Management Sciences for Health:
Management Sciences for Health (MSH), a global health nonprofit organization, uses proven approaches developed over 40 years to help leaders, health managers, and communities in developing nations build stronger health systems for greater health impact. We work to save lives by closing the gap between knowledge and action in public health. Since its founding in 1971, MSH has worked in over 150 countries with policy makers, health professionals, and health care consumers to improve the quality, availability and affordability of health services.
Background
Overuse/misuse of antibiotics is the driving factor for the development of AMR and major behavior change around antibiotic consumption is an important step towards the prevention of the emergence and spread of AMR. Increasing public understanding of the issue and changing antibiotic use behaviors are crucial to avoiding the continued rise of antibiotic resistance. Engaging healthcare providers and the public by identifying key behavioral barriers in antimicrobial use and developing tailored interventions targeting those barriers is critical step towards averting emeregence of AMR. Promoting useful behaviors such as proper hand hygiene, not sharing antibiotics and completeing a course of prescribed antibiotcs among the public contribute to the prevention of AMR development. Hence, there is a need to educate patients and the public about appropriate antibiotic use and about the importance of hygiene for infection prevention and control. Ethiopia’s National Action Plan on AMR (NAP) strategic objective 1 “Raise awareness and understanding and improve education on antimicrobial use, resistance prevention, and containment through effective communication, education, and training” seek to accomplish the following priority actions:
1.1 Improve Awareness and understanding, Education, and Empowerment of Clients and the Community
MTaPS Ethiopia’s work plan on optimizing antimicrobial use emphasizes the need for BCC strategies to promote a sustainable behavioral change in antimicrobial use through the engagement of community organizations and professional associations. The activities identified to
3.2.1b: Support the Ministry oh Health/PMED to develop a communication strategy and information materials for AMR
This scope of work is primarily focused on element 1.1 of the NAP and 3.2.1b of MTaPS Ethiopia work plan above.
Scope of work
Desktop Review
1. Review background country materials and other key documents
2. Explore and identify current knowledge and practice on antimicrobial resistance and use in the country
3. Prepare stakeholder interview guides in relation to activity deliverables
4. Conduct exploratory desk gender analysis for inclusion of gender consideration as it relates to multi-sectoral AMR communication strategy
5. Prepare stakeholder mapping templates to enable MOH and MTaPS country staff to identify relevant multi-sectoral stakeholders, their vested interest, their role and other criteria (e.g. civil society organizations, community groups, public organizations, gender-representative groups, etc)
6. As relevant, share examples of AMR communication strategies from other settings to facilitate ongoing discussion
7. Draft the communication strategy in key sections of the outline concurrently (working draft)
8. Prepare draft agenda for a stakeholder workshop (schedule/duration) in relation to the expected deliverables
Workshops and interviews
1. Conduct any relevant or remaining key stakeholder interviews or focus group discussions as appropriate
2. Engage relevant stakeholders in country in the development process including but not limited to professional associations (Ethiopian Medical association, Ethiopian Pharmaceutical association), community organizations (Ethiopian Youth and Women Associations) and school of journalism & communication of Addis Ababa university
3. Facilitate stakeholder workshop to gather inputs for the draft outline and content of the communication strategy on AMR, including gender considerations
4. Provide a well-designed template that facilitate workshop participant’s input for a projected timeline and identification of responsible stakeholders for the implementation plan
5. Identify target audiences for behavioral change communication on AMR
6. Identify and prioritize key behavioral barriers in antimicrobial use for each target audiences
7. Identification of the intended behavior change for each target audience. A good example would be, refrain from demanding antimicrobial when they are unnecessary like in the case of diarrhea in infants by their mothers.
Write-up
1. Identify and prioritize three to four key behavior change interventions relevant to the country setting and topics of interest for each target groups.
2. Finalize the narrative version of communication strategy for AMR, inclusive of gender considerations. Facilitate a process to secure written feedback on the draft from priority stakeholders/reviewers
3. Based on workshop proceedings, finalize the implementation plan with projected timeline and identification of responsible country stakeholders
4. Conceptualize, design and develop Information Education Communication (IEC) materials on AMR with appropriate and relevant messages tailored for key audiences using various formats as appropriate. Messaging should be clear and unambiguous.
5. Specify appropriate communication channels, dissemination methods and media such as video, print, web/online media, traditional media, and social media, among others, to effectively communicate key messages to specific audiences
6. Develop the monitoring and evaluation framework including measurable indicators for measuring outcomes
7. Participate in any follow-up conference calls via various communication platforms (e.g. webex, skype
Timeline for this activity implementation
Three months after signing of the contract
Technical supervision and management:
MTaPS Country Program Director and Senior Technical Advisor in Ethiopia will provide oversight and technical quality assurance.
Key tasks and interim due date:
Deliverables:
Procedure
Potential applicants are asked to submit a costed proposal based on the administrative criteria and core competencies criteria mentioned below. These proposals will be assessed on their compliance, quality and price. MTaPS withholds the right to conduct interviews with one or more potential applicants before an award decision is made. Purpose of the interview is to seek further clarification on the submitted quotations and learn more about the background and previous experiences of the potential applicants and their teams.
1. Administrative criteria
Contents of quotation
The following should be included in application:
o Budget (with breakdown). PLEASE NOTE THAT WORKSHOP COST WILL BE COVERED BY MTaPS.
2. Core Competencies & Qualifications: