Consultant, Support for the Optimizing ITN Access in Africa (OPITACA) Project

Organizational ContextThe International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, with a network of 191-member National Societies. The overall aim of the IFRC is “to inspire, encourage, facilitate, and promote at all times all forms of humanitarian activities by National Societies with a view to preventing and alleviating human suffering and thereby contributing to the maintenance and promotion of human dignity and peace in the world.” The IFRC works to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people before, during and after disasters, health emergencies and other crises.The IFRC is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (the Movement), together with its member National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The work of the IFRC is guided by the following fundamental principles: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality. At Geneva level, the Health and Care Department’s (HCD) New Strategic Direction focuses on Health Systems Strengthening and WASH Systems Strengthening through four pillars: Global Health Security, Global Health Protection (UHC), Global WASH Services and Transformative Partnership.The Global Health Protection (UHC) pillar houses and chairs the Alliance for Malaria Prevention (AMP), a partnership of more than 40 organizations, including government, private sector, faith-based and humanitarian organizations, focused on three main activities: (1) coordination of partners involved in insecticide-treated net (ITN) campaign and continuous distribution (CD) activities; (2) development of operational guidance for planning and implementing of ITN distribution based on an iterative process; and (3) providing technical assistance to national malaria programmes and partners based on requests. AMP’s activities support achievement of the WHO Global Technical Strategy (GTS) targets for high coverage and use of ITNs. AMP is a workstream within the RBM Partnership to End Malaria. Harnessing the global leadership and management systems of IFRC, AMP is uniquely positioned to support and advance country-level efforts to optimize ITN distribution and ensure that the right nets reach the right people at the right time through both campaign and continuous distribution channels.In 2020, IFRC/AMP was awarded a three-year grant by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) to identify ways to improve operational efficiency of ITN campaigns and develop associated operational guidance for national malaria programmes and partners. AMP’s work under this grant provided key lessons learned and practical guidance for improving the implementation of ITN distribution through multiple channels. In 2023, a new grant was awarded to IFRC/AMP by BMGF focused on optimizing ITN access in the face of limited resources for the fight against malaria. In this grant, AMP will focus on implementing activities across five workstreams designed to address identified gaps. The primary objectives are to enhance data utilization for informed decision-making and to leverage digital tools for optimization of ITN campaigns and continuous distribution, ensuring that the right nets reach the right people at the right time. These workstreams ultimately aim to reduce the malaria burden through effective malaria prevention with ITNs.Job PurposeThe overall objective of this consultancy is to provide support for the operationalization of the ITN assessment procedures guidance document developed under the Gates funded ITN Campaign Efficiency Project and to build capacities of AMP TA and national malaria programmes (NMPs) on household registration/ITN distribution quality assessment for campaign distribution.Job Duties And ResponsibilitiesWorkstream 3: Estimated LOE – 20 days To provide technical support to NMPs, implementing partners, and members of the AMP technical assistance team on household registration quality assessments and ITN campaign post-distribution assessmentsTo support capacity building for national malaria programmes and AMP TA providers on M&E approaches and strategiesTo review protocols and M&E planning documents for the in- and end- process monitoring of ITN mass campaign activities, providing technical oversight to national malaria programmes, and implementing partnersTo assist national programmes with planning, implementation, data analysis, reporting, and to identify lessons learned from implementation experiences on campaign quality assessmentTo support the review and operationalization of the clustered lot quality assurance (cLQAS) procedures guidance document for assessing the quality of household registration and post-distribution assessments, including to review and update the methodology and sampling strategiesTo support the development of a cLQAS training package including curricula, materials, and practical exercises that can be easily adapted to the country and campaign contextTo support organization of webinars and/or trainings on household registration/ITN distribution quality assessmentTo support development of best practice examples of protocols, questionnaires, tools, and reports from countries implementing cLQAS for cross-country learningTo support the development of online training materials and short guides for key technical aspects of cLQASTo expand the cLQAS procedures with an additional focus on investigation and follow-up based on results from data analysis and mappingDeliverables Of The Consultancy Will Include:Review of protocols and M&E planning documents for national malaria programmes and implementing partners based on requestsTrainings provided to national malaria programmes and AMP TA providers on identified specific M&E areas for ITN campaignsReview and prepare a list of sections to be updated in the ITN procedures document based on feedback from internal reviews, AMP TA providers, partners, national malaria programmes, and other users of the guidance documentSupport provided for the development of an online cLQAS training package, including curricula, materials, and practical exercises adaptable to various country and campaign contexts, to be developed and made available on the AMP website Job Duties And Responsibilities (continued)Alignment to the IFRC’s objectives and strategy:The Alliance For Malaria Prevention (AMP)’s Mandate Aligns To The Federation’s Strategy 2030 As It Supports The Achievement Of Strategic Aims: Save lives, protect livelihoods, and strengthen recovery from disasters and crises Enable healthy and safe living.Project Objectives And Timelines:Objective #1: To generate new evidence and best practices that will inform more efficient and effective ITN distributions, primarily but not exclusively through campaigns.Desired outcomes: Increased availability of evidence-based approaches and guidance for optimizing ITN distribution through mass distribution and continuous distribution channels.Support to be provided to the consultantThe consultant will be supported by the Manager – Malaria Programmes, Senior Officer - Optimizing ITN Access project and the Officer, AMP Coordination.Time allocation for budget purposesThe total budget for the contract is CHF 10,000. This budget is based on an estimate of 20 billable days working days at CHF 500.Compensation is based on a daily rate, with eight billable hours equalling one day for billing purposes.The consultancy timeframe will be from 30th March 2024 to 15th September 2024.NotesThe consultant will be contracted by the IFRC and the standard contractual terms will apply.EducationRequiredAdvanced degree (master’s level) in public health, monitoring and evaluation, epidemiology, statistics, international development, social science or related fieldExperienceRequiredMinimum of five years of experience in establishing M&E frameworks and managing M&E systems for health projects, particularly in malaria and immunization programming and evaluation.Relevant experience in reviewing protocols, providing supportive supervision, mentoring, and coaching to national disease control programs.Extensive knowledge and experience in using the LQAS/cLQAS methodology in immunization, malaria, or other health-related fields.Experience providing M&E-related training in areas including process evaluation, in-process and end-process assessment, and data analysis.Knowledge, Skills and LanguagesRequired Fluency in English and French is required for this consultancy, including the ability to train, review documents and write in French. Demonstrated competency in implementing assessments/process evaluations, which includes:Designing assessment/evaluation methodology, along with data collection and analysis tools,Managing data collection in the field,Analyzing quantitative and qualitative data,Interpreting data and applying findings to improve the program implementation.Proficiency in the use of statistical software such as STATA, SPSS, R, etc., for data analysis.Competencies, Values and CommentsApplication InstructionsPlease submit your application in English only.Please include in your motivation letter your availability and your current Daily Fee Rate in CHF.IFRC values equal opportunity, diversity and inclusivity. We encourage applications from all suitably qualified candidates, irrespective of sex, gender, sexual orientation, marital or parental status, nationality, class, political opinions, ethnic or social origin, disability, religion, or belief.