TERMS OF REFERENCE (TOR) FOR INTEGRATED NUTRITION SMART SURVEY CONSULTANCY
Posted 4 weeks ago
- Job description
TERMS OF REFERENCE (TOR)
Integrated Nutrition SMART Survey Consultancy
BACKGROUND
CARE is a leading international non-governmental organization operating in Somalia and Somaliland since 1981, dedicated to addressing poverty, social injustice, and humanitarian crises through integrated programs in Climate Justice, Food, Water, and Nutrition; Gender Equality & Education; and Humanitarian Assistance. Aligned with national development plans, CARE focuses on enhancing food security, improving nutritional outcomes, and building resilience among vulnerable populations, including internally displaced persons (IDPs), women-headed households, and communities affected by recurrent climate shocks and conflict. CARE manages a significant humanitarian portfolio in Somalia and has built a strong reputation as a humanitarian actor in Somalia and Somaliland thanks to many years of support to populations affected by conflict, droughts, famine, and epidemic outbreaks.
The humanitarian situation in Somalia is dire, with the total acute malnutrition burden for January to December 2025 estimated to affect 1.8 million children aged 6-59 months, including 479,000 likely to be severely malnourished. This represents an increase of nearly 47,000 children compared to the January 2025 analysis, which estimated 1.7 million affected[1]. A reduction in humanitarian funding is already impacting service delivery across the nutrition, health, and WASH sectors, which is expected to exacerbate levels of acute malnutrition nationwide. Sixteen districts, primarily in rural areas include Qardho, Caynabo, Lascanood, Badhan, and Afmadow districts in Bari, Sool, Sanaag and Lower Juba regions are identified as the most affected. The acute malnutrition situation is projected to deteriorate further between April and June 2025, moving from IPC AMN Phase 3 (Serious) to Phase 4 (Critical) in several areas. Contributing factors include the closure of health facilities, suspension of therapeutic feeding programs, and increased household hunger gaps due to reduced food assistance.
To strengthen nutrition surveillance and provide timely data in light of the current crisis, CARE plans to conduct a SMART survey in the Qardho, Caynabo, Lascanood, Badhan, and Afmadow districts of Bari, Sool, Sanaag, and Lower Juba regions. CARE seeks an external consultant to lead this survey, aiming to generate quality information for humanitarian actors and address regional nutrition information gaps. Given the evolving humanitarian situation, this survey will help ascertain key indicators essential for an effective response.
METHODOLOGY
The survey will be developed using the SMART methodology, utilizing ENA software 2020 to perform all necessary analyses typical of a standard SMART survey. This includes conducting standardization tests, calculating sample sizes, selecting clusters, and determining the final rates of wasting based on both WHZ scores and MUAC measurements. The sampling approach will employ a two-stage probability proportional to size method, where the first stage involves selecting clusters and the second stage focuses on selecting households within those clusters.
The sample size will be calculated at the district level using ENA 2020, with relevant parameters sourced for the survey. The survey will be conducted at the district level, aiming to include all accessible settlements within the sampling frame. Additionally, the analysis of anthropometric findings will be categorized according to WHO standards released 2006, ensuring that the results are aligned with established guidelines for health assessments.
OBJECTIVES
The Consultant will oversee the SMART survey in three districts of Bakool, Southwest State of Somalia, ensuring the production of quality data on anthropometry, common childhood illnesses, acute food insecurity, WASH, and immunization coverage, along with additional household demographic information, while leading data analysis and report writing for the survey.
SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES
· To engage AIMWG for Survey protocol and report validation.
· To work with the MEAL department to support field teams in coding and uploading data on the Kobo platform and exporting it to ENA software using standard questionnaires.
· To extract daily plausibility reports from ENA and provide feedback on the collected data daily.
· To analyze the coverage of Vitamin A supplementation and immunization services, as well as the prevalence of illness among children under five years.
· To estimate the prevalence of acute malnutrition in children aged 6-59 months and assess maternal nutrition status of women of childbearing age (WCBA) and pregnant/lactating women (PLWs) using MUAC measurements.
· To determine the coverage of measles vaccination among children aged 9-59 months and evaluate the two-week period prevalence of morbidity in the same age group.
· To assess food security indicators, including HDD, FCS, CSI, and WASH indicators
· To establish recommendations based on findings and determine the uptake of Outpatient Therapeutic Programs (OTP) and Supplementary Feeding Programs (SFP).
DURATION OF ENGAGEMENT
The consultation will be engaged for a period of 25 working days with the possibility of extension if other assessments arise. The support onsite and routine updates provided to the MEAL unit, Health and Nutrition sector leads, and Technical Specialist.
ROLE & RESPONSIBILITIES
Snr MEAL Manager, supported by the Health and Nutrition Program Managers, and Country Office sector leads will provide all the necessary support to the consultant for conducting the SMART survey. CARE will provide all necessary project documents including a previous SMART survey, technical assistance (e.g. availability of any other documents and information needed etc).
CARE Role
– Coordination and arrangements of the training event include logistics, stationery, venue and lunch and refreshments.
– Hiring Enumerators and engaging supervisors.
– Community engagement and sensitization.
– Laise with respective line ministries for all regions.
Consultant Role
– Develop training plan for the SMART survey and conduct full enumerators training for all survey participants.
– Facilitate, conduct and share the record of Standardization test with the survey manager (NHIMS).
– Develop SMART survey protocol and present to the AIMWG for validation,
– Review of the SMART survey training materials ahead of the training and provide input where necessary.
– The consultant will manage pilot test in specific selected clusters, analyze the data and give feedback before starting data collection.
– The consultant will oversee the process of the collection of all data ensuring quality control measures are in place.
– The consultant will conduct daily data quality checking and share the plausibility report with CARE team on the ground regularly.
– The consultant will lead the data analysis and generate quality report in line with smart Methodology quality standards
– Share full ENA dataset with all sections completed (planning dataset, standardization dataset, under 5 dataset, mortality and morbidity dataset, food security and WASH and other additional indicators dataset).
– Prepare power point slides for AIM working group validation and share one week before presenting to the AIMWG for internal review and input.
– Present the SMART survey assessment result to AIM working group.
– Address any additional comments from AIM working group.
– After validation, share final report with complete dataset and Stata files for reproducibility, and prepare one pager visualization sheet for the key results.
DELIVERABLES
1. Training and Data Collection Proposal
– Develop and submit a comprehensive proposal for the training and data collection, including a detailed budget.
2. Training Report
– A detailed report includes training content, composition of participants, key observations and reflections from the training.
3. Quality Data Set
– The total number of households achieved (100% of the sample expected).
– Quality plausibility check results with an acceptable overall score.
– Acceptable standardization data and corresponding datasets.
– Cluster control forms.
4. Draft and Final SMART Survey Report
5. Compile and submit the final SMART survey report.
6. Scan, zip, and email all relevant documents.
[1] IPC ACUTE FOOD INSECURITY AND ACUTE MALNUTRITION ANALYSIS APRIL – JUNE 2025 Published on 29 March 2025
Skills and qualifications
SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS
1. Education: Degree in Nutrition, Public Health, or Statistics.
2. Experience: Minimum of 4 years in conducting SMART surveys, research, or surveillance, with strong reporting skills.
3. Skills:
– Ability to coach, supervise, and build capacity in SMART methodologies.
– Proficiency in STATA, EPI/ENA, and Epi Info; attendance at SMART Survey Manager training or equivalent is preferred.
– Fluent in English and Somali, have adult learning and presentation skills, along with high organizational capabilities.
– Ability to contextualize training is a plus.
– Can independently travel to Somaliland, Puntland and Jubaland.
4. Coordination and Management: Excellent coordination, management, and report writing skills.
5. Previous Experience: Experience with CARE is an added advantage.
REPORTING
The consultant will report to the Senior Health and Nutrition Advisor and the Senior MEAL Manager throughout the assessment period. Regular updates will be provided to ensure alignment with project goals.
Attachments
REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL_37914
.docx
How to apply
APPLICATION PROCEDURE AND REQUIREMENTS
Interested candidates in the position are expected to provide the following documentation:
1. A technical proposal with a detailed response to the TOR, with specific focus on the scope of work, detailed work plan.
2. Initial work plan based on the methodology outlined, and indication of availability physically.
3. A financial proposal detailing the daily rate expected but not including accommodation, stationery, research assistance(enumerators) and all other costs related to this assignment.
4. Company profile including the CVs for the consultant
5. Contract details of three reputable references.
6. A sample of previously conducted similar studies.
HOW TO APPLY
All applicants must submit their technical proposals along with the other requirements and complete them accordingly. Applicants must meet the minimum requirements described above; those unable to meet these requirements will not be considered.
Please send your complete RFP, technical and financial proposals (professional costs only) to this email address: SOM.Consultant@care.org, clearly marking the subject line “Integrated Nutrition SMART Survey”. Applications must be submitted no later than 12 June 2025, at 11:59 PM EAT. Links will not be accepted.