Individual consultant or organization: National research partner in Ethiopia
International Food Policy Research Institute
Background and Justification
Globally, 45 million children under the age of five suffer from wasting. Wasting dramatically increases the risk of death, killing 875,000 under-fives annually. Testing innovative solutions to prevent wasting are urgently needed. The Joint UN Partnership for the Prevention of Wasting (JUNIPr) between UNICEF, WFP, and WHO offers a unique opportunity to study the effectiveness of multisystem and multisectoral programs aimed at preventing wasting. Actions to prevent wasting should be tailored to context and integrated in the continuum of care from screening to treatment and post-treatment follow-up.
This project will generate high-quality evidence through research in West Africa (Mali), East Africa (Ethiopia), and South Asia (Bangladesh).
Scope of Work
I. Goals
In close consultation with the global research lead IFPRI, the national research partner will be involved in the Design Phase (Phase 1) and the Implementation Phase (Phase 2) of the research project described above. Briefly, Phase 1 will consist of the following activities: support formative research; support the identification of the different components of the intervention package and the appropriate model to test at scale; co-design (with IFPRI) the protocols for the implementation research, impact evaluation study, and costing study to be conducted in the second phase. Phase 2 will have the following activities: Lead a rapid assessment of program scale-up; lead the implementation of the impact evaluation study; lead the implementation of the implementation research; lead the implementation of the cost study; lead a dissemination workshop in country.
II. Activities and Tasks
The contract will be issued and managed by IFPRI. Under the close supervision of IFPRI and in close consultation with IFPRI, UNICEF, WFP and WHO, this consultancy will focus on several activities in two research phases. Details of each phase and the related activities are provided below.
Phase 1 – Design (18 months)
Activity 1: Formative research
Formative research will be conducted to inform the design of context-tailored intervention packages, including relevant delivery platforms and implementation modalities. The national research partner will co-design (with IFPRI) the formative research and will lead the implementation of the formative research.
Sub-activity 1.1 Desk review, key informant interviews, and triangulation of findings from the first co-creation workshop and secondary data analysis
Sub-activity 1.2 Second workshop to validate the intervention package
Activity 2: The development and approval of detailed research protocols for the implementation, impact evaluation and costing research
In close consultation with the JUNIPr consortium, the national research partner will co-develop (with IFPRI) the research protocols for the research activities of Phase 2, and in consultation with the JUNIPr consortium and implementers.
Sub-activity 2.1 Impact evaluation protocol
Sub-activity 2.2 Implementation research protocol
Sub-activity 2.3 Cost study protocol
Activity 3: Obtaining IRB and other required approvals and related amendments
Phase 2 - Research Implementation (estimated duration: 36 months)
During Phase 2, the intervention model developed in Phase 1 will be implemented. The national research partner activities will focus on the impact assessment, implementation study, and cost study. Detailed descriptions of the Phase 2 activities will be provided during Phase 1 of the project. cost of field staff and logistics is not part of this TOR.
Activity 4: Rapid assessment of program scale-up
Activity 5: Impact evaluation
Activity 6: Implementation research
Activity 7: Cost study
Activity 8: Dissemination workshop
Outputs/Deliverables
Phase 1
Activity no. | Tasks (see details above) | Deliverable | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
1.1 | Triangulation of formative research findings | Detailed report of the findings of the formative research with a clear summary of key findings and a clear section on options for the implementation package | November 30, 2025 |
1.2 | Co-creation workshop | Detailed report of the findings of the co-creation workshop with a clear summary of key findings and next steps | January 31, 2026
|
2 | Development of research protocol | Impact evaluation protocol, implementation research protocol, cost study protocol | October 31, 2026 |
3 | Obtain approvals | National Ethics committee approval, and any other approvals needed | November 30, 2026 |
Phase 2
Activity no. | Tasks | Deliverable | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
4 | Rapid assessment of program scale-up | Preparation: Review of draft study instruments; selection recommendation of data collection firm or enumerators; report on training of enumerators Conduct impact evaluation: Report on the following: Manage field teams, assess data quality, conduct data cleaning, conduct analysis, results. | November 30, 2026
December 31, 2026
|
5 | Impact evaluation | Preparation: Review of draft study instruments; selection recommendation of data collection firm or enumerators, report on training and standardization of enumerators Conduct impact evaluation: Monthly progress reports on the following activities: manage field teams, assess data quality, conduct data cleaning, conduct analysis | January 15, 2027
January 1, 2027– December 31, 2028 |
6 | Implementation research | Preparation: Review of draft study instruments; selection recommendation of data collection firm or enumerators; report on training of enumerators Conduct study: Monthly progress reports on the following activities: Manage field teams, assess data quality, conduct data cleaning, conduct analysis | January 30, 2028
March 30, 2028 |
7 | Cost study | Preparation: Review of draft study instruments; selection recommendation of data collection firm or enumerators; report on training of enumerators Conduct study: Monthly progress reports on the following activities: Manage field teams, assess data quality, conduct data cleaning, conduct analysis | January 30, 2028
January 1, 2028– December 31, 2028 |
8 | Dissemination workshop | Dissemination slides presenting key research findings; workshop report summarizing discussions on findings | December 31, 2028
|
Required qualification, experience, languages and competencies
· PhD in nutrition, public health, nutritional epidemiology or related field.
· At least 10 years of professional experience in conducting high-quality research in nutrition, public health, or related fields in Ethiopia.
· Experience conducting research on child undernutrition and, preferably, on wasting.
· Experience obtaining ethics committee approval and other approvals from authorities.
· Experience sensitizing communities and other stakeholders about research activities.
· Experience developing reports, policy briefs and journal articles.
· Excellent communications skills.
· Excellent written and spoken English.
Preferred qualifications
· Experience conducting impact evaluations using a randomized controlled design, implementation research, and cost studies.
How to apply
The following items need to be included in the proposal:
A letter of intent elaborating on capacity, experience and availability of the national research partner to conduct the work within the presented timeframe in Ethiopia. Applications from teams of researchers with complementary expertise are possible.
Detailed up-to-date CV of the person(s) who will lead and conduct the research.
A budget reflecting time involvement and daily rate.
2-3 references related to recent relevant work of the person(s) who will conduct the research.
If the consultant applies through an organization/firm:
- A presentation of the organization and previous experience in conducting research.
- Organization’s costs need to be reflected in the budget.
In a second round of the selection process, selected candidates will work closely with IFPRI to refine workplan and budget.
