ACF recruits 01 Consultant for SUNNY Livelihood assessment in Nigeria

ACF recruits 01 Consultant for SUNNY Livelihood assessment in Nigeria

Project summary

The ongoing humanitarian crisis in Northeast Nigeria continues to impact civilians, despite the improved security situation following military operations, launched in 2016 against Non-State Actors and Armed Groups. In Yobe state, conflict affected households have experienced socioeconomic and human losses and struggle to build their resilience following the loss of household assets and being in a situation of displacement; a majority have remained displaced for over two years.

Although significant populations have returned to Yobe state, conflicted affected households continue to require support to improve their situation of nutrition and food insecurity.  ACF has appeal for GDP 8,500,000 millions to launch the Scaling Up Nutrition in Yobe (SUNNY) project to address the humanitarian crisis through an integrated approach that integrates WASH and nutrition and health services, including CMAM and IYCF support.

Project Goal

Contribute towards the reduction of morbidity and mortality related to under nutrition amongst boys and girls under five years and pregnant and lactating women in Yobe states.

Project Objectives

1. Strengthening the provision of Nutrition and Health services
2. Support to community level structure
3. Support to nutrition and health services
4. Improved resilience through food security and livelihood support
5. Support for Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)
6. Advocacy and capacity building to strengthen government and community systems for health and nutrition, WASH and food security and livelihood support
7. Celebration of International and National events to create awareness and increase influence on nutrition, WASH and FSL related issues at state and national levels

Purpose of the study

One of the objectives of the SUNNY project in Yobe State is to improve the resilience of the targeted beneficiaries through food security and livelihood support. The project particularly aims at bringing about sustained improvement in the incomes, livelihoods, well-being and the empowerment status of the targeted rural poor beneficiaries. A scientific survey of selected households, drawn from the Project’s targeted beneficiaries, undertaken at different points of time (tracking survey) would be required to establish the ‘net’ contribution of the Project to the changing livelihoods and well-being status of the rural poor and the factors and processes accounting for such changes. ACF has therefore decided to commission an independent study to assess the livelihoods of the rural poor at the baseline. Thus, the study will focus on the households targeted for intervention by the project. Each household/other units (if any) selected at the baseline will be revisited at the mid and end-term follow-up stages to track changes in the livelihood outcomes envisaged. Further, since the livelihood outcomes would depend on a number of factors, some within and others outside the control of the Project, the study would have to segregate the contributions of the Project’s interventions from non-Project interventions. Finally, the data collected as part of the survey should allow for the measurement of the impact of the Project on key socio-economic parameters.

Objectives of the survey

• To conduct an in-depth analysis into the causes of food insecurity among households in the communities;
• To carry out a vulnerability analysis that includes the identification of seasonal and longer term risks linked to the environment and the creation of a vulnerability profile;
• To engage local stakeholders on the identification of local vulnerabilities, capacities and priorities;
• To identify appropriate interventions and associated target groups that will address food insecurity and support livelihoods in the longer term

Geographic Scope of the Study

The geographical scope of the study will cover the three LGAs of Tarmuwa and Nangere, in Yobe State. Security considerations will also be taken into account in determining the exact communities covered by the study. Efforts will be made to only consider places that are fully accessible and safe, in order not to put the consultant and other relevant staff at risk.

Key deliverables

The consultant/s will be expected to deliver the proposed study methodology taking into cognizance the context to Action Against Hunger for review, feedback, and approval within two weeks.

Other key deliverables will include (both in hard and soft copy):

• Inception report
• Copies of tools to be used
• Raw data
• List of key improved inputs (varieties, technology, tentative operating accounts for one typical year) available in the region but not yet adopted in the target communities.
• Presentation during the validation workshop
• Draft report
• Final report

Study Design

 The baseline study will mainly adopt a cross-sectional study design with a blend of both quantitative and qualitative methods. However, the external Consultant in collaboration with the ACF Nigeria’s M&E and FSL Technical Teams will design more detailed study methodology. The detailed design of methodology must include the following:

• The baseline study design
• Data collection instruments, protocols and procedures
• Procedures for analyzing quantitative and qualitative data
• Data presentation/dissemination
• Report writing and sharing

The key data collection methods will include the following among others:

• Household interviews
• Focus group discussion (FGD)
• Key Informant Interview (KII)
• Observation
• Document review
• Field measurement of vegetation and physical features of interest (where required).

The Consultant will be expected to employ the use of mobile data collection and Geographical Information System (GIS) tools in the baseline process. This will range from data collection, analysis and presentation of results.

TIME FRAME

The overall baseline study is expected to take 30 to 40 days including preparation, data collection, and analysis and reporting.  The  Consultant  should be  able  to  undertake  some  of  the  tasks concurrently to fit within the planned time-frame, without compromising the quality expected. The  assignment  is  expected  to  commence  on  June,  20  2019,  with  the  final  baseline  report expected by July 30, 2019.

The anticipated duration of the task is one and half months, starting in June 2019 to July 2019.

QUALIFICATIONS OF THE CONSULTANT

The baseline study will be undertaken by an external Consultant who will work in close collaboration with the FSL and M&E HoDs, the SUNNY Project Manager and the ACF Base Coordination Unit in Yobe State. Therefore, ACF is looking for a Consultant/team with the following skills and qualifications;

• The team leader must possess a Postgraduate degree in Agricultural Economics, Agriculture, Project Evaluation, Environment and Natural Resource Management, Social Sciences or related
• Strong and documented experience in conducting participatory qualitative assessments related to Baseline and Livelihoods studies.
• Demonstrated experience in leading at least three related project baseline and evaluation studies involving surveys and group interviews,
• At least 10 years’ experience in conducting baseline/evaluations for Livelihoods and Rural Development related projects in fragile contexts implemented by government, non-governmental and private sector
• A solid understanding of remote learning through mobile technology
• Demonstrated experience in leading
• Demonstrated experience in training local staff in quantitative and qualitative data collection tools including mobile data collection process using ODK, etc.
• Demonstrated experience in designing survey methodology, data collection tools, processing and analysis of
• Ability to interact with host government, partners and/or others as requested by ACF
• Strong organizational, analytical and reporting skills, presentation skills, attention to detail, ability to meet deadlines, and proficiency in Microsoft Office and qualitative data analysis software/tools.
• Previous experience in a fragile country with tight security context will be
• Capacity to use mobile data collection tools (in particular ODK) and GIS tools for data collection, and analysis of survey results
• Excellent verbal and written communication in English required

APPLICATION PROCESS AND REQUIREMENTS

Qualified and interested parties are asked to submit the following;

• Letter of interest in submission of the Proposal
• A detailed technical proposal clearly demonstrating a thorough understanding of this ToR and including but not limited to the following;
  • Consultant/Company Profile and legal documentation
  • Description of the Methodology and Sample Size Determination
  • Demonstrated previous experience in similar assignments and qualifications outlined in this
  • Proposed data management plan (collection, processing and analysis).
  • Proposed timeframe detailing activities and a work
  • Team composition and level of effort of each proposed team member (include CVs of each team member).
• A financial proposal with a detailed breakdown of costs for the study quoted in United States

MINIMUM DETAILS IN APPLICATION:

Also include profiles of previously related tasks carried out in the last 3 years, team composition and CVs of key personnel, detailed work plan, and budget. When available for distribution the applicant should also annex copies of any relevant study report authored or co-authored by him/her.

SUBMISSION

The technical and financial proposals should be send in electronic version to the following email address: supply.ng@acf-international.org.

Any question regarding the Call for applicants should also be addressed to the same email address, mentioning the title of the Study “Recruitment of a consultant to conduct an in-depth analysis of Livelihoods of Nangere and Tarmuwa LGAs, in Yobe State, Northeast Nigeria, for immediate support or enhancement”

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

All applications should be sent electronically to: supply.ng@acf-international.org, with attachments in pdf and a subject line: Technical and Financial Proposal for a Baseline Survey ‘ACF SUNNY Project Livelihoods Baseline Study’, on or before 19^th of June 2019