Assessment of technical assistance delivered under NTEAM’s TAN project in Kenya, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Pakistan and Bangladesh

Nutrition International is committed to the fundamental principles of equal employment opportunity. Women are encouraged to apply.

Background

Through its Nutrition Technical Assistance Mechanism (NTEAM), Nutrition International shares its expertise globally to support the scale-up of nutrition for the most vulnerable. We believe that knowledge, rigorously obtained and generously shared, is key to effective progress for nutrition. NTEAM provides timely and coordinated expert technical assistance to governments, multilateral organizations, development banks and other global nutrition partners. Through NTEAM, Nutrition International provides guidance, oversight and quality assurance to technical assistance provision, knowledge translation and the development of capacity building resources.

Technical Assistance for Nutrition (TAN) is a project within Nutrition International’s NTEAM funded with UK aid from the UK government. Through the TAN project, Nutrition International provides technical assistance to 20 countries who have joined the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement and the SUN Movement Secretariat, to help overcome gaps in capacity for the design and delivery of multi-sectoral national nutrition plans, by sourcing and deploying the expertise needed.

Objectives

Overall objective

To conduct an assessment of a sample of technical assistance assignments completed in 1 of or all 5 countries (Kenya, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Pakistan and Bangladesh), to describe the extent to which multiple technical assistance assignments contributed to achievement of sustainable outcomes and goals at country level.

?Specific objectives

• Assess the extent of the contribution(s) made by the technical assistance provided to the expected TAN project results. These may include but need not be limited to improvements in the scale, quality, effectiveness, gender equality, inclusivity, capacity building and /or capability development involved in subsequent programming based on that plan to scale up nutrition in the country;
• identify the contribution(s) made towards achieving TAN program results; 
• develop recommendations for specific stakeholders to consider that will help accelerate progress to full implementation of the technical assistance product(s)/interventions;
• identify lessons and document learnings to inform future technical assistance support.

In light of this, this consultancy is expected to answer the following questions:

1. To what extent is the technical assistance demand-driven and how is technical assistance fostering country ownership?
2. How is the technical assistance contributing to strengthening existing in-country mechanisms and unblocking roadblocks?
3. To what extent is the technical assistance prioritizing collaboration and coordination with key stakeholders and sectors?
4. How has the technical assistance considered gender equality and equity?

Duty Station/Location

We are seeking to engage five (5) individual consultants who are based in each of the countries where the assessments shall be undertaken - Kenya, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Only in-country travel will be required for this assignment, where safe to do so, and the majority of the work will be home-based.

All domestic travel required under this consultancy will be provided for by Nutrition International. Travel allowance maximums are based on standard rates of the organization.

Timeline

Each country consultant will develop a final work plan in agreement with the lead consultant and in consultation with Nutrition International staff. It is expected that each country consultant will dedicate between 20 to 30 days starting from October 2020 to Mar 2021 (indicative only).

Management and Reporting/Coordination mechanism

All country consultants for this assignment will report to the lead consultant who has a separate ToR and is part of Nutrition International’s Progress Assessment Steering Group. The Steering Group will provide technical oversight to all progress assessments. The lead consultant will be accountable for the work completed by the country consultants.

• Nutrition International will provide the funding for the assignment, and payment will be subject to performance and reaching deliverables as agreed upon at the moment of contract signing.
• Nutrition International will be responsible for the coordination of technical guidance and quality assurance of the work being delivered by the country consultant.

Profile/qualifications of consultant

Consultants are required to be based in Kenya, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Pakistan or Bangladesh. Consultants can apply individually to conduct the assessment in a particular country or as a team for multiple countries.

Experience and skills required of each consultant for this assignment include;

• Master’s degree required. Formal education and training in program evaluation and/or social science preferred
• Minimum 7 years of relevant experience in program evaluation, and/or a related field required with relevant experience in a consulting-related position.
• Excellent understanding of the political economy and nutrition context in the specific country of assignment
• Significant competency synthesizing and presenting qualitative analysis and data in a variety of formats (power point, Word, Excel, etc.) using relevant software packages (N-Vivo or equivalent statistical package, Excel, etc.)
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (oral and written).
• Fluency in written and spoken English is mandatory.
• Strong consultative and project management skills and ability to work efficiently and effectively both autonomously and in small teams in a highly fluid, fast-paced work environment. 
• Demonstrated high-level of knowledge and understanding of the nutrition or public health and gender equality context of the assessment country

For the complete Terms of Reference and information on the application process please visit: https://www.nutritionintl.org/content/user_files/2020/08/TA-Assessment-ToR-Aug-2020.pdf