Position Title: Consultant to Assess the RWANDA Thousand Days in the Land of a Thousand Hills Communication Campaign. Level: Institutional contract

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Ira Bryant
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1 Terms of Reference for a Special Service Agreement- Institutional Contract Position Title: Level: Location: Duration: Start Date: Consultant to Assess the RWANDA Thousand Days in the Land of a Thousand Hills Communication Campaign Institutional contract Kigali Rwanda 16 Weeks October Background and Purpose Malnutrition is a key public health concern in Rwanda and is one of the major contributors of infant, child and maternal morbidity and mortality. According to the most recent national data, the 2015 Rwandan Demographic and Health Survey (RDHS, 2015), chronic malnutrition or stunting, which results in delayed growth, affects 38% of children under the age of five years. When the national data is disaggregated (by age, sex and/or area of residence) clear disparities emerge. The burden of stunting is also associated to area of residence with rural children bearing a disproportionately higher burden (41%) compared to urban children (24%) and by province with southern (41%) and Western (45%) provinces being worst off. In addition, the lowest and second lowest wealth quintiles also bear the heaviest burden of stunting at 49% and 45% respectively. In May 2012, UNICEF supported the MOH to conduct a KAP study on Early Nurturing of Children that served to obtain information on existing knowledge, attitudes and good practices in nutrition of mothers, children and family including parenting, nurturing and child stimulation to inform a nationwide campaign, A Thousand Days in the Land of a Thousand Hills, to improve nutrition indicators. The findings indicate that only 22% of the respondents had knowledge about the appropriate feeding practices during pregnancy with only 21% stating that they practiced. DHS 2014/15 also found that 81% practice early initiation of breastfeeding and 87% exclusively breastfed their baby until 6 months. With respect to proper infant/child feeding only 25% respondents had knowledge and 46% reportedly practiced. The frequency of feeding is also an issue with 48% of children receiving less than three meals per day. Based on these findings, national communication strategy was developed to create awareness, transfer knowledge and skills, and sustain healthy behaviours among the population, which was coined Thousand Days in the Land of a Thousand Hills initiative/ Campaign.

2 This assessment aims to document the process, implementation and outcomes of the Thousand Days in the Land of a Thousand Hills campaign using literature review and qualitative methodologies. The recommendation will be used to inform the future activities. 2. Justification Conducting campaign evaluation/assessment is not possible with the current staffing structure in CAP. Therefore, a highly qualified instructional consultant is required for this assignment which is not available in-house. In order to complement this effort, UNICEF is looking to contract an experienced and competent institution to conduct the assessment for the first 1,000 days initiative. UNICEF Rwanda requests the services of an institution consultant in communication to assess professionally the process and the results obtained on the ground during the implementation of the first 1000 days campaign. 3. Objectives a) Assess if the days initiative/campaign implementation process ( the coordination, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of activities/interventions) was followed at different levels and done properly as planned b) Describe the implementation and reach of the communication activities. Assess the effectiveness of the messages, communication tools/materials and channels used to reach the target audience c) Assess the communication outcome of the campaign, i.e. how many people were reached by the campaign messages based on the field report of consultant and implementing partners, what outcome and changes did it bring to the families and communities (e.g. reach per communication intervention and which channels or platform proved to be effective) and what is the progress in behavior adoption at community level. d) Assess program results through set program campaign indicators as per the communication strategy. e) Make recommendations for the next steps and future activities. 4. Methodological Approach and Expected Outputs The assessment will focus on the three following main components: (i) the process (was the coordination, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of activities/interventions done properly?) to determine the effectiveness of the programme s operations, implementation and delivery. (ii) the results (how many people were reached by the campaign based on the field report of consultant and implementing partners, what kind of activities were effective (e.g. training of M&E officers, trainings of journalists, religious leaders, developing and broadcasting messages in community radios, etc. The assessment will also include an analysis of existing studies (KAP, DHS, ECD baseline, ONE UN/SDC baseline and follow up survey, etc.) on knowledge and practices related to nutrition in order to assess possible changes since the initiation of the campaign) and (iii) Recommendations for the next steps and future activities.

3 Through qualitative methodologies, we are expecting a report narrating how the process for the implementation of the days was conducted (success and weaknesses), the results achieved during the implementation and the next steps or the way forward for the implementation of the first days nutrition campaign. To have an overall idea about the progress key nutrition related indicators directly attribute to the days campaign, a literature review to assess the change in key nutrition knowledge and behaviour indicators since the start of the campaign in order to get an indication of the possible impact of the campaign followed up by qualitative interviews with key stakeholders (to assess results in terms of reach, channels etc.) from existing studies will be done. 5. Major Tasks, Deliverables, & Timeframe Major Tasks Deliverables Timeframe To understand the TORs and discuss with CAP, Week 1 Nutrition and RHCC chiefs to agree on the methodologies and process. To elaborate a clear methodology and a precise Inception report with Week 2 timetable (calendar) for the data collection, data analysis and the interpretation of the results relating to the first days nutrition campaign in Rwanda. detailed information on the methodology to be used To review documents (communication plan), Week 3-4 studies, reports from the cluster Ministries and partners like UNICEF on the first days nutrition campaign in Rwanda and undertake a literature review. To conduct field visits in different health centres, hospitals within and outside Kigali city in order to report on how the campaign on the first days nutrition campaign in Rwanda was conducted. Week 5-6 To carry out qualitative research (such as focus group discussions, most significant changes, and interviews with community members) in two districts on the implementation of first days nutrition campaign To carry out interviews with the social cluster Ministries, UNICEF, and other partners staff members in charge of health promotion and behaviour change communication, social mobilization and advocacy on the implementation of first days nutrition campaign. To analyse and interpret all information collected, and produce a draft and final report on the lessons learned and the recommendations related to the Field Report Week 7 Week 8-9 Draft and final report. Week 10-11

4 first days nutrition campaign implementation in Rwanda. To develop a Powerpoint presentation on the findings and recommendation with a list of the activities (new action plan) to be carried out for the next step of the implementation of the first days nutrition campaign in Rwanda. To present the findings to the social cluster group and Partners for comments To integrate the comments from social cluster groups and partners in the document To submit the final hard copy and electronic copy of Powerpoint Week Powerpoint Week 14 Documents with group comments integrated Hard copy and electronic copy of the report Week 15 Week 16 the report 6. Stakeholder Participation This assessment at a minimum will involve stakeholders from the community. Focus group discussion protocol or interview guide will be reviewed by UNICEF with an initial pre-testing to allow for modifications. 7. Qualification and Requirements a) Advanced university degree in the social sciences preferably in communication, sociology, anthropology, health promotion, public health or in the similar fields. b) At least 5 years previous experience in research and conversant on qualitative methodologies (e.g. focus group discussions, key informant interviews, participatory action research, most significant change ) preferably applied to public health or nutrition programmes c) Knowledge and work experience in health promotion will be an asset. d) Previous experience working with UNICEF and/or government an asset e) Must be fluent in English, knowledge in French and/or Kinyarwanda will be an asset. f) Be able to work in multicultural environment Based on the qualification and requirements above, the proposals will be assessed with the following criteria: Advanced university degree in social science among the key researchers (must have) Institution have at least five years of experience in research (must have) Conversant on qualitative methodologies: Focus Group Discussions (5 points), Key Informant Interview (5 points), Participatory action research (5 points), Most significant change (5 points). Research experience in health/nutrition/public health (10 points) Knowledge and work experience in health promotion (10 points) Previous work with UNICEF or Government (5 points) Knowledge in French or Kinyarwanda (5 points) Work experience in multicultural environment (10 points) Financial proposal (40 points)

5 8. Supervision The consultant will be supervised by the Chief of CAP section 9. Terms and conditions UNICEF will provide office space, and facilitate travel logistics (air ticket in economy class, vehicle while in country) and the DSA. Consultant should bring their own computer and engage translator as needed. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold all or a portion of payment if performance is unsatisfactory, if work/outputs is incomplete, not delivered or for failure to meet deadlines. All materials developed by the consultant will remain the copyright of UNICEF and that UNICEF will be free to adapt and modify them in future. The publication of any part or the whole of the document require a written approval of Unicef and Ministry of Health authorised authority. How to apply: Qualified institutions are requested to submit a full proposal, consisting of two parts (technical and financial) to rwasupply@unicef.org. The deadline for application is 11 October Financial proposal should provide a budget and timeline, using the table below: Deliverables Number of person days Costs Inception report Field report Final reports including a presentation Total

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