Consultancy Services to Conduct SQUEAC Study Tender, South Sudan - 22246408

Procurement Summary

Country : South Sudan

Summary : Consultancy Services to Conduct SQUEAC Study

Deadline : 22 Apr 2018

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Notice Type : Tender

TOT Ref.No.: 22246408

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Financier : Other Funding Agencies

Purchaser Ownership : -

Tender Value : Refer Document

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Tender Details

Tenders are invited for Consultancy Services to conduct SQUEAC Study in Northern Liech State, South Sudan.

Terms of Reference

Consultancy Services to conduct SQUEAC Study in Northern Liech State, South Sudan

1. Background

The SQUEAC Survey assessment for Concern’s Nutrition Programme in Northern Liech State (formerly known as Unity State) aims to better understand the coverage of the CMAM programme in the Bentiu Protection of Civilians (PoC) camp & Guit county, identifying barriers to service access and uptake, as well as identifying actions to improve programme access and coverage.

Concern Worldwide South Sudan has been operational in three former states of Unity, Northern Bahr el Ghazal (NBeG) and Central Equatorial states. The Country office is located in Juba, Jubek state and field offices are also in Bentiu and Aweil West. Concern’s nutrition response focuses on the prevention and treatment of acute malnutrition among the most vulnerable groups: such as under five children and pregnant and lactating mothers through the therapeutic and supplementary feeding programme as well as behaviour change communication through the promotion of infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices.

In Northern Liech State, Concern is running two OTP and two TSFP sites in Bentiu PoC (sectors 3 and 4 with a total estimated population of 47, 000 individuals including 17, 000 under 5 children). As part of the Beyond Bentiu Response targeting the rural communities (returning or permanent), Concern provides nutrition services (MAM/SAM) in Guit county with 3 nutrition static sites. An element of mobile response is maintained in the programme to ensure emergency response capacity as the security context remains fluid in the State. In early 2018, Concern will expand operations in Guit to four additional sites as well as seven additional mobile sites, taking over programmes operated by another partner organisation.

No previous SQUEAC analysis have been done in these programme areas due to the emergency context. However, a barrier analysis was done in 2016. This SQUEAC aims to build on these findings and assess the coverage of our programmes.

2. Purpose of the Consultancy

To support an effective planning and implementation of the SQUEAC study, the service of an international consultant is required for a 3 to 4 weeks period, depending on the discussions with the Consultant on the scope of the study. The consultant will accomplish the tasks outlined in the section below. The coverage expert will also build the capacity of the Concern team in Northern Liech State to strengthen subsequent routine analysis of programme data to improve programme performance.

3. Objectives and Specific Tasks to be undertaken by the Consultant(s)

Principle Objective

The principal objective of the SQUEAC study is to assess the coverage of the CMAM program, the factors affecting coverage, the barriers and boosters to access and to develop recommendations for programme improvement. Furthermore, the consultant will develop the skills of key nutrition staff in conducting coverage surveys using SQUEAC methodology.

The specific objectives include:

· To provide a comprehensive on-the-job training on coverage assessment methodologies

· Estimate the coverage classification of the CMAM programme catchment areas in Guit County and Bentiu PoC, Northern Liech.

· Identify the distribution of adequate and inadequate coverage of the different health facility catchment areas with acceptable accuracy

· To map out coverage (either point, period or single estimates) in the target areas

· Identify barriers and boosters to access to the OTP and TSFP services.

· Make recommendations and develop action plans, together with the Concern nutrition team, based on the findings to improve access to the OTP and TSFP services and increase the overall programme coverage in the targeted areas.

Specific Tasks of the Consultant:

The contract will focus on the planning, implementation, data entry, analysis and report writing. The following are specific tasks to be completed in the contract:

a) Planning

· Adapt and finalise the methodology, tools, and timeline of activities, data collection, based on the local context.

· Review and analyse Concern’s recent quantitative programme data for the OTP and SFP programmes to identify gaps in data availability

· Present the methodology to South Sudan Nutrition Information Working Group (NIWG) for approval and respond to questions raised by NIWG, in collaboration with Concern.

· Work with Concern Nutrition team to ensure that all survey materials, tools and equipment are ready.

b) Training

· Conduct the tool and methodology training for supervisors and data collectors.

c) Implement SQUEAC Study

· Ensure adequate supervision of the survey team during the entire data collection period

· Make periodic supervision visits to the survey teams during their work to ensure high data quality

· Review the entered data daily with support of Digital Data Gathering focal point and provide prompt feedback to teams.

· Document the constraints, difficulties or potential biases identified during the survey implementation process

d) Data analysis and report writing

· Conduct regular plausibility checks during the data collection period.

· Conduct the preliminary analysis of the survey results and prepare a short preliminary report that will be also be used to present to the NIWG.

· Interpret the results of the survey with Concern Nutrition team

· Complete reports and all other activities timely as per the agreed schedule

· Share and discuss the survey results and action plans with Concern

· Present the survey results to Nutrition Cluster and NIWG.

· Share a soft copy of the report, power point presentation of the findings and data sets (raw and clean).

5. Outputs

1) Final survey methodology and coverage survey workplan, including finalised data collection tools, prior to start of study

2) A final SQUEAC study report including results and findings and recommendations on actions to address the situation

3) The findings, recommendations and action plans to be presented to Nutrition Cluster and the NIWG. Date to be confirmed and communicated to consultant by Concern Programme Director. (Oral presentation and PowerPoint slides and discussion of technical questions).

4) The raw and final cleaned version of the data sets used to calculate the survey results is to be sent to Concern Programme Director to be saved at both HQ and Country level servers for future reference.

Remuneration:

The consultant contract will be paid by bank transfer; Travel costs (International flights, Visa and in country flights/official movements relating to this assignment), Per diem and accommodation in Juba and Bentiu will be provided in compliance with Concern’s policy. Concern Health and Nutrition technical team in country and at HQ level will review the survey report and confirm its acceptability based on SQUEAC survey standards before the final instalment is paid.

6. Lines of Communication**

The consultant will report to the Emergency Programme Director Concern Worldwide South Sudan, but will work closely with the Nutrition Programme Manager and Emergency Nutritionist for Northern Liech State. For any technical questions on SQUEAC methods, the consultant will liaise closely with Concern Health and Nutrition Advisor.

Working arrangement:

· The consultant will work in the Concern offices in Juba when undertaking Juba based assignment and in Concern offices at Bentiu when in Northern Liech, with field visits as per the agreed work plan with the Emergency Programme Director.

· Concern will provide transport to facilitate the work activities.

· The consultant must complete all formal administrative requirements of Concern like signing Concern’s Programme Participant Protection Policy.

· The consultant should have their own lap-top to complete the work activities.

7. Timeframe

Travel to country and field (4 days) Planning phase (4 days) Training and pretesting of questionnaire (5 days) Data collection (18 days) Data analysis and final report writing (5 days) Presentation of finding (3 days). Altogether 39 contract days; a detailed work plan (annex 1) can be obtained upon request - sew below

8. Essential an.d Desirable Experience/Qualifications

a. Academic qualifications: Master’s Degree in Nutrition, Public Health, or Biostatistics, along with relevant technical knowledge in Research methods and the SQUEAC and SLEAC methodologies.

b. Necessary experience: Extensive experience (3-5 years) in coordinating and managing nutrition surveys, particularly in South Sudan and/or conflict-affected environment

c. Other necessary/desirable skills/qualifications

· Documented experience in survey protocol development

· Proven skills to analyse, identify needs and respond with recommendations

· Ability to conduct data analyses, including collating and presenting survey data

· Strong verbal and written communication skills

· Willingness to travel and work in tough field environments

· Documented supervisory, coordination and organization skills

· Excellent English Fluency

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