Somalia: Terms of Reference for the Link NCA Consultancy in Somalia

Terms of Reference for the Link NCA Consultancy in Somalia.

1. Background

BRCiS (Building Resilient Communities in Somalia) is a Consortium that takes a holistic approach to supporting Somali communities in developing their capacity to resist and absorb minor shocks without undermining their ability to move out of poverty. In 2013, five international NGOs with long experience in Somalia – Cooperazione e Sviluppo (CESVI), Concern Worldwide (CWW), the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), the International Rescue Committee (IRC), Action Against Hunger (ACF), Save the Children International (SCI)

2. Operational objectives (What do we expect from this Link NCA in terms of operational outcomes?)

The objective of this study will be to identify drivers to malnutrition (wasting and stunting) as well as levers and barriers of resilience. The study specifically aims to:

· Determine the prevalence of undernutrition.

· Understand how the wasting and/stunting in this population and its causes changed a) over time due to historical trends, b) seasonally due to cyclical trends, c) due to recent shocks.

· Have a better understanding of communities’ own perceptions and knowledge about under-nutrition and its drivers.

· Identify under-nutrition pathways and associated risk factors: Description of local mechanisms, which lead to under-nutrition and their interconnections.

· Identify of vulnerable groups to major risks factor to undernutrition.

· Define local community perceptions on risks, chocks and resilience’s capacities.

· Identify barriers and levers associated with resilience capacities

· Formulate an action plan to (re)design activities according to the study results

3. Studied area and target population.

State/Region

District NameBanadir Kahda

SWS Elbarde; Wajid;Hudur

4. Estimated timeframe

The entire link NCA is expected to last for 6 months as per the estimated schedule

Engagements with actors: 4 weeks (and continuous through process)

Secondary data review: 4 weeks (1-4)

Field survey preparation 2 weeks (5-6)

Qualitative component: 8 weeks (7- 14)

Quantitative component: 8 weeks (9- 18)

Analysis: 3 weeks (17 -19)

Re programming: 1 week (20)

Total: approximately 6 months

5. Methodology

Below is a brief description of the five main steps of a Link NCA:

A. Preparatory phase

This phase involves the type of preparation and planning required for the study, including identifying and securing resources, hiring the link NCA team to implement the study, and determining timelines.

B. Identifying hypothesized risk factors and pathways

The qualitative Link NCA analyst will take lead in the identification of a preliminary, hypothesized set of risk factors and pathways that may explain the under-nutrition situation in the local context. This is done through a systematic literature review (using the module “pathways to under-nutrition” and locally available grey literature) and initial key informant interviews. The quantitative Link NCA analyst will oversee statistical analysis of secondary database. The hypothesis is reviewed, discussed and honed by local experts and stakeholders through a consultative process (workshop and/or meeting, interviews…).

C. Community level data collection

All data collection will include a qualitative and a quantitative component. It is also expected that the data collection will leverage on other relevant assessments and studies done to maximize utilization of existing resources.

1. The community-level qualitative enquiry aims to:

· Understand how communities perceive undernutrition and theirs causes;

· Understand what the main shocks are for communities.

· Understand how communities define resilience.

· Help the Link NCA quantitative analyst to define a contextual indicator for assess resilience capacities.

· Understand the practices of positive deviant (For undernutrition and resilience).

· Identify seasonal and historical trends in undernutrition and risk factors and understand how communities prioritize these factors.

· Identify with communities the levers and barriers to be considered to influence the main underlying causal mechanisms to undernutrition and poor resilience capacities.

· Assess community solutions to address major pathways to undernutrition and poor resilience capacities.

The qualitative component will sample 2 clusters in each District, a minimum of 3 days of qualitative work is foreseen in each cluster.

The field team for qualitative enquiry include 1 qualitative Link NCA analyst (remotely), 1 qualitative researcher (socio-anthropologist), translators, 2 research assistants. The qualitative component should start before the quantitative component (to help build the quantitative resilience indicators)

1. The quantitative component is a classic cross-sectional survey that aims to:

· Estimate the prevalence of undernutrition (with anthropometric variable using SMART methodology)

· Identify the magnitude and severity of risk factors

· Identify the statistical association between risks factors and undernutrition

· Identify heterogeneities within the population

· Measure resilience capacities (with a contextual indicator define with the qualitative finding)

· Identify statistical association between risks factors and poor/good resilience’s capacities

For each states of study, a sample of around 600 children will be include in the quantitative survey (to be defined further). The quantitative team will include 1 Link NCA quantitative analyst, a team of supervisors, and surveyors. If feasible, the quantitative survey should be done during the seasonal pic of undernutrition

D. Synthesizing results and triangulation

Once data collection is complete, the qualitative NCA Analyst will synthesize (with the help of the quantitative analysts) the data to produce a range of outputs, and will use this evidence to identify drivers to malnutrition (wasting and stunting) as well as levers and barriers of resilience. A specific analysis will be done for each District, to highlight specifics heterogeneities between area of intervention and possible differences in causes of undernutrition and resilience’s capacities

E. Response programming

The NCA Analysts will organize a workshop with operational teams to present the results of the study and create a plan for transforming Link NCA results into better programming for nutrition security and resilience interventions.

6. Role and responsibilities

The country team hierarchically manages the 3 Link NCA Analysts. A focal point is appointed to facilitate the process and promote the utilization of the results of the Link NCA. Analysts are in charge to conduct the Link NCA with the support of the Link NCA technical Unit based in Action Against Hunger Paris HQ.

7. Expected Deliverables

· Action plan along with work plan prepared and approved

· Draft NCA Report developed and submitted

· NCA report disseminated at the workshop and shared program team

· Final NCA report submitted to ACF, Somalia.

8. Timeline

The Link NCA consultancy is expected to start 15^th October 2018 and last until the 28^th of February 2019.

9. NCA analyst Profile

•At least a master degree in anthropology, sociology or related social sciences domains; and when possible in one of field of expertise related to nutrition security

•Previous experience and demonstrated skills in applied research in particular qualitative research, writing and analytical skills (at least 5 years), (may be required to produce sample of pervious report)

•Previous experience in a development or humanitarian context, in particular management and programming experiences

•Broad knowledge and experience of nutrition specific and nutrition sensitive principles and programming

•Excellent communication and interpersonal skills

•Familiarity with ACF and acceptance of ACF principles would be an added value.

•Experience and understanding of Somalia context is strongly recommended

The consultant should provide:

• Curriculum vitae
• Evidence of similar experience: reports, videos, documentation relative the community engagement expertise
• Consultancy proposal.
• Quotation

To the email: procurement@so-actionagainsthunger.org

Submission deadline: 14^th October 2018