Save the Children is the leading independent organization for children in need, with programs in over 120 countries, including the United States. We aim to inspire breakthroughs in the way the world treats children, and to achieve immediate and lasting change in their lives by improving their health, education and economic opportunities. In times of acute crisis, we mobilize rapid assistance to help children recover from the effects of war, conflict and natural disasters. Each year, we and our partners reach millions of children in communities around the world. Join our dedicated and diverse staff in their work to improve the well-being of children everywhere.
We are recruiting to fill the position below:
Job Title: Father’s KAP Survey Consultant
Ref Id: 190001HX
Location: Maiduguri, Borno
Employee Status: Fixed Term
Background
In Borno State, as in most part of Northern Nigeria, IYCF practices were extremely poor prior to the conflict and the challenges to exclusive breastfeeding and optimal IYCF-E practices faced due to displacement and strain from the conflict significantly deteriorated. The ongoing conflict continues to increase population displacements, poor sanitation, hygiene, poor access to safe water supplies, and has disrupted livelihoods and this has affected the food prices. All these factors have the potential to further jeopardize the health and nutrition status of the children under 5 years of age, and pregnant and lactating women (PLW), thus increasing the risks of undernutrition, morbidity, and mortality. Insecurity and population movements also pose challenges of access and provision of adequate nutrition services to women and children in some areas. The 2018 SMART survey conducted by Save the Children revealed major concerns with infant and young child feeding practices and other aggravating factors. Examples of these practices of concerns are the dangerously low level of exclusive breastfeeding at 18.9% and a minimum acceptable diet of 4.8%. This is evidenced by the NDHS 2018 report that clearly shows that where IYCF indicators have not changed despite the scores of support since the insurgency.
Infant and young children feeding (IYCF) is a lifesaving intervention in emergencies for children in the most vulnerable stage of life from infancy up to two years of age. During emergencies child mortality rate increases to as high as 70 times more than average when compared to non-emergency. To reduce child mortality and morbidity of this magnitude Global Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding (2002) recommends optimal infant and young child feeding practices. Sub-optimal IYCF practices have both short and long-term consequences on the child health, development and survival as it has been estimated to contribute to 11.6% of under 5 deaths. According to Lancet Series on Maternal and Child (2013), breastfeeding is the most effective intervention and if practiced optimally will prevent at least 13% of all the death among children less than five years of age. Studies have further deduced that engaging fathers and grandmothers of infants to improve their knowledge of optimal infant feeding practices and to encourage provision of social support to mothers could help improve some feeding practices. McInnes et al notes that many behaviour change approaches focus on improving knowledge gaps of mothers and pay little attention to ecological and social factors that may negatively affect a mother’s infant feeding behaviours. Programs that include innovative approaches to engage these key influencers to provide positive social support could be more successful in changing behaviours to improve maternal and child nutrition than programs that focus only on improving mothers’ knowledge.
Interventions that involve men as agents of positive change are relatively few in number, there is a need to encourage men to engage in and support good infant and young child feeding practices, since prevailing gender roles often discourage men from engaging in this activity. Studies have shown that providing men with correct information and encouraging them to take an interest in their children’s feeding practices can lead to improvements in infant feeding practices.
Survey Objectives
- General Objective: To determine knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) of fathers in their role to support recommended IYCF practices in targeted LGAs in Borno State, Nigeria.
Specific objectives
- To determine knowledge and awareness of fathers (in father support groups and not in father support groups) on recommended IYCF practices.
- To determine the level of participation of fathers in supporting recommended IYCF practices.
- To establish the perception of fathers on their roles in supporting the recommended IYCF practices.
- To appraise if FTF support groups have impacted IYCF knowledge, attitudes and practices of recommended behaviours (through comparing responses from fathers in SGs vs those not in SGs).
- ppraise if FTF des and practices regarding father’ atheres o help us to compare, maybe we find that FTFSGs have had a huge impaTo recommend key simple, practical and achievable interventions that will promote the participation of fathers in supporting the recommended IYCF practices.
Methodology
- The survey will employ both qualitative and quantitative approaches to establish the knowledge, attitude and practices of fathers on their role to support recommended IYCF practices.
Scope of work
- The KAP survey will be conducted in Borno state of North East Nigeria with a focus on fathers with children less than 2 years.
- The LGAs targeted will be Magumeri, Konduga, Kaga and Jere with a focus on each LGA separately.
Responsibilities of the consultant
- To develop and submit inception report (Protocol) which will include an interpretation of the study design & methodologies, sampling procedures, detailed work plan and financial proposal.
- Conduct a desk review of the relevant program documents
- Develop appropriate tools and instruments for gathering information by use of KOBO data kit
- Develop and translate data collection tool to the local language (Hausa, Kanuri and other Languages as identified necessary)
- Present the KAP Methodology to the various sector technical working groups in Borno for validation
- Hold preliminary discussions with head of sectors, M&E manager and relevant key stakeholders.
- Train data enumerators and supervisors, ensure the quality of data
- Undertake consultations with key stakeholders and conduct field data collection; Focus group discussions, Key informant interviews, etc.
- Process and analyze the data, write and submit a draft report of the survey (per required format)
- Present preliminary findings to the Technical working groups
- Present the draft report of the findings to SCI for comments and feedbacks.
- Revise and submit electronic copy of the raw data and final report including recommendations within the specified time of agreement
SCI Responsibilities
- Providing consultant with necessary documentations for desk review
- Linking the consultant to relevant stakeholders while in Borno.
- Identify and Hire supervisors and interviewer’s/data collectors.
- Facilitate the movement of the consultant and team to and from the field
- Flight/travel to and from the country of residence and visa costs shall be paid by SCI
- Accommodation will be provided by SCI during the period of consultancy.
Qualifications Required
- At least Master’s degree in Public Health, Nutrition or other related field.
- Minimum of five years working experience in nutrition and food security assessments, including KAP, SMART, SQUEAC, etc (Experience in Northeast Nigeria context is desirable).
- Strong analytical skills and research experience, with solid knowledge of quantitative and qualitative research methodologies particularly IYCF / KAP Survey methodology
- Proven leadership and coordination skills.
- Sound experience and knowledge of Humanitarian Accountability framework (HAF), evaluation of integrated projects/programs and drawing lessons learned/good practices.
- Computer literacy in MS Word, MS Excel and PowerPoint, digital data gathering devices.
- Excellent writing and document presentation skills.
- Demonstrated ability to meet deadlines.
- Fluency in English is essential. Knowledge of local language is an added advantage.
- Excellent knowledge of and experience with humanitarian guidelines and principles.
- Ability to live and work in an isolated area in conditions of limited comfort
Deadline: 7th June, 2019.
How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online
All expressions of interest should include:
- Cover letter: A short (maximum one page) letter addressing the survey criteria
- Technical Proposal (maximum 4 pages) highlighting: brief explanation about previous experience in conducting KAP and/or nutrition surveys; understanding of the TOR, description of the specified Survey methodology and the task to be accomplished as well as draft survey framework and work plan.
- Detailed CV (maximum 4 pages)
- A financial proposal (in USD) providing cost estimates for services rendered including daily consultancy fees.
- Copies of relevant previous survey reports (to be kept confidential)
Leave a Reply