1.1.     Request for Proposals – Service Notice

1.1.1.        Nutrition International (NI), a non-profit agency dedicated to eliminating vitamin and mineral deficiencies worldwide, invites proposals from competent agencies for Supporting Implementation of Maternal and Newborn Health and Nutrition Services.

1.2.     Background

1.2.1          Nutrition International “NI” is Canada’s global nutrition organization. Founded in 1992 (formerly known as the Micronutrient Initiative) is dedicated to delivering proven nutritional interventions to those who need them most. With its vision to eradicate hidden hunger and nourish lives, NI has been working in Pakistan since 2000 on large scale nutrition programs.

1.2.2          Nutrition International’s ‘Maternal and Newborn Health and Nutrition program is being implemented in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Sindh and Punjab to support provincial and district governments in strengthening government led maternal, newborn and child health & nutrition services. NI being the strategic partner of Departments of Health at national, provincial, and district level,  aims to support the government in further implementation of programs through expanding the geographic scope starting from May 2025 till March 2031.

1.2.3          Carrying forward the best practices of NI’s MNHN program, NI aims to strengthen maternal and newborn nutrition and health services. key activities of the existing program revolve around advocacy at policy level to ensure allocation of budget for improvement of maternal nutrition and stock availability of nutrition (IFA/MMS) supplements by the provincial governments. Considering technical gaps in recording and reporting and to address issues related to stock outs efforts were made to train and sensitize government officials on the use of Nutrition Management Information System (NMIS) and rollout  DHIS2 in project districts. 

1.2.4          The overall strategy design has been developed after series of internal and external consultations; with focus on provision of uninterrupted nutrition interventions including capacity building around nutrition commodities (MMS/IFA) to address iron deficiency anemia in pregnant women. The strategy aims to provide continuum of care from household to health facility with strengthening of referral and follow up systems and to address barriers in utilization of nutrition supplements and their increase compliance, improving newborn survival through strengthening of ANC platforms and Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) services, support skill building and capacity development of government health functionaries. The program is based on quality assurance in data management, strengthening health systems by encouraging use of service statistics for decision making and building partnerships to avoid duplication of services and optimal utilization of resources.

1.2.5          Government of Pakistan is committed to reduce anemia among pregnant and lactating women by providing nutrition supplements (IFA/MMS), free-of-cost, along with other ante-natal care (ANC) service. However, the coverage and consumption of these supplements is inadequate. According to the National Nutrition Survey (2018) only 32.9% of these target population had received IFA tablets. Moreover, out of them, 22% consumed 90 IFA tablets during pregnancy, but 5.1% consumed only 60-89 tablets and 5.8% had less than 60 tablets2. Data also reveals that the problem was more in rural areas than the urban settlements.  There are various supply and demand side factors associated with the low consumption of IFA supplements which needs to be addressed to improve both coverage and adherence and in turn achieve the overall goal of reducing the risk of anemia among pregnant women.

1.2.6         This Request for Proposals (RFP) and particularly the Guidelines for Preparing Proposals that follow, are designed to help Respondents to produce proposals that are acceptable to the NI, and to ensure that all proposals are given equal consideration. It is essential, therefore, that Respondents provide the complete information that is requested, and in the formats and on the terms specified.

DETAILED RFP ATTACHED