1. Background to the Survey
Following the displacement in East and West Wollega zone of Oromia region, SC and AAH deployed separate multi-disciplinary assessment teams, the finding of the assessment confirmed that following the killing of four Benishangul Gumuz state officials, inter-communal violence erupted in Kamashi zone between the Gumuz community and ethnic Oromo. This resulted in large scale displacement, deaths, injuries and damage to infrastructure. In East Wollega, there are around 126,289 IDPs hosted in 35 IDP sites in six woredas. In West Wollega, 143,773 IDPs are sheltered in 25 IDP cites in Seven Woredas.

According to the assessment result, WASH Water supply coverage for East Wollega zone was 65%; in West Wollega IDP sites water supply coverage was 13% and access to latrine facilities were 12%,

The Nutrition related assessment data indicates for East Wollega, nutrition screening coverage, on average 22.4% for U5 and 37.5% for PLWs. Findings showed a proxy GAM (i.e. MUAC <12cm) rate for U5 and PLW in this zone at 16.3% and 20.9% respectively. In West Wollega, with a coverage of 47% of U5 children, a proxy GAM of 22%. Furthermore, there’s poor adherence to proper implementation protocols for emergency nutrition among health staff. None of the surveyed sites had adequate surveillance and monitoring systems, and there was a severe shortage of routine medications, Vitamin A supplements, deworming treatment and supplementary food at zonal level. TSFP and therapeutic-feeding programs for children U5 and PLW with MAM and SAM with/ without medical complications was unavailable across IDP centres respectively. Secondary data from visited woredas in East Wollega indicates 55% of HP have OTP and 55% of HC have CMAM services with all complicated SAM cases referred to zonal town hospitals that are on average 50kms from target Woredas.

The assessment related to protection and gender indicates that over 50% of IDPs in East and West Wollega are women and children who require immediate protection and psychosocial support. Across the board, boys, girls, men and women reported experiencing psychosocial distress caused by extreme violence, loss and family separation. A lack of essential goods and services have caused many women, boys and girls to adopt negative coping strategies like exploitative labour and commercial sex work. The absence of protection actors and limited government capacity to address protection needs, exacerbates this further. SC identified 4 of 7 boys and 3 of 10 girls as unaccompanied or separated suggesting a high number of UASC in need of tailored support and family reunification. There are no child friendly spaces in surveyed sites and observed children playing in unhygienic, unsafe places.

To address the above problems an integrated response to IDPs/returnees’/host communities live saving emergency response project designed by SC and AAH. The Action will deliver an integrated package of services to improve access to essential WASH, Nutrition and Protection for affected communities in East and West Wollega zones of Oromia region. AAH as a consortium lead at present delivering a comprehensive package of services for West Wollega and SC as a member of consortium and similarly delivering a comprehensive package of the project element for East Wollega zone.

After the response provided for the target communities Save the Children planned to conduct SMART nutritional survey to determine the prevalence of global and severe acute malnutrition (GAM and SAM) and infant and young child feeding practices among IDPs/returns, host children, pregnant and lactating women, MUAC and vaccination coverage in the operation area and morbidity and mortality as well. In addition, the survey expected to explore over all nutrition status of East wollega zone of Save the Children operation area.

2. Targets of the Project

The survey will be conducted using SMART survey methodology by nutrition professionals. The data collected will have to include anthropometric measurement, infant and young child feeding practices, MUAC and vaccination coverages, morbidity and mortality. The survey will depict the current situation in the targeted zone of on the qualitative and/or quantitative values of the project indictors. Children U5 and PLW are the primary targets for the nutrition intervention (screening, MAM and SAM treatment). All MAM and SAM cases identified in woreda hosting woredas (IDPs and host community) are eligible for treatment. The nutrition interventions are expected to reach 4,352 (2,220 girls and 2,133 boys) under five children and 1,275 PLW in management of acute malnutrition. With respect of severe acute malnourished expected to treat 516 under five children (263 girls and 253 boys) in both zones.

3. Objective of the SMART Survey
The principal purpose of the SMART survey is to determine the prevalence of sever acute malnutrition and infant and young child feeding practices and to know the status of the operation zone.

1. To determine the prevalence of Global and Severe Acute Malnutrition (GAM and SAM) among children aged 6 to 59 months

2. To assess the immunization coverage, MUAC screening coverage health service delivery, morbidity and mortality situation among children 6- 59 months

3. To estimate the prevalence of malnutrition among pregnant and lactating women (PLWs) using Mid-Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC)

4. To assess the infant and young child feeding practices

General Objective:

To assess the current prevalence of acute malnutrition and mortality among children 6-59 months in Sasiga and Harolimu Woredas of East Wollega Zone of Oromia Region

Specific Objectives

To estimate the prevalence of acute malnutrition (wasting and Oedema) among children aged 6-59 months,
To estimate the coverage of health interventions e.g. measles vaccinations, vitamin A supplementation and BCG vaccination among children aged 6-59 months,
To retrospectively estimate the levels of crude mortality rates and under five mortality rates in a specific time period (90 days),
To assess the prevalence of perceived morbidities in under five children,
To assess contextual factors associated with malnutrition in the Woreda,
To determine key primary health care indicators, Infant and young child feeding practices (IYCF) indicators in the survey area for the age group of 0-23 months’ children
To determine future program, focus in relation to survey results

4. Scope of the Assignment
The assignment will cover the selected zone of East Wollega of Oromia regional states for the primary data collection. However, secondary data collection and consultation of key stakeholders will also cover the zones.

The focus of the scope for this task will cover the following main undertakings:

· Develop an SMART survey inception report clearly stipulating the survey methodologies, data collection tools and timeline and management for completion of the assignment.

· Develop SMART survey strategies, methods and tools to ensure all relevant information specific to the project are collected.

· Offer SMART survey training for data collectors that will be hired for this specific task including testing of their understanding of the data collection instrument, clarity of language, contextual and cultural considerations, etc.

· Pre-testing of the SMART survey tools in communities and adaption re-appropriation of the tools if needed

· Undertake field level SMART survey primary and secondary data collection on the current status of the humanitarian nutrition program and strategies adapted by different agencies, coordination and collaboration among stakeholders, etc.;

· Produce draft and final report of the survey with practical and strategic recommendations

Job Requirements

5. Required Qualifications and Experiences
The survey team who will be involved in the research should have a solid experience in humanitarian health and nutrition surveys including experience on SMART survey. The research team members should also have a solid understanding of the research area context and national and regional strategies and policies on humanitarian health and nutrition. Specifically, the research team members should have at least an MPH/MSc level qualification in Public Health, nutrition. The team members should also have a minimum of 10+ years relevant quantitative and qualitative research experience particularly SMART survey, program evaluations, program design in the emergency context area relevant research experiences preferably in the proposed project intervention areas of Wollega Oromia region.

The survey team should deploy multidisciplinary professionals composed of relevant background on Health and Nutrition.

The research team members should have a diverse group with preferable mix of understanding of the context and needs and challenges of various groups of IDPs and host communities (men, women, people with disability, etc.) A good knowledge of gender and child participation will be necessary while the team members should have a child protection and/or gender specialist experts in key tasks. A team coordinator should be assigned to coordinate the team and facilitate communications in each research location. Team member’s knowledge of the context and local language will be an asset.

6. Required Documents
Potential survey team are required to submit the following documents together with their technical and financial proposal.

Covering letter which express consultant interest to carry out the work per TOR
Updated CV of the evaluation team members
Copies of similar or related previous works research team member have produced in undertaking relevant studies
A renewed license for the year 2020 and TIN number.

7 . APPLICATION GUIDELINES
The detailed Terms of Reference (TOR) for the Consultancey work instruction found in hard copy from Save the Children Ethiopia Country Office in Addis Ababa, situated around Bisrate Gabriel Church

Save the Children Ethiopia Office

At the Main Security Gate

Dire Complex, Behind Bisrate Gabriel Church

P.O Box 387

Tel 011 3 72 84 55-61 or 011 6 53 51 74

Addis Ababa

Interested applicants should submit two separate sealed documents in which one document should include the technical proposal including of the proposed professional(s) with supporting document that shows previous work experience with non-returnable CV, testimony and at least one sampel of previous work (electronics format) related to this assignment to gather with expression of interest. The second document should include professional fee stated work along with copy of renewed Consultancey License to the above mentioned address of Save the Children, Ethiopia Country Office before or on February 17, 2020 at 3:00 P.M in person.

Bid shall be submitted in the box ready at reception for this purpose

Save the Children reserves the right to accept or reject the entire or partial part of this bid