners.
  • Assess feasibility of linking smallholder farmers with the HGSF programme.

5.0 Location

The assessment will be conducted in the following project sites Nambala, Choma and Nalubanda wards in Mumbwa district, Zambia.

6.0 Methodology

The consultant will be expected to present detailed methodologies and appropriate tools for the intended assessment, taking into account the following:

  • The methodology should clearly discuss representative sampling techniques, standard questionnaires, appropriate data collection tools and procedure, statistical package for data processing and analysis.
  • Data collection tools should consist of specific Measurable Achievable Reliable Time-bound (SMART) indicators.
  • Field work should include but not be limited to primary data collection. Secondary data from various sources should be collected and reported with data sources clearly cited.
  • The intended assessment should be conducted within the given time frame.

7.0 Deliverables

A document labeled ‘Draft SUN-WFP-FAO baseline report’ with detailed findings should be delivered to WFP within 10 working days after completion of data collection. The consultant will also be expected to present preliminary findings to stakeholders, on an agreed date. Final SUN-WFP-FAO baseline report will be expected within 10 working days after comments on the draft report are provided.

7.1 Additional and mandatory responsibilities of the consultant

  • Collaboratively working with the District Nutrition
  • Coordinating Committee (DNCC) and other key stakeholders in Mumbwa.
  • Briefing the DNCC in Mumbwa before and after the field data collection

8.0 Duration

This assignment should be completed within 30 working days and will commence from the date of signing the agreement by all parties.

9.0 Required expertise & qualifications for Consultancy

  • Extensive experience in conducting quantitative and qualitative studies
  • The lead consultant should have Master’s degree in Public Health, Nutrition, Epidemiology or any other social science Other investigator(s) should have at least BSc in demography or statistics.
  • Knowledge and experience on the Zambia’s primary health care delivery system, nutrition policies and strategies, IYCN, food security and disaster risk reduction (DRR) is mandatory.
  • Have experience with traceable references on similar assignments on IYCN and/or food security and nutrition surveys
  • Detailed technical and financial proposal is needed separately with credentials. The technical proposal shall clearly present and discuss the methodology, team composition, training days, resources required, questionnaires, reporting and work plan to undertake the assignment.

10.0 How to Apply

Interested candidates should submit their technical and financial proposals (both not more than 5 pages) together with brief Curriculum Vitae(s). Envelopes should be marked CONFIDENTIAL – SUN-WFP-FAO Baseline Assessment. The sealed envelopes should be submitted to: The Head of Human Resources, United Nations World Food Programme Zambia P.O. Box 37726 Lusaka, Zambia. Or; delivered by hand at WFP Offices (Tender Box) Plot # 10/4971, Tito Road Rhodespark, Lusaka, Zambia. The deadline for submission of application is 10th August 2015