Individual consultant or organization: National research partner in Ethiopia

The International Food Policy Research Institute is seeking a national research partner in Ethiopia to support a project aimed at preventing child wasting. The role includes engaging in formative research, co-designing protocols for implementation, and leading various studies over two phases. The position requires close collaboration with global partners and is focused on generating evidence to inform interventions tailored to the local context.
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 – 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 the first co-creation 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, 2027– 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, 2028– December 31, 2028

8

Dissemination workshop

Dissemination slides presenting key research findings; workshop report summarizing discussions on findings

December 31, 2028

Required qualification, experience, languages and competencies

· PhD in nutrition, public health, nutritional epidemiology or related field.

· At least 10 years of professional experience in conducting high-quality research in nutrition, public health, or related fields in Ethiopia.

· Experience conducting research on child undernutrition and, preferably, on wasting.

· Experience obtaining ethics committee approval and other approvals from authorities.

· Experience sensitizing communities and other stakeholders about research activities.

· Experience developing reports, policy briefs and journal articles.

· Excellent communications skills.

· Excellent written and spoken English.

Preferred qualifications

· Experience conducting impact evaluations using a randomized controlled design, implementation research, and cost studies.

How to apply

The following items need to be included in the proposal:
• A letter of intent elaborating on capacity, experience and availability of the national research partner to conduct the work within the presented timeframe in Ethiopia. Applications from teams of researchers with complementary expertise are possible.
• Detailed up-to-date CV of the person(s) who will lead and conduct the research.
• A budget reflecting time involvement and daily rate.
• 2-3 references related to recent relevant work of the person(s) who will conduct the research.
• If the consultant applies through an organization/firm:

- A presentation of the organization and previous experience in conducting research.

- Organization’s costs need to be reflected in the budget.

In a second round of the selection process, selected candidates will work closely with IFPRI to refine workplan and budget.