REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (REOI) – INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANT

                                                                                                FOR

Consultancy to Review Policies and Mechanisms Influencing the Prevention of Child Wasting in the Mandera Triangle

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1. Background and Context

Background

Child wasting in the transboundary area of the Mandera Triangle/Cluster persists and often exceeds emergency levels despite significant efforts by many actors. The Mandera Triangle has some of the highest levels of food insecurity and malnutrition in the Horn of Africa, which at the peak of the 2020-2023 drought saw the prevalence of global acute malnutrition at 35%, more than double the WHO emergency threshold (15%).[1]This situation can be linked to the Triangle’s long history of conflict as well as its poor access to healthcare, low economic growth, food insecurity, limited water, and the absence of adequate sanitation and hygiene.  Prevalence of global acute malnutrition within and around the Triangle has been at critical levels for much of the last three years. In 2023, wasting was expected to affect 500,000 children in Somalia, 945,000 in Kenya and 1,638,763 in Ethiopia as a whole.

Hanaano which means ‘to nurture’ in Somali is a three-year initiative designed to reduce child wasting in the Mandera Triangle by addressing its root causes including food security, health and care practices. The programme is a joint effort by Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), Concern Worldwide, local partners the Rural Agency for Community Development and Assistance (RACIDA) in Kenya, Pastoralist Concern in Ethiopia, and Lifeline Gedo in Somalia and Tufts University. The programme is funded by Irish Aid’s Child Wasting Initiative as part of Ireland’s commitment to the Global Action Plan on Child Wasting.

The programme aims to prevent child wasting among over 305,000 people living in the most vulnerable communities in the Triangle through three main pathways:

• Improving feeding and caring behaviors for infants, young children, adolescents and women of reproductive age
• Improving food security and supporting engagement in profitable climate resilient strategies
• Informing and influencing relevant country and regional strategies to prevent wasting by demonstrating what works particularly at community level

The programme integrates livelihoods, WASH, natural resource management, social and behavior change and gender equality and conflict sensitivity approach to reduce the prevalence of child wasting in communities in the Triangle. The programme has a strong learning and practical research element that is guided by Helen Young’s Conceptual Framework for Understanding and Addressing the Drivers of Acute Malnutrition in Africa’s Drylands. The research led by Tufts University seeks to understand local drivers of persistent acute malnutrition in the Mandera Triangle. Research findings will inform implementation of evidence based and contextually relevant interventions that the programme will promote for adoption and scale up by the Governments of Ethiopia, Kenya and Somali.  Considering this IGAD and Hanaano implementing partners have commissioned a study to identity and analyze existing national and subnational nutrition sensitive policies, programs, frameworks, strategies, and action plans, focused on prevention of wasting, and their interpretation and implementation status in Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia. The study is aligned to the programme’s research agenda on Understanding the evolving institutional context and its implications for livelihoods and drivers of acute malnutrition.

2. Objectives of the Assignment

The consultancy assignment aims to identify and review existing sectoral and multisectoral policies at subnational, national and regional (IGAD policies) level that address the prevention of wasting in the Mandera Triangle (cross border area of Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia) with a specific focus on the extent of their implementation.  The study will focus in key sectors such as health and nutrition, agriculture and livestock, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), natural resource management (environment, climate change), and peace and security—collectively termed the Hanaano line sectors. 

The specific objectives for the consultancy are as below:

1. Conduct a desk review to identify existing sectoral and multisectoral policies and strategies at regional (IGAD policies), national (Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya), and sub-national levels (Belet Hawo district /Dolo Region, Dolo Ado district/Jigjiga Region and Mandera County) that address the prevention of wasting
2. Conduct key informant interviews with key sector policy makers and holders at regional, national and sub-national levels to gather insights on the status of the implementation of identified sector and multisectoral policies

• Document existing institutional arrangements and coordination mechanisms at regional, national and sub-national levels that support prevention of wasting particularly multisectoral nutrition sensitive interventions

1. Review the extent to which existing regional, national and subnational multisectoral policies address the needs of those most at risk of wasting (children under five years and mothers (women of reproductive age) and other vulnerable groups
2. Undertake a Stakeholder Analysis for the prevention of wasting in the Mandera Triangle with a focus on identifying relevant sector and multi-sector stakeholders at regional, national and subnational levels, understanding their perspectives and knowledge on the problem of persistent child wasting and its drivers, and their perceptions on the effectiveness of existing strategies for addressing child wasting
3. Develop actionable sector and multisector based recommendations to address policy gaps identified and or scale up best practices identified on the prevention of wasting in Triangle

• Map pathways through which the Hanaano programme can advocate and influence policy change towards the prevention of wasting at regional, national and sub-national level.

3. Scope of Work

The consultant will:

1. Understand the Hanaano programme focus, approaches and activities on prevention and reduction of childhood wasting
2. Conduct a comprehensive desk review of relevant policies, strategies and frameworks in the Hanaano line sectors. These are: Health (and nutrition), Agriculture and Livestock, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), Natural Resource Management (environment, climate change) and peace and Security.
3. Analyze the contents of policies, framework and strategies under review to document the policy gaps in prevention of child wasting
4. Identify the policy gaps that can be informed by the Hanaano programme focus, approaches, lessons and best practices
5. Undertake interviews with key informants, including government officials, policy experts, partners and other stakeholders to further identify more policy gaps and mechanisms and pathways for influencing policy change.
6. Draft with potential key sector-based policy statements/advocacy message that can come from the Hanaano
7. Prepare a draft report including the detailing of:
   1. Relevant policies, strategies and frameworks gaps at regional, national, and sub-national levels in the prevention of childhood wasting
   2. Possible mechanisms and pathways for policy influence in each of the Hanaano focus country and the district/regions and counties in the Mandera Triangle
   3. Sector-based policy recommendation from Hanaano to fill the policy gaps in prevention of childhood wasting
8. Visit country headquarters and the Mandera triangle/cluster to collect relevant documents and contextual information, and to validate the findings.
9. Incorporate the feedback from the validation exercise and submit the final report

4. Deliverables
5. Inception Report: A detailed work plan, methodology, list of key informants and report outline.
6. Draft Report: Comprehensive documentation of policies and influence mechanisms.

• Final Report: A revised document integrating stakeholder feedback.

1. Presentation: Summarized findings to be presented to the stakeholders for validation. 

5. Location and duration of the assignment

The consultancy will take place over a period of 36 working days with travel to the to the Mandera triangle and the country headquarters to collect the needed information and relevant documents

6. Required Qualifications, Experience and Skills

1. At least 8 years of experience in multisector policy analysis and review
2. Must demonstrate the skills and experience in food and nutrition (or related) policy and strategy development/drafting

• Experienced in policy or strategy work within the last ten years on multisectoral nutrition issues in East African countries, Horn of Africa or among the IGAD Member States

1. Over 10 years of country or regional level experience in linking nutrition to food and other sectors at policy, strategy and programme level
2. Demonstrated experience conducting desk reviews and stakeholder interviews in Hanaano line sectors.
3. Excellent report writing and communication skills.

• Familiarity with regional and national policy environments in the Hanaano line sectors.
• Knowledge of Mandera Triangle/cluster operational contexts is Essential

7. Education qualifications

Advanced university degree (preferably up to PhD level) in nutrition, food security and agricultural sciences, food and nutrition security policy, public and economic policy or related fields;

The Selection shall follow the IGAD procurement procedures. The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) now invites interested and eligible consultants who are members of the IGAD member states to submit Expressions of Interest (EOI) for the above assignment. Detailed terms of reference (TORs) will be shared with shortlisted consultants.

• Interested consultants may obtain further information from Monday to Friday, 8:00am – 4:00pm EAT, by email to Shadrack.oiye@igad.int  with copies to glory.karimi@igad.int  And hafsa.yussuf@igad.int   Please note that at this stage, no PROPOSALS whether TECHNICAL or FINANCIAL are requested. 

8. How to apply

The consultant should submit their Expression of Interest (EOI),Curriculum Vitae, and academic credentials  (s) to glory.karimi@igad.int with a copy to procurement@igad.int    no later than 1^st May 2025  at 23:59 Hrs. EAT (GMT+3).

Download the attached ToR document in PDF below 
REOI_Hanaano