ITN Campaign Efficiency Project Consultant-Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation at International Federation of Red Cross And Red Crescent Societies

Background:

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, with a network of 192-member National Societies. The overall aim of the IFRC is “to inspire, encourage, facilitate, and promote at all times all forms of humanitarian activities by National Societies with a view to preventing and alleviating human suffering and thereby contributing to the maintenance and promotion of human dignity and peace in the world.” The IFRC works to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people before, during and after disasters, health emergencies and other crises.

The IFRC is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (the Movement), together with its member National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The work of the IFRC is guided by the following fundamental principles: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality. At Geneva level the Health and Care Department consists of four teams: Emergency Health, Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE), WASH and Community Health. This consultancy will support the work of the Community Health Team.

The Community Health Team houses the Alliance for Malaria Prevention (AMP), a partnership of more than 40 organizations, including government, private sector, faith-based and humanitarian organizations, focused on three main activities: (1) coordination of partners involved in insecticide-treated net (ITN) campaign and continuous distribution activities; (2) development of operational guidance for planning and implementing of ITN distribution; and (3) supporting national malaria programmes to identify, address and document operational successes and challenges to meeting the WHO Global Technical Strategy (GTS) targets for high coverage and use of ITNs. AMP is a workstream within the RBM Partnership to End Malaria. Harnessing the global leadership and management systems of IFRC, AMP is uniquely positioned to support and advance country-level efforts to promote high-quality, high-impact, efficient distribution of ITNs to increase population access to nets in malaria endemic countries through both campaign and continuous distribution channels.

In 2020, IFRC/AMP was awarded a three-year grant by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to identify ways to improve operational efficiency for ITN campaigns and develop associated operational guidance for national malaria programmes and partners. The activities in the grant are organized into seven workstreams, representing some of the most critical inefficiencies and challenges national malaria programmes and partners face with ITN campaigns and continuous distribution. The project is coming to the end of the second year and the team anticipates submission of a proposal to the Gates Foundation before the end of 2022 to minimize the possibility of a gap between grants.

Objective #1: Scaling up and maintaining universal coverage targets of malaria prevention with ITNs through all available channels including mass distribution campaigns and continuous distribution channels

Desired outcomes: To address inefficiencies in planning and implementation of mass ITN distribution campaigns and continuous ITN distribution.

Overall objective:

The overall objective of this consultancy is to support the IFRC/AMP malaria team with activities related to the ITN Campaign Efficiency Project as detailed below.

Specific objectives:

To support development and finalization of deliverables from the ITN Campaign Efficiency Project across the seven workstreams with a focus on digitalization, electronic payments and case studies.
To support development and finalization of the Year 2 report for the ITN Campaign Efficiency Project.
To support development of a draft concept note and/or proposal for the Gates Foundation for a new investment grant.
To support collection and compilation of data and results of evaluations specific to the BMGF project in order to develop updated operational guidance and ensure consensus across malaria partners.
To support correct and timely monthly reporting on all project activities and support decision-making for course corrections to achieve project objectives.
To support organization of a meeting focused on re-engagement of National Societies in Global Fund grants with a focus on malaria.
To participate in workplan and project review meetings and contribute to discussions about keeping deliverables on track.
To support with dissemination of project deliverables, including organization of training sessions, webinars, etc.
To support updating of website text and reorganization of resources for improved user experience.
To support the reorganization of AMP resources database to make it user friendly.
To support organization of the annual project review meeting.
To participate in all conference calls for AMP and the BMGF grant, as well as additional relevant calls.

Deliverables:

Identified/prioritized deliverables from the ITN Campaign Efficiency Project across the seven workstreams completed.
Year 2 report for the ITN Campaign Efficiency Project completed and submitted on time.
Draft concept note and/or proposal for the Gates Foundation for a new investment grant available.
Correct and timely monthly reporting on all project activities completed.
Meeting focused on re-engagement of National Societies in Global Fund grants completed.
Dissemination of project deliverables, including organization of training sessions, webinars, etc., planned and implemented.
Website text updated and resources reorganized for improved user experience.
AMP resource database updated.
Annual project review meeting organized.

Consultancy requirements:

Excellent English writing and communication skills (required)
Ability to read/write in French or Portuguese in addition to English (preferred)
Experience in malaria and with ITN distribution through different channels (required)
Experience in project management
Ability to work independently as well as in a team (required)
Knowledge of requirements of main ITN funding partners (e.g. Global Fund, US President’s Malaria Initiative), as well as the Gates Foundation (preferred)
Knowledge of current WHO malaria policies (preferred)

Support to be provided to the consultant:

The consultant will be supported by the Manager – Malaria Programmes, Officer – Information Systems and M&E and AMP Coordinator.

Experience

Experience in malaria and with ITN distribution through different channels (required)
Experience in project management
Ability to work independently as well as in a team (required

Knowledge, Skills and Language

Excellent English writing and communication skills (required)
Ability to read/write in French or Portuguese in addition to English (preferred)
Knowledge of requirements of main ITN funding partners (e.g. Global Fund, US President’s Malaria Initiative), as well as the Gates Foundation (preferred)
Knowledge of current WHO malaria policies (preferred