Semi-Quantitative Evaluation of Access and Coverage (SQUEAC) Survey

Consultancy: Semi-Quantitative Evaluation of Access and Coverage (SQUEAC) Survey**

Country: Sudan

Location: East Darfur State, Abu Jabra and El‐Ferdous localities

Time of Assessment: 20th November to 20th December 2020

Key Working Contacts: MEAL Coordinator, Nutrition Coordinator, Project Manager

Background:

Relief International (RI) has been a key humanitarian actor in Sudan since 2004 providing an array of services in Nutrition, Health, Food Security and Livelihood, Water Sanitation, and Hygiene across three states; North Darfur, East Darfur, and Blue Nile. Our Health and Nutrition program focuses primarily on the prevention and treatment of Acute Malnutrition through static and mobile therapeutic centers (OTP and SFP) and Stabilization Centers as well as Primary Health care services through Static PHC and mobile outreach teams. To strengthen Nutrition surveillance across Sudan and provide quality and timely nutrition data, RI plans to engage a consultant to conduct a Semi-Quantitative Evaluation of Access and Coverage (SQUEAC) assessment. The assessment is expected to dissect the relevant program and deeply analyze the coverage challenges/barriers and enablers/boosters through an interactive process that utilizes both secondary and primary data collection methods. This process should also incorporate both qualitative and quantitative data. The result will include an estimate of current project coverage for severe acute malnutrition (SAM) and Moderate Acute Malnutrition (MAM), barriers, and boosters to coverage; and develop recommendation/action plans.

Purpose

The purpose of the SQUEAC assessment is to assess the coverage of the nutrition program, investigate indicators related to coverage and program quality. The survey is expected to identify key factors affecting the uptake of Community Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) services in target areas of coverage based on which specific recommendations are made.

Objectives of the coverage survey

The main objective of this assignment is to evaluate access and coverage of the Community Based Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) program using SQUEAC methodology in Abu Jabra Locality and Abusinidira in El‐Ferdous locality in East Darfur State.

Specific objectives

• To develop the skills of key nutrition staff in conducting access and coverage survey using Semi Qualitative Evaluation of Access and Coverage (SQUEAC) methodology.

• Conduct a review of recommendations from previous coverage assessments conducted to examine the extent of implementation.

• Utilizing available routine program data, and other anecdotal data, identify areas of probable low and high coverage and reasons for coverage failure.

• Confirm the location of areas of high and low coverage and the factors affecting coverage failure identified.

• Map out program single Coverage estimate for the targeted areas.

• To conduct a community assessment to understand dynamics and its impact on the access to care and the coverage of OTP services in the targeted areas.

• In collaboration with the RI Sudan team, develop specific recommendations to improve acceptance and coverage of the Nutrition program.

Role and Responsibilities of the consultant

To achieve the above‐mentioned objectives, the survey consultant will undertake the followings:

• Design the survey protocol, develop comprehensive tools for data collection, and present it to the Nutrition Cluster at the state and federal level.

• Conduct training for RI, SMoH, and other participating partners’ nutrition staff at the state level on SQUEAC methodology and thereafter guide and supervise them as they take part in the entire assessment.

• Organize adequate supervision and coordination of the survey teams in the field; the consultant should able to conduct field data collection.

• Analyze data and compile a comprehensive coverage survey report

• Present investigation results to the RI coordination team in Khartoum as well as the Nutrition cluster at State and federal level for validation.

Duration of the Consultancy

The proposed consultancy will last for approximately 30 days after validation by the Nutrition cluster, starting from 20th November 2020 and last 20th December. This is inclusive of all the processes of the survey from the day the contract is signed to the report submission day.

Expected Output

At the end of the assignment, the consultant should deliver:

• SQUEAC protocol validated by Nutrition cluster.

• Draft report: 3 three weeks after the signing of the contract. The report should indicate how each of the outputs has been achieved including reporting and capacity building of the staff.

• Final report: 4 weeks after the signing of the contract.

• PowerPoint presentation summarizing the key sections of the report and the recommendations.

• All the hard copy data collected (to be kept at RI Field office) and copy of soft data collected and used for the report.

• A field report indicating the process of challenges faced for future improvement.

Essential qualifications/criteria:

• Advanced degree in Nutrition, public health, social statistics, Epidemiology, or related discipline

• Extensive Experience in Leading Nutrition surveys and surveillance systems as well as proven experience with the SQUEAC/SLEAC methodology. (Provide evidence of previous assessments undertaken)

• At least 5 years of field experience preferably in developing countries, Sudan context is an added advantage.

• Ability to train a team and ensure quality delivery of outputs within a limited period

• Proven experience in high-quality report writing in English;

• communication, and presentation skills

• Ability to organizes and manage assessments in a fragile and post-conflict setting

• Willingness to travel to the project sites

Desirable qualifications/criteria:

• Previous working experience in Sudan

• Knowledge of the Arabic language.

Conditions of Work

Consultant’s responsibilities:

• The consultant will be based in Ed Daein, in East Darfur state during the period of assessment.

• Responsible for initial preparations including external enumerator selection; survey team training and subsequent data collection for both small area and wide-area surveys; analysis, and report writing. To ensure quality in the process, data collected will be checked daily and feedback will be given to the teams and RI

• Responsible to cover all travel-related costs including air ticket, accommodation, and visa fee, and perdime, etc.

• Abide by RI’s security protocols and advisories as well as safeguarding policies while working with RI in Sudan

• The consultant shall not include the costs of activities listed below ( 7.2.) as RI responsibilities in the financial proposal

RI’s responsibilities:

• Visa process for the international consultant

• Provide logistical support for domestic flights and vehicle rental in the field for the survey

• Provide logistical support for the SQUEAC training for data collectors

• Identify and recruitment data collectors locally as per RI policy

• Cover expenses for locally recruited data collectors as per RI policy

• Facilitate approval of the SQUEAC survey by relevant authorities

• Provide stationeries, printing, photocopying of survey materials. Hence such costs shall not be included by the consultant

Terms of payment: **

Payment will be in US dollars through bank transfer or check.

Payment schedule:

• First payment -25% inception report

• Second payment – 25% with the submission of a draft report

• Third (final) payment – 50% upon submission and approval of all documents listed under section 5.

How to apply

Interested candidates are required to submit a detailed CV and cover letter by November 15^th, 2020. Due to the critical nature of this assignment, applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and candidates will be interviewed prior to the closing date that may appear on any of the job boards where this vacancy is posted.