TERMS OF REFERENCE (TOR) FOR NSA MODEL VILLAGE ASSESSMENT

INTRODUCTION

SCI is the world’s leading independent organisation for children. We save children’s lives; we fight for their rights; we help them fulfil their potential. We work together, with our partners, to inspire breakthroughs in the way the world treats children and to achieve immediate and lasting change in their lives.

• Our Vision – a world in which every child attains the right to survival, protection, development and participation.
• Our Mission – to inspire breakthroughs in the way the world treats children and to achieve immediate and lasting change in their lives.

Ethiopia has demonstrated a steadfast commitment to addressing malnutrition, a critical challenge that has long impacted its population. Since the inception of its first National Nutrition Strategy in 2008, the government has consistently prioritized nutrition, embedding it within a comprehensive policy framework. This framework includes pivotal initiatives such as the National Food and Nutrition Policy 2018, the National Nutrition Program II 2016, and the National Nutrition-Sensitive Agriculture Strategy 2016, among others. These policies collectively aim to ensure the universal availability, accessibility, and consumption of diverse, safe, adequate, and nutritious foods.

Despite these extensive efforts, Ethiopia continues to grapple with significant food and nutrition security challenges. The nation’s reliance on productive safety net programs, which support approximately 8 million people annually, underscores the persistent vulnerability of many communities. Alarmingly high rates of stunting, underweight, and wasting among children, coupled with micronutrient deficiencies and undernutrition among women of reproductive age, further highlight the urgent need for effective interventions.

In response to these challenges, the NSA CASE project was launched to bolster the government’s efforts in ensuring food and nutrition security. This project focuses on establishing a robust system to guide food and nutrition security initiatives, including strengthening financing mechanisms, developing a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation framework, enhancing nutrition coordination capacity, and facilitating technology and innovation transfer. In collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, the NSA CASE project developed the NSA model village concept, designed to serve as a practical demonstration of nutrition-sensitive agriculture. The establishment of the NSA model village in 2022 in Tur5fe Wotera Elemo Kebele, Shashemene, represents a tangible step towards implementing these strategies.

The model village prioritizes food and nutrition security, Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH), and women’s empowerment, among other interventions that directly impact household nutrition. A comprehensive baseline assessment conducted prior to the intervention revealed the kebele’s significant agricultural potential, supported by favorable bi-modal rainy seasons. However, the assessment also highlighted challenges such as low productivity due to inadequate agricultural inputs, poor farming practices, soil fertility issues, and limited irrigation. These challenges led to restricted diets, with approximately 90% of the population consuming fewer than four food groups.

To evaluate the model village’s impact, inform future interventions, and extract valuable lessons, a follow-on assessment is essential. This assessment will measure progress against the 13 graduation criteria outlined in the NSA model village implementation guidelines, serving as benchmarks for effectiveness. By examining the model village’s practical application, the assessment will provide critical insights into its status and guide future strategies, promoting the adoption of effective NSA approaches across Ethiopia. Specifically, this Terms of Reference (TOR) has been developed to hire a consultant to document the progress and best practices observed in the NSA Model Village. This documentation will serve as a valuable resource for scaling successful interventions and informing future initiatives aimed at strengthening food and nutrition security in Ethiopia.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES SAVE THE CHILDREN

• Assign technical staff in the Save the Children country office, MoA, BoA, Zone and Woreda to coordinate the assessment and support data collection.
• Provide project documents, including the NSA MV guide, standard operating procedures and project and annual performance reports.
• Provide quantitative (household survey questionnaire) and qualitative data collection (FGD and KII guides) tools.
• Review revised and translated data collection tools
• Review scripted quantitative data collection tools
• Lead the MV assessment process.
• Coordinate weekly virtual check-ins of the process of data collection and assessment and in-person meetings as necessary.
• Supervise the data collection process and provide any needed support.
• Crosscheck audio-recorded data with transcribed data.
• Review and comment on the draft MV assessment report, 2-pager, and presentation.
• Organize the validation workshop for MV assessment finding dissemination.

For Further Information Please refer this link: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-b-b_tBOh8o8lI4PnyokC_mT3330C6jI/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=106079034217001464744&rtpof=true&sd=true

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

The lead and the team of consultancy firm should have:

• Minimum a Master of Science degree or equivalent in the fields of agriculture, Rural Development, Food Security, Development Studies, social sciences, or related fields
• 10 years of relevant experience in coordinating and administering baseline, mid-term and end-term studies in the agriculture and health sectors.
• Proven experience implementing assessments and research using quantitative and qualitative methodologies.
• Experience working with diverse stakeholders, including farmers, government agencies, non-governmental organizations and international organizations.
• Excellent synthesis and report-writing skills. Sample work and/or reference letters to prove similar activities must be attached.
• Project management skills to ensure timely completion and effective coordination with stakeholders.
• The ability to travel to regions for primary and secondary data collection.

SKILLS REQUIRED

• Relevant skills in qualitative and quantitative research methods.
• Familiarity with using mobile data collection tools (KoboCollect, Open Data Kit, etc.) and the ability to upload and manage cloud data as Save the Children requires.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present complex information clearly and concisely.
• Proficiency in using data analysis software and statistical techniques.
• Strong project management and organizational skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Knowledge of and experience in gender equality issues is highly preferred.