Consultancy Title: Sub-regional in-depth analysis of trends of complementary feeding indicators, their key determinants and status of complementary feeding programmes in Egypt, Jordan, Sudan and State of Palestine.

The purpose of this assignment is to conduct in-depth analysis of household surveys in Egypt, Jordan, Sudan and State of Palestine on key determinants of complementary feeding.  This analysis will help further refine the determinants of complementary feeding at both the country and sub-country level  and therefore assist in addressing needs and gaps as well as tailor interventions and mode of implementation. It will assist countries to prioritise key determinants as well as geographic areas and will complement any country-level initiatives.

LOCATION/DURATION:

Duration:  37 days of Desk Review (no travel)

Estimated Start Date: November 2019 – April 2020

Estimated end Date: End April, 2020

 

BACKGROUND:  Globally, the World Health Assembly has set targets for member states to work towards reducing stunting, anemia, low birth weight, and increasing exclusive breastfeeding. Appropriate Maternal and Infant and Young Child nutrition is the foundation for ensuring that each of these global targets are met, but progress towards these targets remains insufficient[i]. To illustrate, the global prevalence of child stunting (chronic malnutrition) among children under 5 has decreased from 32.7% to 22.9% over the last 15 years (i.e. a 30% decline)¹. However, 155 million children under 5 remain stunted and their physical growth and brain development compromised. Further, 29% of children in LMICs are vitamin A deficient[ii] and 43% anemic[iii]. Anemia, often a result of iron deficiency, also affects 29% of non-pregnant women and 38% of pregnant women. Undernutrition of pregnant women is common and leads to poor maternal and fetal outcomes, including one-fifth of stunting cases in children[iv].

 

In 2019, UNICEF MENARO conducted a regional landscape analysis of the trends of complementary feeding indicators, their key determinants and status of complementary feeding programmes in select countries. The aim was to examine the situation related to complementary feeding in the region. The exercise studied country-level examples of good practices and others that did not work well, contributing to the development of the Middle East and North Africa Regional framework for planning, implementing and monitoring complementary feeding.

This landscape analysis confirms gaps in complementary feeding practices across the studied countries; Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Oman, Sudan and the State of Palestine; and highlights the need for further investigation at the country and sub-national level including further in-depth analysis. The report recommends that needs and gaps are further identified within countries in order to tailor interventions and mode of implementation.

 

The study also confirms the need to ensure unity, coordination, leadership, and prioritization at the central and government level. This is needed to ensure continuity and sustainability. Advocacy and support to governments within countries is needed in order to move the nutrition agenda forward and specifically complementary feeding.

The landscape analysis shows that complementary feeding practices may have determinants that are at different levels including individual, household, and system level. Therefore, it implies that there is a need for inter-sectoral comprehensive interventions that address determinants of complementary feeding at multiple levels.

 

The landscape analysis conducted preliminary  analysis of household surveys, however it did recommend that mutli-variate and in-depth analysese be considered as a next step in order to further refine the determinants at the country and regional level. The landscape anlaysis also did not take into account  a recently conducted household survey in Sudan for which results were not yet ready at the time of the study.

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DESCRIPTION OF ASSIGNMENT:  Based on the conclusion from  landscape analysis,  further investigation at the country and sub-country level include conducting in-depth analysis of existing household surveys in order to further identify key country level determinants of complementary feeding.

 

Purpose: The purpose of this assignment is to conduct in-depth analysis of household surveys in Egypt, Jordan, Sudan and State of Palestine on key determinants of complementary feeding.  This analysis will help further refine the determinants of complementary feeding at both the country and sub-country level  and therefore assist in addressing needs and gaps as well as tailor interventions and mode of implementation. It will assist countries to prioritise key determinants as well as geographic areas and will complement any country-level initiatives.

 

Objectives:

Therefore, the objectives of this assignment are:

 

• To conduct muti-variate in-depth analyses of existing household surveys in Egypt, Jordan, Sudan, and the State of Palestine examining key determinants of complementary feeding.
• To disseminate and publish findings of the landscape anlaysis and the in-depth analysis in order to contribute to improving the impact of the study.

 

 

KEY DELIVERABLES:

 

1. Develop methodology and approach for in-depth analysis in four countries studying predictors (enablers/barriers) and determinants of complementary feeding (7 working days)
   1. Review and identify exisiting national household survey indicators for the selected countries and identify the relevant data sets (MICS, DHS, National Nutrition Surveys, S3M) for studying predictors and determinants of complementary feeding – these will include new ones that have been published after the landscape anlaysis.
   2. Suggest a detailed analysis plan for each of the selected countries and surveys
   3. Review and revise analysis plan with UNICEF Middle East and North Africa regional Office Senior Nutrition Specialist
   4. Submit an inception report with the detailed plan including tools and methods.
2. Conduct in-depth analysis for four countries on complementary feeding (7 working days)
   1. Based on the agreed upon plan, access data sets and run the analysis
   2. Develop tables of results as per the analysis plan
   3. Present and discuss analysis with UNICEF Middle East and North Africa regional Office Senior Nutrition Specialist
3. Conduct an updated literature review to complement what was conducted within the landscape analysis (5 working days)
   1. Review any new information that has been published after the landscape analysis including reports, policies, and other relevant literature.
   2. Update the literature review with relevant information
4. In collaboration with UNICEF MENARO and based on results of the analysis, draft a synthesis report summarizing key findings from the analysis and recommendations (7 working days).
5. Based on the landscape analysis and the in-depth analysis, develop a draft publication that compiles findings on predictors and determinatns of complementary feeding in the MENA region to be submitted to a peer reviewed journal (11 working days)
   1. Develop a pulication plan for the findings from the landscape analysis and in-depth analysis including suggested peer reviewed journals
   2. Draft manuscript(s) on predictors and determinants of complementary feeding in the MENA region based on findings from the landscape analysis and the in-depth analysis
   3. Review and refine the manuscript in collaboration with UNICEF MENARO Nutrition specialists and UNICEF HQ.
   4. Submit the manuscript(s) as per the agreed upon publication plan.

 

Country selection

Four core countries have been selected for further in-depth analysis based on new data collected which would provide further information or by using existing data to control for confounders.

 

 

REPORTING REQUIREMENTS :

 

TRAVEL CONSIDERATIONS Egypt, Sudan and Oman.

 

For individual contractors and consultants, all travel arrangements to commence the assignment, including insurance and visas, will be managed and paid by the individual.  Therefore, expected travel costs must be included as a budget item in the financial proposal.  Should “mission travel” be required, UNICEF will manage and pay for travel via Travel Authorization.  However, this will be subject to the following prerequisites:  Medical Clearance, Security Clearance through the Travel Request Information Process (TRIP) system, the Basic and Advanced Security in the Field Trainings, Travel Visa, and liability waiver. Trip prerequisites will be met at the expense of the consultant.

 

Travel cost shall be calculated based on economy class travel, regardless of the length of travel.  Costs for accommodation, meals and incidentals shall not exceed applicable daily subsistence allowance (DSA) rates, as promulgated by the International Civil Service Commission (ICSC at http://icsc.un.org).  The consultant must travel on UNICEF approved airlines.

 

 

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

1.         Education: Master’s degree in Nutrition, Public Health or other related Social Science for an individual consultant

 

2.         Work experience:

• Minimum of 8 years of experience working in IYCF programs

 

3.         Technical knowledge:

• Experience in conducting landscape analysis and assessments is a must
• Familiarity with IYCF programming context in the Middle East and North Africa region

• Experience in qualitative data collection, analysis and synthesis
• Experience working with governments, NGOS, UN agencies or other relevant development partners.

• Excellent writing skills

 

4.         Language:

• Fluency in spoken and written English, Arabic is an asset.

 

 

PAYMENT SCHEDULE:

 

12.       PROPOSED PAYMENT SCHEDULE

  By Deliverable

 

 

Expected Deliverables and Payment Schedule

 

Payment Schedule

Payment shall be made on satisfactory completion of deliverables as follows:

Deliverable 1:              10%

Deliverable 2:              40%

Deliverable 3:              20%

Deliverable 4:              10%

Deliverable 5:              20%

Qualified candidates are requested to submit:

1. Cover letter/application.
2. Financial quote as lump sum for professional fees, and lump sum for travel/administrative/subsistence, if applicable.
3. CV
4. Examples of previous, relevant work as applicable
5. Proposed methodology/approach to managing the project.
6. 3 Referees

Incomplete submissions will not be considered.

“UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.”

 

 

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