Mercy Corps Consultants Jobs Vacancies

Mercy
Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better
world is possible.In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around
the world, we collaborate to put bold solutions into action – helping people
triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within, now and for
the future. In Nigeria, Mercy Corps operates in over 13 states focusing on key
thematic areas of humanitarian response, conflict mitigation and adolescent
girls’ empowerment.

We
are recruiting to fill the vacant position below:

Job
Title:
Consultant – Educating the Nigerian Girls in New Enterprises (ENGINE II)
Location: Abuja, FCT
Consultancy: menstrual health management

Project
Background

The
Educating Nigerian Girls in New Enterprises (ENGINE) programme is an
initiative funded by DFID under its Girls’ Education Challenge Window
(GEC). The first phase of the project started in October 2013 and ended in
March 2017. In its first phase, marginalised girls between the ages of 16-
19 were supported to improve their learning outcomes and economic status.
ENGINE I recorded successful implementation that saw to the enrolment of
24,489 in-school girls (ISGs) and out-of-school girls (OSGs) and
completion of nine- month learning sessions at the safe space learning
centres by 21,162 girls.
Building
upon the successes of ENGINE I, the second phase of the project ENGINE II
started in April 2017 and will end in March 2020. It works with both
in-school and out-of-school girls across the four states of Nigeria (Kano,
Kaduna, Federal Capital Territory-FCT and Lagos Metropolis).
ENGINE
II is implemented at the State level through its implementing partners:
AHI (Action Health Incorporated) for Lagos Metropolis, TCF (Tabitha Cumi
Foundation) at Federal Capital Territory, SWODEN (Society for Women
Development and Economic Empowerment of Nigeria) in Kano, and KHAN
(Kindling Hope across Nations) for Kaduna.
In
order to achieve the overarching project goal, ENGINE II works in
partnership with different public and private sectors such as, the
Ministry of Education and its line agencies at the state level, National
Youth Service Corps (NYSC), National Identity Management Commission
(NIMC), Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Access Bank, Airtel, Twinings and
Proctor and Gamble.
In
line with the project’s objective of improving the life chances of
marginalised girls and transitioning them to better future, Mercy Corps
and P&G under the ENGINE II programme is currently implementing
a project called Let Girls Learn(LGL). The LGL project is implemented in
ENGINE II project communities at 29 targeted communities in the FCT. The
main objective of the project are:

To
enhance beneficiaries’ knowledge and practices on menstruation and
menstrual hygiene.
To
create access to hygienic emergency sanitary products.
To
strengthen support structures within the school and communities to
advance the reproductive health and rights of adolescent girls.
To
advocate for the provision of adequate water, sanitation and hygienic
facilities including disposal options.

Rationale
for the LGL intervention:

The
rationale for the Let Girls Learn program is based on several studies,
which have articulated the challenges girls face, including poor access to
comprehensive information on menstruation, lack of appropriate materials
to manage menstrual bleeding, and inadequate WASH facilities.
These
have negative consequences in the life of a girl leading to loss of
dignity, behavioural restrictions, and absenteeism from the school and
potential reproductive health risks for the girls.
In
the first phase of implementing the ENGINE project, beneficiaries attended
a nine months learning session were they were trained on various academic
and non-academic modules.
On
ENGINE II, the focus is to support beneficiaries to attain functional
literacy and numeracy and enhanced life skills.
Therefore,
the ENGINE II P&G Let Girls Learn project IEC materials to be deployed
for training will be inclusive of Sexual and Reproductive Health
information focusing on menstrual health management (MHM).

Objectives
of the consultancy

In
order to obtain excellent results on output three, the ENGINE 2 project seeks
the services of a consultant who is expected to achieve the following
objectives utilizing a coherent robust and methodological approach which best
fits the context of:

Conduct
a scooping study of the state of public schools’ menstrual health
management systems in FCT and related policies then submit a detailed
report – Here in, the consultant will conduct a desk review of existing
Nigerian education health policies in relation to the menstrual health
management systems obtainable in (29) public schools in FCT.
Report/findings from this review will serve as a pathfinder for the ENGINE
II Let Girls Learn project and development of the training and
sensitization materials below.
Review
related hand books then develop content for Menstrual Health Management
handbook for adolescent In-school girls – based on the above assignment,
the consultant will then develop a handbook which contains practical and
pictorial presentations on essential menstrual health management skills in
a girl-sensitive manner. This is essential to ensure that beneficiaries
understand the content and can be effectively used by the Girl
Ambassadors/advocates for peer to peer education. It should focus on the
following areas:

Growth
mind set
Dynamics
of the Menstruation period, Biological Factors: Age, Intensity of
Menstruation, Cycle
How
do girls understand their personal cycle and how does this impact their
experience
How
to manage menstruation at school
How
does cramping or headaches impact girls during menstruation? Does it affect
school attendance?
How
does menstrual hygiene contribute to the mental wellbeing of teenage
girls, e.g. self-esteem, inferiority complex, Reactions to how others
treat them when menstruating, etc
Understanding
your cycle
How
to use an always pad

Review
existing/develop content for Menstrual Health Management pamphlets for
adolescent In-school girls: This component is to enhance girls’ MHM skills
and provide apt personal MHM information.
Review
existing Menstrual Health Management flash cards for teaching MHM to
adolescent In-school girls: Instructional Aids to facilitate teenage/child
friendly class lessons and School Club sessions e.g. the flashcards will
be deployed to facilitate interactive Q&A sessions
Review
existing/develop content for Menstrual Health Management pamphlets for
gatekeepers of adolescent In-school girls: This component is to be
deployed to advocate for support from gatekeepers to enhance girls’ MHM
skills and create a supportive environment for MHM. It is expected to give
apt MHM information. Societal and cultural norms, environmental and social
influences, personal perceptions, and personal biology may all determine
how girls experience and manage menstruation, and those perceptions affect
their education. Each of these levels of influence should be addressed,
advocating for support. Also, environmental Factors: Water, Sanitation,
& Resource Availability and its influence

Scope
of work

The
consultancy will be carried out in FCT and the Consultant will liaise with
the ENGINE II communication and programmes units for a desk review of the
policies review report.

Key
Deliverables:

Comprehensive
report of the review of the state of public schools’ menstrual health
management systems in FCT and related policies.
Menstrual
Health Management handbook, pamphlets and flash cards for adolescent
In-school girls and gatekeepers keeping the assignment objectives in mind.
Desk
review and weekly progress updates during the course of the consultancy.
Develop
a layout for printing the final copies of the objectives above.

Required/
Preferred Skills and Experience

Master’s
Degree in Public Health, Sociology, Communications, Gender, Social
Sciences, or other related areas; Demonstration of 5 years’ experience of
carrying out similar tasks especially on adolescent girls’ programmes.
Working
experience with international non-governmental and civil society
organisations is desirable.
Expert
knowledge and practical experience in behaviour change communication in
developing countries, preferably in Nigeria
Experience
designing educational, training of trainers, and behaviour change
materials for audiences with low levels of literacy.
Experience
working in rural communities preferably in Nigeria in MHM related issues;
an understanding of the deeply sensitive issues MHM brings up within
communities and the tact and diplomacy to navigate contextual norms.
Demonstrate
ability to work autonomously and pay attention to detail.

Accountabilities
and Responsibilities

The
Consultant(s) shall report directly to the Communication Advisor and FCT
State Team Lead of the ENGINE II project. For coordination purposes, the
FCT State Team Lead shall work in close contact with the ENGINE II project
manager and deputy project manager based in Abuja.

The
consultant will be responsible for:

Submitting
a detailed proposal in conformity with the specified ToR.
Submission
of all the required statutory documentation.
Production
of deliverables in accordance with contractual requirements

Terms
of Reference for Consultancy

To
do a scooping study of the state of public schools’ menstrual health
management, review related policies and handbooks, pamphlets and flash
cards for ENGINE II Procter and Gamble Let Girls Learn programme.

How
to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should forward their CV’s to: ng-submissions@mercycorps.org with the
subject “ENGINE II P&G Let Girls Learn IEC Consultancy”.

For
hard copy submission, please submit your proposals in a sealed envelope to:
Operations Manager,
Mercy Corps Nigeria,
Abuja Office,
#3, Adeleye Close,
Off Usman Sarki Crescent, Utako,
Abuja, FCT,
Nigeria.

Application
Process
The following are the steps in the application process:

Interested
individuals/firms will send in a detailed proposal which will highlight
the following:

Profile
of applicant(s) with details and qualifications of all that will be
working on the team
Detailed
work plan outlining activities to be carried out with clear timelines.
Budget
including daily rate and samples of past work done

Sequel
to the close of application, an internal shortlist of candidates will be
done based on experience, skills and qualification.
ONLY
shortlisted applicants will be invited for a defence of their proposals
consequent upon which a final candidate will be selected.