Terms of Reference: Technical and Statistical Support for the Evaluation Phase of Maternal MMS Implementation Research Projects – Nutrition International (NI)

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Terms of Reference: Technical and Statistical Support for the Evaluation Phase of Maternal MMS Implementation Research Projects

1. Context

Nutrition International (NI), formerly the Micronutrient Initiative, is a global leader in nutrition. For 30 years, NI has worked with a wide range of donors, governments, UN agencies, civil society, research institutions, and other partners across the world to promote, accelerate and facilitate the scale-up of high-impact nutrition interventions within health, food, and education systems. NI works as an ally to the government to implement nutrition interventions and solutions to malnutrition – including micronutrient deficiencies – through different programs. NI also conducts high quality implementation research, incorporating the skill sets of a diverse and dynamic group of technical experts in public health, nutrition, and research.

In 2007, NI was established in Nigeria and became a trusted partner of the government and a leader in addressing the burden of malnutrition in the country. Aside from nutrition interventions benefiting a broader population (vitamin A supplementation for children under five, zinc and oral rehydration salts (ORS) for treating diarrhea, and expanding knowledge and awareness about nutrition among vulnerable adolescent girls and women), one of NI’s key aims in Nigeria is to improve the nutrition, health, and survival of pregnant women and newborns^[1]. Since 2016, NI has been supporting maternal health and nutrition programming in five northern states (Sokoto, Yobe, Katsina, Jigawa, and Kebbi) and more recently in Cross River to: improve access to and utilization of antenatal care (ANC) and postnatal care; increase coverage of nutrition interventions, including iron and folic acid (IFA) supplementation; and strengthen quality of care with an emphasis on gender equality and family engagement.

2. Project Rationale

ANC has been recognized as a strategic platform for delivery of health services, health promotion, and disease prevention^[2]. In July 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) updated its recommendation on multiple micronutrient supplementation (MMS) – a daily dose of 15 vitamins and minerals including iron and folic acid – during pregnancy. The update was in response to new evidence showing that MMS was more effective than IFA supplementation in improving birth outcomes, had equivalent benefits for preventing maternal anemia, and was safe for mother and baby.

The updated WHO guidelines encourage low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) that are considering transitioning from long-standing IFA supplementation to MMS in the government’s ANC service package to do so in the context of rigorous research. Specifically, the WHO guidelines recommend conducting implementation research where MMS programs are being considered, to optimize the impact of transitioning from IFA to MMS, including the evaluation of acceptability, feasibility, sustainability, equity, and cost-effectiveness. At an operational or programmatic level within each country, the recommendation involves introducing MMS alongside implementation research to ensure effective implementation. The lessons learned from this research will inform future scaling of MMS within existing ANC services^[3]. Moreover, for MMS to be effective, pregnant women must consume the right dose at the right time – often referred to as “adherence”. Even when pregnant women receive adequate quantities of MMS, the supplements are not always consumed as recommended. This can be referred to as the “adherence gap” – the gap between receipt and consumption of micronutrient supplements delivered through the ANC platform.

3. Project Overview

In Nigeria, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (FMoHSW) expressed interest in introducing MMS^[4] and requested more implementation evidence in the Nigerian context to understand the realities of using IFA and MMS supplements; and to explore how to increase pregnant women’s adherence to MMS.

Since 2022, Nutrition International has been conducting a 3-year implementation research project entitled “Optimizing Adherence for Maternal Multiple Micronutrient Supplementation (MMS) in Nigeria”, working alongside the government of Nigeria and funded by the Gates Foundation. The purpose of this project is to explore how to improve pregnant women’s adherence to MMS in Nigeria. Implementation research with a human-center designed (HCD) focus is being conducted to identify solutions to optimize adherence and inform sustainable transition and scale-up to MMS as part of public ANC in Nigeria.

As the country plans for a national roll-out and scale-up on MMS across the thirty-six States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nutrition International plans to provide an extended support nationally and in Bauchi State across targeted LGAs.

4. Scope of Work

NI is seeking the services of an event management firm with subject matter experts to ensure effective planning, organization, and execution of events (meetings, trainings, MMS distribution, stakeholders’ engagement, field visits, etc.) to support NI’s project implementation with key State and community stakeholders in Bauchi State.

Location of Contract: Bauchi State

Objective of the Consultancy

This consultancy is aimed at engaging the services of the firm to coordinate, plan, and execute meetings, trainings and other activities as listed in annex A, in coordination with NI.

5. Project Activities

Host a 1-day project dissemination meeting in Bauchi State.
Facilitate a 2-Day training of health care workers (HCWS) on adherence solutions across 20 wards of the control arm.
Facilitate a 1-day refresher training for HCWS on adherence solutions across 22 wards of the intervention arm.
Support State level Training of trainers (ToT) on MaMII + MMS in Bauchi State.
Support the training of health care workers across 4 LGAs on MMS using the national MMS training manual (or the MaMII+MMS integrated manual).
Support bi-monthly distribution of MMS across Dass, Ganjuwa, Giade and Dambam LGAS
Support towards two (2) Technical Working Group Meetings in Bauchi
Support to State and LGA stakeholders towards monthly supportive supervision across Dass, Ganjuwa, And Giade LGA

6. Responsibilities

Develop a work plan detailing the tasks for each of the proposed activity and the level of effort in collaboration with NI.
Develop and manage the event planning process within approved timelines and budget.
Identify suitable venues and conduct site visits to proposed venues.

Provide oversight on meal provision through vetted and approved vendors.
Handle all protocols, logistic requirements (including hybrid, if necessary), and payments to vendors/suppliers/resource persons/state program teams.
Handle all protocols and logistics requirements for participant attendance to events including travel arrangements, issuing of per-diems, and booking of accommodation.
Set up event venues including seating and all the necessary visual equipment.
Produce and provide event documents including agenda, attendance, minutes/report, evaluation forms, and other advertising materials where needed (i.e., banners).
Compile feedback from event evaluation forms and share with NI.
Hold state planning meetings with Nutrition International’s team to seek approval on selected venues, vendors, logistics, and meeting documents.
Any other services as may be required

7. Deliverable of Consultancy

In close consultation with NI, the Event Management firm is expected to provide the following deliverables for the event:

List of proposed meeting venues and vendors (food and accommodations) with quotations from three venues.
Detailed plans and budgets for proposed events.
Event reports/minutes, pictures, videos, and signed attendance sheets.
Compiled evaluation forms.
Financial reports for proposed events including signed forms where participants receive funds and bank transfer receipts for all payments made.
Invoices/receipts of payments to vendors and participants including signed forms by each participant in the event they receive funds.

Management and Supervision arrangements

The firm is to be managed and supervised by NI.

All deliverables will be planned in consultation with NI and the State government.
Prior approval from NI will be sought for the events’ proposed plans and budgets.
The selected agency/ consultant will be required to submit venues and vendor quotations at least two weeks prior to the event for approval by NI.
Prior approval from NI will be sought for the selection of meeting venues and proposed food vendors.

8. Required Profile

The consultant(s)/agency interested in submitting a proposal should have:

A minimum of 3 years of experience in managing events services for international organizations.
A company registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).
Has a Tax Clearance Certificate (at least 3 years).
Has the capacity and demonstrated experience to coordinate and successfully manage meeting logistics particularly in Bauchi state.
Have its presence in Bauchi State.
Has robust financial structures to process payments to third parties e.g., participants, food vendors and hotels.

9. Submitting the proposal

Full concept notes need to be submitted via email to [email protected] with all attachments in docx or PDF to procurement.ng by deadline of July 14^th, 2025.

Applications should be submitted per category—this means interested firms are to submit proposals for either Category 1, 2, or 3, not a combination.

Please use the subject line “Events Management for MMS-Nigeria project Bauchi”. For any clarification required, please email to [email protected] with the subject line “Clarification needed for Events Management for MMS-Nigeria project Bauchi”.

The application must include:

Cover letter detailing how applicant fits the profile.
Team members’ resumes, description of roles
A detailed implementation plan
Sample of previous reports
Detailed company profile, which should include the company’s name, address, corporate commitment, professional services rendered/area of specialty, previous clients, similar services provided and certifications. F) Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).
Tax Clearance Certificate (at least last 3 years).
Evidence of robust financial status to structures to process payments to third parties
Three references from previous clients in the last 18 months

Qualifications and Mandatory requirements: Commercial requirements

Skills and expertise
Experience with customers/size project
Experience with NI
Key resource availability
References

Service capability requirements

A clear description of proposed design and qualitative value to achieve objectives
Demonstrate skills to achieve the deliverables
A clear description of quality management checkpoints
Sequencing or grouping of work activities
Timelines of delivery
A clear description of any project phases

Timeline: The timeframe for this contract is July 2025 to December 2025.

Financial proposal submitted in a separate file in Excel detailing:

A budget based on the format attached as Annex C.
Names and rates of each team member who will be involved in this assignment.
Estimated cost per deliverable disaggregated by the number of days each of the team members will be working.
All amounts need to be quoted in NGN and CAD. Fees should be inclusive of VAT and taxes.

Annex A: Event List

		CATEGORY ONE
Event	Event Description	Proposed date	Location	No Days	of	Duration	No of participants	No of the participants required accommodatio n/DSA	Meals (L: lunch, TB: tea break); DSA
Host a 1-day project dissemination meeting in Bauchi State.	1 Hall hire for 1 day 120 participants Transports for 30 pax @10,000. – Lunch for 120 pax. Videographer and photographer Dance troupe 1 MC Transport allowance for media personnels Logistics for Emirate Council	October 2025	Bauchi Metropolis	1		4 – 6 hours	120	DSA for 45 LGA stakeholders for 1 day	1L
Support bi-monthly distribution of MMS across Dass, Ganjuwa, Giade and Dambam LGAs	Payment to 3PL for delivery to 123 health facilities @ 10,000 per health facility Transport allowance for 3 LGA LMCU focal persons during LMIS review meeting Transport allowance for 6 State/LGA LMCU during post- LMD spot-check Provision of paper and printing ink to DMMA for printing of POD during each LMD	July- November 2025	Bauchi	3 times		3 hours	9	NA	NA

Support Technical Working Group Meetings in Bauchi	– – – – –	Transport allowance for 30 pax 1 hall hire Stationeries Honorarium for 1 pax Meal	September and December 2025	Bauchi	6	4 – 6 hours	35-40	NA	1TB, 1L
Support to State and LGA stakeholders towards monthly supportive supervision across Dass, Ganjuwa, Giade +Dambam LGA	– – –	Bi-monthly supportive supervision activities with 12-25 teams from Bauchi State and 4 LGAs to health facilities monthly and quarterly Transports for 12 LGA Officers per month and 12 State Officers quarterly Printing of monitoring tools	July- December 2025	Dass, Ganjuwa, Giade Dambam LGAsBauchi			25	NA	NA
			CATEGORY TWO
Facilitate a 2-Day training for health care workers (HCWS) on adherence solutions across 20 wards of the control arm.	– – – –	4 Hall hire for 2 days training of HCW 8 facilitators for 2 days @ 30,000/day at state level. 120 participants transports @ 10,000 and meal for 2 days. Stationeries for 140participants	August 2025	Dass, Ganjuwa, Giade LGAsBauchi	2/4 times	8 – 9 hours	140 (120 healthcare workers + 20 from NI/State and facilitators)	DSA for 4 Facilitators for 3 days	1TB, 1L
Facilitate a 1-day refresher training for HCWs on adherence solutions across 22 wards of the intervention arm.	– –	7 Hall hire for 1 day training of HCW – 7 facilitators for 2 days @ 30,000/day at state level. 172 pax transports @ 10,000 and refreshment for 1 day. – Stationeries for 172pax	August 2025	Dass, Ganjuwa, Giade LGAsBauchi	1 day /7times	8 – 9 hours	185 pax (172 HCWs + 13 from NI & Facilitators)	DSA for 1 Facilitator for 2 days	1TB, 1L

Support State level Training of trainers (ToT) on MaMII + MMS in Bauchi	– – – –	1 Hall hire for 5 days training of State and LGA officials 2 facilitators for 5 days @ 30,000/day at state level. 35 participants transports @ 10,000 and meal for 5 days. Stationeries for 35 participants	August/Se ptember 2025	Bauchi metropolis	5days	8-9 hours	40 pax	DSA for 2 Facilitators for 6 days DSA for 35 participants for 6 days DSA for 1 national stakeholder for 6 days	1TB, 1L
			CATEGORY THREE
Facilitate a 10-day training for HCWs on MaMII+MMS across 4 LGAs	– – – – – – –	4 Hall hire for 10 days training of HCW/SBA 8 facilitators for 10 days @ 30,000/day Transportation for 8 facilitators for 10 days @ 15,000/day Transportation for 8 State officials for 2 days @ 15,000/day 160 pax transports @ 10,000 and Meal for 10 days. Stationeries for 160 pax Printing of 50 pcs training MaMII training manuals	August/Se ptember 2025	Jamare Shira/Da mbam Bogoro Darazo LGAsBauchi	10 days /4times	8 – 9 hours	188 HCWs/SBAs (40 pax per +7 from State&NI)	DSA for 8 State Supervisors	1TB, 1L

OUTPUT	ACTIVITY	SUB-ACTIVITIES	KEY STAKEHOLDERS
OUTPUT	ACTIVITY	SUB-ACTIVITIES	KEY STAKEHOLDERS	July	Aug	Sept	Oct	Nov	Dec
Recommendations developed for improving adherence and MMS scale-up to key stakeholders Dissemination and learning events convened and attended at Sate and National levels	Hold project dissemination event in Bauchi	Attend planning meeting with NI project team, vendor and State stakeholders	NI team, Event management firm, national and State stakeholders

		Identify and secure suitable venue for project launch	Event management firm
		Put in place all logistic plans for the dissemination meeting in collaboration with NI CO: Venue organization and decoration, meals, logistic arrangements and participants transportation	Wife of the Executive Governor, Bauchi State, State stakeholders from MoH, Budget and Planning, BSPHCDB, Hospital Management Board, DMMA, Dass, Ganjuwa and Giade LGA Officers, M2M, WDC representatives and a few PW, Gates Foundation
		Coordinate the engagement of a cultural/dance troop for the dissemination event
		Host a 1-day State dissemination event in Bauchi
MMS Adherence solutions rolled out across control wards	Two-day Training of HCWs on Adherence solutions across 20 wards of the Control Arm	Put in place all logistic arrangements for the training of health care workers across 20 wards: this includes venues, meal and transportation. Payment of training Facilitators and participants transport allowance Coordinate a 2-day training for HCW accordingly	ANC providers/Healthcare workers across 40 health facilities within the 20 control arm wards

Annex B: Workplan

MMS Adherence solution implementation strengthened across intervention wards	One day refresher training for HCWs on Adherence solutions across 22 wards of the Intervention Arm	Put in place all logistic arrangements for the training of health care workers across 22 wards: this includes venues, meal and transportation. Payment of training Facilitators and participants transport allowance/stipends c. Coordinate a 1-day training for HCW accordingly	ANC providers/Healthcare workers across 44 health facilities within the 22 Intervention arm wards
MaMII (BEMONC, PPH and MMS) integrated training supported at State level and across targeted LGAs	Support State level Training of trainers (ToT) on MaMII + MMS in Bauchi	Put in place all logistic arrangements for the training of State officials and health care workers across 4 LGAs: this includes venues, meal. Payment of training Facilitators and participants transport allowance Coordinate 5-day State ToT and 10-day training for HCW accordingly
	Facilitate a 10-day training for HCWs on MaMII+MMS across 4 LGAs
MMS distributed to project targeted sites		Hold an introductory meeting with the third party logistic (3PL) firm in collaboration with NI team and the State
		Provide payment to 3PL firm post MMS distribution across targeted HFs bi-monthly Submit to NI CO Post LMD, Stock on hand (SOH), POD and receipt from 3PL after each round of LMD

TWG Convened	Provide financial and technical support towards two (2) Technical Working Group Meetings in Bauchi	Identify meeting venues, vendors, and meal Host 2 MMS TWG meetings in collaboration with NI team Facilitate payment of participants transport stipends	Bauchi MMS TWG committee members (35)
Monitoring and supportive supervision conducted to improve project implementation	Support to State and LGA stakeholders towards monthly supportive supervision across Dass, Ganjuwa, and Giade LGAs (This would also support ward/LGA data collection for Form1,2&RIRF)	Provide monthly transport stipends to LGHA Officers Provide quarterly transport stipends to State stakeholders Liaise with NI team to coordinate all supportive supervision activities	State, LGA Officers, NI LGA Monitors and NI team

Annex C: Budget Template

[1] Nutrition International Nigeria Programs. Available at: https://www.nutritionintl.org/wpcontent/uploads/2019/11/Nigeria-Country-Brief.pdf

[2] World Health Organization. (2016). WHO recommendations on antenatal care for a positive pregnancy experience.

World Health Organization.

[3] Interim Country-level decision-making guidance for introducing MMS for pregnant women. https://www.nyas.org/media/22939/111220-mms-guidance-v10.pdf

[4] Federal Ministry of Health. (2021). National Guidelines for the prevention and control of micronutrient deficiencies in Nigeria. Federal Ministry of Health, Department of Family Health, Nutrition Division.

You are advised to please read carefully, the guidelines on the ToR and to respond in the prescribed format. Also share your financial proposal by filling out the shaded sections of the attached excel document (BUDGET TEMPLATE-MMS – Annex C) accordingly.

Please submit your proposal along with other relevant documents listed in the ToR to: [email protected].The deadline for proposal submissions is Monday 14^thJuly 2025 before 11:59PM.

For any enquiries or clarifications, please write to [email protected] on or before Tuesday 8^th July 2025.