1. CONTEXT AND JUSTIFICATION
The Central African Republic (CAR) is one of the Central African countries that has experienced major crises in recent years (including armed conflicts, inter-community conflicts, epidemics, and climate shocks) that have significantly impacted the country’s social, economic, and health development. Referring to the 2025 Humanitarian Needs Report and Response Plan for the CAR, nearly 2.4 million people (38% of the total population) are in a situation of extreme vulnerability and need humanitarian assistance across the national territory. According to the 2022 SMART national nutrition survey, the prevalence of global chronic malnutrition (GCM) is 37.9% [36.4-39.4] (above the critical threshold of 30%) and that of global acute malnutrition (GAM) is 5.5% [5.0- 6.1] (above the alert threshold of 5%). The 3 sub-prefectures of the Ngaoundaye Health District (DS) are all classified in phase 3 (serious situation) according to the IPC acute malnutrition analysis1.
The report of the SMART nutrition survey carried out by ACF in the DS of Ngaoundaye in July 2025 highlighted a worrying nutritional situation. With reference to the WHO thresholds, 1) the GAM rate (7.0% [5.9- 8.3]) is classified at a medium level (5 – <10%), describing a precarious situation; 2) the rate of MCG (40.6% [36.7- 44.7]) is classified at a very high level (>=30%), describing a critical situation; 3) the rate of global underweight (IPG: 20.0% [17.2 – 23.2]) is classified at a high level (20 to 29%), describing a worrying situation. All these values ​​are above the national and prefectural averages, when compared to the results of the 2022 national survey. Also, the prevalence of MAG based on the Brachial Perimeter only, exceeds 10% in women of childbearing age overall (10.5%), but also in groups of pregnant and breastfeeding women – FEFA (10.3%). This constitutes a major risk factor for maternal and neonatal health. In a context where aggravating factors are multiple (food insecurity, poor access to care, insufficient vaccination coverage, epidemics, insecurity), the risk of rapid deterioration in GAM is high. Given the threshold of GAM and its serious consequences on children’s health and development, there is a need to strengthen preventive interventions. This study suggests paying more attention to younger children (6 to 23 months), in whom the rate of GAM is more worrying (11.3%, compared to 4.6% in those aged 24 to 59 months), exceeding the emergency threshold.
In addition to the acute malnutrition rates that are a concern for the country and for the Ngaoundaye DS specifically, the CAR is increasingly facing a dysfunction in the management of cases of acute malnutrition, due to the insufficiency and disruption of medical and nutritional inputs. This dysfunction has worsened since January 2025, following the cessation of funding from USAID, UNICEF CAR’s main donor for nutritional inputs, leading to the onset of this crisis. This raises, beyond strengthening preventive interventions to reduce prevalence, the need to consider local alternative solutions for case management.
Insufficient dietary diversification remains among the major causes of malnutrition in the Ngaoundaye DS. According to the study on the knowledge, attitudes and practices of mothers of children aged 0 to 23 months, carried out by ACF in December 2024, only a third (33%) of children aged 6 to 23 months had consumed meals composed of at least 5 food groups (group 1: based on cereals or roots or tubers; group 2: legumes; group 3: meat products and derivatives; group 4: dairy products; group 5: fruits and vegetables; group 6: oils and fats) in the last 24 hours preceding the survey. In addition, the DS of Ngaoundaye is characterized by a set of factors that influence the dietary diversification of communities in general, children and women in particular. These include insufficient access to information and varied foods (availability, price, agricultural practices, seasonality, etc.); ignorance of recommendations (relating to the composition of a balanced meal for a child); family or cultural food preferences…
It is in view of all the above that Action Against Hunger (ACF), present in the DS of Ngaoundaye since 2022 to support the Central African government in the fight against malnutrition, seized the opportunity of funding from Initiative France pour la Sécurité Alimentaire et la Nutrition (IFSAN), to conduct a study on the availability and accessibility of food in the said DS and develop a guide to nutritious recipes adapted to children from 6 to 23 months and FEFA, based on local foods.
2. OBJECTIVE OF THE CONSULTANCY
The objective of the consultancy is to provide technical expertise (development of tools, planning support and training monitoring) to the ACF RCA mission, for the realization of a qualitative study on the availability and accessibility of food in the DS of Ngaoundaye and the design of a guide to nutritious recipes adapted to children from 6 to 23 months and FEFA.
3. MAIN TASKS
Define the scope and themes of a literature review on nutrition, food availability, infant and maternal eating habits in CAR, drawing primarily on local studies and/or existing reports, and if necessary on references from similar contexts.
Provide technical assistance to ACF program teams and its operational partners (nutrition and food hygiene service, health region, health district, local NGO): Training sessions/briefings targeted on the different stages of the study and design of recipes, the methodology and the appropriate tools.
Develop working methods and tools with the ACF-RCA technical team and partners with the aim of co-construction and transfer of practical skills for carrying out the study and designing nutritional recipes: Detailed timetables of activities; Protocol or methodological plan of the study; Data collection and analysis tools.
Support (remotely) the preparation and implementation of data collection, in collaboration with the ACF RCA technical team, through support to the Project Manager for the collection of necessary primary data including the composition and training of the team of investigators and supervisors, monitoring of data collection (regular quality checks).
Coordinate and ensure the processing and analysis of data, the production of the interim report and its presentation to stakeholders for comments.
Coordinate and ensure the joint design (with the ACF RCA team and its partners), using validated software, of nutritious and balanced recipes, based on local foods, adapted to the seasons, to each key age group for children (6 to 8 months, 9 to 11 months, 12 to 23 months) and to FEFA status.
Present the recipes to stakeholders for validation and integration into the final guide.
Finalize the report and the recipe guide, and present them to a wider group (ACF, nutrition cluster, MSP, NGO).
4. DELIVERABLES
1. A validated activity timeline, including details of all key steps, as well as the roles and responsibilities of each stakeholder;
2. A validated study protocol, including a summary of the literature review, methodology, variables, data collection tools, and a survey timeline;
3. The study report on availability, accessibility, and eating habits, including a catalog of foods and their nutritional values; an annual seasonal calendar of food availability; an analysis of availability and accessibility according to prices, seasons, and cultures; an analysis of recipe habits (for children and FEFA).
4. A guide to nutritious local recipes for children aged 6 to 23 months and FEFA, validated jointly with the MSP.
5. A final activity report including the technical support provided and practical recommendations, adapted to the context.
6. DESIRED SKILLS, TECHNICAL TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE
Education
Master’s degree or higher in Food Sciences (Nutrition and Dietetics and/or Agroeconomics);
Relevant technical knowledge in qualitative research methodology.
Professional Experience
ï‚·Minimum 3 years in the implementation of Nutrition and/or Food Security and Livelihoods projects/programs;
ï‚·Experience in designing and/or implementing studies on food availability/access, eating habits, commodity market studies;
ï‚·Experience in analyzing nutritional data and using relevant software (Ex EPI-info, Nut-Val, Kobo Collect or equivalent)
ï‚·Experience in training, skills transfer with institutional partners or NGOs.
ï‚·Experience in technical assistance, multi-sectoral coordination, inter-ministerial coordination with government agents.
ï‚·Knowledge of the humanitarian context of CAR is an asset.
Skills
ï‚·Strong skills in data analysis and interpretation of results;
ï‚·Proven ability to write clear and structured technical reports;
ï‚·Fluency in French (written and oral);
ï‚·Good communication skills.
7. Reference documents
NB: All documents will be provided to the consultant by ACF at the beginning of the contract, for the purposes of the activity.
Action Against Hunger Nutritional Security Policy
Other documents related to the context or specific to ACF RCA:
ï‚®ACF RCA Program Strategy.
ï‚®Project descriptive documents.
ï‚®Survey and evaluation reports available for the area (Needs Assessment, SMART, CAP on infant and young child feeding).
ï‚®Any other document available at ACF, which could contribute to the study and/or the recipe guide.
How to apply
Offers will be sent electronically no later than Friday 24/10/2025 with the ref: CF_BGI_CONSULT_001_E9F_NUT/SANTE simultaneously to the following addresses:
- nutco@cf-actioncontrelafaim.org; logco@cf-actioncontrelafaim.org; logappro@cf-actioncontrelafaim.org