Established in 1915 with Helen Keller as a founding trustee, Helen Keller International works to save the sight and lives of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged. Headquartered in New York City, Helen Keller Intl currently offers programs in 21 countries in Africa and Asia, as well as in the United States. The organization combats the causes and consequences of blindness and malnutrition by establishing programs based on evidence and research.
In Kenya Helen Keller collaborates with the Ministry of Health in implementing health and nutrition projects that focus on strengthening health system and provision of vitamin A and deworming treatment to children 6-5 years in various counties.
Helen Keller International in Kenya is seeking a consultant to support in conducting a baseline study to prepare a research project on integration of Community-based management of acute malnutrition (CMAM) with Integrated management of childhood illnesses (ICCM) in the routine services delivered by community health volunteers (CHVs).
Scope of work
Acute malnutrition remains highly prevalent in Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASAL) counties in Kenya. For a decade, the Kenyan government has endorsed the CMAM approach as the main response to treat severely and moderately malnourished children, but until now, coverage has remained low.
In multiple countries, including Kenya, studies have demonstrated that Community Health volunteers (CHWs) can efficiently treat acute malnutrition at the household level with the use of simplified tools and protocols. Similarly, ICCM has been shown to be manageable by CHWs.
To boost the coverage of CMAM, Helen Keller aims at conducting a research project to test the feasibility of the CHW-based delivery of both CMAM and ICCM combined in their catchment areas and scaling up the innovation to the entire county of Baringo.
The objective of the consultancy is to generate information that will support the planning phase of the research project.
The consultant will design, conduct, analyze and report on a baseline study that will look at all components of the health system in the county of Baringo: a representative sample of community health workers and health facilities’ workers (of varying tiers) will be sampled, two initial targeted sub-county health management teams and the county management team. The survey will assess the performance and gaps of core functions of the health system such as information, supplies or financing. Findings from the survey would be used to organize a series of in-depth design events with all actors of the health system.
The consultants will also conduct multiple consultations with national stakeholders involved in CMAM and ICCM programming.
Deliverables
Prepare detailed study protocol, questionnaires, analysis plan, training modules - 5 days
Present the protocol to IRB committee and Nutrition Information working group and make required adjustments - 2 days
Conduct training for enumerators and county health teams - 5 days
Conduct the data collection for the study - 10 days
Analyze and write a report on the study results - 10 days
Provide national restitution of findings to relevant forum - 3 days
Total - 35 days
How to apply:
Application
Interested candidates should send their cover letter describing their experience conducting similar assessments and a curriculum vitae. The cover letter should be accompanied with an overall budget that includes the cost of recruiting enumerators to conduct the study.
Please note that the consultant is expected to recruit his/her own team of enumerators.
Applications should be sent to kenya.recruitment@hki.org . Please indicate the position on the subject line of the email.
The deadline of application is 6 May 2022.
NB: HELEN KELLER INTERNATIONAL
• DOES NOT RECRUIT THROUGH A RECRUITMENT AGENCY;
• DOES NOT CHARGE ANY FEES OF ANY KIND TO THE CANDIDATE;
• DOES NOT REQUEST INFORMATION ABOUT CANDIDATES' BANK ACCOUNTS;
ALL RECRUITMENTS ARE FREE OF CHARGE
Equal Opportunity Employer
· Helen Keller is an Equal Opportunity Employer where all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national or ethnic origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, disability, or protected veteran status.
· We are committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individual with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual with a disability and need to request an accommodation during the application or interview process, please contact us at the email above.**