Consultancy for Post-MDA Independent Coverage Evaluation Survey

About The MENTOR Initiative

The MENTOR Initiative (MENTOR) is a non-governmental organization devoted to reducing death and suffering from tropical diseases. MENTOR is currently providing ongoing emergency support to the most vulnerable communities in Nigeria, Mozambique, Angola, the Central African Republic, Venezuela, Syria, and South Sudan.

MENTOR is collaborating with The Ministry of Health (MoH) for a project that aims to carry out Mass Drug Administration (MDA) campaigns for treating and eliminating two Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) – Onchocerciasis and Lymphatic Filariasis. The 2024 MDA campaign is currently carried out in twelve counties in Upper Nile State, Jonglei State, Western Bahr el Ghaza State and Norther Bahr el Ghazal State. The MDA data are entered and analysed as soon as the campaigns are completed. The consultant will receive the MDA campaign coverage results before the post-MDA coverage evaluation survey begins.

Purpose of the Job

Independent Coverage Surveys (ICS), also commonly known as post-MDA coverage evaluation surveys OR Coverage Evaluation Survey (CES), are conducted after the completion of MDA campaigns for the following purposes:

• To validate the reported MDA coverage by the program.
• To understand the reasons why individuals did, or did not, take part in the MDA.
• To identify adverse and serious adverse events (AEs and SAEs).
• To capture information about the Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) of community members regarding NTDs.
• To obtain essential information on Behavioural Change Communication (BCC), Leaving No One Behind (LNOB), gender and other aspects of programme implementation.

Consultancy-Specific Objectives

The consultant is required to conduct an ICS in four out of the twelve targeted counties that is fully in line with the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for coverage surveys as well as all recommendations and requirements of the respective Ethical Review Board in South Sudan.

Under the direct supervision of the MENTOR Country Director, the consultant will be expected to:

• Take part in all ICS-related meetings at Juba and state level. Physical presence in most meetings is required.
• Plan the survey and discuss the methodology with the respective MENTOR and MoH staff.
• Have in place an implementation plan that details all activities and their timelines, and which has been signed off by both MENTOR and the MoH.
• Have in place an effective way to collect data during the field work.
• Train surveyors on the use of the protocol and the use of any required equipment.
• Conduct a field test prior to the implementation of the survey.
• Upload questionnaire in the ODK xls form for uploading on ESPEN collect for uploading the field data in real time.
• Closely monitor the quality of the data during the implementation and make corrections to the data collection process as and when necessary.
• Provide regular updates to both MENTOR and the MoH, on both practical aspects of the survey as well as data quality.
• Send a draft report to MENTOR and respond to any feedback MENTOR and the MoH have and make changes accordingly.
• Submit the final report.
• Present the findings/final report for validation to the NTD partners, the MoH NTD Department and other stakeholders, such as Oncho & LF Elimination committees.

Expected Deliverables

The deliverables are the following:

• The final and validated report that the consultant will provide at the end of the consultancy.
• File containing raw data set.
• File containing clean data set.
• Stata Do or R file for both cleaning and analysis syntaxes.
• Key results in MS Excel file.

The Consultant(s) can be an individual, team, or organization. They must demonstrate:

• The ability and legal registration to carry out consultancy work in South Sudan.
• Obtained approval for the survey protocol from South Sudan Ethical Review Board
• All personnel stated as the consultant’s team will visit South Sudan to conduct training, implement the survey, and validate the report. Data analysis and report writing can be done remotely.
• Excellent competency in data collection, management, troubleshooting, and analysis (including the relevant statistical analysis programmes), with a minimum of 10 years of relevant professional experience in data collection, analysis, and monitoring and evaluation.
• Knowledge of the South Sudan context and health sector data systems, incl. NTD data.
• Competency in capacity development for data collection and management.
• Ability to analyse data and write an informative report.
• Committed to work with and meet the deadlines as agreed with MENTOR.
• Previous experience with the ICS WHO guidelines and in conducting NTD MDA ICSs in South Sudan or other country will be a key advantage.

Timeframe

The consultancy period should be 30 days which will start from the date the consultancy agreement will signed.The Consultant will:

• Hold consultations with the MENTOR CD and the MoH NTD Department in Juba.
• Carry out the ICS training in the selected counties, starting with a 3-day theory training of surveyors followed by a 2-day test of the ICS training in the and conduct survey
• The consultant will then analyse the collected data and provide the final report by 15th of October 2024.

Payment Modalities

The proposed terms of payment are: 20% upon signing the contract and starting the consultancy work in South Sudan, and 70% upon successful completion of the work, including submission of the validated report and all deliverables.

How to apply

This is a challenging opportunity for dedicated and highly motivated professional(s). Both international and national candidates, including academic institutions, are encouraged to express their interest by submitting:

• A detailed Technical Proposal including methods, sampling size, sampling methodology, statistics analysis, team structure, timeline, operational needs, etc.
• A detailed Financial Proposal (including all expenses separated by cost category).
• Evidence of past performance in similar work.
• Curriculum Vitae of professionals to be engaged in the Consultancy.
• A detailed work schedule/plan.
• Contact details for three most recent professional referees

The full application package should be sent to the MENTOR Human Resources email address at recruitment.southsudan@mentor-initiative.net, quoting the position title “Independent Coverage Survey of Mass Drug Administration in South Sudan” in the subject line.

Hard copies of the application can be sent to: Hamza Inn Compound, Block G Plot No. 4 – Juba Town Area Opposite NOTOS Restaurant.

The closing date for submitting applications is 25th August 2024. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

The MENTOR Initiative applies a zero tolerance to the exploitation, sexual abuse and mistreatment of women, children and all others, and is expecting its staff as well as the contractor to adhere to its PSEA policies and UN guidelines. The MENTOR Initiative will contact previous employers of applicants to determine if they have had a history of codes of conduct relating to sexual harassment, exploitation or abuse and fraud.