Home-based consultation to support a SMART (Standardized Monitoring and Assessment of Relief and Transitions) nutrition survey in 4 priority regions (FN, N, Ad, East) coupled with SENS (Stan

Contract

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Background

Chronic malnutrition remains one of the major public health problems in Cameroon. According to MICS 2018, 29% of children under the age of five suffer from chronic malnutrition across the country. The highest prevalences are observed in four regions (Adamaoua, East, Far North and North). Children living in rural areas (38%) are more affected than those living in urban areas (22%). With regard to global acute malnutrition, the national prevalence is 5.2% in children aged 6 to 59 months. However, this generally acceptable situation hides significant regional disparities. The results of the last SMART survey in 2019, showed for global acute malnutrition (GAM) a warning situation in the Far North (9.7%) and a precarious situation in the north (5.9%). The eastern and Adamawa regions had rates below 5%. For severe acute malnutrition (SAM), almost all regions (except the East) were on alert with a prevalence close to the emergency threshold, in Adamaoua (1.7%). UNICEF estimates that nearly 229,000 children under the age of five will suffer from acute malnutrition in the four vulnerable regions of Cameroon in 2020 (73,000 children with SAM and around 156,000 with MAM).

Since March 2013, Cameroon, due to the increase of instability in Central African Republic, faced a new wave of Central African refugees flowing into its territory seeking for protection. UNHCR has set up some installation sites for these populations. However, more than 70% of them live outside these settlements and have less access to humanitarian assistance services. A multi sectoral, including Nutrition, response at large scale is being implemented.

After the last SENS survey, done in 2016, showing alarming results in the refugee population, and in order to reassess the situation and to reorient the strategies, a new survey, SMART/SENS, will be conducted jointly by UNICEF and UNHCR. The survey would have to take into account the complex displacement situation: more than 270,000 refugees in more than 12 locations in 3 regions (192.000 settled with the host community and 79.000 in sites).

The populations of Cameroon, in these 4 regions, suffer from the impacts of a triple humanitarian crisis linked to the conflicts in the region of the Lake Chad Basin, and in the Central African Republic as well as to a chronic vulnerability leading to high levels of food insecurity. and malnutrition. The nutritional situation in the 4 regions is due to transient food insecurity (due to the effects of climate change, drought and floods and poor access to food following the impoverishment of households and the closure of borders), the incidence of infectious diseases (cholera, malaria, diarrhea, etc.), inadequate infant and young child feeding practices, and inadequate hygiene and sanitation measures. Since the beginning of the year, the Covid-19 epidemic and its socio-economic impacts is considered as an aggravating factor that can lead to a deterioration of the nutrition status of the most vulnerable population.

The evidence produced by SMART surveys is used to inform decision-making to improve response. These data also feed the monitoring of the nutritional situation and make it possible to better orient nutritional interventions by paying particular attention to high-risk areas.

GENERAL OBJECTIVE

To assess the nutritional status of children aged 0 to 59 months and women of childbearing age (15-49 years) in 4 priority regions and in the CAR refugees population in the regions of Adamoua, East and North (Cameroon).

SPECIFIQUES OBJECTIVES

Core objectives

• To measure the prevalence of acute malnutrition (global, moderate, severe) in children aged 6-59
• To measure the prevalence of stunting in children aged 6-59 months
• To measure the prevalence of acute malnutrition (MUAC<210 mm) in women of childbearing age (15-49 years) Â
• To determine mortality rate among children aged 0-59 months;
• To establish recommendations on actions to be taken to address the situation

Optional objectives

• To determine the coverage of measles vaccination among children aged 9-59 months (or context-specific target group e.g. 9-23 months)
• To determine the coverage of vitamin A supplementation and deworming received during the last 6 months among children aged 6-59 months
• To assess the two-week period prevalence of diarrhea among children aged 6- 59 months.
• To measure the prevalence of anemia in children aged 6-59 months and in women of reproductive age between 15-49 years (non-pregnant)
• To investigate IYCF practices among children aged 0-23 months
• To determine the coverage of ration cards and the duration the general food ration lasts for recipient household
• To determine the extent to which negative coping strategies are used by households
• To assess household dietary diversity
• To determine the utilization of mosquito nets (all types and LLINs) by the total population, children 0-59 months and pregnant women
• To determine enrolment into Antenatal Care clinic and coverage of iron-folic acid supplementation in pregnant women

ACTIVITIES, DELIVERABLES AND TIMELINES, PLUS BUDGET PER DELIVERABLE

Results

Deliverables

Date

1.

Survey protocol validated reviewed by the  the steering committee

• Prior discussions with national partners and actors on methodology, sampling (...)
• Meeting with the survey partners (INS, BUCREP, MINSANTE, UNHCR) and the steering committee
• Identification of the government focal point for joint work with the consultant
• Finalization of the survey protocol, the budget and the chronogram
• Prior discussions with national partners and actors on methodology, sampling (...)
• Meeting with the survey partners (INS, BUCREP, MINSANTE, UNHCR) and the steering committee
• Identification of the government focal point for joint work with the consultant
• Finalization of the survey protocol, the budget and the chronogram
• Definition and documentation of sampling with the support of BUCREP and drawing of the appropriate sample.
• Finalization of survey tools
• Validation of Training materials.
• Validation of the deployment plan by region

Survey protocol validated

Max 6 weeks after signing of contract

(11th December for a contract signed the 30th October)

50%

2.

Preliminary report;

Final Databases;

Final report draft

• Preliminary analysis of the data
• Presentation / dissemination of preliminary results
• Development of the final database that will be used for the analysis;
• Analysis and interpretation of survey results with members of the steering committee;
• Drafting of the final report and presentation of the results to the steering committee
• Drafting of the knowledge management report on conducting SMART surveys in Covid-19 context
• Creation of multiple copies of the survey material for archiving

Interim payments are linked to the results provided. Payment will be made according to the following criteria:

Preliminary report validated

Final Databases

Draft of Final report

Max 6 weeks after data collection phase ended

50%

QUALIFICATIONS, SPECIALIZED EXPERIENEC AND ADDITIONAL COMPETENCIES

• Have a university degree (BAC+ 4 au months) in the field of Nutrition, Public Health or any other related field
• Justify at least 08 years of experience in Nutrition and Public Health
• Demonstrate a very good knowledge of SMART / SENS methodology and large-scale survey coordination;
• Justify good conceptual and analytical skills;
• Justify good report writing skills;
• Ability to work and facilitate discussions with multiple partners;
• Justify of a good mastery of mobile data collection and analysis and use of open source software (ODK, Kobo ...);
• Demonstrate a good command of computer tools and word processing and email software as well as data entry software (Epi-Info, Epi-Data,) and data analysis software (e.g ENA, Epi-Info , SPSS, SAS);
• Past experiences with UN / UNICEF and duration of the experience.
• Be able to work under pressure with the constraint of producing quality results in a very short time;
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset.
• Write, read and express oneself perfectly in French is required (the minimum knowledge of English can be an asset).

CONDITIONS OF WORK

• The Consultant will be home-based with no deployment on the field.
• The Consultant must perform all the administrative formalities required by the Organization and applicable to staff under special services contract.
• The consultant must have his own laptop with appropriate software for data collection and analysis.

• The consultant will have to show his personal and valid health insurance coverage UNICEF does not offer health insurance to consultants.

  SUPERVISION

The consultant will work under the supervision of UNICEF head of nutrition section and in close collaboration with UNHCR health and nutrition officer for the refugee part.

PROPOSAL SUBMISSION

Application shall be submitted to UNICEF Cameroon before the deadline containing the following required documentation:

1. Technical Proposal: Consultant shall prepare a proposal in response to the ToR, ensuring that the purpose, objective, scope, criteria and deliverable of the assessment are addressed. Draft work plan and timeline for the assessment should be included. The technical Proposal shall also include updated CV and personal history Forms (P11) of the consultant, and copies of 2 assessments performed previously by the consultant.
2. Financial Proposal: Offer with cost breakdown: Consultancy fees, travel costs, Daily Substance Allowance (DAS) other costs. The Financial Proposal shall be submitted in a separate file, clearly named Financial Proposal.

Please submit the Technical and Financial Proposal SEPARATELY.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks:

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.