Sustainable home-grown school feeding to reduce hunger among school children in Somaliland – Project Title: Designing of information and advocacy str At CARE USA

1. SUMMARY

CARE is one of the main International Non-Governmental Organizations operating in Somalia and Somaliland. It has played a vital role in addressing the considerable humanitarian needs of the region, as well as taking the lead in recovery and development initiatives. CARE is responsible for overseeing a substantial humanitarian portfolio in Somalia, where it has established a commendable reputation as a key partner in addressing the needs of populations impacted by conflict, droughts, famine, and epidemic outbreaks in both Somalia and Somaliland. Since 1997, CARE has consistently carried out education initiatives in Somaliland and Puntland, have recently extended our educational efforts to encompass South Central. CARE works in close collaboration with the relevant governmental bodies to strengthen the education sector. The education interventions implemented encompass both non-formal and primary education. Education interventions undertaken encompass non-formal and primary education and have included school rehabilitation, capacity building of education authority structures, capacity building of Ministry of Education, Culture and Higher Education, civil society strengthening in education, training of Community Education Committees (CECs), curriculum development, vocational training, and teacher education.

HGSF programs use local and fresh products, which can bring extra nutritional benefits, promoting diet diversification and healthy habits, strengthening the local food system, and enhancing the capacities of the actors involved. It can also help put in place local infrastructure along the supply chain and in schools.

School feeding programs are generally considered education interventions that facilitate access to education, increase attendance and retention rates, and improve the nutrition of school children. Furthermore, there is evidence that school feeding programs contribute to children’s learning and health, increasing their productive potential later in life. Especially when school feeding is part of a larger package of investment in education, they help maximize the return on this investment and contribute to reducing poverty in the long term.

Linking schools to local production is a new concept in Somaliland. The distinctive and innovative element of HGSF programs, compared to traditional school feeding programs which Somaliland has strong experiences, is the prioritization of smallholder farmers in a way that maximizes sustainable benefits on prices, opportunities for commercialization, market linkages and access to productive assets for smallholders and other stakeholders along the value chain.

1. PROJECT SUMMARY

CARE is currently implementing the Home-Grown School Feeding Initiative in Somaliland, aiming to provide nutritious meals to school children.

A HGSF is designed to strengthen the commercial relations between caterers and farmers by enhancing communication and trust, improve financial flows, and enhance the overall quality of the school meal service by supplying locally grown produce. Linking local agriculture to school meals Home Grown School Feeding (HGSF) is a growing market for smallholder farmers. By linking local agricultural production to school meals, HGSF capitalizes on the benefits of School Feeding programs and multiplies advantages for rural communities, developing community capacity. They can increase enrolment, improve nutrition, boost local economies, improve smallholders’ livelihoods, and develop government capacity. Due to varied country contexts, each HGSF program is unique, but are generally characterized by the incorporation of local food purchases into government-run school feeding programs.

This project aims to design an effective information and advocacy strategy for the Home-grown School Feeding program, which aims to promote the adoption of home-grown school feeding in project targeted schools in Somaliland, increase awareness of the program’s benefits, and build support among stakeholders. As part of this initiative, CARE Somaliland is seeking the services of a consultant(s) to design and develop an advocacy strategy for Home Grown School Feeding and Tain female HGSF advocacy champions from the CSOs in Somaliland.

1. Objectives:

Develop a comprehensive advocacy strategy for the Home-Grown School Feeding (HGSF) program in Somaliland and train women-led Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in (60 person in target areas) to become effective advocates, ultimately promoting the adoption and expansion of the program to benefit school children and local communities.

Sub-Objectives:

• Develop a comprehensive information and advocacy strategy for the HGSF program.
• Train women-led CSOs in the three target towns on the developed advocacy strategy. Equip them with the skills and resources to become effective HGSF champions, driving program adoption and expansion.
• Increase awareness among stakeholders (government, schools, communities) about the benefits of the HGSF program, including improved child nutrition, education outcomes, and local economic development.
• Build support for the HGSF program among key stakeholders, including securing resources and commitment for program expansion.

1. SCOPE OF WORK:

This project will encompass the following activities:

• Advocacy Strategy Development
• CSO Training and Capacity Building
• Advocacy Implementation Support
  • Key messages and messaging frameworks
  • Communication channels and tactics
  • Advocacy targets and stakeholders
  • Monitoring and evaluation plan
• A comprehensive training reports including training manuals and toolkits: details manual and toolkits provided to participants, including case studies, practical exercises, and advocacy planning template.
• Conduct a stakeholder analysis to identify key audiences and their information needs.
• Research and document the benefits of the HGSF program, including improved child nutrition, education outcomes, and local economic development.
• Develop clear and compelling messaging tailored to different stakeholder groups.
• Design a comprehensive advocacy strategy outlining:
  • Target audiences
  • Key messages for each audience
  • Communication channels (e.g., workshops, media outreach, community engagement)
  • Advocacy activities and timeline
• Select a minimum number 50 of women led CSO representatives from each of the three project targeted areas.
• Design and deliver a training program on the developed advocacy strategy, equipping participants with the following skills:
  • Understanding the HGSF program and its benefits
  • Effective communication and advocacy techniques
  • Public speaking and presentation skills
  • Stakeholder engagement and mobilization
  • Monitoring and evaluation of advocacy efforts
• Develop training materials, including handouts, presentations, and resources.
• Conduct post-training evaluations to assess the effectiveness of the training and identify areas for improvement.
• Provide technical support and guidance to the trained CSOs as they implement the advocacy strategy in their respective communities.
• Facilitate collaboration and networking opportunities between CSOs, government agencies, schools, and other stakeholders.

V. Deliverables

• Developed and Disseminated Advocacy Strategy document including:
• Training materials and evaluations for the CSO training program
• A network of empowered CSO champions actively advocating for the HGSF program

V1. TIMELINE:

The total duration of the consultancy is expected to be 30 days. The consultant should propose a detailed work plan that specifies the anticipated timeframe for each deliverable.

V11. Requirements and Selection Criteria

The ideal consultant(s) should have the following qualifications and expertise:

• Extensive experience in developing advocacy strategies in the given context
• Strong knowledge of communication, advocacy and training skills
• Familiarity with local Somaliland context and policies.
• Registered Certificate from Somaliland Government
• At least sample of previous strategy developed
• Minimum two (preferable INGO) reference of the previous client/partners they worked with
• Ability to communicate effectively with diverse stakeholders.
• Fluency in English is required, and knowledge of the local language would be an advantage.