Consultant, support for work on the Optimizing ITN Access in Africa project for operational guidance, tools and training packages

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, with a network of 191-member National Societies. The overall aim of the IFRC is “to inspire, encourage, facilitate, and promote at all times all forms of humanitarian activities by National Societies with a view to preventing and alleviating human suffering and thereby contributing to the maintenance and promotion of human dignity and peace in the world.” The IFRC works to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people before, during and after disasters, health emergencies and other crises.

The IFRC is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (the Movement), together with its member National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The work of the IFRC is guided by the following fundamental principles: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality. At Geneva level, the Health and Care Department’s (HCD) New Strategic Direction 2023 focuses on Health Systems Strengthening and WASH Systems Strengthening through four pillars: Global Health Security, Global Health Protection (UHC), Global WASH Services and Transformative Partnership.

The Global Health Protection (UHC) pillar houses and chairs the Alliance for Malaria Prevention (AMP), a partnership of more than 40 organizations, including government, private sector, faith-based and humanitarian organizations, focused on three main activities: (1) coordination of partners involved in insecticide-treated net (ITN) campaign and continuous distribution (CD) activities; (2) development of operational guidance for planning and implementing of ITN distribution based on an iterative process; and (3) providing technical assistance to national malaria programmes and partners based on requests. AMP’s activities support achievement of the WHO Global Technical Strategy (GTS) targets for high coverage and use of ITNs. AMP is a workstream within the RBM Partnership to End Malaria. Harnessing the global leadership and management systems of IFRC, AMP is uniquely positioned to support and advance country-level efforts to optimize ITN distribution and ensure that the right nets reach the right people at the right time through both campaign and continuous distribution channels.

In 2020, IFRC/AMP was awarded a three-year grant by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) to identify ways to improve operational efficiency for ITN campaigns and develop associated operational guidance for national malaria programmes and partners. AMP’s work under this grant provided key lessons learned and practical guidance for improving the implementation of ITN distribution through multiple channels. In 2023, a new grant was awarded to IFRC/AMP by BMGF focused on optimizing ITN access in the face of limited resources for the fight against malaria. In this grant, AMP will focus on implementing activities across five workstreams designed to address identified gaps. The primary objectives are to enhance data utilization for informed decision-making and to leverage digital tools for optimization of ITN campaigns and continuous distribution, ensuring that the right nets reach the right people at the right time. These workstreams ultimately aim to reduce the malaria burden through effective malaria prevention with ITNs.

The proposed work aims to ensure timely availability of deliverables for the Optimizing ITN Access in Africa (OPITACA) project by developing operational guidance, tools, and materials for planning and implementing ITN distribution through continuous distribution and training package for household registration/ITN distribution quality assessment for campaign distribution.

Workstream 1: Estimated LOE – 20 days

• Support revision, adaptation, or development, in collaboration with partners, of user-friendly, practical tools and materials to support planning, budgeting and implementing CD through school and community channels.
• Support revision of the continuous distribution website and its integration into the overall AMP website.
• Support review of the continuous distribution toolkit and the org website.

Workstream 3: Estimated LOE – 20 days

• To support the development of a clustered lot quality assurance (cLQAS) training package including curricula, materials and practical exercises that can be easily adapted to country and campaign context.
• To support organization of webinar and trainings on household registration/ITN distribution quality assessment.
• To develop or support development of best practice examples of protocols, questionnaires, tools and reports from countries implementing cLQAS for cross-country learning.
• To support the development of online training materials and short guides for key technical aspects of cLQAS.
• To support the expansion of the cLQAS procedures with an additional focus on investigation and follow up based on results from data analysis and mapping.

Deliverables of the consultancy will include:

• User-friendly, practical tools and materials for planning, budgeting, and implementing ITN CD through school and community channels.
• Self-paced online cLQAS training package, including curricula, materials, and practical exercises adaptable to various country and campaign contexts developed and available on the AMP website.
• Online training materials and short guides focusing on key technical aspects of cLQAS developed and available on the AMP website.
• Best practice examples or case study from 1-2 countries, including protocols, questionnaires, tools, and reports, for cross-country learning in the implementation of cLQAS developed and available on the AMP website.

Alignment to the IFRC’s objectives and strategy:

The Alliance for Malaria Prevention’s mandate aligns to the Federation’s Strategy 2030 as it supports the achievement of strategic aims:

1) Save lives, protect livelihoods and strengthen recovery from disasters and crises.

2) Enable healthy and safe living.

Project objectives and timelines:

Objective #1: To generate new evidence and best practices that will support optimized ITN distribution through campaigns and continuous distribution channels.

Desired outcomes: Increased availability of evidence-based approaches and guidance for optimizing ITN distribution through non-campaign channels.

Support to be provided to the consultant: The consultant will be supported by the Manager – Malaria Programmes, Senior Officer - Optimizing ITN Access project and the Officer, AMP Coordination.

Time allocation, for budget purposes

The total budget for the contract is CHF 26,000.

This budget is based on an estimate of 40 billable days working days at CHF 650.

Compensation is based on a daily rate, with eight billable hours equalling one day for billing purposes.

The consultancy timeframe will be from 15^th November 2024 to 15^th September 2024.

Required

• Fluently spoken and written English.

Preferred

• Good command of another IFRC official language (French, Spanish or Arabic).

Values: Respect for diversity; Integrity; Professionalism; Accountability.

Core competencies: Communication; Collaboration and teamwork; Judgement and decision making; National society and customer relations; Creativity and innovation; Building trust.

Application Instructions

• Please submit your application in English only.
• Please include in your motivation letter your availability and your current Daily Fee Rate in CHF.

IFRC values equal opportunity, diversity and inclusivity. We encourage applications from all suitably qualified candidates, irrespective of sex, gender, sexual orientation, marital or parental status, nationality, class, political opinions, ethnic or social origin, disability, religion, or belief.