Kirehe District

Save the Children (SC) is a global leader in humanitarian and development programming worldwide, working as the preeminent voice for children for more than 100 years.

Globally, SC has a long history of building capacity at the community level and in coordination with local organizations, along with building the technical and institutional capacity of staff to foster sustainability. Save the Children works closely with governments at all levels to ensure programs are aligned with countries’ national plans of action and are bolstered by government buy-in

SC has been operational in Rwanda since 1994, providing support to children through developmental and humanitarian relief programs delivered both directly and through local partners.

Since 2015, SC have been working in Mahama camp, located in Kirehe District, Eastern province of Rwanda. The camp hosts Burundians refugees and SC is supporting in health, nutrition and child protection services delivery.

Rwanda is among countries, which signed the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework (CRRF) to integrate refugees into host community. This integration will be implemented by different sectors, including health.

In line with Save the Children’s mission, Reproductive, Maternal, Neonatal, Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH) is a priority and quality of services should be offered to them without any type of segregation even during the implementation of such signatory policies.

Consultancy Objectives

Health and nutrition services delivered to Burundians refugees in Mahama camp are characterized by quality services.  To ensure refugees are integrated into host community for health services provision, SC has planned to support health facilities in the host community, Kirehe district, to improve health service delivery with a focus on RMNCAH. In order to accurately target interventions, an assessment within the host community is needed to identify gaps in service provision. This consultancy seeks to identify a professional capable to assess gaps in RMNCAH services uptake and delivery, as per standard, in Kirehe health facilities and community. In addition, the consultancy will come up with factors associated with a low quality of service and propose corrective interventions.

More specifically, this assessment seeks to achieve the following specific objectives:

• Assess the level of Kirehe Community Awareness on existing RMNCAH service;
• Analyze RMNCAH services delivered in Kirehe Heath Facilities according to national standard;
• Analyze care outcomes (death, cure rate, referral,) in Kirehe health facilities;
• Identify and understand factors associated with low performance in regards to RMNCAH;
• Propose corrective interventions base on gaps identified.

Scope of Work

• Develop an appropriate assessment design to address the objectives of the study within the scope of the available budget;
• Conduct a literature review to identify from different sources the existing practices, challenges and successes
• Develop assessment tools for the interviews/data collection;
• Tool piloting: Piloting and translating the data collection tools into the Kinyarwanda;
• Conduct or supervise fieldwork data collection and ensure data quality assurance
• Data analysis and assessment report: analyze the collected data, and write a report to be approved by SC.
• Present the final findings internally and externally to the stakeholders and partners;
• Produce a study report incorporating comments from in-country staff and relevant stakeholders.
• Dissemination: Undertake dissemination workshop to represent the results to Save the Children and key stakeholders

Deliverables:

1. An inception report describing the proposed methodology with an appropriate design to address the scope and objectives of the assessment as well as tools to be used in the assessment to be presented and approved by Save the Children to data collection and a proposed work plan;
2. A literature review and report of stakeholder meetings
3. Data collection tools developed (quantitative and qualitative)
4. A good draft report for review by Save the Children
5. A final report of the study submitted; this includes a PowerPoint presentation of highlights of the study findings
6. A four-page summary/briefer of recommendations for quality improvement (substantiated by the evidence collected in the field)
7.  Support in the dissemination of findings internally and externally at the national level

Note: Engaging with Rwanda Biomedical Center and Save the Children: The consultant will engage RBC and Save the Children Rwanda team, from the assessment design and tools development to ensure they meet the study purpose.

Duration of the assignment.

The total number of days allocated to this assignment is estimated at 20 working days to be covered during April & May 2020.

 The consultant will be expected to deliver to the following key dates.

• Approved research design by Mid-April, 2020.
• Data collection activities end April 2020 through mid-May 2020.
• Report writing and dissemination of results, end-May 2019.

Supervision arrangement

The successful consultant will provide the service based on deliverables and will work closely with the Save the Children Monitoring and Evaluation team under the supervision of the Head of MEAL and the Senior Research and Evaluation Specialist.

The content of the consultancy deliverables will be reviewed by Save the Children Rwanda team composed by Director of PDQ, Head of MEAL, Senior Research and Evaluation Specialist, Health and Nutrition Specialist, Health and Nutrition Coordinator and whoever the country office may judge necessary to be part of the team.

Essential Criteria

• At least a Bachelor’s degree in health-related sciences, master’s degree preferably.
• Experience in conducting assessments and evaluations, especially in the health sector; 2 yeas min. (Credentials, Work completion certificates, etc.)
• To be based in Rwanda during the time of all related activities. (Written confirmation).

Preferred criteria

• Proven experience in working with reputable research institutions.
• Ability to work independently with minimum supervision.
• The consultant should have the required broader understanding of the Rwanda health system and general Context.
• Excellent writing and presentation skills and English proficiency and Kinyarwanda;
• Experience in adolescent, maternal, neonatal and child health is an added value;

Child Safeguarding Policy:

• Any employee, consultant, contractor or the supplier undertaking an activity on behalf of SCI must sign [The Child Safeguarding – Declaration of Acceptance Form] and comply with the SCIs Child Safeguarding Policy which is a statement of SCI’s commitment to preventing abuse and protecting children with whom it comes into contact.
• This extends not only to children with whom SCI and its partners work directly, but also includes children whom staff are responsible for.  SCI believes that the situation of children must be improved through the promotion of their rights supported and demonstrated by all members of staff. Save the Children International’s Code of Conduct sets out the standards which all staff members must adhere to.
• Save the Children is zero tolerance to fraud.

Disclosure of Information

• It is understood and agreed that the Consultant(s) shall, during and after the effective period of the contract, treat as confidential and not divulge unless authorized in writing by Save the Children, any information obtained in the course of the performance of the Contract.  Information will be made available for the consultants on a need‑to‑know basis.

Interested candidates are expected to provide the following:

• A detailed response to Terms of Reference (ToR), with specific focus addressing the scope of work, work plan, methodology to be used and key selection criteria (2-3 pages)
• Company/individual profile or Curriculum Vitae (CV) including a minimum of 3 references
• Detailed budget breakdown based on expected daily rates and availability.

Interested candidates should submit the above documents via e-mail at [email protected] with e-mail subject: “Consultancy Services: Gap Assessment on Adolescent Maternal and Child Health Services in Kirehe District”, not later than 25th March 2020 @5: 00 PM.