Global Alliance For Improved Nutrition (GAIN)- Request For Proposals For EatSafe Safe Food Market Stand Implementation Research Study

DEADLINE: 15TH APRIL, 2023
GLOBAL ALLIANCE FOR IMPROVED NUTRITION (GAIN)
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS EATSAFE SAFE FOOD MARKET STAND IMPLEMENTATION RESEARCH STUDY

(I) PROJECT BACKGROUND AND SCOPE OF WORK

(1) ABOUT GAIN
The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) is a Swiss-based foundation launched at the UN in 2002 to tackle the human suffering caused by malnutrition. Working with both governments and businesses, we aim to transform food systems so that they deliver more nutritious food for all people.

At GAIN, we believe that everyone in the world should have access to nutritious and safe food. We work to understand and deliver specific solutions to the daily challenge of food insecurity faced by poor people. By understanding that there is no “one-size-fits-all” model, we develop alliances and build tailored programmes, using a variety of flexible models and approaches.

We build alliances between governments, local and global businesses, and civil society to deliver sustainable improvements at scale. We are part of a global network of partners working together to create sustainable solutions to malnutrition. Through alliances, we provide technical, financial and policy support to key participants in the food system. We use specific learning, evidence of impact, and results of projects and programmes to shape and influence the actions of others.

Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, GAIN has representative offices in Denmark, The Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the United States. In addition, we have country offices in Bangladesh, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Tanzania. Programmes and projects are carried out in a variety of other countries, particularly in Africa and Asia.

(2) BACKGROUND
The EatSafe (Evidence and Action Towards Safe, Nutritious Food) program aims to generate evidence and knowledge of the potential of increased consumer demand for safe food to substantially improve the safety of nutritious foods in informal market settings in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

The five-year programme is funded by USAID and is undertaken by a consortium led by GAIN and containing the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Pierce Mill Education and Media as well as Busara Centre for Behavioural Economics (Busara). In Nigeria, where GAIN holds a country office, programme activities are focused on different cities and markets within Kebbi and Sokoto States. Phase I objectives involved conducting formative research and generating evidence on consumer and vendor knowledge, perceptions, needs, choices, and practices related to the safety of nutritious foods purchased in informal markets, as well as evidence on hazards associated with the market and the target food commodities. The project is currently on its Phase 2 activities, which includes the implementation and rigorous testing of interventions to improve the safety of foods purchased in informal markets.

One of the Phase II activities of the EatSafe project is the creation of a Safe Food Market Stand in Birnin Kebbi Central Market, Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State, and Dankure Market in Sokoto State. This stand is staffed by five trained staff members and is open during most market days for market shoppers to visit. It offers information on food safety to shoppers through one-on-one conversational advice, hand-outs and visual aids, and in-person events.

GAIN now seeks to carry out an implementation research study to better understand how consumers interact with and perceive the Stand, as well as any barriers to engaging with them. The study will cover both markets. Findings of the assessment will further inform the implementation of interventions and offer lessons learned for future projects using similar approaches. GAIN seeks a research organization (Contractor) to carry out this assessment.

(3) SCOPE OF WORK AND DELIVERABLES
GAIN seeks a research organization (Contractor) to undertake data collection for this implementation research study. The consultant, in coordination with GAIN staff in Nigeria and elsewhere and with other project partners as needed, shall provide the following services:

• Work closely with GAIN to prepare a detailed workplan for the fieldwork, including deliverables and timeline
• Provide expert input into the design of data collection methodology and tools, and customize them to local contexts
• Translate all questionnaires from English into Hausa
• Provide expertise on the local language, culture, and customs, as it pertains to the study activities and objectives.
• Travel to study sites as needed to prepare for data collection activities.
• Liaise with local government and other stakeholders as needed to prepare for data collection activities.
• Prepare and submit the study protocol for ethical review to a relevant institutional review board (IRB) or research ethics committee; follow-up with the IRB to ensure review and approval, as needed.
• Pilot data collection tools (e.g., interview guides) and recommend improvements as needed;
• Recruit experienced field data collection teams (interviewers and notetakers)
• In coordination with GAIN, train field data collection teams through an in-depth and interactive training, including coverage of research ethics.
• Organize all logistics for field data collection, including team staff, supervision, transport, and necessary allowances; including local translators if required
• Recruit study participants (i.e., local consumers, Stand ad hoc staff), in line with study inclusion criteria
• Implement data collection (in depth interviews, in Hausa or English, and market observations), with attention to both adherence to study protocols and resource efficiency. Ensure high-quality audio recording of all interviews.
• Undertake active and ongoing supervision of data collection
• Safely and confidentially collect, store, and back-up the collected data using appropriate hardware and software.
• Transcribe all audio recordings of interviews into verbatim English-language transcripts (Microsoft Word documents)
• Enter demographic information collected during the interviews into an Excel database
• Enter any additional field notes and forms into Word documents
• Maintain communications with GAIN, local study site representatives, or other key stakeholders, in order to ensure smooth and timely field work operations; during and beyond site visits, maintain good relations with groups and individuals involved in the study directly or indirectly.
• Conduct Quality assurance and Quality Control (QA/QC) procedures on all collected data (audio files, notes, and transcripts).
• Securely transfer data to GAIN at agreed-upon intervals and in agreed-upon data formats throughout the study.
• Participate in regular project meetings with GAIN and study partners.
• Be available for ad-hoc communications with GAIN or study partners, e.g., via email or video call as needed to advance study objectives
• Produce interim and final deliverables according to the workplan, including providing detailed reports of all methods used for data collection, transcription and QA/QC.

Thirty people should be interviewed in each site (Sokoto and Kebbi), in interviews lasting about 1 hour  each. All data collection will be done face-to-face.

All data collection must be undertaken in line with local COVID related rules, and it is the Contractor’s responsibility to ensure this.

(3.1) DELIVERABLES

The table below provides illustrative deliverable types and dates.