International Medical Corps is a global, humanitarian, non-profit organization dedicated to saving lives and relieving suffering through health care training and relief and development programs.
Established in 1984 by volunteer doctors and nurses, International Medical Corps is a private, voluntary, non-political, non-sectarian organization. Its mission is to improve the quality of life through health interventions and related activities that build local capacity in underserved communities worldwide.
USAID’s Feed the Future Ethiopia - Value Chain Activity (FTFE-VCA) is part of the U.S. Government’s Feed the Future Initiative, and Component Four (Agriculture Marketing and Value Chain) of the Government of Ethiopia’s Agricultural Growth Program (AGP II). The purpose of FTFE-VCA is to improve the performance of selected value chains in the agricultural sector. The three Sub-Purposes improves nutrition and income for smallholder farmers: (1) increase nutrition-sensitive productivity of targeted value chains, inclusive of women and youth; (2) strengthen inclusive market systems and trade; and (3) improve the enabling environment in support of agricultural transformation.
International Medical Corp’s contribute to overall FTFE-VCA program targets and goals through implementation of technical activities, under sub-purpose one (“Increased nutrition-sensitive productivity of targeted value chains, inclusive of women and youth) as well as supporting nutrition activities as a cross-cutting theme.
Increasing the availability and utilization of healthy foods, broadening knowledge of appropriate water supply, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) practices, and expanding household purchasing power are essential to food security. Nutrition-sensitive interventions that improve dietary diversity and promote consumption of nutrient-rich commodities, especially among women of reproductive age and children 6-23 months, will be integrated across activities, from diversifying crop and livestock production to fortifying and preserving foods, with the goal of measurably improving feeding practices and reducing stunting. The activity also work to improve food utilization by encouraging behavior change related to nutrition and WASH to improve sanitation and hygiene for family members.
The activity to ensure the layering of nutrition sensitive interventions at the field level with other FTFE-VCA and AGP-II implementing partners, including Growth through Nutrition, as well as working with HEWs, HDAs, and local NGOs.
PURPOSE:
The SBC consultant will work cooperatively with the International Medical Corps local and international technical experts and FTFE-VCA team to develop contextualised nutrition SBC strategy for FTFE-VCA 43 woredas in Ormoia, Amhara, SNNP and Tigray.
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The strategy will focus on less than two years old children, women of child bearing age (15-49 years old) and pregnant and lactating women, These activities are anticipated to commence as soon as the approval is obtained from USAID (expected to start on mid-April, 2018). As an IMC consultant working under the IMC sub-contract in the FTFE-VCA project, the consultant will support the project in:
Develop/adopt the nutrition SBC strategy/methodology, messages and IEC materials
Develop/adopt the nutrition SBC training materials
Providing training for the FTFE-VCA and IMC nutrition staff on the designed SBC methodology, training and IEC material
This activity will carry out through analysis of household dietary practices and will develop or adapt social behavior change curriculum to support the integration/mainstream of nutrition interventions across the selected value chain.
PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Contribute to the development of nutrition assessment tools and nutrition SBC indicators
Review the nutrition assessment results of the 43 FTFE-VCA Woredas
Review national nutrition strategy and advocacy plan documents, and SBC strategies and best practices which are implemented in similar contexts. Propose SBC methodologies to the team
Develop nutrition SBC strategy with focus on under two children, women of child bearing age (15-49 years old) including pregnant and lactating women targeting key behavioral determinants
Develop nutrition SBC written and picture messages for the SBC models, posters, leaflets, billboard etc based on the context of the target woredas and type of beneficiaries.
Organize the SBC strategy development and message standardization/harmonization workshop with IMC SBC specialist
Conduct pre-test and retest for the developed nutrition SBC strategy/methodologies and IEC materials
Develop training material for FTFE-VCA government and private stakeholders
Conduct the SBC strategy/methodology training to the FTFE-VCA including regions and will continue providing the training when there is a need.
DELIVERABLES:
Nutrition SBC designing technical proposal with work plan
Draft and final nutrition SBC strategy/methodology focusing under two, women of child bearing age (between 15 to 49 years) including pregnant and lactating women
IEC (picture and written message) materials for different SBC methods
Training manuals for FTFE-VCA government and private stakeholders
Training to FTFE-VCA team including regions staff
EDUCATION, EXPERINCE AND SKILLS REQUIRED:
The consultant should preferably be a holder of a post graduate degree/PHD in nutrition/public health/health promotion/sociology/economics or related discipline.
Tangible work experience on nutrition and agriculture related SBC methodology development, is mandatory
A reputable consultant with documented experience in developing nutrition-agriculture SBC strategy development is needed
Must be familiar with the nutrition and agriculture SBC related strategies/best practices and IEC materials available in the country
Experience on positive deviance and care group model is an advantage
Should have relevant computer applications skill
S/he must have strong analytical, negotiating, communication and advocacy skills
Excellent English language skill is required.