Consultancy Service

International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)

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 (NSs). The overall aim of IFRC is “to inspire, encourage, facilitate, and promote at all times all forms of humanitarian activities by NSs 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.” IFRC works to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people before, during and after disasters, health emergencies and other crises. IFRC is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (Movement), together with its member National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The work of IFRC is guided by the following fundamental principles: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality. IFRC is led by its Secretary General, and has its Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. The Headquarters are organized into three main Divisions: (i) National Society Development and Operations Coordination; (ii) Global Relations, Humanitarian Diplomacy and Digitalization; and (iii) Management Policy, Strategy and Corporate Services. IFRC has five regional offices in Africa, Asia Pacific, Middle East and North Africa, Europe, and the Americas. IFRC also has country cluster delegations and country delegations throughout the world. Together, the Geneva Headquarters and the field structure (regional, cluster and country) comprise the IFRC Secretariat.

Details / requirements:

CONSULTANCY TO CONDUCT EVIDANCE BASED STUDY TO DEMONSTRATE REPRODUCTVE, MATERNAL, NEWBORN, CHILD AND ADOLESCENT HEALTH (RMNCAH) PROJECT OUTCOMES

Term of References 

INTRODUCTION 

Nepal has made significant progress in improving the maternal and child health. However, substantial gaps remain in access to, awareness of, and quality of integrated reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health. Twenty-five percent of women of women do not have access to family planning resources, and only half report contraceptive usage. Major direct causes of maternal mortality from hemorrhage and eclampsia remain high, with malnutrition as an underlying cause of 1 in 5 maternal deaths. Neonatal mortality rate of Nepal fell gradually from 89.4 deaths per 1,000 live births in 1968 to 20.7 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2017. However, it requires focused attention to reduce the primary causes of prematurity, birth asphyxia and birth trauma and infections. Under-five mortality continues to be caused by the preventable diseases of pneumonia (30%), diarrheal diseases (15%), and non-communicable diseases (15%). 

Childhood undernutrition remains a challenge as malnutrition contributes to over 1/3 of death among under-five years in Nepal. Adolescent health, much like the rest of the globe, has unaddressed challenges. In Nepal, these include limited trained health human resources delivering limited quality care and social support in providing adolescent friendly services. Limited access to hygiene products for menstruation has resulted in 53% of Nepalese girls missing school at least once during menstruation. Nepal is also a context with a high Adolescent Fertility Rate (71/1000; MICS 2014), in which 48% of women age 20-49 were in their first married union before age 18 

Ensuring service availability, equal access by women, men, girls and boys, and quality of care remains a challenge, particularly in rural and remote areas. Factors that contribute to lower health outcomes for women and girls include the low status of girls and women, son preference, patrilineal inheritance, low education levels among women, stigma around care for gender-based violence, and female shame about the body and reproductive functions. Discrimination on the basis of factors other than gender (such as social groups) has only recently been acknowledged as a factor in health and access to health care.

The two-year Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH) Project in the Sindhuli District, Nepal(January 2018 – March 2020) is a bilateral development project between the Canadian Red Cross and Nepal Red Cross Society including external partners, such as the Ministry of Health and Population and the Sindhuli District Public Health Office. 

The project targets the Sindhuli District in Nepal which has a population of 305,800 of which 50% (154,069) are female (88,804 between the ages of 15 – 49). The proposed key areas of intervention in the project are as follows:

  • Basic Emergency Obstetric Care and Birthing Center support
  • Maternal and Newborn Care (MNC);
  • Community Based Integrated Management of Newborn and Childhood Illness (CB-IMNCI); and
  •  Health promotion and prevention 

The project intended to cover 9 municipalities of the district including 1 hospital, 4 Primary Health Care, 51 Health Posts and 23 Birthing Centers. 

GOAL/OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT   

The overall goal of this project is to improve maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health in Sindhuli District, Nepal, by improving the availability, quality, knowledge and ability to access essential RMNCAH health services at the community and district level. 

The expected outcomes of the project are as follows:

  • Improved delivery of essential health services to mothers, pregnant women, pregnant adolescents, newborns and children under five by increasing the capacity of the health system at the district and community level to deliver RMNCAH services and to improve the quality of services delivered.
  • mproved utilization of essential health services and preventative practices by mothers, pregnant women and adolescents, newborns and children under five, by increasing community knowledge on proper RMNCAH practices and services.
  • The NRCS is recognized by the MoHP as a key partner in public health interventions or initiatives by strengthening the capacity of the NRCS Health Department to collaborate with the MoHP in various health interventions 

PURPOSE OF THIS CONSULTANCY 

The purpose of this study is to assess the overall changes in maternal, newborn and child < 5 health outcomes due the implementation of “RMNCAH project” in Sindhuli district and impact of adding community-based interventions to CB-IMNCI component. 

SCOPES OF THE STUDY TO DEVELOP A RESEARCH QUESTION

1.       The maternal, neonatal and child morbidity and mortality before and after the project implementation in Sindhuli district. (Considering data from MoHP DHS annual report)

2.       Compare the findings of Sindhuli district with one of the similar districts that implemented CB-IMNCI components and compare the results.

3.       Female Community Health Volunteers (FCHVs) work and contribution in this project. (Considering data from FCHV log books and HMIS). 

STUDY METHODOLOGY   

The overall methodology and approach for this study should be established and detailed by the consultancy firm/team of consultants in the proposal. However, the study should be conducted at Health facilities and community settings and in consideration mixed methods study design. 

DELIVERABLES

The study shall commence on effect from the day of signature by both the parties.  The consultant firm/team of consultants should accomplish all listed activities by December 2019. The proposed deliverable and deadlines to carry out the study are given below.  

1. An inception report highlighting research design, developing question and proposed data collection methodology and analysis, work plan, ethical approval etc

2. Field work completion report (A reportaddressing the research questions, results, analysis, and recommendations based on the evidence from the study) – The report should be submitted bimonthly to the NRCS and share a finding at district and National level.

3.  Final report with power point presentation 

EXPECTED OUTPUT

E-copy and hard copy of the reports of the study

DURATION

The duration of working days for this study will be a total of 124 days, however the time frame of this study will be 7 months starting from 15 May 2019.

 Activity

Estimated days of engagement

Remarks

Desk review and develop an inception report

10

 

Recruit field researchers for data collection and arrange training sessions for field researchers

3

 

Field work (data collection)

90

 

Data management/analyze and submit preliminary report - bimonthly

16

4 time within 7 months of period

Sharing of report

Bimonthly at district level

Final report at national level

 

4

1

 

Total days

124 days

 

 

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

 The evaluation will be conducted by a consultant firm or team of consultants with the team leader and partners having the following main qualifications:

-   The consultancy firm/team of consultant should have minimum five years relevant experience and proven track record of research work in similar field. Such as Maternal and neonatal health, Child Health, Adolescent Health, Family planning etc

- The lead researcher should have at least 8 years progressively responsible professional work experience in all aspects of Maternal, Neonatal, Child, Adolescent health programme management and should have Phd or master degree in or related to public health, health science, global health, Nursing

- Demonstrated experience in evidence-based study design, including sampling, applying a mixed methods approach, developing tools, developing data quality protocols, supervising field work of operational research and training enumerators

-  Demonstrated experience in quantitative and qualitative data analysis and strong analytical skills with the ability to produce high quality report 

KEY REFERENCE DOCUMENTS

Various materials will be useful to this study including but not limited to:

1.       RMNCAH project related documents (PMF/LM), Baseline survey report of Sindhuli district

2.       Aama Surachya Karyekaram Karyebidi Nirdesika

3.       RMNCAH project reports

4.       Annual report of district with key indicators

5.       Nepal Demographic Health Survey 2016

6.       Safe motherhood policy

7.       Documents related to GESI in to health sector

8.       HMIS data from management division 

HOW TO APPLY   

Interested consultancy firms/team of consultants should submit the following documents prior to the deadline to the address below. Please be informed that Technical and financial proposal must be submitted separately.  

1.   Technical and financial proposal

2.   At least one sample report of a similar assignment conducted in the past one year. 

3.   Detailed curriculum vitae (not more than 4 pages) of the consultants to be involved in the assignment,

4.   A one-page write-up showing why you are most suitable for undertaking the consultancy. 

 If you believe you are the right consultancy firm/candidate for the above service and can clearly demonstrate your ability to meet the indicated qualifications, then submit the above-mentioned documents through "Apply Now"  with subject heading: Consultancy for Conducting evidence-based study of the RMNCAH project. Deadline for Applications is on 24th April 2019 and we thank you in advance for understanding that only short-listed candidates will be contacted for the next step in the application process. 

Overview

Category Consulting & Professional Services
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Posted Date 09 Apr, 2019
Apply Before 24 Apr, 2019
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