Job Description

TERMS OF REFERENCE (TOR): SMART SURVEY

Location: Hudur, Elberde & Wajid - Bakool Region - Somalia

Tentative time of Survey: 7th November - 8th December 2022.

BACKGROUND AND RATIONALE.

Action Against Hunger has been a key humanitarian actor in Somalia since May 1992 providing Multisectoral services in Nutrition, Health, Food Security and Livelihood, Water Sanitation and Hygiene across 6 Regions; Bakool, Bay, Lower Shabelle, Sool, Gedo, and Banadir. Our Health and Nutrition programme focuses primarily on prevention and treatment of Acute Malnutrition through static and mobile therapeutic centers (OTP and TSFP) and Stabilization Centers as well as Primary and Secondary Health care services through health centers, hospitals and mobile outreach teams. Action Against Hunger works in compliance with humanitarian principles, placing people at the center of its interventions whilst considering existing local capacities and vulnerabilities, and environmental and political factors.

The humanitarian crisis in Somalia continues to deteriorate. Four consecutive failed rainy seasons and increasing economic pressures are deepening the severity of needs and driving the country to the brink of famine. An estimated 41 percent of the population 6.7 Million people requires some form of humanitarian or protection assistance, of which 300,000 people are in Catastrophe (IPC Phase 5). Furthermore, Famine (IPC Phase 5) is projected among rural residents in Baidoa and Burhakaba districts and displaced people in Baidoa town of Bay region in southern Somalia, where malnutrition and mortality levels are already at alarm. Humanitarian needs are extremely high due to the impacts of four consecutive seasons of poor rainfall, an anticipated fifth season of below-average rainfall from October to December, and exceptionally high food prices, exacerbated by concurrent conflict/insecurity and disease outbreaks (primarily acute watery diarrhea/cholera and measles).

The nutrition situation in Bakool region was very poor in 2021. According to the nutrition survey conducted by Action Against Hunger in Elbarde District in November 2021, the prevalence of Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM) was 24.0 %, and Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) was 3.6 %. Hudur District recorded a GAM prevalence of 16% and SAM of 5.8% according to the October 2021 SMART. In Wajid District, the February 2022 SMART survey indicated a GAM and SAM of 15.9% and 3.0% respectively indicating a very high/critical nutrition situation.

In efforts to strengthen Nutrition surveillance across Somalia and provide quality and timely nutrition data amid the current crisis, Action against Hunger intends to conduct SMART survey in Elbarde, Hodur and Wajid districts in Bakool region. Action Against Hunger Somalia Mission is seeking an external consultant to conduct the SMART Survey in the three districts and take lead of the nutrition assessment with the aim of generating quality information for humanitarian actors. The SMART survey will be conducted with the aim of filling nutrition information gaps at the regional level moreover the humanitarian situation requires constant updates and specifically to ascertain key indicators that can aid in ensuring appropriate response.

Objective:

To lead in SMART survey data analysis and report writing in three districts in Bakool, Southwest state of Somalia.

Specific Objectives of the support are:

1. To work with MEAL department to provide support to field teams on coding and uploading data on ODK/Kobo platform and exporting data to ENA software using existing questionnaires.

2. To extract daily plausibility report from ENA and give feedback on data collected.

3. To analysis of coverage of Vitamin A, immunization services and prevalence of illness among children under five years.

4. To do data analysis on the levels of key FSL indicators of HDD, FCS and CSI and WASH indicators.

5. To engage AIMWG for Survey protocol and report validation.

6. To write survey reports for three districts-Hudur, Wajid, and Elbarde.

Duration of engagement:

The consultation will be engaged for a period of 24 working days with possibility of extension if other assessment needs arises. The support onsite and routine updates provided to the Head of Health and Nutrition department, MEAL Coordinator and Nutrition & Health Field Officers.

Role & Responsibilities:

The MEAL Coordinator, supported by the Head of Nutrition & Health Department coupled with the MEAL staff & Health & Nutrition team at country level will provide all the necessary support to the consultant for the conducting the SMART survey. Action Against Hunger will provide all necessary project documents including previous SMART survey, technical assistance (e.g. avail any other documents and information needed etc).

Action Against Hunger Somalia Role:

Lunch and refreshment during the training days for the enumerators and training facilitators,

Training venue and related cost

Enumerator recruitments, and related costs during the data collection process, Engagement of data collection vehicles

Community guides related cost

Data collection tool on Kobo collect

Liaise with respective line ministries at both federal and South West state level.

The consultant role:

Develop training plan for the SMART survey and conduct full enumerators training for all survey participants.

Facilitate, conduct and share the record of Standardization test with the survey manager. Develop SMART survey protocol and present to the AIMWG for validation,

Review of the SMART survey training materials a head of the training and provide input where necessary.

The consultant will manage pilot test in specific selected clusters, analyze the data and give feedback before starting data collection.

The consultant will oversee the process of the collection of all data ensuring quality control measures are in place.

The consultant will conduct daily data quality checking and share the plausibility report with Action Against Hunger team on the ground regularly.

After survey completion:

The consultant will lead the data analysis and generate quality report in line with smart Methodology quality standards

Share full ENA dataset with all sections completed (planning dataset, standardization dataset, under5 dataset, mortality and morbidity dataset, food security and WASH and other additional indicators dataset).

Prepare power point slides for AIM working group validation and share one week before presenting to the AIMWG for internal review and input.

Present the SMART survey assessment result to AIM working group. Address any additional comments from AIM working group.

After validation, share final report with complete dataset and stata files for reproducibility.

Administrative responsibilities are assigned below:

Action Against Hunger Somalia will support

Airfare to and from Mission

Entry visa to country of mission

Domestic transportation (Work Only)

The Consultant

Health Insurance for him/herself Equipment for use (Laptop etc.) Food/per diem.

Domestic Accommodation Domestic Security

Deliverables

Training and data collection proposal,

Develop a proposal for the training and data collection including the budget for the whole exercise plus the consultancy fee.

Training report/ Reflection report.

A report detailing the content of the training. Composition of the participants and key observations (reflections from the training).

Quality data set

Total Number of HH- Achieved (100% of the sample is expected) Quality Plausibility check result- Acceptable data (Overall score) Acceptable standardization data (and dataset)

All cluster control forms

Final SMART Survey Report Scanned zipped and mailed.

Skills and Qualifications

You hold a degree in Nutrition/Public Health/ Statistics with at least 3 years of experience in conducting surveys, research or surveillance, with good reporting skills.

You have the ability to coach, supervise and capacity build on SMART methodologies. You have some knowledge in SPSS, ENA, EPi-info and preferably attended the SMART survey Manager`s training or equivalent.

Be fluent in English (Mandatory), have adult learning skills, Presentation skills, and high organizational skills. Prove the ability to contextualize the training will be an added advantage.

Good coordination, management and report writing skills

Previous experience with Action Against Hunger will be an added advantage. Thorough knowledge on the relevant thematic areas and Somalia context

Fluency in English is mandatory while Somali will be an added advantage.

Reporting

The SMART survey consultant will report to the MEAL Coordinator & Head of Health & Nutrition Department during the duration of the consultancy.

How to apply

All expressions of interest should include:

1. Cover letter addressing the survey criteria

2. Technical Proposal highlighting: brief explanation about previous experience in conducting the SMART Survey; understanding of the TOR, description of the specified Survey data collection methodology and the task to be accomplished as well as draft survey framework and work plan. Detailed CV should be annexed to the technical proposal

3. Financial Proposal: The financial proposal should provide cost estimates for services rendered including daily consultancy fees.

Applications should be sent to the following email address: procurement@so-actionagainsthunger.org with the subject as CONSULTANT- SMART SURVEY BAKOOL REGION

Submission Deadline: 31 October 2022

Due to high volumes of applications expected, we regret that only short- listed candidates will be contacted for interview.