Support for the Health & Nutrition Sector Portfolio

Concern Worldwide began its work as an INGO in Bangladesh in 1972 and has responded to all major emergencies and implemented numerous programmes for the socio-economic empowerment of extremely poor people across the country. Under the Country Strategic Plan 2022- 2026 we aim to contribute to bringing sustainable, positive changes in the lives of people living in extreme poverty in Bangladesh. We will achieve this through working on five particular pillars – ensuring sustained change from our programmes (predominantly in the health, nutrition and livelihoods sectors); climate change; humanitarian action; working through partnership; and equality, diversity and inclusion.

Concern’s goal of ending extreme poverty can only be achieved by tackling poverty’s root causes – and top among them are intergenerational poor health and nutrition outcomes. Concern’s health programs are predicated on the conviction that by investing in improved health (increasingly among adolescents) we enable people to improve many dimensions of their lives, and the lives of future generations. Concern focuses on a specific set of health and nutrition issues, namely: Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH), Community Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM), and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH). Concern implements Health, Nutrition and WASH programs serving the urban and rural poor in areas otherwise neglected by health policies and resources. Concern has developed targeted health strategies for each thematic area, but they share cross-cutting approaches.

Purpose

Concern Worldwide is seeking the support of a highly qualified and experienced health technical expert to develop its comprehensive Health and Nutrition (H&N) strategy in Bangladesh. The strategy will focus on addressing key challenges and gaps in the health and nutrition sector, ensuring relevance to the current context, and clearly reflecting Concern’s unique contributions to improving health and nutrition outcomes for vulnerable populations in Bangladesh. Concern has its 5 years country strategy for Bangladesh – Country Strategy Plan (2022-26) which provide a strategic direction of our programme in Bangladesh and therefore the intended health & nutrition strategy should be also aligned with it.

The Health Expert will support Concern Worldwide in refining and finalizing a health and nutrition strategy that matches Concern’s expertise and ambitions. The strategy should reflect best practices, be rooted in the local context, and clearly articulate how Concern’s interventions contribute to the improvement of health and nutrition outcomes in Bangladesh specially among those who live in the conditions of extreme poverty.

Scope of Work & Deliverables

The consultant will receive a draft strategy document, and discussion notes from several internal consultation and brainstorm session that review Concern’s previous work, its mandate in relation to H&N and also includes a SWOT analysis.

The consultant will be expected to:

1. Review, improve, and finalize the context analysis:
   1. Provide an overview of the current health and nutrition system in Bangladesh.
   2. Analyze the policy and program landscape.
   3. Identify key challenges and gaps in the sector.
2. Check and refine the wording and formulation of set objectives for the strategy.
3. Provide guidance and suggestions on best practices and program approaches to achieve the stated objectives.
4. Review and enhance the implementation approach, focusing on collaboration and partnerships.
5. Review the conceptual framework and adjust as necessary + logframe
6. Suggest measurable success indicators to monitor the outcomes and impact of the strategy’s objectives and approaches.
7. Improve the structure and language of the draft strategy document, ensuring clarity and coherence.
8. Ensure the strategy document does not exceed 10–12 pages, with additional content included as annexes if necessary.

Deliverables:

• A finalized Health and Nutrition 5 year strategy document that clearly reflects Concern’s strengths and ambitions and is no longer than 10–12 pages.
• In addition, the consultant will work with the communications coordinator for a external version (short version)
• Includes a context analysis, objectives, program approaches, partnerships, and success indicators.
• Is supported by annexes for any additional information.

Standard Terms

1. Duration: The total period of providing the consultative services will be over a period of 02 months starting from the date of contract signing.
2. Remuneration/Fee: Interested bidders are requested to submit their financial proposal along with the technical proposal including Data Quality Assurance Protocol for the assignment, inclusive all VAT and Taxes as per policy of the government of Bangladesh which shall be deducted at source prior to the payment. Expenses not specified in the financial proposal or not mentioned in any section of the agreement are the sole responsibility of the Consultant.
3. Payment: As per policy of Concern Worldwide, Bangladesh the fees will be paid in two (02) instalments against invoices issued by the Consultant with a copy of work contract and ToR. The payments will be made through account payee cheque/bank transfer as per Concern’s policy in two instalments, as follows:

• First instalment: 20% of the total amount will be paid upon received of the inception report.
• Second instalment: 80% will be paid after receiving the final report, which is subject to the review and endorsement of the report review committee.

Concern Worldwide will not be liable for any bank charges arising from incorrect bank details being provided to Concern Worldwide Bangladesh.

4. Penalty: If the consultant does not complete the assignment within the specified period, Concern Worldwide will deduct 1% of the total payment for each day of delay. If Concern Worldwide approves any request for an extension of time, this clause will not apply. However, if Concern Worldwide does not approve the time extension request, the consultant will be subject to a 1% deduction of the total payment for each day of delay.

5. Accommodation, per diem and other allowance: No accommodation, per diem or other allowances will be paid in addition to the cost mentioned in the agreement.

6. Copyright and Confidentiality: Concern Worldwide will have the copyright for all the documents prepared by the consultant(s) including questionnaires, survey formats, case studies if any, and the final report with due acknowledgement. No part of the document should be reproduced or published in any manner without prior written approval of Concern Worldwide. The consultant will maintain the confidentiality of the stated assignment.

7. Concern Worldwide’s policies and guidelines: Concern has an organisational Code of Conduct (CoC) with three Associated Policies; the Programme Participant Protection Policy (P4), the Child Safeguarding Policy and the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Policy. These have been developed to ensure the maximum protection of programme participants from exploitation, and to clarify the responsibilities of Concern staff, consultants (individual/agency) to the programme and partner organisation, and the standards of behaviour expected of them. In this context, consultant (individual/agency) has a responsibility to the organisation to strive for, and maintain, the highest standards in the day-to-day conduct in their workplace in accordance with Concern’s core values and mission. Any consultants (individual/agency) offered a task with Concern Worldwide will be expected to sign the Concern Staff Code of Conduct and Associated Policies as an appendix to their contract of employment. By signing the Concern Code of Conduct, consultants (individual/agency) acknowledge that they have understood the content of both the Concern Code of Conduct and the Associated Policies and agree to conduct themselves in accordance with the provisions of these policies.

8. Responsibility: The Consultant will report to the Deputy Director Programme Quality and Business Development from Concern Worldwide. The analysis will be directly implemented and managed by the selected Consultant the under the supervision of the proposal and program lead for this call. The technical support and guidance will be provided by MEAL Advisor and technical advisor from Concern Worldwide and IRC.

9. Selection process

All proposals submitted by the deadline will carefully be reviewed by the Selection Committee from Concern Worldwide and IRC team based on agreed selection criteria. The selection process may involve presentation by the applicants/bidders. The final decision will be based on the overall quality of the technical proposal and value for money. The Selection Committee reserves the right to reject any or may cancel any submission at any time prior to agreement if it is in the best interests of Concern Worldwide and IRC.

10. Consultant Qualifications

• A PhD or Master’s degree in Public Health related field.
• At least 10 years of relevant work experience, including developing health and nutrition strategy, Designing and Delivering of large-scale health & nutrition programme.
• Proven experience of delivering health system strengthening programme in Bangladesh
• Proven experience in developing strategic documents for INGOs and/or UN agencies.
• Sound familiarity with the institutional, policy and program landscape of health and nutrition in Bangladesh.
• Excellent English writing skills
• Only individual consultants are eligible for this assignment

11. Required documents for Individual Consultant

• A short CV maximum three pages highlighting experiences on related assignment completed with detail client name, address, contact persons & communication details (above criteria listed under “Qualifications” relevant here).
• Track record / examples of similar assignments
• Technical and financial proposal based on the information provided above.

12. Timeframe

The consultancy will be conducted over a period of 10-12 working days, to be completed within a 2-month time span from December 2024 to January 2025 (dates to be confirmed). The final deliverable must be submitted no later than January 31, 2025.

How to apply

Application Process: Interested consultants (individual/agency are invited to submit both the technical and financial proposal SEPERATELY to consultancy.bgd@concern.net with a subject line “Health and Nutrition Portfolio” by 14 November 2024