Sep 7, 2023, 6:57:56 AM

Call for Expression of Interest

Comprehensive Modelling Approach to Improve Dietary

Diversity in Kano State

CEF/NGA/2019/026

1 Timeline
Posted Jul 11, 2019
Clarification Request Deadline Jul 15, 2019
Application Deadline Jul 18, 2019
Notification of Results Jul 25, 2019
Start Date Sep 9, 2019
End Date May 28, 2021

2 Locations
A Nigeria
a Kaduna State
b Kaduna State

3 Sector(s) and area(s) of specialization

A Nutrition
a Infant and young child feeding

4 Issuing Agency
UNICEF

5 Project Background
Nigeria has the second largest number of stunted children in the world with over 11 million children under-5 affected.
Similarly, over 2 million under-5 children in the country are severely wasted. The country has poor Infant and Young
Child Feeding (IYCF) profile. Only 28 % of children 0-6 months are exclusively breastfeed and 35 %,40 % and 17% of
children 6-23 months consuming minimum dietary diversity (MDD), Minimum Meal Frequency (MMF) and Minimum
Acceptable Diet (MAD), respectively. The first 1,000 days of life (from conception to 2 years) represents a ‘critical
window of opportunity’ for the promotion of optimal growth, health and development. Most instances of stunting occur
during the first thousand days, when complementary feeding plays a significant role. Poor dietary diversity is a risk
factor for stunting among children aged 6–23 months. A recent study showed that children 6-23 months who consumed
zero food groups were 34% more likely to be stunted compared the those who consumed 5 or more food groups. The
study further found that children who did not consume any animal source foods (ASF) were 44 % more likely to be
stunted compared to children who consumed all three types of ASF (egg, meat, and dairy). Kano is the most populous
state with a projected population of about 14.3 million people including 858,675 children aged 6-23 months. Stunting
 affects 46% of under five children which translate to about 1.3 million children. The 2018 MICS revealed poor infant
feeding practices in Kano with 31.3%, 31.7% and 14.4% of children 6-23 months consuming minimum dietary diversity
(MDD), Minimum Meal Frequency (MMF) and Minimum Acceptable Diet (MAD), respectively. The consumption of
iron-rich/fortified foods is 25.5%. Stunting reduction is a key result for UNICEF at country, regional and global levels.
Nigeria is among priority countries for stunting reduction and recently, an action plan for Nigeria compact to improve
dietary diversity for the country program cycle 2018-2022 was developed. One of the key identified priorities was to
design and implement a comprehensive modelling approach to improve access to nutritious, affordable and sustainable
diets for young children 6-23 months Kano State. Kano state and two rural LGAs (Bichi and Sumaila) among the most
deprived in the state were selected for the modeling of the approach. The choice was motivated by the Kano highest
burden of stunting in the country in terms of absolute numbers and the lower level of consumption of four to five food
groups especially animal source protein and vegetable. As a component of the bigger comprehensive modelling
approach, UNICEF seeks to partners with an organization with technical expertise and local experience to implement
an integrated community farming, home gardening and livelihood project in the selected LGAs of Kano State.

6 Expected Results
1. Community farming (vegetables and animal husbandry), home gardening and livelihood promoted and practiced to
improve availability and accessibility of local nutritious food for children 6-23 months in selected LGAs of Kano State. 2.
Increase proportion of caregivers of children aged 6 to 23 months who have vegetable gardens in selected LGAs of
Kano State. 3. Increase proportion of caregivers with of children aged 6 to 23 months who practice home livelihood in
selected LGAs of Kano State.

7 Indicative Budget
-

8 Other Information
-

9 Selection Criteria
Name Description Weight
Relevance of proposal to achieving expected results: proposal should highlight key

activities that will contribute to practice of community farming, home gardening and

livelihood among caregivers of children 6-23 months in selected LGAs and how

results will be measured. Local experience and presence: given that the bigger

project is about stimulating behavioral change about dietary diversity practice of

caregivers of children 6-23 months, organization to conduct this community

farming, home gardening and livelihood component of the project should have

experience engaging with community structures and influencers in Kano State.

Relevance of proposal to achieving expected results 100

10 Attachments
Description URL
Concept note template Download the document here

11 Concept Note Template

Download the document here

12 For more information on this partnership opportunity, and to apply, please visit
UN Partner Portal