Consultant, Process Mapping and Costing of Insecticide-Treated Net (ITN) Distribution Through Different Channels

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian network, with 191 member National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. IFRC uses the Triple R – response, resilience and respect – to deliver on Strategy 2030. IFRC responds to disasters and crises, ensuring timely, coordinated and locally led humanitarian action. IFRC supports its members in building community resilience in the areas of climate and environment, health and wellbeing, and migration and displacement. IFRC promotes respect for our fundamental principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality, including in our work on values, power and inclusion. The IFRC focuses throughout on our core mandate – our raison d’être – of strategic and operational coordination, humanitarian diplomacy, National Society development, and accountability. 

IFRC is led by its Secretary General and has its Headquarters in Geneva and five regional offices in Africa (Nairobi); the Americas (Panama); Asia Pacific (Kuala Lumpur); Europe (Budapest); and MENA (Beirut) as well as representation offices, service centres and delegations across the globe.

The IFRC has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment and other forms of harassment, abuse of authority, discrimination, and lack of integrity (including but not limited to financial misconduct). IFRC also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. 

About AMP

The Alliance for Malaria Prevention (AMP) is a workstream within the RBM Partnership to End Malaria (RBM) and is an integral part of RBM’s Country and Regional Support Partner Committee (CRSPC). AMP is a global partnership including government, private sector, faith-based and humanitarian organizations. Housed and chaired by the  IFRC, AMP is 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 ITN distribution through all channels; and (3) technical assistance to national malaria programmes (NMP) and partners based on requests.

Project background

Global malaria and vector control initiatives face significant biological and non-biological threats which have led to plateauing or reversal of progress. These challenges have been exacerbated by global funding cuts for both ITNs and operational delivery budgets alongside population growth and increasing instability in many malaria-endemic countries. This is forcing NMPs and their partners to consider alternatives to the typical cycle of three-year (for most countries) universal coverage ITN mass distribution campaigns coupled with ITN routine distribution through health facilities, including more diversified and potentially lower-coverage approaches tailored to population demographics, malaria transmission, insecticide resistance profiles, ITN access and use data and other factors. Current and anticipated gaps for both commodities and delivery costs across NMPs necessitate immediate adaptation and planning. However, despite almost a decade of testing alternative channels for ITN distribution, key questions remain unanswered to provide evidence for large-scale reconsideration of the ITN distribution status quo. Moreover, tools for decision-making are not sufficiently adapted to needs for maximizing impact on disease transmission. 

To better understand the costs and cost drivers of different ITN distribution channels to inform decision-making and potential optimization of ITN distribution, IFRC/AMP will undertake process mapping and costing of ITN distribution channels in selected countries to assess the time and resources for different ITN distribution components (e.g. macroplanning, microplanning, training, etc.). This may include provision of direct technical assistance and will support the costing work on current and lower coverage campaigns and CD channels led by recognized global and academic experts.

Overall objective of the consultancy

The overall objective of the consultancy is to support the planning and implementation, including in-country work, for the ITN Channel Selection Project, which will be implemented between 01 June and 31 December 2026. This TOR defines broad objectives and deliverables which will be transformed into consultant- or country-specific TORs based on the final list of countries in scope and the profile of the consultant, including technical and language skills.

Please find here the specific consultancy objectives and detailed activities.

Consultant support

The consultant will be supported by the Lead – Malaria Programmes, who will be responsible for the overall management of the project and quality control of work products and deliverables, as well as project team partners and consultants to ensure the coordination and timely completion of project deliverables.

The consultant will be supported by the Officer, Malaria and Health Service Delivery and Operations, for all administrative/financial matters.

Alignment with 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

Objective and outcomes

Objective #1: Assess ITN distribution cost, time and human resources for different channels and processes in selected countries to identify areas for optimization in a context of resources limitations.

Desired outcome: To provide country-specific and global guidance and tools to support optimized ITN distribution through all potential channels.

Timelines

The expected LOE for the consultancy will be defined based on the final selection of the country/countries in scope, the specific role of the consultant selected (specific TOR will be developed from this general TOR) and the expected timeline for the completion of the work. All consultancies under this TOR would take place between 01 June and 31 December 31 2026.

The consultant will work virtually with the project team and other consultants as applicable. Travel is planned with the consultancy.

Required

• Minimum master’s degree in applicable field (e.g. research, applied science, health economics, etc.).

Required

• Minimum five years’ experience in ITN distribution, with preference for applicants with non-campaign ITN distribution experience, and deep understanding of ITN distribution processes.
• Minimum five years’ experience in qualitative research methods including formative evaluation and leadership of research teams.
• Proven experience in conducting mixed methods research and cost estimation in health care programming.
• Proven multi-country experience.

Required

• Proven track record in conducting fieldwork, literature review, expert interviews, and iterative expert reviews in a global health context.

Preferred

• Availability to work on US Central Time.

Languages

Required

• Fluency in English.

Preferred

• Fluency in French and/or Portuguese in addition to English.

Application Instructions

• Please submit your application in English only.
• Applicants from sub-Saharan African/countries with a malaria burden are encouraged to apply if they meet the required experience for the consultancy.

Notes 

The consultant will be contracted by the IFRC and the standard contractual terms will apply.