INVITATION TO BID FOR CONSULTANCY

Save the Children International (SCI) Somalia program hereby invites interested consultants to bid for the consultancy assignment detailed below

1**-Title of Consultancy**

RE-ADVERT: FINAL EVALUATION OF PROVISION OF ESSENTIAL LIFE-SAVING HEALTH INTERVENTIONS FOR CRISIS AFFECTED COMMUNITIES IN SOMALIA/SOMALILAND (TLF) PROJECT

2**-SCI Contracting Office**

Save the Children

Hargeisa Office

3**-Period of Consultancy**

30 days starting from contracting date.

4**-Consultant type required**

Individual or Firm

5**-Responsibility for Logistics arrangements and Costs**

The consultant will be responsible for organizing logistical issues with no facilitation from SCI as per the consultancy agreement.

6**-Taxation Provisions**

Consultant shall be responsible for all Taxes arising from the consultancy in line with the Somaliland Tax regulations applicable at the SCI Hargeisa Office

7**-Travel requirements**

Consultant will manage any travel costs

8**-Security requirements**

Consultant will comply with standard Save the Children Security procedures, including the completion of SCI online security training prior to travel to Somaliland

9**-Qualification and Experience**

• At least a Master’s degree in Public Health, Biostatistics, Epidemiology or above in a relevant field
• Proven experience of not less than 5 years in conducting quality evaluations and assessing emergency and integrated programmes
• Solid methodological and research skills
• Thorough knowledge on the relevant thematic areas and Somalia/Somaliland context
• Fluency in English language and local language skills would be helpful.
• Excellent report writing skills
• Able to communicate effectively and work in the project areas for the duration of the data collection.

10**-Evaluation Criteria**

Description

Possible Score

Relevancy of the technical proposal to the ToR with detailed methodology-15 Marks

Qualifications and general experience of the firm/individuals. The consultant should have specific experience in performing similar assignments in Somalia/Somaliland with reputable organizations. 10 Marks

Submission of minimum 2 copies of similar reports and note that each copy of report shall have 2.5 marks till allocated marks are achieved-5 Marks

Submission of realistic and acceptable financial proposal – reasonable budget breakdown and cost consideration. The lowest evaluated financial proposal will be awarded the maximum commercial criteria score of 10 marks.

Interview score-60 Marks

Total Score100

11-Application Procedure

Interested consultants should submit their applications via email to [somaliland.procurement@savethechildren.org ].

The applications should be submitted in PDF format as one document comprising Technical and Financial sections as detailed below.

1. Technical proposal – including but not limited to :

• Consultants understanding of the assignment and context
• Approach to the assignment
• Methodology
• Tools
• Deliverables
• Work Plan
• Key staff biodata (Resume)

1. Financial proposal – providing a breakdown of all charges related to the assignment.
2. CV(s) of consultant(s) with minimum of 3 traceable and recent references and Company’s Profile & Lead consultant(s) CV(s) (for firms Only).
3. Sample report of the same activity previously done.

Applicants should also indicate the date they are available to start working on the consultancy

All applications MUST be submitted on or before the closing date below to be considered for the assignment.

Only shortlisted Candidates will be contacted.

12-Closing date for Applications

Interested candidates shall submit their applications through somaliland.procurement@savethechildren.org no latter than 31st July, 2022 at 3:30PM (Hargeisa Time)

13-Terms of Reference (ToR)

Complete ToR with details appended below attached herewith as Annex 1.

• Purpose of the consultancy,
• Introduction of the project,
• Background of the consultancy,
• Objectives of the consultancy,
• Proposed methodology and approach,
• Scope of work,
• Key deliverables / outputs
• Activity timelines

ANNEX 1 : Consultancy Terms of Reference

RE-ADVERT: terms of reference: FINAL EVALUATION of PROVISION OF ESSENTIAL LIFE-SAVING HEALTH INTERVENTIONS FOR CRISIS affected COMMUNITIES IN SOMALIA/SOMALILAND (TLF) Project

PROJECT INFORMATION

Title: Final Evaluation of provision of essential life-saving health interventions for crisis affected communities in Somalia/Somaliland

SOF: 27600307

Award Amount: 7,392,076.13

Dates: 01 September 2019 – 31 August 2022

Project Objective: The overall objective of the project is to reduce child and maternal mortality in Somalia/Somaliland.

Background

Save the Children has been making a difference in children’s lives in more than 120 countries. We are the world’s largest independent child rights organization, underpinned by a vision in a world in which every child attains the right to survival, protection, development and participation. Our mission is to inspire breakthroughs in the way the world treats children, and to achieve immediate and lasting change in their lives.

Save the Children (SC) has worked in Somalia/Somaliland for over 65 years and has been implementing health interventions for over a decade. Our long history in Somalia/Somaliland has endowed Save the Children with a comprehensive understanding of the local context, experienced and skilled local staff, and established systems and procedures to effectively implement projects, often in an insecure and unpredictable operating environment. We are one of the biggest health actors in the country. In 2018, we supported over 200 health facilities in 14 regions directly reaching one million people.

PROJECT BACKGROUND

Save the Children Somalia/Somaliland through its member SC Germany has been awarded a three-year community-centred program in Gabiley and Farawayne districts of Maroodijeh region of Somaliland, Baidoa (Bay Region) and Mogadishu (Banadir Region) in the South and Central Somalia. In Baidoa and Mogadishu, the interventions targeted internally displaced families (IDPs) who have escaped from drought, and conflict. To address the health and nutrition challenges, Save the children supported Female Health Workers in Gabiley and Farawayne districts in Somaliland, and implemented integrated Community Case Management (ICCM) of Pneumonia, Malaria and Diarrhea. The project also supported the provision of basic primary health care and nutrition services of 17 health facilities in Gabiley and Farawayne districts of Maroodijeh region of Somaliland, 2 health facilities in Baidoa (South West State) and 1 health facility in Daynile district in Mogadishu

This support was intended to strengthen the functionality of the health facilities through capacity building, staffing, provision of supplies and supportive supervision to deliver the standard Minimum Initial Service Package (MISP) for maternal new born and child health services including crucial emergency obstetric and new born care services and treatment of common illnesses. In addition, the project supported the strengthening of the relevant health system, such as the capacity of the affiliated health facilities to support the FHWs, establishment of national ICCM Technical Working Group (TWG) and empower the existing community level structures such as the Community Health Committee.

Of a total catchment population of 943,656 beneficiaries in rural and underserved areas, the project directly targeted to reach approximately 250,000 beneficiaries (45,000 men, 55,000 women and 150,000 children under age five) with lifesaving health and nutrition interventions focusing on the rural underserved population in Somalia/Somaliland. In addition, a total of 350,000 community members (140,000 males and 210,000 females) will receive key health messages for preventive and promotive health services.

Project Objectives

The overall objective of the project is to reduce child and maternal mortality in Somalia/Somaliland. The project outcomes are:

• Outcome 1: Children under 5 recover from common illnesses as a result of successful treatment
• Outcome 2: Malnourished children under 5 are successfully treated and do not relapse
• Outcome 3: Pregnant and lactating women are healthy and deliver their children safely

To realize the above stated goal and outcomes, the project aims to achieve a number of pre-defined results, as indicated in the following bullet points:

• Result 1.1. Children in rural areas in Somaliland receive quality treatment close to home by Female Health Workers
• Result 1.2.: Children in rural areas in Somaliland with more severe illnesses are treated in well-functioning referral facilities
• Result 1.3: Internally displaced children in Mogadishu and Baidoa are treated in quality health facilities
• Result 1.4: Communities and families in all target areas have adequate health knowledge and priorities child health
• Result 2.1.: Complicated acute malnutrition cases are treated in well-functioning referral facilities
• Result 2.2: Complicated acute malnutrition cases are treated in well-functioning referral facilities
• Result 2.3: Malnourished IDP children in Mogadishu and Baidoa are treated in quality health facilities with families supported to feed/nourish their children
• Result 3.1: Pregnant and lactating women receive health services in their community
• Result 3.2: Quality maternal health services in referral facilities
• Result 3.3: Quality maternal health services in IDP areas

Overall Purpose of the Final Evaluation

The overall objective of this consultancy work is to evaluate the project achievement against the project results framework and find out if there is change in project measuring parameters. In addition, the surveyor is expected to evaluate if the project contributed any intended and unintended impacts at HH, community and system level. Furthermore, the evaluation will further assess and document learning from the processes, achievements and challenges encountered during project implementation and provide recommendations for future programming. To be more specific, the consultant is expected to generate information for all relevant project indicators, that requires end line data collection.

Final Evaluation Survey Objectives

The purpose of this final evaluation is to assess effectiveness, relevance, sustainability of the interventions against the bench mark figures. The evaluation encompasses processes of the project implementation and the changes outcomes of project. The evaluation is expected to generate evidence and lessons learnt during the project implementation and provide insightful recommendation on what is working and what is not working and why.

The final evaluation study will focus on data collection regarding knowledge, attitudes and practices of the population regarding the most common childhood diseases (diarrhea, pneumonia and malaria). In addition, the endline study will also generate endline information on the target population in Gabiley, Farawayne, Baidoa and Daynile districts in SL and Southern states respectively. The endline study report will be used as a measurement to estimate the program achievements against the set of agreed indicators over the course of the project implementation.

The findings of the evaluation will be utilized for similar future advocacy and programming designing and implementation by Save the Children Somalia/Somaliland country office. Therefore, by forwarding summative and formative finding the final evaluation is expected to provide information that enables SC and its partners to develop strategies to further improve their interventions.

Specific objectives

1. How does the project contributed to the capacity of supported health facilities and Female Health Workers service provision in the target locations?
2. To collect the demographic information of the surveyed respondents,
3. To describe the care seeking behaviors of mothers/ caretakers of children under age five years and the preventive health measures especially for pneumonia, diarrhea, and malaria among residents in the study area.
4. To assess the mothers/caretakers knowledge on the danger signs of various childhood illnesses, especially malaria, diarrhea and pneumonia.
5. To assess level of utilization of Female Health Workers and health facility services in management of childhood illnesses such as malaria, diarrhea and pneumonia.
6. Compare health facility and female health workers service utilizations.
7. To evaluate the state of health conditions of children under age of five years and availability of care-service providers in the target areas.
8. To identify barriers in accessing information, diagnostic and treatment services for childhood diseases (diarrhea, pneumonia and malaria) that can inform the activities to be undertaken through the female health workers (FHW) program and the facility level interventions.
9. To assess community perceptions and satisfaction of community members with the ICCM interventions
10. Are communities, health facilities and female health workers where the project was implemented can sustain services after the project closeout.

Evaluation Criterion

Following evaluation questions should be at least included in the evaluation criteria. This evaluation criteria will be based on OECD DAC.

Relevance

The evaluation will assess to what extent the project objectives and design is aligned with and respond to the context and needs of target communities in Gabiley, Farawayne, Baidoa and Daynile districts of SL and CSS respectively; the consultant will assess the extent to which the programme responds to and aligns with Somalia/Somaliland and Save the Children strategic priorities and the extent to which the project interventions are relevant and appropriate in a fragile context.

• To what extent are the objectives of the project are valid for country programme and target community?
• Are the activities and outputs of the programme consistent with the overall goal and the attainment of its objectives?
• Are the activities and outputs of the programme consistent with the intended impacts and effects to reduce child and maternal mortality in Somalia/Somaliland.
• Was the design of the project being most appropriate and relevant to reduce child and maternal mortality in Somalia/Somaliland.
• The evaluation will also assess the relevance of the project in the context of the changes with the Covid-19 Pandemic.

Effectiveness

The evaluation will assess the effectiveness of the project achieving intended and unintended results within Somalia/Somaliland. A particular focus will be on results created for target communities, beneficiaries and partners in Somalia/Somaliland.

• To what extent program achieved planned objectives and results?
• What were the major underlying factors (internal and external) influencing the achievement or non-achievement of the results within the four years of program implementation?
• To what extent technical input provided to the program team in leading the implementation of plans and proposed activities of the project?

Efficiency

• Assess the activities are cost-efficient within the activities supported by project?
• Identify the cost factors spent to deliver ICCM interventions in the target communities and identify the reasons

Sustainability

In addition to the project outcome level indicators, the evaluation will assess the long-term sustainability of results (intended or unintended) and how these results can be sustained and taken forward in any similar future programming.

• To what extent did the benefits of the projects continue after the fund support is ceased?
• What is the sign of sustainability?
• What were the major factors which influenced the achievement or non-achievement of sustainability of the project?

Coordination

• How have the project activities have been coordinated within different stakeholders and thematic areas to achieve overall objective?

Scalability/Replicability

• Is there any likelihood of the project or its components to be scaled or replicated in other programme areas?
• Who could be the Main Actors for scale-up/replication of the approach in the Somalia/Somaliland context or other regions outside Somalia/Somaliland.

Methodology

The evaluation methodology shall be aligned with the overall and specific objectives of the evaluation, Data is expected to be collected from the project intervention areas. The methods to be used for the endline assessment should be participatory in order to make the activity a positive learning process. Hence, the consultant is expected to use both qualitative and quantitative data collection methods to capture detailed and measurable evidence for the evaluation questions, the consultant will also review target health facility records to update relevant indicators, employing a mixed method outcome-based evaluation, will help assessing both intended and unintended outcomes of the project interventions.

To compliment with the above mentioned qualitative and quantitative data collection methods, the evaluator is expected to extensively review all existing project literatures, including project baseline, midterm evaluation, project reports and any other recent and relevant studies from the project intervention areas. Having said that the consultant should as much as possible use the same data collection tools with that of the baseline and midterm for better comparisons.

Below are the main proposed methodology to be used for the endline assessment.

• Primary data collection will be done for all relevant project outcome level indicators and % type indicators for output level indicators, whereas secondary information is also expected to be generated form available project records to be used to generate final evaluation data and information.
• Desk Research: Prior to commencement of data collection for the final evaluation, review of program documents and other relevant literature will be undertaken, including the project baseline and midterm.
• Both primary and secondary sources of information will be used to generate endline data.
• Both qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection will be used to collect information needed for the project endline evaluation. Household survey should be carried out in the ICCM targeted districts in Somalia/Somaliland project target locations. The data will be gathered through interviewing and holding discussions with the different target groups, female health workers, qualified health staff in the target facilities, children, IDP community members, host communities, community groups and local authorities as well as through reviewing different documents.
  • The case studies will be required from any of the project partners, beneficiaries, community members
  • To be able to compare final evaluation findings with that of baseline and midterm values and at the same time measure the impact of the project, the final evaluation study data will be collected from project intervention areas

Scope of the Final Evaluation

The endline study will cover all the target villages in Somaliland, Gabiley and Farawayne districts, while in South West state of Somalia, Baidoa district and Daynile district in Mogadishu will be targeted. The endline survey will be conducted for both the ICCM and health facility-based component of the project and will cover all relevant stakeholders (government officials and representatives, female health workers, qualified health staff in the target facilities, children, IDP community members, host communities, community groups and local authorities) who have benefited or participated in the implementation of the project to collect the necessary information.

The study shall consider quantitative and qualitative methods to collect the information needed to measure endline indicators. Applicants should propose detailed methodology of how they intend to use as well as detailed information on standard and relevant indicators they will measure to meet the objectives of this study.

Duration and Timeline

The end line study shall be expected to be completed within 25 working days, starting from the contracting date.

Deliverables

The following deliverables are expected from the consultant:

a) Inception Report

• The consultant shall submit an inception report after signing of the agreement detailing on the survey methods, tools and work plan.
• Develop survey proposal (brief concept) including problem statement, research questions, conceptual frame of the research.
• Develop final survey proposal which includes introduction, literature review and methodology including sample sites/communities;
• Prepare schedule for field work

b) Draft report

c) Final report

d) Presentation of the key findings to the Save the Children Somalia team.

The consultant shall submit a final report in both hard copies and electronic copies along with all survey data, transcripts of the FGDs, KIIs, photographs and ethical approval etc. The draft report is expected from the consultant before final report. The report will be written in simple English language and must be comprehensive. Reference will be cited after each important facts and figures. The final report should be edited incorporating all comments and corrections if any. Completed checklists, questionnaires, case stories, quotes, photos have to be submitted to Save the Children.

Organisation, Roles and Responsibility

The consultancy will be contracted by and report to Save the Children. The project team, country Office Technical and MEAL staff and SCG technical team will also support for the final evaluation study process. They will provide any necessary available documents and information needed, they will also provide technical assistance if need be.

SC Somalia Responsibilities

The SC Somalia/Somaliland will be responsible for the following:

• Ensure effective coordination of the final evaluation to support the consultants in undertaking their assignment.
• Approve inception report
• Providing input into the tools developed, and endline survey design.
• Provide consultants with literature review materials/necessary documentations.
• Link consultants to relevant stakeholders
• Review draft report
• Approve and signoff final report draft

Ownership of Research Data/Findings

• All data collected and report findings for this study shall remain the property of the SC Somalia/Somaliland.

Terms and Conditions

Professional Fee: The consultant will come up with his/her own rate which will be subject to negotiation within the bounds of donor requirements and set standards of SC in Somalia/Somaliland, the consultant is expected to estimate all relevant costs for the exercise, including costs for data collectors, vehicle rent, venue, stationary, and accommodation while undertaking activities related to this assignment.

Code of Conduct

Save the Children’s work is based on deeply held values and principles of child safeguarding, and it is essential that our commitment to children’s rights and humanitarian principles is supported and demonstrated by all members of staff and other people working for and with Save the Children. Save the Children’s Code of Conduct sets out the standards which all staff members must adhere to and the consultant is bound to sign and abide to the Save the Children’s Code of Conduct.

A contract will be signed by the consultant before commencement of the action. The contract will detail terms and conditions of service, aspects on inputs and deliverables. The Consultant will be expected to treat as private and confidential any information disclosed to her/him or with which she/he may come into contact during her/his service. The Consultant will not therefore disclose the same or any particulars thereof to any third party or publish it in any paper without the prior written consent of Save the Children. Any sensitive information (particularly concerning individual children) should be treated as confidential.

An agreement with a consultant will be rendered void if Save the Children discovers any corrupt activities have taken place either during the sourcing, preparation and implementation of the consultancy agreement.

Mandatory Security Training

international consultant shall be expected to go through mandatory On-line Security and Hostage and Kidnap trainings and submit the certificate of completion to SC before the commencement of the task. Failure to deliver this will lead to an automatic disqualification. SC will advise on the security plan on appointment.

Expertise Required

The following attributes are requirements for the selection of the evaluation consultant:

• At least a Master’s degree in Public Health, Biostatistics, Epidemiology or above in a relevant field
• Proven experience of not less than 5 years in conducting quality evaluations and assessing emergency and integrated programmes
• Solid methodological and research skills
• Thorough knowledge on the relevant thematic areas and Somalia/Somaliland context
• Fluency in English language and local language skills would be helpful.
• Excellent report writing skills
• Able to communicate effectively and work in the project areas for the duration of the data collection.

Application Procedure & Requirements

Candidates interested in the position are expected to provide the following documentation:

• A technical proposal with a detailed response to the TOR, with specific focus on the scope of work, methodology to be used and timelines.
• Initial work plan and indication of availability
• A financial proposal detailing the daily rate expected but not including accommodation, transportation, stationary, research assistances and all other cost related to this assignment.
• Company profile or CV including a minimum of 3 references
• A sample of previously conducted similar studies.
• Detailed budget breakdown for both operational and consultancy fees.