INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANT TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL SUPPORT FOR BASELINE SURVEY
OF THE PROJECT SCHOOL HEALTH AND NUTRITION
Save the Children is the leading global independent organization for children. Save the Children believes every child deserves a future. Around the world, we work every day to give children a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. When crisis strikes, and children are most vulnerable, we are always among the first to respond and the last to leave. We ensure children’s unique needs are met and their voices are heard. We deliver lasting results for millions of children, including those hardest to reach.
With support from Cargill, Save the Children International in Vietnam (SCI Vietnam) will be in partnership with Dak Lak Department of Education and Training (DOET) to implement a project on school health and nutrition at 10 primary schools and 5 kindergartens in Krong Bong and Buon Ho district. The project will contribute to the improved health and nutrition status of kindergarten and primary school students in project schools. It aims at reducing the rate of underweight children 3 to 11 years old in Krong Bong and Buon Ho, Dak Lak by 1.5% compared with the baseline and increasing the rate of children 3 to 11 years old with proper handwashing practices in project schools in Krong Bong and Buon Ho, Dak Lak by 20% compared with Baseline. The project has two main outcomes: (1) Outcome1: Enhance knowledge and practice on school hygiene and nutrition for students and other relative target groups, and (2) Outcome 2: Ensure the supportive and safe learning environment to promote good school health and nutrition practice. The project will benefit 1,522 kindergarten children (3-5 years old), including 763 females and 759 males, 4,528 primary school students (6-11 years old), including 2,231 females and 2,297 males, 412 teachers and health workers in schools, 60 health workers at 10 Commune Health Centers and Krong Bong and Buon Ho District Health Center and 200 parents.
Objectives and Scope of Study
The purpose of the survey is to assess the current situation of School Health and Nutrition (SHN) knowledge, practices and skills of students, teachers, parents in the target districts. It also aims to identify current status and demand, giving recommendation and contributing to better implementation during project life.
This research aims at answering the following questions for the two project objectives
RQ1: What is the current status of knowledge and practices in School Health and Nutrition (nutritious foods, oral health, handwashing and personal hygiene) of students, teachers and parents in target sites?
RQ2: What is nutritious status of school children and students and the status of management students' health and nutrition status via collaboration between education and health sectors in target districts?
RQ3: What is the current supportive and safe learning environment status to promote good school hygiene and nutrition practices (WASH and/or hygiene kitchens) and the current status of dietary diversity of project schools in target districts (accessibility of students to safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene; schools with relevant safe school action plan)?
Please see Annex 1 (in TOR) for Log-frame indicators of the project
The study team will be required to undertake consultation with SC staff at the commencement of the study in order to further refine the Study questions.
Scope: The baseline survey will be conducted mainly in project sites of Krong Bong and Buon Ho district, Dak Lak. The study will involve the project’s partners, their networks, and stakeholders at different levels who will be involved in the project. Specifically, interviews will be made with the following:
- Leader of Dak Lak Department of Education and Training
- Leader of Krong Bong and Buon Ho District Bureau of Education and Training
- Leader of Krong Bong and Buon Ho District Bureau of Health
- Beneficaries (students, parents, teachers, school staff/school nutrition officer, health workers)
The findings of the Baseline survey will be shared in a project Launching workshop with key partners, stakeholders and beneficiaries.
Please find TOR attached in the link below:
The individual consultant will provide:
- Review project documents (project description, project proposal, MEAL Plan, Log-frame).
- Collect the qualitative data.
- Process and analyze data gathered from the various data collection activities. This includes the following:
- Creation of an electronic database for each type of data collected for the baseline. A copy of each electronic database created must be submitted to SC at the end of the assignment.
- Cleaning and validation of the data collected including the application of range and consistency checks.
- Generation of results like the computation of indicators and the construction of statistical tables and graphs.
- Write the first draft and the final version of the baseline report. The final version must include any modifications needed based on the comments given by key partners, SC and Technical Advisors during the presentation of the first draft. The first draft baseline report must be written in English; and final version of the study report must be written both in English and Vietnamese. The final baseline report will be also shared with the donor, partners.
- Prepare key findings in presentation format
Timeline
The tentative duration for the study from 6 March to 14 May 2023. The detail of timeline for each activity will be developed between SC and the consultant.
The consultant will be required for an input as follows:
Estimated commencement date: 6 March 2023
Estimated end date: 14 May 2024
Selection Criteria
Interested individual consultants will be required to submit an Expression of Interest in line with the provided template, which should demonstrate adherence to the following requirements.
- Postgraduate degree in Medicine, Public Health or Social Science. Experience in School Health and Nutrition is preferred.
- At least 5 years of experience in conducting studies in health projects.
- At least 5 years of experience and use of qualitative and quantitative study methods (collection and analysis).
- Understanding of political, cultural, education and social context in Vietnam
- Strong written and verbal skills in communicating technical and/ or complex findings to non-specialist audiences (especially report writing and presentation skills)
- High English proficiency in writing.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, quantitative & qualitative data analysis software (SPSS, STATA, EPIDATA, NVivo, ATLAS.ti, etc.).
How to apply
The candidate should submit a technical proposal, financial proposal and CVs through email address: [email protected]
The deadline for submission is: 15h00 6th March 2023