Results for Development (R4D) is a leading non-profit global development partner. We collaborate with change agents around the world — government officials, civil society leaders and social innovators — to create strong systems that support healthy, educated people. We help our partners move from knowing their goal to knowing how to reach it. We combine global expertise in health, education and nutrition with analytic rigor, practical support for decision-making and implementation and access to peer problem-solving networks. Together with our partners, we build self-sustaining systems that serve everyone and deliver lasting results. Then we share what we learn so others can achieve results for development, too.
We have a unique and vibrant culture at R4D. Diversity, equity and inclusion are at the heart of our work environment and help advance our mission. Diversity—of ideas, identities, perspectives and backgrounds—is vital to who we are and what we do. We seek people who embrace these values and will help reinforce them. Our work culture is collaborative, creative and entrepreneurial. We operate based on trust and respect. Teams across the organization frequently collaborate on programmatic work and support each other in continuously building a better R4D.
Completed proposals should be submitted on or before October 30, 2024.
1. Overview
1.1 Results for Development Institute (R4D):
Established in 2008, Results for Development (R4D) is a non-profit organization and leader in the field of international development, based in Washington, D.C. R4D strengthens systems and markets that support well-nourished, healthy, and educated people. Through engaging with local change agents, which includes government agencies, the private sector and civil society organizations around the world, R4D drives impact by supporting sustainable financing; identifying and scaling innovations that work; shaping markets to improve access to key commodities and services; improving public-private engagement; increasing citizen participation and governance; facilitating collaborative and adaptive learning; and using data for decision-making.
In partnership with change agents, R4D’s Market Shaping Practice (MSP) shapes markets for health products, systems, and areas of intersection in Africa and Asia to advance health equity. We develop, iterate on and support catalytic implementation of long-lasting solutions at the global and country levels to address challenges identified by country partners and backed by rigorous analyses. Using practical and business-driven approaches – from increasing market transparency around the number of potential users, to improving demand forecasting, to developing purchasing and value chain strategies, to crafting cost-effectiveness and financing gap analyses – our work ensures that the markets for life-improving products, services, and systems operate with improved efficiency which in turn improves health outcomes and advances health equity. We’ve applied our expertise to reduce costs and supported improved access to high-quality products in health (spanning the HIV/AIDS, TB, malaria, maternal, newborn and child health markets) as well as in nutrition and education.
1.2. Multiple Micronutrient Supplement Project Overview:
Micronutrient deficiencies and malnutrition in pregnant women contribute to poor pregnancy outcomes such as low birth weight, small for gestational age, and preterm births. Supplementation of iron and folic acid (IFA) has been recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) to be included in antenatal care (ANC) programs, for the prevention of anemia. However, multiple micronutrient supplements (MMS) have proven to be a more cost-effective option that provides both IFA and additional micronutrients.
The “Market Shaping for Multiple Micronutrient Supplements (MMS)” project funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation aims to build a holistic market shaping roadmap, including sustainable financing options, for the introduction and scale-up of MMS in Nigeria and Ethiopia.
In Nigeria, R4D plans to work at the federal level and in two states – Kano and Kaduna. This project will focus on costing the strategies and interventions identified in the roadmaps to identify the resources required to introduce and scale-up MMs, develop sustainable financing strategic options in consultation with major stakeholders to identify future options to finance MMS, and strong engagement with technical working groups and task forces at the federal level and in each state. Specifically, the project touches on four major areas;
(i) Support the development of roadmap to guide transition from IFA to MMS
(ii) Lead the costing of a comprehensive roadmap that will guide transition from IFA to MMS in Kaduna state, Nigeria.
(iii) Identify current ANC/IFA supplementation resource mobilization options that can be adopted to funding MMS landscape.
(iv) Identify short and long-term funding plan/options for MMS
2. The Opportunity
The Consultant will be based in Kano, Nigeria and will lead the in-statestakeholder engagement and management within the nutrition space, and costing of strategies and interventions identified in roadmaps and demonstrated support optimizing resource mobilization for nutrition commodities or programs to support the goals of the MMS project. The consultant will provide technical, operational, and decision-making support to the state governments and partner organizations whilst still working closely with the R4D team in Abuja, Nigeria and Washington, DC, USA.
2.1 Duties and Responsibilities
In close consultation with the R4D team, the consultant will lead stakeholders' engagement in Kano state in the co-creation of the strategies outlined below
Conduct Project kickoff/landscaping to form connections with government stakeholders and understand their needs and priorities regarding MMS introduction and scale-up, leveraging existing organization’s connections.
· Support the identification of the key stakeholders (e.g. government, donor, implementing partners) technical experts and technical working groups or task forces on MMS in state responsible for decisions leading to MMS scale-up, and determine what their priorities and possible areas of alignment are with R4D.
· Lead engagement and strong relationship building with these key stakeholders over the course of the project.
· Review/update comprehensive database of stakeholders including partner organizations, technical experts, state officials.
Support UNICEF and state stakeholders with the development and lead costing of MMS introduction/scale-up roadmap.
· Adopt the costing methodology and approach, identifying the costing elements and unit and collecting costing information to conduct analysis, in collaboration with UNICEF and other state actors.
· Using in-state engagements, identify potential roles of other partner organization and state government officials for costing process and share with team.
· Provide costing technical support to the state MMS taskforce to be established as a sub-committee under the State Nutrition Technical Working Group (SNTWG) to ensure the roadmap has the required level of depth.
· Support the production of a draft costing of the roadmap, review and finalize costing of the roadmap with stakeholders.
· Provide regular updates to Abuja team on progress of the roadmap process facilitation for efficient and effective collaboration.
· Synthesize findings into a sharable document and share with the team.
Identify sustainable financing strategic options for MMS scale-up
· Identify short-term and long-term strategic funding options for MMS at state level including analysis of current and previous budgets/ IGRs and other necessary sources of funding.
· Co-create with State MDAs (SMOH, SPHCMB/SPHCDAs, DMCSA, Ministry of Budget/Planning etc.), partner organizations (UNICEF, WHO, USAID etc) and other necessary stakeholders, relevant, appropriately structured recommended financing mechanisms based on strategic options outlined.
· Develop short and long-term sustainable financing mechanisms for MMS and share with the team.
2.2 Period of Performance and Time of Commitment
In this role, the consultant will work closely with a variety of state-level stakeholders and members of the R4D market shaping team in Abuja, Nigeria, and Washington D.C. to support the above-mentioned activities between Nov 1st to December 31, 2024. Pending project developments and completion of activities, there is the possibility of extending the period of performance.
2.4 Reporting requirements
R4D applies an iterative process to projects and outputs listed in Sections 2.1, 2.2 and 2.3 above. Timelines may be subject to change based on a formal written agreement between the consultant, R4D, and/or the funder, e.g., subject to government and stakeholder responsiveness. A high-level work plan and activities expected of the Consultant are listed above.
2.5 Time Commitment
A detailed workplan will be developed by the Consultant at the onset and deliverables will be prioritized and completed within specified timelines, while others will be completed in the long term and contingent on funding, availability, and interest of the R4D team and the consultant.
2.6 Deliverable schedule
The anticipated deliverables and their due dates resulting from the above duties and responsibilities (section 2.1) are as below.
1. Deliverable: An internal workplan with assumptions and timelines based on the reviewed SoW and expected project duration.
Due Date: Nov 11, 2024
2. Deliverable: Comprehensive database of stakeholders/Stakeholder mapping including partner organizations, technical experts, state officials.
Due Date: Nov 21, 2024
3. Deliverable: Workshop planning document/report of workshop held plus resolutions agreed for MMS Financing Plan.
Due Date: December 02, 2024
4. Deliverable: Report of nutrition activities in state especially MMS/IFA in-state implementation plus key meetings in November.
Due Date: December 02, 2024
5. Deliverable: Final Kano State costed model for the developed state roadmap.
Due Date: December 15, 2024
6. Deliverable: Report of nutrition activities in state especially MMS/IFA in-state implementation plus key meetings in December.
Due Date: Dec 31, 2024
2.7 Preferred Qualifications
The ideal candidate will possess the following skills:
• Master’s degree (or higher) in a relevant field (economics, statistics, finance/accounting, health management, or similar).
• Minimum of 5 years of professional experience in (public health sector in Nigeria), These include any of the following: health financing, stakeholders' engagement, costing government strategies, nutrition products introduction and scale-up.
• Demonstrated fluency in quantitative analysis, including advanced Microsoft Excel proficiency.
• Demonstrated experience in leading and facilitating meetings.
• Ability to work in a flexible team environment and across different time zones.
• Excellent client management skills and demonstrated experience of working with country level stakeholders, as well as with multilateral organizations and NGOs.
• Professional experience (including consultancies) with bi-lateral and multi-lateral organizations will be considered an asset.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Professional fluency in English.
3. General information
3.1 Procurement Protocol
R4D reserves the right to make all decisions regarding this RFP, including the right to reject any and all proposals received in response to this RFP. Applicants understand that the issuance of this RFP does not create any obligation on the part of R4D to enter into any contract or to undertake any other obligation with respect to the requirements referred to herein.
3.2. Budget and Payment Terms
The payment schedule between R4D and the Consultant shall be based on the completion of deliverables. Payment timelines may be subject to change based on formal written modification to the agreement by the Consultant and R4D. Payments will be made once deliverables are received by R4D, are deemed complete with the required back-up documentation, approved by R4D, and in line with R4D’s finance team’s timelines (e.g. within 30 days of R4D approval). Failure to meet deadlines without prior discussion with the R4D team can lead to the termination of the contract.
Application Instructions:
Interested applicants should apply through the "Apply" button below by Wednesday, October 30, 2024. The team will contact candidates with any additional questions or requests for information.
• Resume/CV
• Cover letter: please describe your familiarity with MMS or IFA financing, approach to stakeholder engagement and how this approach results in successful relationship building.
• Budget: please share a budget that details the anticipated costs for completing deliverables as listed in ‘2.6 Deliverable Schedule’.
Results for Development is an EOE/M/F/Vet/Disabled/Affirmative Action Employer committed to fostering
and nurturing an energetic, collaborative and diverse workforce. R4D provides market-competitive salaries and comprehensive employee benefits.
