Terms of Reference for Technical Support for Development of a Nutrition-Sensitive Action Plans for Education, Agriculture and Livestock Sectors in Somaliland

TERMS OF REFERENCE  

Technical Support for Development of a Nutrition-Sensitive Action Plans for Education, Agriculture and Livestock Sectors in Somaliland.

About ACRIF-AFRICAN CHILDREN’S RIGHTS FOUNDATION

ACRIF is a child rights organization. ACRIF was founded in 2008 and has its headquarters in Hargeisa, Somaliland. ACRIF is a development and humanitarian organization that advances children’s rights and equality for girls and boys. We strive for a just continent, working together with children, young people, our supporters, and our partners.

I.  BACKGROUND

Nutrition plays an important role in the human health and socioeconomic development of any country. It’s the foundation of a healthy and productive population. Well-nourished people are less likely to become ill or die. Achieving good nutrition, is associated with important short- and long-term health, educational and economic benefits. On the other hand, malnutrition causes life-long and irreversible damage, with consequences at individual, community, and national levels.

In Somaliland, malnutrition represents one of the most formidable challenges. It’s the underlying cause of as many as 45 percent of childhood deaths. Rates of acute and chronic malnutrition are alarming throughout the Somaliland regions. Statistics from the 2020 Somaliland Demographic and Health Survey (SLDHS) indicate that of every 100 children under 5 years of age, about 21 percent are chronically malnourished (stunted, or low height-for-age), 13 percent are acutely malnourished (wasted, or low weight-for-height), and 14 percent are underweight (low weight-for-age). The current prevalence of stunting, wasting and underweight are considered to be of ‘high’ public health significance. Those children who are malnourished but survive face limited life opportunities.

Malnutrition weakens Somaliland’s economy through losses in productivity, low school performance as a result of impaired cognitive development, and many days of morbidity, resulting increased health costs associated with treating malnutrition and related diseases. Poor dietary diversity continues to drive malnutrition in Somaliland. Consumers often lack access to diverse, nutrient-dense diets, because, a nutritious diet is estimated to cost about 7.7 US$ per day per household, and is 3.5 times more expensive than an energy only diet.

In Somaliland, it’s estimated that more than 20 percent of adults suffered from stunting as children, meaning that more than 1 million people of working age are unable to achieve their potential because of childhood malnutrition. Adults stunted during childhood are likely to be less productive in intensive manual work. In addition, undernutrition in childhood is associated with prevalence of adult diseases such as overweight, diabetes, heart disease, and some cancers, which affects Somaliland’s human capital. Moreover, the effects of malnutrition can be passed from one generation to another, and the evidence of inter-generational malnutrition cycle has already been observed in Somaliland. In addition, policy gaps exacerbate the nutrition situation in Somaliland. The National Vision 2030, National Development Plan and key sectors’ policies and strategic plans are seldom considered as important policy documents to advance nutrition.

The proposed consultancy will support the Ministries of Education, Agriculture and Livestock, and the wider nutrition sector to develop nutrition-sensitive action plans with an estimated budget for three priority sectors through a consultative and participatory process.  The action plans will serve as the guiding documents for these sectors to coordinate nutrition priorities in these sectors.

III.OBJECTIVE

The overall objective of the consultancy is to develop nutrition-sensitive action plans for three key nutrition-sensitive sectors in Somaliland (education, agriculture and livestock). Specifically, this assignment is to provide technical assistances to enable ACRIF to prepare a medium-term action plans action plans for education, agriculture and livestock sectors in line with the Somaliland Multisectoral Nutrition Policy.

IV.SCOPE OF THE WORK

The specific responsibilities of the consultant are as the following:

      i.        Support the preparation of the national action plan, ensuring inputs from all stakeholders;

     ii.        Coordinate and facilitate consultation process with three sectors and the wider nutrition sector stakeholders to develop nutrition-sensitive action plans for three sectors (education, agriculture, and livestock);

    iii.        Based on consultation, consolidate and finalize the action plans;

    iv.        Pull information from various sources and make analysis and presentations for the action plans; and

     v.        Ensure coherence of the action plans with Somaliland Multisectoral Nutrition Policy.

IV. METHODOLOGY

The methodology will include: desk review, interviews with government counterparts, key stakeholders, meetings and analytical work. The preparation of the three action plans will, however, be undertaken simultaneously. Analysis of each sector’s situation is required to determine the targets. The analysis will help estimate and determine the resource requirements. A detailed realistic three-year action plan will be designed for three sectors, while ensuring the engagement of all stakeholders. The preparation of the action plans will follow the following processes and actions.

a)      Preparatory Phase

-          Situation analysis (inventory existing data, review and update the relevant information)

-          Support the creation of thematic groups to complete the situation, and scenario analyses for proposed priority interventions, formulate and evaluate alternatives.

-          Determine baseline information based on scenario analysis;

-          Determine realistic results and targets.

b)      Design Phase

-          Define contents of the action plans;

-          Prepare draft action plan documents;

-          Coordinate the participating institutions during the drafting of the action plans;

-          Organize consultation workshop on the draft action plans at Hargeisa;

-          Share the drafted action plans with participating institutions for input;

-          Prepare final draft action plan documents, incorporating comments;

-          Ensure alignment with Somaliland Multisectoral Nutrition Policy and National Development Plan (NDP III).

QUALIFICATION AND REQUIREMENTS

-          Advanced degree (Master) or equivalent in Public Health, Nutrition, Agriculture, or related/relevant field. Advanced degree in nutrition will be an advantage;

-          At least 7 years progressive professional work experience in policy analysis and strategic planning;

-          Proven experience in developing and reviewing national nutrition action plans.

-          Good experiences on nutrition issues in Somaliland or the region;

-          Experience in policy development, and in developing nutrition action plans;

-          Strong analytical and report writing skills;

-          Excellent communication and facilitation skills;

-          Fluency in English;

-          Flexibility, team player, ability to work with multidisciplinary teams.

Additional Information:

We believe in a country where children face so many threats of harm, it is our duty to ensure that we do everything we can to keep children safe. Safeguarding the child that we come into contact with throughout our work is a key priority for ACRIF within the ACRIF, Child safeguarding is making ACRIF safe for children. ACRIF is committed to ensuring a safe working environment for all those who work for us and for all those who come into contact with our staff and representatives, including children and members of the communities with whom we work. All our staff are expected to carry out their duties in accordance with our Adult and Child Safeguarding Policy and the Code of Conduct. In the light of this, a range of back ground checks will be undertaken in conformity with ACRIF's Adult and Child Safeguarding Policy.

Qualified persons with the required skills are invited to submit their applications accompanied by cover letter and detailed curriculum vitae as a single document with the subject line “Technical Support for Development of a Nutrition-Sensitive Action Plans”. i.e., with the cover letter being on the first page and the CV starting on the second page, detailing three work related referees and contacts to [email protected] . Deadline for this application is 23rd  November, 2023. Due to the agency of the position, short-listing will be done on rolling basis, candidates are encouraged to send their applications as soon as possible.

Please note that only the shortlisted candidates will be contacted. If you have not received an answer within two weeks after the closing date, you may consider that you have not been selected for this position on this occasion.

ACRIF will at no stage of recruitment process request candidate to make payments of any kind. Further, ACRIF has not retained any agent in connection with recruitment.