Baseline KAP Survey Consultant at Helen Keller International (HKI)

Helen Keller International (HKI) – Established in 1915, is an international non-governmental organization (NGO) dedicated to saving the sight and lives of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged. Headquartered in New York City, HKI currently conducts programs in 21 countries in Africa and Asia, as well as in the United States.

HKI implements integrated package of cost-effective interventions that are proven to improve maternal and child nutrition. HKI supports policies and programs on food fortification, vitamin A supplementation, infant and young child feeding, nutrition-sensitive agriculture, community-based management of acute malnutrition and prevention and treatment of neglected tropical diseases. At the core of HKI’s programs is advocacy and social behavior change communication to various stakeholders. HKI also undertakes cutting-edge research to influence policy decisions and inform program quality.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Baseline KAP Survey Consultant

Location: Adamawa
Reports to: Program Officer / M&E Lead

Background and Rationale

In recent years, the terrorist insurgency by Boko Haram, coupled with counterinsurgency by the Nigerian army and rampant attacks on communities by armed cattle herdsmen, have afflicted most parts of northern Nigeria. This has led to massive numbers of internally displaced persons (IDP), disrupted daily livelihood activities, reduced access to basic health and social services, and exacerbated infections, food insecurity, and malnutrition in the area. It is estimated that at least 4.4 million people currently require immediate food assistance and more than 400,000 people require urgent livelihood assistance (such as access to portable water, food, household essentials, farmlands, markets and cash to start small businesses) across the north-eastern parts of Nigeria4. One of the areas greatly affected is Adamawa State1. Recent estimates suggest that Adamawa is currently home to at least 150,000 IDPs, including people fleeing Boko Haram attacks in neighboring Borno and Yobe States.3 The majority of the displaced persons are women and children, who are also the most vulnerable to malnutrition.

However, some live in officially recognized IDP camps and others are in informal camp-like settings. Presently, there are three official IDP camps in Adamawa, located in Yola South, Yola North, and Fufore LGAs. These camps are often overcrowded, potentially increasing the risk of disease outbreaks, malnutrition and mortality. Available data suggest that Fufore LGA has the largest number of IDPs living in host community (4,686) and formal camps (1,580). 7 Of these, 81% are women and children8. HKI proposes to implement a nutrition-sensitive agriculture project that integrates homestead food production with social behavior change communication to promote the Essential Nutrition Actions (ENA) and Essential Hygiene Actions (EHA). This project, which includes active case identification management and treatment of acute malnutrition, will aim to improve the food and nutrition security of IDPs living within the host communities of Fufore LGA of Adamawa State.

At the end of the project, it is expected that the following measurable outcomes would have been achieved:

• Increased dietary diversity of vulnerable beneficiaries by 5 points from baseline through access to year-round nutrient-rich foods
• Increased number of months households have access to nutritious and diverse foods
• Increased health and nutrition-seeking behavior of IDP households
• Improved appropriate infant and young child feeding practices
• Increased use of latrines and of washing of hands at critical moments
• Increased knowledge and use of climate smart agriculture techniques among IDP households
• HKI therefore seeks to recruit a qualified consultant to design and carry out a survey to assess the knowledge attitude and practices of vulnerable groups living within IDP households in Fufore LGA of Adamawa state regarding enhanced homestead food production, community management of acute malnutrition, infant and young child feeding and water, sanitation and hygiene.

Survey Objectives

Main Objective:

• The main objective of the survey is to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice of vulnerable beneficiaries (adolescent girls, pregnant and lactating mothers) living within IDP households in Fufore host communities regarding enhanced homestead food production, community management of acute malnutrition, infant and young child feeding and water, sanitation and hygiene.

Specific Objectives

The specific objectives of the survey are to:

• Determine the knowledge and practice of beneficiaries in IDP households of Fufore LGA on home gardening and climate smart agriculture.
• Determine the dietary diversity of vulnerable beneficiaries (children under 5, adolescents, pregnant and lactating mothers) in IDP households of Fufore LGA
• Assess beneficiary’s and health workers’ knowledge of acute malnutrition, its detection and management.
• Determine the prevalence of acute malnutrition among children 6 – 59 months in IDP communities of Fufore LGA
• Assess caregivers’ knowledge of IYCF among children 0 – 23 months.
• Determine the prevalence of IYCF indicators among children 0 – 23 months
• Identify barriers (cultural beliefs, gender norms, behavioural patterns etc) to appropriate IYCF practices among caregivers of children 0 – 23 months.
• Determine caregiver’s knowledge and practice regarding water, sanitation and hygiene (e.g. source of drinking water, water management at household level, handwashing at critical times, use of latrine etc)

Methodology:

• A mixed methods approach involving both qualitative and quantitative methods will be used.
• Quantitative data collection using structured questionnaires will be conducted among caregivers (adolescent girls, pregnant women, lactating mothers, mothers of children under two years of age) at household level to measure key indictors related to the survey’s 4 thematic areas (Enhanced Homestead Food Production, Community Management of Acute Malnutrition, Infant and Young Child Feeding and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene).
• Qualitative methods will involve Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) among adolescent girls and mother groups, and Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) among health workers and key influencers (husbands, religious leaders and community leaders).
• The specific geographical location for the KAP survey is Fufore Local Government Area in Adamawa state.

Duties and Responsibilities of the Consultant

• Lead the design of the research protocol in line with the already stated expected outcomes. The study design will include sampling methods, sample size calculation, data collection methods, data analysis and ethical considerations.
• Develop appropriate quantitative and qualitative data collection tools including survey questionnaires, focus group discussion guide, document analysis template and any other tools deemed necessary. The consultant must ensure that the data collection tools are consistent with all research objectives
• Propose a budget consistent with activities to be carried out.
• Obtain approval of the protocol and tools from all relevant Institutional Review Boards.
• Recruit and train survey teams (enumerators, data entry clerks e.t.c)
• Pre-test the survey tools to ensure accuracy and revise accordingly
• Supervise survey teams during data collection and ensure data quality assurance daily
• Clean and analysis the data using appropriate software
• Prepare and submit a detailed report of survey findings and present same to HKI Abuja

Consultant’s Profile

The consultant should have the following qualifications:

• Masters’ degree in Public Health, Nutrition, Agriculture, Social Sciences or related fields – Training in research methods is an advantage.
• Extensive experience in health programming preferably in Nutrition, Agriculture and WASH.
• Knowledge of the socio-economic and health development issues in relation to Northern Nigeria will be an added advantage
• At least 5 years’ experience in conducting health and social science research and especially in designing and implementing similar surveys (KAP or SMART surveys)
• Demonstrable expertise in qualitative and quantitative research methods, as well as experience in using these in population-based studies
• Experience in training social survey investigators (enumerators and data entry personnel)
• Demonstrated proficiency in the use of statistical software, including skills in analyzing and presenting both quantitative qualitative data.
• Fluent in both oral and written English. Hausa language skills are desirable but not essential
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, training and report writing skills.

Application Closing Date
5th April, 2020.