Project: Integrated Multi-Sector Support to Nutrition at Risk Communities in Sindh, Pakistan

TORs

SMART SURVEY

Project: Integrated multi-sector support to nutrition at risk communities in Sindh, Pakistan

1. Background

Concern Worldwide is an international, non-governmental, humanitarian organisation dedicated to the reduction of suffering and working towards the ultimate elimination of extreme poverty in the world’s poorest countries. Concern has been working in Pakistan since 2001, when it initiated an emergency response programme to address the Afghan refugee crisis in Baluchistan. Concern later moved into emergency, early recovery, and long-term development programming in Baluchistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Punjab, and Sindh provinces.

Concern has been implementing the project titled “Integrated multi-sector support to nutrition at risk communities in Sindh, Pakistan”. The principal objective of this project is to improve resilience of the drought affected population in Sindh Province by specifically focusing on immediate humanitarian needs of drought affected communities through an integrated Nutrition, FSL and WASH response in Umerkot and Tharparkar district. Due to the drought, GAM, rates in Umerkot district are above the provincial average and above the GAM global emergency threshold of 15%. In order to verify the malnutrition situation in the Umerkot district, to identify factor associated to malnutrition and also to design an intervention that contribute in life saving of children and women suffering of malnutrition as well as to contribute towards prevention of malnutrition, Concern Worldwide is planning to do SMART nutrition survey with the collaboration of district health department and provincial nutrition cell.

For this purpose Concern is seeking expertise of consultant(s) with appropriate skills and experiences.

2. Purpose and Objectives

The overall purpose of the SMART Survey is to measure the extent and severity of under nutrition in children aged 6-59 months in 12 Union Councils of Taluka Umerkot, District Umerkot of Sindh province, Pakistan.

The specific objectives of this SMART survey are:

·  To estimate the prevalence of acute and chronic malnutrition among children 6-59 months of age

·  To estimate the prevalence of acute malnutrition in Pregnant & Lactating Women group

·  To assess the current Infant and Young Child Feeding Practices among children aged 0-23 months

·  To assess crude mortality rate (CMR) and under five mortality rates (U5MR);

·  To assess morbidity, immunization coverage (measles and BCG), and Vitamin A supplementation coverage among 6-59 months children;

·  To examine the population’s access to, and use of, improved water, sanitation and hygiene practices.

3. Methodology

Standardized Monitoring and Assessment of Relief and Transitions (SMART) methodology

4. Key tasks

·  Coordination with provincial and district health authorities, provincial nutrition cell and other key stake holders

·  Development/finalization of the survey tools, timeline and sampling procedure

·  Appropriate survey personnel are recruited.

·  Sufficient training is given to the survey teams.

·  Translation and field testing of questionnaire

·  Field data collection from statistically representative sample of population in the targeted area

·  Standardization tests are undertaken for measurers.

·  Background and general information are collected

·  Materials are tested for accuracy on a regular basis throughout the survey

·  Data entry in the field and intensive supervision on data quality is appropriate

5. Deliverables

The consultant will produce/submit a report in hard and soft form of along with relevant annexes (in Microsoft Word using Arial font 11). The report should include:

i.  A final assessment report including

·  Basic information (1 page)

·  Executive summary (max. 3 pages)

·  Introduction/background of the project (1 page)

·  Survey methodology

·  Major findings against the objectives of the Survey

·  Summary of targeted recommendations/lessons

·  Annexes: ToRs, Survey schedule, list of persons interviewed and sites visited, documents consulted, data collection tools and raw data along with Results of standardization tests, details of data cleaning and plausibility checks should be presented in the final report

ii.  Findings and major recommendations to be shared with partners (oral presentation and PowerPoint slides).

Note: Main report (without annexes) should not exceed 25 pages to keep audience straight to the main point.

6. Documents to be reviewed by consultant

·  Approved project proposal

·  Concern Anti-Fraud policy and P4 Policy

7. Duration

The consultant will complete the work over a period of thirty (30) working days beginning, tentatively, in August 2015.

Please note the start/end date of the assignment may change due to unavoidable circumstances in which case a revised timeframe will be drawn up with the mutual agreement of both parties)at the date of signature of the contract and ending with the acceptance of the final report.

8. Reporting Line

The consultant will report to Health and Nutrition Adviser and will liaise closely with the Nutrition Adviser (Dublin based), MER Coordinator, and Programme Manager of Sindh.

9. Consultant Expertise

Concern Worldwide is seeking an experienced consultant with the following expertise:

·  Post-graduate degree in Public Health, Nutrition or other relevant field of study.

·  Significant experience in conducting nutrition surveys with SMART methodology and use of ENA (Emergency Nutrition Assessment) software

·  Excellent documentation and reporting skills in English.

·  Good understanding of the local context, knowledge, culture and languages will be an advantage.

·  Ability to work under challenging circumstances.

·  Experience in targeted programme district will be desirable.

·  Has familiarity with working procedures and mechanisms of Health Department, Nutrition Cell and other stakeholders

Note: Individuals, group of individuals as well as consultancy firms having the requisite skills/ experience are eligible to apply.

10. How to apply

Interested consultants with relevant experience can submit sealed proposals containing following documents to Concern Worldwide at House No 8, Street 30, Sector F-7/1 , Islamabad on or before 5:00 PM, August 15, 2015

·  Cover letter detailing the consultant’s/institutions suitability for the assignment and current contact information

·  A short description of methodology to undertake this assignment and proposed budget inclusive of travelling, accommodation and food expenses etc.

·  Profiles of key person(s) to be involved at different steps during this study.

·  At least one relevant example of previous SMART Survey carried out preferably in Pakistan with international NGOs (Concern will strictly ensure the confidentiality of the reports.)