National Consultant, Support to the Project “Optimization of Insecticide-Treated Net (ITN) Distribution Channels” in the DRC

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, with a network of 191 member National Societies. Its overall objective is “to inspire, encourage, facilitate and promote at all times all forms of humanitarian activities by National Societies, with a view to preventing and alleviating human suffering, and thereby contributing to the maintenance and promotion of human dignity and peace in the world”. The IFRC works to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people before, during and after disasters, health emergencies and other crises.

The IFRC is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (the Movement), together with its member National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Its work is guided by the following Fundamental Principles: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality. In Geneva, the strategic direction of the Health and Care Department (HCD) focuses on strengthening health systems and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) systems through four pillars: global health security, global health protection, global emergency health services and transformative partnerships.

About AMP

The Alliance for Malaria Prevention (AMP) is part of the RBM Partnership to End Malaria (RBM) and an integral part of RBM’s Country/Regional Support Partner Committee (CRSPC). AMP is a global partnership of government, private sector, faith-based and humanitarian organizations. Hosted and chaired by the IFRC, AMP focuses its activities on three main areas: (1) coordination of partners involved in ITN mass campaigns and continuous distribution activities; (2) development of operational guidance for planning and implementing ITN distribution through all channels; and (3) technical assistance to national malaria programmes and their partners, on request.

Project background

Global malaria and vector control efforts are facing significant biological challenges. Non-biological threats have led to a stagnation, or even a reversal, of the progress achieved. These challenges have been compounded by global funding cuts affecting ITNs and operational distribution budgets, combined with population growth and increasing instability in many malaria-endemic countries. In response, national malaria control programmes (NMCPs) and their partners are having to consider alternatives to the standard three-year cycle (in most countries) of universal coverage ITN mass distribution campaigns, combined with routine ITN distribution through health facilities. These alternatives include more diversified approaches, potentially with lower coverage, tailored to population demographics, malaria transmission, insecticide resistance profiles, ITN access and use data, and other factors. Despite nearly a decade of experience with alternative ITN distribution channels, key questions remain unanswered, preventing a large-scale reassessment of the status quo in ITN distribution. In addition, decision-support tools are not sufficiently adapted to NMCP needs or harmonized across partners to ensure optimal use and maximize impact on disease transmission.

National malaria control programmes are under increasing pressure to review, select and implement a range of the most cost-effective options for ITN distribution. Following sub-national tailoring exercises to determine the essential malaria control and elimination interventions by geographic area, NMCPs must also make decisions at national and sub-national levels based on context, priorities and available budget.

(...Continued from Organizational Context)

To better understand the end-to-end ITN distribution process through different channels in three target countries, as well as the costs and cost drivers of ITN distribution through these channels, AMP, in collaboration with Emet Research and Advising and Imperial College London, is carrying out work to better understand and guide the optimization of ITN distribution channels, focusing on both global and country-specific tools, as well as technical assistance where appropriate.

For the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), one of the project’s target countries, the overall objective of the project is to support the NMCP to optimize the impact of its health interventions by improving costing and budgeting tools, and by mapping ITN campaign processes to identify areas for optimization.

The specific objectives/expected results of the project are:

• Costing and budgeting tools for mass campaigns (EMET)
• Report – analysis of ITN campaign distribution and ITN distribution through routine health services, including potential areas for implementation efficiency (AMP)
• Specific operational deliverables (e.g. updated training materials) to be determined (TBD) with the NMCP (AMP)
• Country-specific tools to assess the quality of ITN campaigns and identify implementation efficiencies (EMET and AMP)

NB: This consultant will be based in Kinshasa and will travel to the province selected by the NMCP based on the distributions planned before the end of the year.

Overall objective of the consultancy

The objective of this consultancy is to analyse ITN distribution through the mass campaign and through the routine system in a province selected by the NMCP in order to:

• Identify strengths, weaknesses and activities that can be optimized, in order to formulate practical and strategic recommendations for future ITN distributions
• Collect specific information for budgeting and cost analysis of ITN distribution to inform the project deliverables for the DRC (work carried out in Kinshasa).

Specific objectives of the consultancy

Using different approaches and the tools available for adaptation, the consultant will:

1. Map the processes related to ITN distribution through the mass campaign and the routine system.
2. Analyse ITN distribution through the mass campaign and the routine system for planning, budgeting, implementation (including direct observation) and reporting in one province.
3. Gather the experiences, perceptions and views of stakeholders at all levels through semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, online questionnaires, observations and/or other methods agreed with the NMCP and partners.
4. Produce a DRC-specific toolkit based on the tools used for points 1 and 2, with amendments made following the “pre-test” in the province.

• Validate the analysis methodology (approaches, tools and workplan) with the NMCP and partners.
• Serve as national focal point and liaison with the Ministry of Health, and support the organization of meetings at central level and with the project team outside the country.
• Adapt and pre-test the instruments provided by the project (e.g. questionnaires, interview guides, discussion templates and analysis templates) and ensure these tools are technically validated by the NMCP and partners.
• Review all available documentation on ITN distribution through mass campaigns and the routine system:
  • Define strategies and/or steps for ITN distribution
  • Map processes, partners, etc. for the different stages (e.g. macro- and micro-planning, ITN positioning, data flow, supervision and monitoring, payments, etc.)
  • Collect and share with the project team the documents and information needed to complete the desk review (e.g. based on stakeholder recommendations)
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• Collect documents and information to feed into the landscape tool (the mechanism that feeds the tool on which the entire project depends) and other tools developed during the project.
• Gather the experiences, perceptions and views of stakeholders at all levels through semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, online questionnaires, observations and/or other methods agreed with the NMCP and partners.
• Analyse the data collected and identify the main trends, successes, challenges and innovations by theme.
• Identify and document lessons learned, innovations and good practices in the key areas (see below).
• Produce a comprehensive report, including lessons learned, best practices and recommendations for improving implementation efficiency and quality of service delivery, ranked by priority, feasibility and timing for both distribution channels (mass campaign and routine system).
• Prepare a PowerPoint presentation highlighting the key findings.
• Produce the specific operational deliverables (e.g. updated training materials) as determined (TBD) with the NMCP (if possible within the contract period).
• Review AMP and EMET outputs for national alignment.

Minimum areas to be covered

• Planning – macro, micro
• Budgeting, financial management, payments – macro, micro, implementation
• Coordination
• Social and behaviour change (SBC)
• Logistics/supply chain
• Data collection flow, including the use of digital tools
• Supervision, monitoring

Expected results/Deliverables

• Methodology and data collection tools validated by the NMCP.
• All interviews, questionnaires and discussions conducted and analysed, including the Kinshasa-specific interviews and information collection for ITN distribution budgeting.
• Comprehensive report documenting strengths/weaknesses, lessons learned, challenges and innovations (covering both channels).
• Summary table of recommendations ranked by key area and priority (by channel, annexed to the comprehensive report).
• Operational deliverables as determined (TBD) with the NMCP (if possible within the contract period).
• PowerPoint presentation highlighting the key findings (covering both channels).

Location, duration and period of the assignment

Technical assistance will be provided in person in Kinshasa and in one province of the country, as agreed with the NMCP. Teleconferences and virtual sessions will also be held. The consultant will have 40 working days between approximately 20 September and 30 November 2026. These 40 days are allocated as follows:

• 10 days: work in Kinshasa, documentation collection and interviews, analysis of central-level data/information
• 5 days: preparation for the field mission and travel (round trip)
• 20 days: collection and analysis of data/information (online and in person) at province and health zone level
• 5 days: drafting of the consolidated lessons-learned report, the PPT presentation of key findings and the final mission report.

Planning and implementation of the assignment

The consultant will prepare a biweekly workplan for approval by the NMCP and AMP. Regular internal AMP follow-up meetings will ensure consistency, progress tracking and the quality of deliverables.

Support provided to the national consultant

The consultant will rely on the lead consultant (economic evaluation expert) present in the country, who will supervise the implementation of project activities and lead the project.

The Malaria Programmes Manager will be responsible for the overall management of the project and quality control of outputs and deliverables.

The consultant will report to the IFRC AMP Manager and will be assisted by the AMP Country Support Officer on all administrative, financial and logistical matters.

Required

• Master’s degree or higher in a relevant field.

Required

• In-country presence.
• 3 to 5 years’ experience in designing and implementing qualitative field studies.
• 3 to 5 years’ experience in ITN distribution through different channels.
• Experience writing reports in English.

Required

• Proven track record of successfully completing projects on time.
• Availability for the work, including field visits to health zones.

LANGUAGES

Preferred

• Ability to communicate in English and French (spoken and written).

Application Instruction

Please submit your application in English or French only.

Notes

• The consultant will be engaged by the IFRC and standard contractual conditions will apply.