MEAL Assessment Manager-Consultant

Date of the announcement publication: 4 November, 2024

Approximate Date Service Agreement Issued: December 02, 2024

Background (Project Background) 

FHI 360’s Crisis Response team is implementing the Ukraine Humanitarian Assistance Response Program (UHARP II) to improve the health and well-being of conflict-affected and displaced populations through an integrated, multi-sectoral response.

In addition, FHI 360 Ukraine is anticipating a nutrition project that aims to monitor the implementation and compliance with the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes (International Code) in health facilities across different oblasts in Ukraine. It also seeks to implement interventions to enhance breastfeeding protection, promotion, and compliance with the Code in selected health facilities across these oblasts in Ukraine. The anticipated project will be focused on the Eastern and Southern regions in Ukraine.

Deliverables, Milestones & Due Dates:

Under the direct supervision of the MEAL Coordinator and in close coordination with the MEAL officer and Nutrition Program Manager, the consultant will lead a mixed-method study to:

1. Monitor the implementation and compliance with the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes using the Net Code Protocol;
2. Assess lactation counselor staffing capacity in maternity hospitals and perinatal centers; and
3. Conduct a qualitative assessment at health facilities to understand the reasons why mothers are not breastfeeding.

The assessment will take place in sampled maternity hospitals, perinatal centers, and female outpatient clinics across Kherson, Dnipropetrovsk, Odesa, Mykolaiv, Zaporizhzhia, and Donetsk oblasts. The consultant will be based in the FHI 360 Dnipro office with frequent travel to assessment areas (all assessment sites are reviewed and approved by FHI 360’s security department). Travel to the assessment areas will normally be carried out in FHI 360 rented vehicles operated by FHI 360 drivers 

The consultant will undertake the following main tasks:

• Draft and finalize the overall assessment plan in consultation with MEAL and nutrition technical staff. 
• Compile the list of all maternity hospitals, perinatal centers and female outpatient’s clinics across six oblasts including Kherson, Dnipropetrovsk, Odesa, Mykolaiv, Zaporizhzhia, and Donetsk.
• Finalize the sampling frame for sampling the maternity hospitals, perinatal centers and female outpatient’s clinics .
• Work together with MEAL department to finalize samples for three different components of the study.
• Take lead in finalization of assessment tools, working closely with the nutrition technical team.
• Organize training for enumerators, Focus Group Discussion (FGD) facilitators and note-takers. 
• Organize field testing of the tools. 
• Closely monitor and supervise the data enumerators and FGD facilitators and note-takers.
• Work closely with MEAL officer to ensure the quality of the data collected from the assessment.
• Participate in analysis of data and report writing.
• Liaise with relevant local authorities, maternity hospitals, perinatal centers and female outpatient clinics in the overall process of assessment.
• Prepare weekly and monthly plans and reports as assigned by the supervisor.

Location of the Assignment: Work will be carried out in the FHI 360 office in Odesa city as well as towns/cities across Kherson, Dnipropetrovsk, Odesa, Mykolaiv, Zaporizhzhia, and Donetsk oblast (as security situation allows). The work for Donetsk will be carried out remotely.

 Expected Level of Effort: 45 days 

Period of Engagement:  2 December 2024 – 31 January 2025 

Contract Type: Local Service Agreement

Mandatory Requirements:

• Master of statistics, public health, nutrition, or relevant disciplines with at least a year of work experience in the role involving assessment design, implementation, and management as one of the prime responsibilities OR bachelor’s degree in statistics, public health, nutrition, or relevant disciplines with at least two years of work experience in a role involving assessment design, implementation, and management as one of the prime responsibilities in NGO sector.
• Fluent in Ukrainian and excellent in English.
• Able to work in a team, eager to learn, and flexible to work in challenging conditions. 
• Proficient in using Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. 
• Conversant in KOBO for data collection, analysis, and visualization. 

Preferred:

• Prior experience in the nutrition sector

Evaluation Criteria  

FHI 360 will evaluate proposals from consultants meeting the mandatory requirements in accordance with the following criteria

• Applications not meeting the mandatory qualifications will be disqualified 
• The extent to which qualifications 1-5 are met (30 %) 
• Pre-interview test (30%)
• Oral interview (40%) 

How to Apply 

The below are the required documents for application:

• Current CV
• Proposed fees for Consultancy for a daily rate. 

Timetable and Address for Submission:

Applications must be prepared in English or Ukrainian and delivered electronically by 11:59PM Kyiv time on 17th November 2024. Please send by email with subject line “Application for Assessment Manager-Consultant” to  Відправити резюме with all documents listed above or through applying for the vacancy at the link above on the job site.

FHI 360 Disclaimers

• FHI 360 may perform a background check or require a criminal record certificate for any selected Consultant candidates.
• FHI 360 may cancel the solicitation and not award.
• FHI 360 may reject any or all responses received. 
• Issuance of the solicitation does not constitute an award commitment by FHI 360. 
• FHI 360 reserves the right to disqualify any offer based on failure of the offeror to follow solicitation instructions. 
• FHI 360 will not compensate any offeror for responding to solicitation. 
• FHI 360 reserves the right to issue award based on initial evaluation of offers without further discussion. 
• FHI 360 may choose to award only part of the activities in the solicitation, or issue multiple awards based on the solicitation activities. 
• FHI 360 reserves the right to waive minor proposal deficiencies that can be corrected prior to award determination to promote competition. 
• The position is contingent upon funding.