Consultant to deliver analytics on Irish ODA funding for nutrition interventions

Background

The Global Nutrition Report outlines that official development assistance (ODA) directed towards nutrition-specific initiatives has recently declined, remaining at $0.96 billion in 2018 and 2019, down from $1.07 billion in 2017, a reduction in funding of approximately 10%. Reduced funding results in significant setbacks in addressing malnutrition in all forms, undermining efforts to improve maternal and child health, reduce stunting and wasting in children, and reducing micronutrient deficiencies. This decline in funding compromises the ability of countries to implement and sustain essential nutrition programs, potentially reversing progress made towards achieving global nutrition targets and the Sustainable Development Goals.

In 2023, an estimated 148 million children under the age of 5 were affected by stunting due to chronic malnutrition, while 45 million children suffered from wasting, a result of severe and acute malnutrition. The scale of the global hunger and malnutrition crisis continues to worsen. According to the World Food Programme (WFP), 345 million people were acutely food insecure in 2023, more than double the number in 2020. Overall, global hunger affects between 691 and 783 million people, an increase of 122 million since before the COVID-19 pandemic.

It is fundamental that donor countries scale up financial resources for nutrition and ensure their effective use through a multisectoral integrated approach. Several guidance frameworks for monitoring nutrition spending exist, including Nutrition for Growth (N4G), the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),, the Global Nutrition Report, the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement, these accountability frameworks provide strategies and tools to track and enhance the impact of nutrition investments.

In the lead-up to N4G 2025, Concern Worldwide will collaborate with civil society partners and donors to advocate for support for the prevention and treatment of malnutrition in fragile and conflict-affected contexts. This collaboration aims to mobilize resources, advocate for those most poor, and implement programs addressing the root causes of malnutrition, ensuring that vulnerable populations receive the necessary support to improve their nutritional status and overall well-being.

Concern is seeking a consultant to analyse ODA funding allocated to nutrition sensitive and nutrition specific programs from the Irish Government. The consultant will review historical spending from 2013 to 2023 (approximately) on nutrition interventions, identify prioritized interventions, and provide recommendations for future funding aligned with Ireland’s pledge for the 2025 N4G Summit.

The analysis will report the trends in nutrition-related development and humanitarian funding and offer recommendations to Irish government departments to inform the quality and quantity of funding. This role will be contracted by Concern Ireland, with direct reporting to the Food and Nutrition Policy and Advocacy Advisor.

Purpose of the Consultancy

The purpose of the consultancy is to deliver analytics on Irish Aid’s funding for nutrition interventions, including historical spending analysis, identification of prioritized interventions, assess of cost-effectiveness, and provision of recommendations for future funding requests and discussions with Irish Aid/DFAM.

• Analyse Ireland’s historical spending on nutrition interventions over 10-year period (2013- 2023)
• Identify prioritized interventions based on the analysis.
• provide recommendations on future funding ask/level of ambition to inform discussions with Irish Aid/DFAM in the coming year (especially around what to ask in the 2025 budget and Nutrition for Growth.

Essential and Desirable Experience/Qualifications

• Extensive knowledge of EU funding mechanisms and OECD reporting methodology
• Experience in analysing ODA, funding allocations, nutrition policy makers and expenditures in the field of nutrition or related sectors.
• Strong research and analytical skills and ability to evaluate cost-effectiveness of interventions.
• Knowledge on current progress and challenges on nutrition funding at global level
• Familiarity with donor agency funding modalities and partnerships in the nutrition space.
• A track record of this type of analytical work is essential.

Objectives and Specific Tasks to be undertaken by the Consultant (s

• Analyse Ireland’s historical spending on nutrition interventions over 10-year period (2013- 2023)
• Identify prioritized interventions based on the analysis.
• Provide recommendations on future funding ask/level of ambition to inform discussions with Irish Aid/DFAM in the coming year (relevant to the 2025 budget and Nutrition for Growth Summit).

Expected Outputs and Timeline

30-day consultancy July – August 2024 Approx.

1. Submission of one report including historical funding analysis, including a scorecard of most funded interventions, and their cost-effectiveness.
2. Submission of one report including recommendations on future funding asks: on the important and value of a concrete financial pledge to reinforce Ireland’s commitment towards reducing global hunger.
3. Presentation of findings and recommendations of the analysis to Concern and key