Complementary Activities for Resilience Building-Consultancy

Background

The IRC responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover, and gain control of their future. IRC was founded in 1933 by Albert Einstein to respond to the needs of people vulnerable to conflict around the world. Since then, it has expanded and evolved to become one of the world’s leading humanitarian organizations. In 2016, more than 26 million people benefited from IRC programs and those of its partner organizations.

Project Location Context

Malnutrition has been a long-standing public health problem in South Sudan. It is responsible for one third of deaths in children under 5 years, making it a significant cause of under five deaths. In the country. Despite some progress made over the past decade, malnutrition remains a public health problem. The prevalence of malnutrition varies widely across regions and socio-economic groups. It is estimated that 1.3 million children will be affected by acute malnutrition in 2020 in South Sudan. The high rates of malnutrition are attributed to several factors including high levels of food insecurity, poor infant and young child feeding practices as well as high morbidity due to a weak health system in the country. There have been considerable efforts by the Nutrition Cluster and its partners to promote and support optimal infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices, as well as maternal nutrition, as priority life-saving interventions. Nevertheless, knowledge, attitudes and practice surveys indicate that the prevalence of certain IYCF behaviors related to complementary feeding and hygiene are either low or largely unchanged over time. At the national level, 38.3 percent of households consumed 0-2 food groups in December 2019, down from 44.4 percent in December 2018. As compared to December 2017, the prevalence of poor or low dietary diversity has also decreased by 5.2 percent.

Scope of work for the Barrier Analysis study:

The purpose of the barrier analysis study is to conduct a formative research to determine key barriers to behavior change among residents within CARB implementation area (Mayiendit, Mayom and Wau) and develop an appropriate BCC strategy that will facilitate adoption of desired Maternal infant and young child nutrition (MIYCN) and WASH practices. Focus will be on all populations in the more stable Payams and this will be prioritized by IRC in conjunction with local relief and rehabilitation commission at county level.

Specific objectives

1. To establish key barriers to behavior, change in target groups’ practices associated with MIYCN water and hygiene.
2. To identify the most important enablers that are likely to foster appropriate changes in target groups’ practices associated with MIYCN and hygiene.
3. To identify the influencing groups and priority group motivator for adoption of desired MIYCN and hygiene practices and behavior; and
4. To develop an effective behavior, change communication strategy for the nutrition and hygiene interventions in CARB implementation areas.

The barrier analysis should establish detailed information, identifying target groups’ current behaviors as well as barriers to intended behavioral change related to MIYCN and Hygiene. To review and augment the behavior change strategy for promoting MIYCN practices, the study should answer these following questions:

1. What is the specific, feasible and effective Behavior to promote?
2. What is the level of enabling environment for promotion of these desired behaviors?
3. Who are the Priority Groups and Influencing Groups?
4. What are the most important Determinants affecting (barriers) Behavior uptake?
5. Which Bridges (enablers) to Activities need to be promoted?
6. Which Activities will be implemented to address the Bridge to Activities?

Behaviors to study:

The following Three behaviors to study are selected.

• Children 6–23 months of age who receive foods from 4 or more food groups.
• Feeding children 3-4 meals per day (food frequency)
• Handwashing with soap/ash at critical times.

The consultant is expected to identify key determinants for assessing both the level of enabling environment and behaviors. And to determine the stages of change continuum for participants for each behavior studied. All these behaviors should be measured considering gender, age and disability in targeted communities.

Geographical coverage and target population:

The baseline study will be conducted within CARB implementation area (Mayiendit, Mayom and Wau) targeting the accessible populations in these areas.

Study Duration:

The comprehensive multisector needs assessment is expected to take 28 working days including field work and report compilation period. The assessment is expected start date 1st September 2021 to 28^th October 2021

Deliverables:

The consultant will submit to IRC:

1. Desk review and draft and submit an Inception report with clear methodologies showing how to carry out the assignment and the timelines for implementation. Development of data collection tools in collaboration with the technical teams and lead on ground data collection at field.
2. Draft report and BCC strategy with clear data analysis as per the Design Behavior Communication (DBC) framework, and pretested messages for specific behaviors
3. Final study report and BCC strategy.