Request for Technical & Financial Proposal

1.  Background

Nutrition International (NI), invites qualified consulting teams or firms to submit proposals for conducting a qualitative evaluation and process documentation of the Motivator Schoolgirls (MSG) Approach within NI-supported adolescent nutrition programs in Ethiopia.

The MSG Approach positions adolescent girls as peer leaders and advocates, actively shaping nutrition interventions in schools and communities. Over the past eight years, the approach has evolved through continuous learning and adaptation. This evaluation will capture contributions to program effectiveness, empowerment outcomes, enabling conditions, and challenges, while documenting lessons and adaptations to guide sustainable scale-up.

2.  Objectives

The consultancy will:

• Document the timeline, process and key milestones of implementation adaptation of the motivator girl approach, as well as examples of diversity in implementation, challenges and unique adaptations and fidelity of implementation
• Assess the acceptability and perceived suitability of the approach from relevant stakeholders, including adolescent girls, adolescent boys, parents, teachers, health workers, community members etc.
• Assess the engagement and perceived contributions of motivator schoolgirls in advancing gender-responsive adolescent nutrition practices.
• Identify contextual enablers and barriers influencing effectiveness and sustainability.
• Document lived experiences related to adolescent agency, decision-making, and behavior change in nutrition and health.

3.  Key Research Questions

• How do multisectoral intermediaries understand, support, and influence implementation of the MSG Approach?
• How has the MSG Approach contributed to the design, implementation, and monitoring of gender-responsive adolescent health and nutrition interventions?
• What are Motivator Schoolgirls’ experiences in delivering WIFA, nutrition education, behaviour change, and menstrual health activities, and how do these roles affect their agency and decision-making?
• How does their experience as motivator Girl influence other aspects of their lives?
• How do parents, teachers, in-school peers, and out-of-school peers perceive the acceptability, relevance, and impact of the MSG Approach?
• What key enablers, barriers, adaptations, and lessons influence the effectiveness, sustainability, and scale-up of the MSG Approach?

Are there any considerations or experiences of, social resistance, unintended consequences, or safeguarding risks have emerged from MSG roles?

How do stakeholders feel the “do no harm” principal applies to the MG approach- including burden of work vs benefits?

4.  Data Collection Methods

The evaluation will employ a mixed-methods design including: (a) Desk review of program documents; (b) In-depth interviews and focus group discussions with current and past motivator schoolgirls;  (c) Stakeholder consultations with teachers, parents, health  care providers, and community influencers;  (d) Focus group discussions with adolescent peers (in-school and out-of-school); and (e )Descriptive quantitative profiling of motivator schoolgirls to inform purposive sampling.

5.  Sampling and Inclusion

The evaluation will use purposive sampling seeking diversity across targeted regions : in Oromia (29 woredas in East Wollega, West Wollega, Huru Guduru, and Kelem Wollega), Central Ethiopia (16 woredas in Kembata, Hadiya, and Tembaro Special Woreda), and Sidama (8 woredas), ensuring balanced representation by school level (primary and secondary), age group (≤14 years; 15–19 years), and engagement tier based on designated motivator schoolgirls’ prior and ongoing participation (school‑based, PHCU‑linked platforms, and national adolescent/youth health forums).

Participants will be recruited systematically to achieve sufficient diversity and richness in data with the goal of theoretical saturation while using resources efficiently. Stratified sampling by geography will ensure representation across geographic, demographic, and institutional contexts. Recruitment will prioritize accessibility, equity, and cultural responsiveness, with alternative engagement approaches offered for adolescent participants where needed. These options should strengthen inclusivity and ensure that a wide range of adolescent voices are meaningfully represented during both in‑depth interviews and focus group discussions. The approaches should emphasize practical feasibility, cultural sensitivity, and methods that encourage active involvement, thereby enhancing the overall quality and credibility of the finding.

6.  Ethical & Safeguarding

All evaluation activities must comply with recognized ethical standards and safeguarding principles. This includes obtaining informed consent, age‑appropriate assent for adolescents, and guardian consent where required. Confidentiality must be strictly maintained, with personal data anonymized in transcripts and reports. The consultancy team is expected to create safe and culturally sensitive environments, ensuring respectful participation and immediate referral if any distress arises.

The selected consultant or firm must obtain IRB approval from the appropriate national or local university research & ethics committee before any fieldwork; the clearance must explicitly cover the study design, instruments, consent/assent procedures, safeguarding and referral protocols, and protections for minors and other vulnerable participants. Proof of approval must be submitted during the inception phase, and no data collection may commence until formal ethical clearance is received.

NI maintains a zero‑tolerance approach to safeguarding: the selected consultant/firm must fully comply with NI’s Safeguarding Policy and code of conduct. The consultant will be briefed on the policy, and it is the responsibility of the consultant to demonstrate commitment to strictly adhere to NI’s Safeguarding Policy. The consultant also has responsibility to ensure that any persons hired, used, or consulted during this process are made familiar with the policy and commit to abide by it during execution of this work. Any allegation or breach must be reported immediately and will be handled in accordance with NI’s procedures.

7.  Deliverables

Comprehensive Evaluation Report: A final evaluation report (maximum 50 pages) presenting an executive summary of max 4 pages, methodology, sample characteristics, findings, thematic analysis, key results, triangulated conclusions, and actionable recommendations prioritized by feasibility and impact, with clear linkage between methods and findings, transparent analytic procedures, use of validated measures where applicable, demonstration of qualitative data saturation, and full adherence to trauma‑informed and ethical standards.

Case Studies: A set of 3–4 concise case studies (3–6 pages each) documenting program successes, challenges, adaptations, and best practices—including one on adolescent engagement and one on gender responsive adaptation, and one agency as an outcome and multiplier of improved health & nutrition, presented with balanced, evidence-based analysis, participant voices, safeguarding documentation, and clear notes on transferability.

Data provided: All qualitative data shall be provided as transcripts/ translated into English, and recordings and coded files of data analysis.  All quantitative data files shall be provided.

8.    Duration

The consultancy will run for six months  (starting in October 2026 – March 2027).

Proposal Submission

Nutrition International – Ethiopia Country Office invites qualified consulting teams or firms to submit comprehensive technical and financial proposals for this assignment. Proposals should demonstrate a clear understanding of the scope of work and provide evidence of the team’s capacity to deliver high-quality output within the specified timeframe.

 

1. Required Contents of the Proposal

Proposals must include the following components:

Understanding of the Assignment & Methodology: A concise description of the team’s understanding of the Motivator Schoolgirls Approach, the evaluation objectives, and the proposed methodological framework. This should highlight innovative strategies for mixed-methods data collection, analysis, and documentation.

Team Composition & Relevant Expertise: The proposal includes concise profiles for each team member—qualifications, roles, and prior experience in adolescent health, nutrition, gender‑responsive programming, and qualitative evaluation—explicitly highlighting trauma‑informed care expertise and training, with responsibilities clearly allocated; the team will recruit adolescent and youth peer researchers from study areas, provide cultural humility and trauma‑informed practice training for data collectors, and establish clear referral pathways to ensure ethical, accessible, and safe engagement. Please include gender of team members conducting field work.

Work Plan and Timeline: A detailed work plan outlining key activities, milestones, and deliverables for the six‑month consultancy (October 2026–March 2027), with realistic task sequencing and built‑in mechanisms for continuous feedback, participatory review, and reflexive engagement with the NI team.

Detailed Budget: A comprehensive financial proposal presented in Ethiopian Birr or Canadian Dollars, itemizing professional fees, travel and fieldwork costs, data collection expenses, and other relevant expenditures. The budget should be transparent, cost-effective, and aligned with the proposed methodology.