NGO JOBS

Organization: International Medical Corps
Country: South Sudan
Closing date: 30 May 2014

Position Summary & Responsibilities: International Medical Corps is a global, humanitarian, nonprofit organization dedicated to saving lives and relieving suffering through health care training and relief and development programs.
Established in 1984 by volunteer doctors and nurses, International Medical Corps is a private, voluntary, nonpolitical, nonsectarian organization. Its mission is to improve the quality of life through health interventions and related activities that build local capacity in underserved communities worldwide. By offering training and health care to local populations and medical assistance to people at highest risk, and with the flexibility to respond rapidly to emergency situations, International Medical Corps rehabilitates devastated health care systems and helps bring them back to self-reliance.
PROGRAM BACKGROUND
International Medical Corps has been present in South Sudan since 1994, and working in Akobo. International Medical Corps is supported Health and Nutrition interventions in Akobo, The program currently covers outpatient treatment (OTP) for severe acute malnutrition (SAM) without medical complications, for children aged 6 – 59 months, and targeted supplementary feeding program (TSFP) for children aged 6 – 59 months with moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) and pregnant and lactating women (PLW). In addition, IMC is running a stabilization center in Akobo hospital. Blanket supplementary feeding (BSFP) to children aged 6-35 months, in 2013, reached 2,662 children with throughout the lean period. 78 IYCF mother support groups that are well established have been able to reach more than 11,000 households with IYCF and hygiene messages in the last year. Following the recent insecurity, program implementation was severely disrupted due to a limited stock of nutrition supplies and minimal staff that remained.
While efforts have been made to reduce the number of cases of SAM and MAM, the increased population, farmers not planting the right time and seasonal floods from 2012 have most of Jonglei state preparing for a looming famine. Preliminary MUAC assessment conducted in mid-March shows out of 5,485 children under five screened, 590 had severe acute malnutrition (based on MUAC), of whom 370 were already receiving treatment while 220 were referred to nutrition feeding sites in Akobo. 1,343 children were also moderately acute malnourished based on MUAC. IMA/World Bank funding continue to support health care services while CHF is supporting the nutrition program. Due to the ongoing insecurity in the country Akobo has received 15,000 IDPs from different parts of the country mainly Bor and Malakal. Jonglei State is the most volatile and food insecure state in South Sudan, with a long history of inter-communal violence and floods. Last year pre- harvest SMART survey conducted in April/May 2013 by the Save the Children findings indicated GAM rate of 25.7% and SAM of 4.8%.
The purpose of the survey
The overall goal of this assessment is to establish the extent and the severity of acute malnutrition and determine the contributing factors of malnutrition in Akobo East County, which will be informative to all stakeholders to provide interventions that are effective.
Specific Objectives
I. To determine the prevalence of malnutrition among children aged 6-59 months
II. To determine the crude and under-five mortality rates
III. To determine the prevalence of some common child illnesses (suspected measles, diarrhea, febrile and respiratory illnesses)
IV. To assess the infant and young child feeding (IYCF) and care practices among children 0-23 months. Specifically determine practices related to (timely Initiation of breastfeeding- within the first hour after birth. Exclusive breastfeeding, from 0- 6 months of age, Timely Complementary feeding (age group 6 – 9 months) Continued breastfeeding up to 1 year (12 – 15 months) and up to 2 years (20 – 23 months
V. To assess the food security situation.
Survey Methodology
This survey will adopted a two stage cluster sampling using the SMART Methodology. While the core SMART methodology focused on nutrition and mortality, additional data will gathered at the household level using structured questionnaires. Key issues will be captured; these include food security, IYCF and health seeking behaviors. The South Sudan standardized nutrition cluster questionnaires will be used.
The clusters will be selected using the probability proportional to population size (PPS) while the households will be selected using the simple random. The anthropometric and mortality data will be entered and analyzed in ENA for SMART (16th November, 2013 Version) while the other sections of the survey will be entered and analyzed in SPSS. The data collection teams will be trained for 4 days, the training will include the standardization test, to ensure that the teams are able to take measurement that is more précised and accurate. To maintain the quality of the data, the anthropometric data will be entered on daily basis and the plausibility results run by the consultant who then briefed the teams every morning before leaving for the field. The anthropometric indicators will be presented using the WHO 2006 standards.
Consultant Task;
The Consultant is required to:
I. Design the nutrition survey: Develop comprehensive tools for data collection, Design the survey methodology, collect and collate reference materials.
II. Train data collectors for the survey: Transfer skills in undertaking a SMART survey to International Medical Corps’ staff.
III. Organize actual survey: Ensure accurate data collection at field level. Ensure adequate supervision and coordination of the survey teams in the field and collect relevant reference materials for report writing
IV. Data processing and Management; ensure accurate data entry and analyze data and compile a comprehensive nutrition/SMART survey report.
V. Reporting: The preliminary assessment report will be send to the TWG nutrition cluster within 10 days of completion of data collection; the consultant will present preliminary findings of the survey to International Medical Corps, and IMC will send to the nutrition cluster for validation purpose. The final report will be submitted to IMC within 1 week after validation of the preliminary report.
Required deliverables
The consultant is expected to provide:
I. Detailed nutrition/SMART survey work plan and budget
II. Final nutrition survey design (agreed following consultant selection).
III. Finalized data collection tools (questionnaire, KII and FGD guides).
IV. Power point presentation of preliminary findings.
V. A draft pre-harvest nutrition survey report.
Time Frame
The duration of the survey will be 27 days (including final report submission). The start date will be the date of contract signature.
Activity Estimated duration (days)
Desk review of project documents 1
Meet with Nutrition Cluster partners (SMOH & UNICEF, WFP) at Juba level 1
Develop and finalize nutrition survey methodology and data collection tools 2
Train International Medical Corps staff and partners in SMART methodology and pretest tools. 3
Field visits, data collection, meetings with stakeholders including county-level MOH and any other relevant government or community entities, and beneficiaries 10
Data entry, clean up, analysis and drafting tables to display findings 2
Develop presentation and present to International Medical Corps and Nutrition Cluster partners 1
Discuss preliminary findings with International Medical Corps staff 1
Prepare and share draft report 2
Incorporate feedback/suggestions and submit final report 4
TOTAL DURATION (days) 27
General condition of consultancy
i. Accommodation will be provided by International Medical Corps in the program sites, which is the usual shared staff accommodation.
ii. The consultant will cover fully his/her food and subsistence-related cost, so the price component must contain an overall quotation reflecting these costs, as well.
iii. The consultant will conduct his/her work using his/her own computer & equipment. Other overhead costs related directly to the task, like photocopying of questionnaires, shall be covered by International Medical Corps.
iv. The movement of the consultant and team to and from the field will be facilitated by International Medical Corps.
v. International Medical Corps will provide translators as required.
vi. Final payment to the consultant will be dependent on the completion of all deliverables, as well as handover notes. Skills & Requirements: QUALIFICATIONS:

1. Significant experience (minimum of 3 years) in conducting similar surveys and assessments
2. Advance University degree in Nutrition, public health, sociology, anthropology or related discipline. S/he must have strong analytical, negotiating, communication and advocacy skills.
3. Qualified South Sudanese or International consultant who is fluent in spoken and written English.
4. The consultant must have a strong background in statistics and data analysis. Familiar with ENA/SMART, Epi info, Epi nut and or any other relevant statistical package for this task.
5. Excellent reporting and presentation skills.
   OTHER COMMENTS: The consultancy can be either national or international, depending on experience, qualifications and availability

How to apply:

To officially begin the application process, qualified candidates please go to our career page http://careers.internationalmedicalcorps.org/careers.aspx , noting where you noticed the position you are applying for and complete the online employment application form.