Background Background and Justification
Globally, 45 million children under the age of five suffer from wasting. Wasting dramatically increases the risk of death, killing 875,000 under-fives annually. Testing innovative solutions to prevent wasting are urgently needed. The Joint UN Partnership for the Prevention of Wasting (JUNIPr) between UNICEF, WFP, and WHO offers a unique opportunity to study the effectiveness of multisystem and multisectoral programs aimed at preventing wasting. Actions to prevent wasting should be tailored to context and integrated in the continuum of care from screening to treatment and post-treatment follow-up.
This project will generate high-quality evidence through research in West Africa (Mali), East Africa (Ethiopia), and South Asia (Bangladesh).
Scope of Work
I. Goals
In close consultation with the global research lead IFPRI, the national research partner will be involved in the Design Phase (Phase 1) and the Implementation Phase (Phase 2) of the research project described above. Briefly, Phase 1 will consist of the following activities: support formative research; support the identification of the different components of the intervention package and the appropriate model to test at scale; co-design (with IFPRI) the protocols for the implementation research, impact evaluation study, and costing study to be conducted in the second phase. Phase 2 will have the following activities: Lead a rapid assessment of program scale-up; lead the implementation of the impact evaluation study; lead the implementation of the implementation research; lead the implementation of the cost study; lead a dissemination workshop in country.
II. Activities and Tasks
The contract will be issued and managed by IFPRI. Under the close supervision of IFPRI and in close consultation with IFPRI, UNICEF, WFP and WHO, this consultancy will focus on several activities in two research phases. Details of each phase and the related activities are provided below.
Phase 1 โ Design (18 months)
Activity 1: Formative research
Formative research will be conducted to inform the design of context-tailored intervention packages, including relevant delivery platforms and implementation modalities. The national research partner will co-design (with IFPRI) the formative research and will lead the implementation of the formative research.
Sub-activity 1.1 Desk review, key informant interviews, and triangulation of findings from inception workshop and secondary data analysis
Sub-activity 1.2 Second workshop to validate the intervention package
Activity 2: The development and approval of detailed research protocols for the implementation, impact evaluation and costing research
In close consultation with the JUNIPr consortium, the national research partner will co-develop (with IFPRI) the research protocols for the research activities of Phase 2, and in consultation with the JUNIPr consortium and implementers.
Sub-activity 2.1 Impact evaluation protocol
Sub-activity 2.2 Implementation research protocol
Sub-activity 2.3 Cost study protocol
Activity 3: Obtaining IRB and other required approvals and related amendments
Phase 2 - Research Implementation (estimated duration: 36 months)
During Phase 2, the intervention model developed in Phase 1 will be implemented. The national research partner activities will focus on the impact assessment, implementation study, and cost study. Detailed descriptions of the Phase 2 activities will be provided during Phase 1 of the project. cost of field staff and logistics is not part of this TOR.
Activity 4: Rapid assessment of program scale-up
Activity 5: Impact evaluation
Activity 6: Implementation research
Activity 7: Cost study
Activity 8: Dissemination workshop
Outputs/Deliverables
Phase 1
Activity no.
Tasks
(see details above)
Deliverable
Timeline
1.1
Triangulation of formative research findings
Detailed report of the findings of the formative research with a clear summary of key findings and a clear section on options for the implementation package
November 30, 2025
1.2
Co-creation workshop
Detailed report of the findings of the co-creation workshop with a clear summary of key findings and next steps
January 31, 2026
2
Development of research protocol
Impact evaluation protocol, implementation research protocol, cost study protocol
October 31, 2026
3
Obtain approvals
National Ethics committee approval, and any other approvals needed
November 30, 2026
Phase 2
Activity no.
Tasks
Deliverable
Timeline
4
Rapid assessment of program scale-up
Preparation: Review of draft study instruments; selection recommendation of data collection firm or enumerators; report on training of enumerators
Conduct impact evaluation: Report on the following: Manage field teams, assess data quality, conduct data cleaning, conduct analysis, results.
November 30, 2026
December 31, 2026
5
Impact evaluation
Preparation: Review of draft study instruments; selection recommendation of data collection firm or enumerators, report on training and standardization of enumerators
Conduct impact evaluation: Monthly progress reports on the following activities: manage field teams, assess data quality, conduct data cleaning, conduct analysis
January 15, 2027
January 1, 2027โ December 31, 2028
6
Implementation research
Preparation: Review of draft study instruments; selection recommendation of data collection firm or enumerators; report on training of enumerators
Conduct study: Monthly progress reports on the following activities: Manage field teams, assess data quality, conduct data cleaning, conduct analysis
January 30, 2028
March 30, 2028
7
Cost study
Preparation: Review of draft study instruments; selection recommendation of data collection firm or enumerators; report on training of enumerators
Conduct study: Monthly progress reports on the following activities: Manage field teams, assess data quality, conduct data cleaning, conduct analysis
January 30, 2028
January 1, 2028โ December 31, 2028
8
Dissemination workshop
Dissemination slides presenting key research findings; workshop report summarizing discussions on findings
December 31, 2028
Required qualifications, experience, languages and competencies
ยท PhD in nutrition, public health, nutritional epidemiology or related field.