Formativer Research for Accelared Child Survival Development

 UNICEF Somalia

Vacancy Ref No: 048

Title: Formative Research Consultant
Level: P4
Type of Contract: Special Service Agreement (SSA)
Reporting to: Chief ACSD
Duration: Four months
Location: Based in Hargeisa, with frequent travel within Somalia and Nairobi
Closing Date: 30 August 2012

Background 

The children of Somalia are undoubtedly among the most vulnerable in the world. They continue to suffer from violence, displacement, loss of livelihood, exploitation and abuse. In a country that has been in conflict in large parts of its territory for the last 19 years, humanitarian and development programmes that support these highly vulnerable children are severely constrained by political factors, security and operational constraints. A total of 3.2 million people, almost half the population, are in need of external assistance representing the most vulnerable segment of society. Coping mechanisms of communities and families are weak, especially in many households headed by adolescent girls. Poverty is the main underlying cause of the challenges facing children and women.

Some 52 per cent of the populations are children (under the age of 18), of which 23 per cent are of primary school age (6-14 years). One in six Somali children under the age of five is acutely malnourished, with rates of malnutrition in central and southern Somalia above emergency threshold levels. An under-five mortality rate of 200 per 1,000 live births, ranking the country the 4th worst in the world, underscores the impact of the protracted crisis. If children do survive the first five years of their lives, many of them fall victim to abuse and exploitation at home or in their community. Girls are particularly vulnerable to sexual violence, early marriage, female genital mutilation and other forms of discrimination. With a lack of educational opportunities and community engagement for young people, they are highly vulnerable to such exploitation.

Scope of Work
The goal of the UNICEF country programme is to accelerate progress towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals by further increasing access to basic health and other social services, strengthening the institutional capacity of government, and enabling children and women to claim their rights.
Under the ACSD programme support services are geared towards child and maternal health, nutrition and water and sanitation, seeking to reduce the common causes of infant illness, under-five child and maternal mortality.

Specifically the programme aims are to Increase its health impact in communities by 2015 through:
 Improving Immunization coverage among children;
 Improving coverage of Tetanus Toxoid;
 Increasing the number of children who are exclusively breastfed;
 Decreasing infant and child mortality due to common causes (diarrhoea, pneumonia, under nutrition etc) through early diagnosis and referral;
 Improving antenatal, natal and post natal care and referral of complicated cases;
 Promoting deliveries by skilled birth attendants and birth spacing;
 Improving hygiene and sanitation in the served areas through increasing awareness using BCC interventions.
The overall goal of the programme goal Under the Health system support for Somalia (HSSS) through the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI) is:
To improve awareness and demand for immunization and other essential quality maternal and child health services through a comprehensive and sustained campaign of behavioral change communication.
Communication for Development plays a key role in achieving the above objectives. As part of streamlining the intervention process the following key behaviours to be have been identified for promotion as ACSD package:
a) Promoting early and exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months
b) Managing diarrhoea at the family level through correct use of ORT/zinc and the recognition of early signs of dehydration
c) Hand washing with ash/soap at four critical times
d) Appropriate care seeking behaviour for pneumonia, nutrition, and neo-natal conditions
e) Household Water Treatment (HHWT) and safe water storage
f) Safe excreta disposal
g) Promoting age appropriate complementary feeding
h) Promoting immunization for children under five years of age.

Objective of Formative Research
In order to achieve the above objectives the ACSD programme would like to procure the services of a consultant to conduct a formative research on the key behaviours identified. The research will feed into the ACSD C4D strategy and creative message development. The research will also build an evidence-based for all C4D strategies to be used for the promotion of behaviour and social change which are essential for long-term, sustainable development. The research will guide all ACSD interventions in the UNICEF Somalia office.

Purpose of the assignment Under the general guidance of the Chief of Accelerated Child Health Survival Programme and with input from the Communication for Development Specialist, Maternal Neonatal and Child Health Manager and in close cooperation with programme ACSD staff in Nairobi and at zone level, the consultant will conduct a formative research on key identified ACSD behaviours which will in turn support the development and implementation of a C4D strategy. Specific Assignment and Deliverables
The formative research will use a combination of participatory methodologies, quantitative and qualitative methods of data gathering and analysis in all the three zones of Somalia. Specific areas of the study will be identified with support of the UNICEF Zonal offices and the three Ministries of Health.

The expected tasks and deliverables of the consultant(s) are:
1. Inception report : Based on the desk review of studies conducted under the ACSD programme and the C4D gap analysis conducted, identify gaps that need further research, propose the overall study methodology including sampling frame designing data collection tools , pre-testing checklist and timeframe The inception report will be shared with key stockholders.
2. Pre-testing: Validate data collection tools in selected locations using approved pre-test guide and facilitate a meeting with the Ministry of Health (MoH), UNICEF Zone and Nairobi ACSD team, the team of interviewers to validate the pre- testing data obtained and fine tune the tools based on the experiences from the team of interviewers.
3. Training and coaching: Train and guide data collectors and insure quality of the data collected through close supervision and coaching.
4. Data collection: Coordinate research team and verify the data entry and cleaning process
5. Data Analysis: Process data using the SPSS or any acceptable statistical data analysis package for data analysis.
6. Report: Draft the formative research report outlining the study methodology, overall situation analysis of the key ACSD themes, key findings, and specific recommendations that corresponds to each theme.
7. Dissemination and validation:
a. Convene a briefing meeting with the supervising task force on the on-going survey and provide feedback for corrective measures to be undertaken.
b. Conduct meeting with the Ministries of Health, UNICEF Zonal and Nairobi offices to present findings prior to the finalization of the report
c. Finalize the report by incorporating comments received at the validation. The raw and analysed data, tables and scripts should be submitted.
8. Final Report:
a. Submit final report
b. Submit 5-page executive summary of the report for stakeholders
c. Submit PowerPoint presentation on major findings and recommendations

METHOD OF WORK:
The consultant will required to work closely with the Ministry of Health, research assistants from the three zones to assist in data collection. The Ministry of Health and UNICEF Zone office will support the process of identifying data collectors, translators etc.
Minimum Qualification and experience
The consultant must have the following background:
 Eight years of relevant experience five of which should be in research with emphasis on use of participatory approaches
 Advanced degree in the human or social sciences, public health, anthropology or psychology
 Training in communication for development
 Good knowledge and experience in health education and promotion planning
 Excellent analytical and writing skills
 Experience in qualitative and quantitative data gathering and analysis
 Excellent knowledge and application of data analysis tools such as SPSS etc
 Knowledge of Somali language and culture will be an added advantage

COSTS AND PAYMENT PROCEDURES
Payments will be based on performance and the rate corresponds to P4 Level in accordance with UN rules and procedures. International experts will be paid DSA at the UN applicable rate, and all official travel expenses will be covered by the organization.

Payment modalities are established as follows: 30% upon finalisation of inception report, 30% upon submission of the draft report and 40% after approval and submission of the final report.
Interested and qualified candidates should send their applications with updated UN Personal History Form (P.11) form, updated CV and copies of academic certificates to the email address below. UN staff are requested to provide the last two Performance Evaluation Reports (PERs). Please quote the vacancy number and the job title in the subject line of your application.

Email to: somaliahrvacancies@unicef.org

QUALIFIED FEMALE AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITY CANDIDATES ARE ESPECIALLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY UNICEF IS A NON-SMOKING ENVIRONMENT