1. INTRODUCTION
1.1. Background
Women and Children First (WCF) is a UK-based international development organization specialized in community mobilization for better health. It has been implementing community participatory learning and action (PLA) groups in Ethiopia since 2014.
Marie Stopes Ethiopia (MSIE) has been working in Ethiopia for 27 years, delivering family planning and reproductive health services to millions of low-income and under-served women and men across the country. MSIE provides comprehensive Sexual and Reproductive (SRH) services through a network of 17SRH centers, 4 maternal and child health specialty centers, over 300 franchised private clinics under the brand of BlueStar Healthcare network, 9 outreach/mobile teams, 38 supported public facilities, and call center to meet its mission of children by choice not by chance.
The two organizations have been jointly piloting an innovative approach to mobilize communities to improve sexual and reproductive health, with a focus on use of modern contraceptives. The intervention began in late 2020 and a baseline study was conducted in December 2020. As the intervention is due to finish in September 2022, the project now aims to undertake a feasibility study of the community intervention. Therefore, WCF, in collaboration with MSIE, is currently looking for an experienced consultant to conduct a feasibility assessment of the pilot intervention.
1.2. The Project
The vision of the project is that women of Amhara region, particularly the most disadvantaged, are empowered to make informed choices about their Reproductive, Maternal and Newborn Health (RMNH) within communities supporting their RMNH choices.
The expected outcome of the project is improved women’s RMNH, with a focus on uptake of Family Planning (FP), which should lead to a reduction of unintended pregnancies.
To achieve this, the project delivered a package of two interlinked interventions:
1.3. Purpose
The purpose of the assignment is to carry out a feasibility assessment of the PLA-SRH intervention in relation to its target audience, Women of Reproductive Age (WRA), and their communities. The feasibility study is to consider the following: feasibility / practicality, accessibility, appropriateness, demand for the groups and limited efficacy. This assignment will not be responsible for assessing the other component of the project (strengthening of SRH services).
1.4. Objectives
The objectives of the study are to collect, analyze and present qualitative data to help assess if the project community intervention – PLA-SRH - is:
· Feasible / practical
· Accessible
· Appropriate
for WRA and their communities in Amhara. It will also help assess if it had an impact on:
· Knowledge of RMNH
· RMNH practices of WRA
· Self-efficacy regarding RMNH among WRA
· Community attitudes towards RMNH
The baseline study will be made available to the consultant to help assess potential changes around RMNH in the project communities.
2. SCOPE OF WORK
The study will collect qualitative primary data from project intervention sites in selected kebeles of Amhara Region (North Shoa, North Wollo and South Wollo), Ethiopia. The study tools have been designed but the consultant will be invited to review them and provide advice that could further strengthen them. Methodology
The feasibility study will use qualitative methods:
a. Focus group discussions (FGDs) with women of reproductive age (15-49) and men in the project area (15 FGDs) across 10 selected districts (2 North Shoa, 4 North Wollo and 4 South Wollo). These will explore local views on the PLA-SRH groups as well as on reproductive health practices and attitudes on reproductive health.
b. In-depth interviews (IDIs) with community opinion leaders (such as religious leaders) and potentially with men (husbands of the women participating in the PLA) in the project area (10 IDIs) from across 10 districts (2 North Shoa, 4 North Wollo and 4 South Wollo). These will explore opinion leaders’ (and husbands) attitudes towards reproductive health, as well as their perceptions of reproductive health practice and attitudes prevalent in their community and views on the PLA-SRH groups.
Please note we might consider increasing slightly the number of FGDs and / or IDIs, but that would be discussed with the selected consultant.
2.1. Deliverables
3. CONTRACTUAL AND REPORTING ARRANGEMENTS
3.1. Contract and payment management
The contracting party will be Women and Children First. Fees will be paid by the contracting party to the consultant through international bank transfers.
3.2. Contract fees will be payable as follows:
3.3. Time frame
The consultancy is to be delivered between late September and early November, with the following milestones:
The consultant is to suggest a more complete workplan, taking into account these milestones.
3.4. Reporting
The selected consultant will report to:
The consultant is expected to have or arrange for all the logistical means required to carry out the study.
1.1. Consultant qualifications, competencies and experience
The assignment requires a consultant(s) with prior experience in quantitative survey methods and qualitative research methods. The consultant(s) should meet the following criteria:
Essential criteria |
· Relevant degree(s) in public health, social sciences or development studies |
· Expertise in public health |
· Expertise in sexual, reproductive, maternal and newborn health |
· Strong experience with and knowledge of qualitative research methods |
· Experience of managing research processes |
· Experience of delivering high quality training on data collection |
· Strong proficiency with data analysis packages |
· Demonstrated strong report writing and communication skills |
· Proficient knowledge of English and Amharic languages |
· Independent and impartial from the management of MSIE and WCF |
Desirable criteria |
· Experience of undertaking feasibility assessments of public health interventions |
· Knowledge of community demand creation interventions for improved health |
· Knowledge of the Ethiopian health system |
2. TENDER PROCESS
Qualified consultancy firms are requested to submit a proposal to MSIE.
Table 1: The evaluation of the bids will be based on the following criteria.
S/N | Parameter | Points |
1. | Technical proposal (80%) | |
i.Understanding of the ToR | 10 | |
ii.Specific experience of the consultant relevant to the assignment | 30 | |
iii.Suggested Approach and Methodology | 20 | |
| iv.Time frame and work plan | 10 |
| v.Reputation and credibility | 10 |
2. | Budget (20%) | 20 |
Total | 100 |
PROPOSAL SUBMISSION DATE
Bidders are expected to submit technical and financial proposals in two separately sealed envelopes (one for technical and one for financial) on or before 25, 2022.