Job Description

ABOUT GAIN

1. project background and scope of work 

The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) is a Swiss-based foundation launched at the UN in 2002 to tackle the human suffering caused by malnutrition. Working with both governments and businesses, we aim to transform food systems so that they deliver more nutritious food for all people.

At GAIN, we believe that everyone in the world should have access to nutritious and safe food. We work to understand and deliver specific solutions to the daily challenge of food insecurity faced by poor people. By understanding that there is no “one-size-fits-all” model, we develop alliances and build tailored programmes, using a variety of flexible models and approaches.

We build alliances between governments, local and global businesses, and civil society to deliver sustainable improvements at scale. We are part of a global network of partners working together to create sustainable solutions to malnutrition. Through alliances, we provide technical, financial and policy support to key participants in the food system. We use specific learning, evidence of impact, and results of projects and programmes to shape and influence the actions of others.

Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, GAIN has representative offices in Denmark, The Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the United States. In addition, we have country offices in Bangladesh, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Tanzania. Programmes and projects are carried out in a variety of other countries, particularly in Africa and Asia.

Background

The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) is issuing this Request for Proposal (RFP) and will be the administrative lead organisation for this RFP.

The Social Protection programme at GAIN works across several countries to promote and safeguard the accessibility of nutrition-sensitive social protection benefits among the most vulnerable members of the population.  In Indonesia, GAIN’s social protection work emphasizes the potential for fortified rice to be included as part of a social safety-net program, to ensure vulnerable women’s access to nutritious, safe foods. We collaborate with the Ministry of Health on micronutrient gap analysis of Indonesian food consumption and identify gaps in people’s intake of several essential micronutrients; these are gaps that may in part be critical contributors to persistently high rates of anaemia and micronutrient deficiencies in the Indonesian population. Leveraging social protection systems as a mechanism for distributing fortified rice would contribute for enhancing the availability, accessibility, and quality of food for the most vulnerable population.

National Food Agency and GAIN plan to conduct an operational and effectiveness study on a fortified rice distribution pilot as part of the food assistance to vulnerable communities in a village on Pamijahan sub-district, Bogor. The fortified rice distribution will be conducted for 6 months.

scope of work and deliverables

1.1. Objectives

The main objective of this RFP is to engage a service provider to evaluate the implementation, cost-effectiveness, sustainability, and nutritional impact of fortified rice distribution as part of Indonesia’s food assistance program for food-insecure and nutritionally vulnerable populations.

THE STUDY

This study will utilize a mixed-methods longitudinal study with baseline, midline, and endline assessments over a 6-month intervention period. It will integrate both operational research (to assess implementation feasibility, cost-effectiveness, and sustainability) and effectiveness research (to evaluate the impact of fortified rice on nutritional outcomes).

Key research questions and methodology

Target Population: 648 households in 1 village (TBD), Pamijahan Sub-District, Kabupaten Bogor

1. Can key stakeholders effectively distribute fortified rice as part of food assistance for food-insecure and nutritionally vulnerable populations?

• Methodology: Key Informant Interviews (KII) with policymakers, implementing agencies, and local distributors; direct observation of fortified rice distribution.
• Sampling Method: The research partner shall work with GAIN to select an appropriate sampling method for this study. We suggest a purposive sampling of key stakeholders involved in the implementation of fortified rice distribution in national level and the selected village.
• Expected Outcome: Identification of enablers and barriers to effective distribution, logistical challenges, and stakeholder capacity

2. Is the operationalization of fortified rice distribution cost-effective and financially sustainable?

• Methodology: Document review (technical guidelines, cost components, and official handover reports from the National Food Agency – Bapanas); KII with policymakers and financial planners at national and local (provincial, district, sub-district and village) levels. The research partner shall work with GAIN to select and implement an appropriate cost analysis methodology for this study.
• Sampling Method: The research partner shall work with GAIN to select an appropriate sampling method for this study.We suggest purposive sampling of key financial decision-makers at the national and local levels.
• Expected Outcome: Cost analysis, financial feasibility assessment, and policy recommendations for sustainable funding mechanisms at both national and regional levels.

3. What factors influence targeted population to consume/not consume the fortified rice?

• Methodology: Household survey
• Sampling Method: Census of all beneficiaries from 648 household.
• Expected Outcome: Identification of key internal (knowledge, perceptions, preferences) and external (availability, affordability, cultural beliefs) factors influencing consumption behaviors, providing insights for program improvement and advocacy efforts.

4. Does fortification of rice in the food assistance program improve micronutrient intake among women of reproductive age?

• Methodology: 24-hour dietary recall (to assess micronutrient intake) ; blood biomarker analysis (Hemoglobin, Ferritin, C-Reactive Protein [CRP]).
• Sampling Method: Random sampling of Women of Reproductive Age (WRA) from the 648 recipient families identified based on BKKBN’s high-stunting-risk household data. The sample size is 346 WRA, as calculated below:

With:

• Confidence level (99%), Zα = 2.576
• Power (95%), Zβ = 1.645
• Standard deviation at baseline, SD₀= 1.9
• Standard deviation at endline, SD1 = 1.5
• Minimum expected difference, d= 0.55

n = 346 WRA

• Expected Outcome: Changes in dietary intake and micronutrient status over the intervention period, indicating the effectiveness of fortified rice.

5. Do food assistance beneficiaries perceive benefits from consuming fortified rice?

• Methodology: Household survey and Focus Group Discussions (FGD) with Women of Reproductive Age (WRA).
• Sampling Method: Census of all beneficiaries form 648 household; purposive sampling for FGDs based on socioeconomic diversity.
• Expected Outcome: Perceived acceptability, satisfaction, and barriers to adopting fortified rice in daily diets.

SCOPE OF WORK

The selected agency will be responsible for conducting an operational and effectiveness study on the distribution and impact of fortified rice in a social assistance program. In close coordination with GAIN, the responsibilities include:

1. Study Proposal and Ethical Review

• Develop a structured study design, incorporating both quantitative and qualitative methodologies.
• Ensure the study includes baseline, midline, and endline assessments.
• Design appropriate sampling methods, considering random selection for Women of Reproductive Age (WRA) and census-based selection for beneficiary households.
• Finalize study protocols in consultation with key stakeholders.
• Obtain ethical approval from ethical board.

1. Data Collection

• Conduct Key Informant Interviews (KII) and Focus Group Discussions (FGD) with key stakeholders, including policymakers, program implementers, and beneficiaries.
• Perform survey and observational studies to assess stakeholder efficiency in fortified rice distribution.
• Execute 24-hour dietary recall surveys and biomarker assessments (Hb, Ferritin, CRP) to measure changes in fortified rice consumption and estimate micronutrient intake.
• Assess the cost-effectiveness and financial sustainability of fortified rice distribution through document reviews and stakeholder interviews.
• Conduct a survey to understand factors influencing the consumption or non-consumption of fortified rice.

1. Data Analysis and Reporting

• Analyze quantitative and qualitative data to assess the impact, cost-effectiveness, and operational feasibility of fortified rice distribution.
• Provide statistical analysis for dietary intake and biomarker data.
• Conduct thematic analysis for qualitative data from KII and FGDs.
• Develop comprehensive reports, including findings, insights, and recommendations for scaling up the intervention.

1. Study Management, Coordination and Stakeholder Engagement

• Appoint study team that include qualify researchers, select and train surveyors.
• Responsible on management of the overall study
• Work closely with government agencies, including Badan Pangan Nasional, and other relevant stakeholders.

Present findings at key stakeholder meetings and provide technical inputs for policy discussions.

Benefits

Applicants are required to provide GAIN with a detailed fee percentage proposal. The final budget amount will have to be approved by the organisation prior to starting the project.

Job Requirements

1.1. Deliverables

How to Apply

Please direct all inquiries and other communications to the contact below. Reponses will not be confidential except in cases where proprietary information is involved.

GAIN INDONESIA

Email: GAINIndonesia@gainhealth.org cc eksari@gainhealth.org

Completed proposals should be submitted to GAIN Indonesia, by email at GAINIndonesia@gainhealth.org cc eksari@gainhealth.org by 23:00 Western Indonesian Time on 27 April 2025.