TERMS OF REFERENCE (TOR) FOR COMMUNICATION AUDIT ON KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES, AND PRACTICES (KAP) ON NUTRITION AMONG TARGETED BENEFICIARIES IN 8 SAPZ REMAINING LGAS OF KANO AND 8 IN OGUN STATES

Background
The Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) Programme is an initiative of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS), implemented in close collaboration with key development partners including the African Development Bank, the International Fund for Agricultural Development, the Islamic Development Bank, participating States, and other stakeholders.
The first phase of SAPZ is being implemented in Cross River, Imo, Kaduna, Kano, Kwara, Ogun, Oyo States, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), with additional states to be included in subsequent phases.
The overall goal of SAPZ is to increase household incomes, stimulate job creation (especially for youth and women), and enhance food and nutrition security, through inclusive and sustainable agro-industrial development in Nigeria. The Programme aligns with the National Agricultural Technology and Innovation Policy (NATIP) 2021–2024 and the National Livestock Transformation Plan (2019–2028).
SAPZ adopts an agro-based spatial development approach, concentrating agro-processing activities within areas of high agricultural production. Core infrastructure includes Agro-Industrial Hubs (AIHs), Agricultural Transformation Centers (ATCs), and Aggregation Centers (ACs) strategically located within production corridors.
As SAPZ implementation progresses, nutrition-sensitive interventions are embedded across value chains through community sensitization, learning, partnerships, and behavior change communication, with emphasis on dietary diversity, food safety, hygiene, hand-washing, and sanitation.
Programme Components
The SAPZ Programme is implemented through four interrelated components:
Component 1: Infrastructure Development and AIH Management
Provision of economic infrastructure (roads, water, power, ICT, waste management, laboratories, training centers, business support services) to enable private sector agro-processing investments within designated zones, including implementation of Environmental and Social Management Plans (ESMPs).
Component 2: Agricultural Productivity and Production
Support to farm-level productivity through irrigation, land development, ATCs and ACs, access to quality inputs, mechanization, climate-smart agriculture, food safety standards, and digital access to finance and markets.
Component 3: Policy and Institutional Support
Strengthening enabling policies, regulatory frameworks, investment promotion, one-stop shop services, institutional capacity building, and harmonization of SAPZ operational systems.
Component 4: Programme Coordination and Management
Support for effective programme management through federal and state implementation units, capacity building, monitoring, studies, and audits.
Objectives of the Communication Audit
The main objective of the assignment is to engage a competent consultancy firm to conduct a study that would assess and undertake knowledge audit, attitudes, and practice of SAPZ target beneficiaries/ Communities within the project sites of the AIH and ATC’s with a view to identify knowledge gaps and establish a Knowledge Management and Communication Strategy for the program.
Specifically, the assignment seeks to:
• Assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practice of SAPZ target beneficiaries/Communities within the projects site.
• Establish a baseline for external and internal knowledge management efforts.
• Develop a communications and knowledge management strategy for SAPZ.
• Assess Knowledge – Determine beneficiaries’ understanding of nutrition concepts, dietary diversity, food groups, and nutrient requirements.
• Analyze Attitudes – Examine perceptions, beliefs, norms, and socio-cultural factors influencing nutrition choices.
• Examine Practices – Document actual food consumption patterns, food preparation methods, hygiene, and household nutrition practices.
• Evaluate Communication Channels – Identify and assess the effectiveness of existing communication platforms, tools, and influencers.
• Identify Gaps and Barriers – Analyze constraints affecting knowledge transfer, attitude change, and adoption of improved nutrition practices.
• Provide Actionable Recommendations – Propose evidence-based strategies to strengthen SAPZ nutrition and communication interventions.