REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST
African Development Bank Group
Nigeria Country Office
Plot 1521 Cadastral Zone A0, Off Memorial Close, Beside Silverbird Galleria,
Central Business District, Abuja Nigeria
E-mail : recruit_rdng@afdb.org
Telephone : + 234 (9) 7002053
Expressions of interest are being requested for a [Junior] Consultant Position
TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR A JUNIOR CONSULTANT, NIGERIA
HEALTH/SOCIAL SECTOR OPERATIONS SUPPORT
Brief description of the Assignment: Junior Consultant with an understanding of Health/Social Sector Operations Management and Monitoring.
The Junior Consultant is required to assist in delivering on the Bank health/social sector work program of the Nigeria Country Office (RDNG). The tasks involve assisting the RDNG Social Development Officer to ensure active management and monitoring coordination of the Bank’s Social Sector operations in RDNG, in collaboration with other sector teams.
Department issuing the request : Regional Department, Nigeria (RDNG)
Duration of the assignment : 06 months
Tentative Date of commencement : 17 December, 2018
Detailed Terms of reference for the assignment : [See below]
Deadline for applications : 10 December, 2018
Applications to be submitted to : recruit_rdng@afdb.org with copy to Mr. Gregory OSUBOR at g.osubor@afdb.org
Any questions and requests for clarifications may be sent to : Mr. Gregory OSUBOR at g.osubor@afdb.org
Terms of Reference for : Support to Nigeria Country Office Health/Social Sector (RDNG) Operations and Programmes
Terms of reference : Health/social sector junior consultant
- Introduction
The Nigerian government in March 2018 approached the African Development Bank (AfDB) to assist the country in addressing malaria and nutrition challenges in two states of the federation. The Bank is now in the process of appraising the proposed project in support of the Government in that direction. The country currently faces huge health challenges marked by very poor health outcomes and high poverty rate with geographic and gender disparities.
1.2 The Bank Group has previously undertaken a total of 7 operations in the health sector namely; i) Health Services Rehabilitation Project, ii) Kwara State Health Project, iii) Bauchi State Health, iv) Health Systems Development Project, v) Humanitarian Assistance For Polio Eradication (Grant), vi) Emergency Assistance to Combat Avian Influenza (Grant), vii) Ebola Emergency Assistance. There is an ongoing multi-sectoral operation with a significant health component in five states of the North East. The health interventions are mainly rehabilitation of devastated health infrastructure and system generally following years of Boko haram insurgency in that part of the country.
- Context
2.1 Nigeria with a projected population of about 200 million and life expectancy of 52.5 is ranked 152 of 188 countries of the world in human development index. The under-5 mortality rate is 120 per 1000 live births with malaria accounting for as much as 30% (excluding neo-natal mortality). Other major causes of death for the age group include diarrhea and pneumonia. Worldwide, Nigeria accounts for approximately 25% of Malaria disease burden, which calls for urgent and concerted efforts at addressing the challenge.
2.2. Malnutrition is equally a challenge in Nigeria. The most recent MICs reports 2017 presents poor nutritional results for Nigeria under-5 children. Underweight, stunting and wasting prevalences are 31.5%, 43.6% and 11.5% respectively for moderate & severe cases. This shows that as much as a third of the age group’s population is stunted which is about twice the case of Thailand and trice that of Tunisia. These figures are above the global average of 15% and 23% for underwigth and stunting respectively. It is noteworthy that 50% of death cases affecting the under-5 are associated with malnutrition therefore making it a major health and development issue in the country.
2.3 The effect of malnutrition and the high malaria disease burden on the national economy, household and individual finance is enormous. The lower income households are most affected and so tends to worsen the poverty situation for the group.
2.4 The Nigeria health system has been under challenge of several factors amongst which are; poor quality services delivery arising from inadequate infrastructure, equipment, materials and skilled workforce; weak logistics management system; poor budgetary funding and corruption; and inadequate institutional capacity. Most of the special malaria and nutrition interventions have been through donor support with majority having issues with sustainability. For example, budgetary allocation for nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive interventions for Nigeria was 0.2% compared to 19% and 21% for Chad and Guinea Bissau respectively (Global Nutrition Report 2017).
- Rationale and Objectives
The purpose of the consultancy is to support active management and coordination of the Bank’s social sector operations in Nigeria. The selected Junior Consultant will be mainly responsible for supporting the finalization of the Malaria project appraisal report leading to Board approval, loan signature, launch and subsequent implementation. He/she will provide necessary assistance for effective administrative monitoring and coordination of sector operational activities in collaboration with other Sector Departments as well as relevant country teams. The junior consultant will have good understanding of the country health and general social sector situation and will assist to prepare sector information notes upon Senior Management’s request.
In this context, RDNG seeks to engage the services of a Junior Consultant to contribute to the work of the department particularly in the finalization of the malaria project document and in the preparation of new pipeline projects in the social sector.
- Scope of Work
4.1Main Tasks :
Under the overall guidance of the RDNG Senior Director and the direct supervision of the Principal Social Development Officer, the Junior Consultant shall undertake the following tasks :
- Rapid scoping assessment of Nigeria Health sector with particular focus on pharmaceutical industry Nutrition situation/landscape, vulnerabilities and socio-economic status.
- Participate in sectoral consultations with government, development partners, private sector,
CSO’s and other relevant stakeholders.
- Contribute technical inputs in support of the malaria project document finalization.
- Participate in internal Bank review processes and make necessary adjustments to draft program documents until Board approval and eventual project take-off.
- Provide technical support to ensure active management and coordination of RDNG social sector operations in collaboration with other sector departments;
- Update activity/project data in SAP as required;
- Assist with preparation of sector information notes upon Senior Management’s request.
- Develop a concept note for possible Bank support to the pharmaceutical industry in Nigeria
- Develop a concept note for possible Bank nutrition support to young pregnant girls.
- Handle any other tasks as assigned by the Principal Social Development Officer/ Senior Director of RDNG.
- Consultants’ Profile:
5.1 The profile of the Junior Consultant, including desirable qualifications, personal attributes, skills, knowledge and experience are :
- Minimum of a Master’s degree (or equivalent) in a relevant field; Health, Economics, Development, Public Policy, Social Sciences, or a related discipline
- At least two years of relevant professional experience in a development oriented institution;
- A good understanding of the Nigeria social sector environment
- Ability to design and monitor health/social sector programmes and ensure portfolio/programme performance quality
- Self-motivation, dedication and ability to work in diverse situations;
- Capacity to adapt to changing work environments and to apply knowledge to diverse development issues and challenges;
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team;
- Excellent communication skills in English (knowledge of and ability to communicate in French will be added advantage);
- Competence in the use of the Bank’s standard software (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, SAP).
- Be national of a member country of the African Development Bank;
- This is a local position – a Nigeria national or anyone with Nigerian work permit would be preferred. The Bank is not in any position to apply for a work permit for this position.
- Duration of the Services of the Consultant
6.1. The assignment is for 6 months period starting on Dec 17, 2018 or as specified in the contract.
- Performance Assessment
7.1. The Junior Consultant will be assessed on the basis of the quality of their deliverables as assigned.
Please attach an updated Curriculum Vitae on the basis of the template below: