Terms of Reference (ToR) for National Consultant: Development of National Adolescent Nutrition Guideline (NANG) for Liberia

1. Background:

Liberia faces a significant challenge with adolescent malnutrition, particularly among girls and boys. Recognizing the critical role adequate nutrition plays in adolescent development and future well-being, the Government of Liberia, in collaboration with key stakeholders, seeks to develop a National Adolescent Nutrition Guideline (NANG). This ToR outlines the objectives, scope of work, and qualifications required for the National Consultant who will lead the NANG development process.

2. Justification:

• Public health burden: Adolescent malnutrition has long-term consequences for physical and cognitive development, educational attainment, and future earning potential.
• Gender disparity: Adolescent girls are often disproportionately affected by inadequate nutrition due to social and cultural factors.
• Limited access to resources: Socioeconomic disparities and limited access to healthy food options further exacerbate adolescent malnutrition.
• Alignment with national goals: The NANG aligns with Liberia’s broader health and development goals, including reducing maternal and child mortality, improving educational outcomes, and promoting gender equality.

3. Objectives:

• Develop an evidence-based NANG that provides a comprehensive framework for addressing the nutritional needs of all adolescent girls and boys (10-19 years old) in Liberia.
• Formulate clear goals, objectives, and targets for improving adolescent nutrition outcomes nationwide.
• Identify key gaps and challenges in adolescent nutrition programming and service delivery in Liberia.
• Recommend evidence-based strategies and interventions to improve adolescent nutrition, including dietary practices, access to nutritious food, and healthcare services.
• Develop an implementation plan and monitoring framework to guide the effective implementation and evaluation of the NANG.

4. Scope of Work:

The National Consultant will be responsible for the following:

4.1. Desk Review and Situational Analysis:

• Review existing national policies, strategies, and programs related to adolescent health and nutrition in Liberia.
• Conduct a thorough literature review to gather evidence on best practices, interventions, and approaches for adolescent nutrition programming in similar contexts.
• Analyze available data on the nutritional status of adolescents in Liberia, disaggregated by age, sex, and geographical location.

4.2. Stakeholder Engagement:

• Engage with relevant stakeholders through consultations, focus group discussions, and interviews, including:
  • Government agencies (Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection)
  • Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) working in adolescent health and nutrition
  • Civil society organizations (CSOs) representing adolescent and youth groups
  • UN agencies (UNICEF, WHO, WFP)
  • Academic institutions with expertise in nutrition and public health

4.3. NANG Development:

• Based on the findings from the desk review, situational analysis, and stakeholder engagement, develop a draft NANG document that includes:
  • Clear objectives, strategies, and interventions to address identified gaps and challenges.
  • Specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals, objectives, and targets for improving adolescent nutrition outcomes.
  • An implementation plan outlining the roles and responsibilities of different stakeholders, resource requirements, and timelines for implementation.
  • A monitoring and evaluation framework to track progress, assess effectiveness, and ensure accountability.
  • Develop a training /learning package for the Ministry of Health. The training package should include:

• Facilitation manual
• Participant manual
• Participant handouts
• Training Slides

• • Conduct a national-level Trainer of Trainers (ToT) for selected healthcare/health facility workers and stakeholders implementing nutrition projects.

4.4. Validation and Finalization:

• Facilitate stakeholder validation workshops to review, discuss, and finalize the draft NANG document.
• Incorporate feedback received from stakeholders into the final NANG document.
• Prepare a final report summarizing the NANG development process, key findings, and recommendations.

5. Consultant Qualifications and Experience:

• Advanced degree (Master’s or PhD) in Nutrition, Public Health, or a related field.
• At least 5 years of experience in developing national-level strategies, policies, or guidelines related to adolescent health and nutrition.
• Demonstrated expertise in conducting literature reviews, data analysis, and stakeholder consultations.
• Experience working in developing countries and familiarity with the West African context (highly advantageous).
• Excellent communication, writing, facilitation, and presentation skills in English.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

6. Duration and Reporting:

The consultancy is expected to be completed within a period of 3 months from the contract signing date. The National Consultant will report to the Nutrition Department of the Ministry of Health and maintain regular communication throughout the project.

7. Application Process:

Interested candidates should submit the following documents electronically by the deadline to lr_hr@crs.org on or before 20^{th April}2024

• Cover letter highlighting qualifications and experience relevant to the ToR.
• Curriculum Vitae (CV) detailing relevant.
• Technical proposal outlining the approach, and methodology for developing the National Adolescent Nutrition Guideline.
• Appropriate budget to meet the scope of the assignment.
• Realistic work plan to complete the assignment within a period not exceeding 3 months.
• Samples of previous work related to adolescent health and nutrition, if available.

NB: Applicants should state the email address of the lead applicant or contact person to facilitate correspondence. Failure to do so may result in the rejection of the application.

The committee is committed to diversity and encourages applications from qualified individuals, regardless of gender, age, disability, ethnicity, or other background. The committee reserves the right to accept or reject any or all applications without any justification.