DEADLINE: 30TH NOVEMBER, 2021
GLOBAL ALLIANCE FOR IMPROVED NUTRITION (GAIN)
CALL FOR PROPOSAL: INFLUENCING CONSULTANCY FOR PROMOTING RICE FORTIFICATION IN NIGERIA (PRIFN)
(I) BACKGROUND
The Promoting Rice Fortification in Nigeria (PRiFN) project is a 12-month initiative towards building the business case and components of the enabling environment for rice fortification funded by the World Food Programme (WFP) to generate new knowledge, creating a case and roadmap for Rice’s adoption of a voluntary fortification food vehicle in Nigeria.
The project is built on evidence from the Fortification Assessment Toolkit (FACT) surveys conducted in Sokoto and Ebonyi states by the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) Nigeria, which assessed the potential of Rice as a new fortification food vehicle. The survey results revealed that household coverage of Rice was 100% in Ebonyi state and 93% in Sokoto state. The survey also revealed household coverage of Rice in fortifiable form was 83% in Ebonyi state and 40% in Sokoto state. In addition, the intake of fortifiable Rice was 80 g/day in Ebonyi and 97 g/day in Sokoto among women of reproductive age (a group particularly vulnerable to malnutrition).
Nutrition in Nigeria has improved in recent years. However, conflict in the northeast and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic have significantly eroded these gains. According to UNICEF, Nigeria has the second-highest number of children affected by malnutrition globally, with more than 2.5 million suffering from severe acute malnutrition. Only two of every ten affected children can access treatment (UNICEF, 2018). Nigeria also has the second-highest burden of stunted children globally, with 11.5 million children approximating about 37% under the age of five stunted. With 10.5% of Nigeria’s children wasted (NDHS,2018). Iron deficiency anemia rates among children under five are estimated at 68.3% (WHO, 2016), 57.8% amongst pregnant women, and 49.8% in women of reproductive (WHO 2016), indicating a severe public health problem. Vitamin A deficiency is also of concern, with 29.5% preschool children with low serum retinol levels (WHO 2005). Overall, only 64 percent of children in Nigeria are thriving without being stunted or wasted (NNHS,2018).
This project is thus aimed at shaping the policy context and building an enabling environment for the introduction and subsequent uptake of rice fortification in Nigeria alongside key national stakeholders such as the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH), The standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), and the private sector. Broadly, it will build political support in-country, working with the key agencies of government and with organisations representing interest groups around rice fortification; and develop a set of voluntary guidelines and standards for rice fortification in Nigeria to be piloted in the second phase of work by producers supplying both the open market and social safety net programmes.
GAIN proposes to carry out analyses, engage in advocacy, and develop guidelines and voluntary standards for rice fortification and an initial focus on the policy context in Nigeria. The project’s ultimate objective is to build the foundation for a rice fortification programme in Nigeria that can subsequently improve the consumption of nutritious and safe food (fortified Rice), contributing towards the reduction in micronutrient deficiencies and resultant conditions such as anemia and neural tube defects.
(II) OBJECTIVE
The Service Provider shall provide Technical Assistance (TA) to the PRiFN project supporting the project coordinator in inception phase of the project. The service provider will work with the Senior Programme Manager, LSFF, Oluwatoyin Oyekenu and the Interim Project Coordinator, Hadeezah Haruna-Usie.
The service provider shall support the PRiFN project in facilitating regional and national stakeholder convenings and lead on influencing activities with relevant national and regional government agencies including but not limited to the Federal Ministry of Health through its National Micronutrients Deficiency Control (MNDC) committee, Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Ministry of Trade and Investments, Ministry of Science and Technology, Rice millers and farmers particularly female rice millers, Food producers and other stakeholders. The service provider will also support the deployment of models, trainings, and support the project coordinator in developing the national roadmap for implementing rice fortification in Nigeria.
(III) THE SERVICES
(1) Facilitating and Influencing of High-level National and Regional Consultative events
(a) Facilitating and influencing collaborations with the Federal Ministry of Health (MNDC working group), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Ministry of Trade and Investments and the Standard Organization of Nigeria for the elaboration of standards to guide the voluntary fortification of rice.
(b) Facilitating and negotiating a national implementation road map through the regional/national advocacy meetings on rice fortification including leading on all activities leading up to the event (s) and securing high level attendance of stakeholders.
(c) Convene and facilitate regional/national advocacy and planning roundtables for key stakeholders in governments on rice fortification.
(d) Facilitating communications and coordination between government institutions, non-governmental organizations, UN agencies, and private industry, including organizing periodic fortification partner’s meetings and using these to shape conversations on partner support for the fortification system
(e) Perform other tasks within the technical area of consultation, as required
(2) Development of National Roadmap for Rice Fortification in Nigeria
(3) Communications, Report Writing & Documentation
(III) KEY DELIVERABLES
(1) National roadmap for implementing rice fortification in Nigeria
(2) National and regional consultative workshops organized and successfully implemented
(3) Influencing strategy for engaging identified line ministries and agencies developed and implemented
(4) Detailed workplan, Inception report and end of consultancy report
(IV) EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS REQUIRED
- Organization with over 10 years of high-level engagement and convening and consensus building on new areas, services, or products for national uptake.
- Experience of change management in a Government Institution, agency, or private sector
- Established relationship with policy makers and influencers at national and state levels in the National Council of Food and Nutrition, Ministries of Trade and Industry, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Agric and Rural Development and Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development
- Working relationship with Federal Ministry of Heath, Standard Organization of Nigeria, Food producers, Rice millers, Ministry of Trade and Industry and the Ministry of Science and Technology
- Strong technical knowledge of Agric-Economics, Social Development, Large Scale Fortification, public health, and nutrition
- In-depth knowledge of innovative approaches to fortification particularly Rice Fortification
- Familiarity with the operations and dynamics of related regional/national government agencies, civil society networks/coalitions
(V) TIMELINE
The duration for this assignment is estimated to be from November 30, 2021, to March 2022.
(VI) SUBMISSION
To apply, please submit a concept note including and indicative budget and organization profile for undertaking the work outlined above by 17 November 2021 to Oluwatoyin Oyekenu via ooyekenu@gainhealth.org
