Consultants - Desk Review at Nuru Nigeria (NN) - 2 Openings

Nuru Nigeria - Founded by a former US Marine, formed at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business, and fueled by angel investors from Silicon Valley. Nuru Nigeria is a locally led NGO with affiliates in the US, Kenya, Ethiopia,Burkina Faso and Ghana. Nuru equips local leaders with tools and knowledge to lead their communities out of extreme poverty by integrating impact programs that address the most prevalent and fundamental challenges of extreme poverty around four areas of need: Hunger, Inability to Cope with Financial Shocks, Preventable Disease and Death, Lack of Access to Quality Education for Children. Nuru Nigeria design training-based poverty solutions that promote self-reliance and service-mindedness to enable local leaders to continue scaling impact long after Nuru Nigeria staff has exited the project.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Consultant - Desk Review

Locations: Sokoto and Zamfara
Employment Type: Contract

Background

• Nuru Nigeria (NN), as part of its strategic alignment with USAID’s Global Food Security Strategy (GFSS) Nigeria Country Plan, seeks to deepen its understanding of the resilience context in Sokoto and Zamfara States. This engagement is critical for informing programming priorities, particularly around nutrition, livelihoods, and resilience-building activities in the region.
• To achieve this, NN requires a comprehensive desk review of available data and reports on Sokoto and Zamfara States, focusing on the Nutrition Index, LGA-specific conditions, and USAID's strategic interest areas in these states. The review will guide NN in designing impactful interventions that align with USAID’s goals and address key vulnerabilities.

Objectives of the Consultancy
The overall objective is to provide NN with a detailed and actionable synthesis of the resilience and nutrition context in Sokoto and Zamfara States. Specifically, the consultancy aims to:

• Assess the Nutrition Index: Review the nutritional landscape in Sokoto and Zamfara States, identifying key indicators, trends, and gaps.
• LGA-Specific Analysis: Analyze Local Government Areas (LGAs) in both states to identify vulnerabilities, strengths, and priorities for resilience-building activities.
• Align with USAID Priorities: Map USAID’s areas of interest in resilience and food security and provide strategic feedback for NN’s programming.
• Highlight Opportunities: Identify potential opportunities for NN to collaborate with USAID and other partners to enhance resilience in Sokoto and Zamfara States.

Scope of Work
The consultant will undertake the following tasks:

• Desk Review: Collate and analyse existing reports, datasets, and studies on Sokoto and Zamfara States. Focus on key areas such as:
  • Nutrition and food security indicators.
  • Resilience and livelihood profiles.
  • Health, education, and WASH data linked to resilience.
  • Governance and institutional capacities at LGA levels.
  • List of Local and International NGOs present in the location
  • Review USAID’s published strategies and programs and focus areas relevant to the GFSS Nigeria plan.
• Stakeholder Mapping: Identify key stakeholders, including government agencies, donor programs, and local organisations working in resilience and food security in the two states.
• Strategic Feedback: Provide insights and recommendations on how NN can strategically align its activities with USAID’s GFSS Nigeria Country Plan.
• Reporting: Submit a detailed report including findings, analysis, and actionable recommendations.

Reporting and Supervision:

• The consultant will report to the Leadership and Partnership Director, Nuru Nigeria, and will work closely with the relevant program and research teams.

Deliverables
Inception Report:

• Detailed work plan, methodology, and data sources within three weeks of engagement.

Draft Report:

• First Presentation meeting by 2nd week of January 2025
• Comprehensive draft of findings and initial recommendations for review by NN

Final Report:
Finalised report incorporating NN’s feedback, including:

• State-level analysis.
• LGA-specific insights.
• Alignment with USAID’s strategic interests.
• Recommendations for NN’s programming priorities.

Presentation:

• A summary presentation of key findings and recommendations to NN’s leadership team.

Duration of the Assignment:

• The consultancy is expected to last 12 weeks, starting from the date of contract signing.

Qualifications and Experience Requirements
The consultant should possess:

• Advanced Degree in Development Studies, Public Health, Nutrition, or related fields.
• Proven experience in conducting desk reviews and research in food security, resilience, or nutrition.
• Familiarity with the context of northern Nigeria, particularly Sokoto and Zamfara States.
• Knowledge of USAID’s GFSS and related strategies.
• Strong analytical and report-writing skills.

Application Closing Date
5th December, 2024.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should send their Applications, Including their Technical Proposal, Financial Proposal, CV and Relevant Experience to: [email protected] CC: [email protected] using the Job Title as the subject of the mail.

Application Procedure
Interested consultants should submit:
Technical Proposal:

• Understanding of the assignment.
• Methodology and work plan.

Financial Proposal:

• Breakdown of consultancy fees and other associated costs.

CV and Relevant Experience:

• Highlighting past assignments in similar contexts.

Note: Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.