USAID Tubeho Project

Baseline assessment for USAID Tubeho Project 

Terms of Reference for recruiting a consulting firm/company 

January 2024

1. Introduction 

The USAID Tubeho project was designed to accelerate progress towards reducing maternal, newborn and child morbidity and mortality in Rwanda. To make this happen, USAID Tubeho will undertake a series of interventions in maternal, newborn, child, adolescent and youth, and malaria targeting individuals in all their diversities including, persons with disabilities. The USAID Tubeho project builds on past and current USAID investments, to accelerate the pace in the reduction of maternal, newborn, and child morbidity and mortality, allowing the GOR to feasibly reach its goals, even in times of disease outbreaks, thereby contributing to USAID’s Country Development Cooperation Strategy [CDCS] Development Objective [1]. At the end of 5 years, USAID Tubeho envisages accelerated progress towards reduction in the maternal mortality ratio from 203 per 100,000 live births to less than 160, and under-five mortality from 45 per 1,000 live births to less than 30.  USAID Tubeho is guided by four principles to increase project feasibility, scalability and sustainability: 1) data driven commitment to excellence; 2) locally led sustainability; 3) systems thinking; and 4) resilience planning/preparedness, intersectionality, inclusivity and transformative. Grounded in these four principles, progress is propelled by six strategic accelerators: 1) hyper-focus on key quality issues; 2) maximize impact via partnerships; 3) target inequities; 4) promote strategic innovations; 5) increase capacity in data-informed decisions; and 6) increase agency for adolescents, youths, women, people with disabilities and families to improve health.

USAID Tubeho aims to achieve the following result areas:

Result 1: Increased access to, availability and utilization of evidence-based, quality, respectful MNCAH/FP/RH/malaria services.

Result 2: Capacity of host country institutions, local organizations, and providers to sustainably deliver evidence-based, quality MNCAH/FP/RH/malaria services are strengthened in alignment with national priorities and global standards, and to respond to emerging global health threats.

Result 3: Increased use of adaptive learning and evidence in MNCAH/FP/RH/ malaria programming. 

2. Purpose of the Consultancy 

Jhpiego Rwanda seeks to hire a skilled and experienced consultancy firm/company to support USAID Tubeho project baseline assessment. The need for this baseline survey is to inform about the current status related to the above-mentioned results. The data collected during this survey will play a pivotal role in shaping and guiding the planning and implementation strategies for project interventions.

The baseline assessment of the USAID Tubeho project aims to:

1. Assess the status of , access, availability and utilization of RMNCAH, malaria and global health security services.
2. Assess the current organizational capacities of the project local organization’s partners to lead delivery of RMNCAH, Malaria and global health security services.
3. Asses the existing adaptive learning mechanisms and interventions in the implementation of RMNCAH, malaria and global health security, including but not limited to learning, collaboration, research, data use, etc.
4. Identify areas for improvements and develop recommendations to the project and its partners on the adaptation needed to accelerate the reduction in maternal and newborn mortality

 The consultant will be responsible for the following:

• Developing baseline protocol including data collection tools.
• Secure all relevant approvals including IRBs before data collection is conducted.
• Conduct a thorough desk review of the RMNCAH, malaria and global health security evidence-based interventions and summarize key recommendations that can be adapted by the project.
• Conduct a desk review of previous USAID RMNCAH, malaria and global health security projects, identify missed opportunities that need adaptation.
• Recruit and conduct training of research team
• Conduct key/high level in-depth interviews with sampled stakeholders
• Oversee data collection and data quality.
• Data entry and cleaning
• Contact quantitative analysis.
• Conduct qualitative analysis.
• Baseline report writing
• Summary of main gaps and proposed corrective measures.
• Presentation of Baseline results

The results of baseline study will help the project to tailor interventions to the specific needs that will improve Maternal, Newborn and Child health, Malaria and global health interventions leading to the acceleration of reduction in maternal and under five children mortality.

3. Proposed Methods and Data Sources 

To conduct the baseline assessment the consultants will use a mixed method approach. This will include the desk reviews, secondary data analysis when recent data is available, use of routine statics, primary data collection, chart reviews, observations as well as conducting relevant interviews. The consultant is expected to come up with a detailed methodology.

The data collection is expected to be conducted in all supported hospitals as well as selected health centers, health posts and CHWs in the project catchment area. The sample size and sampling frame should be robust enough to allow generalizability of the findings. 

4. Expected deliverables. 

Documentation and Approvals: 

• Submit desk review report and baseline protocol to Jhpiego technical team before submission for ethical approvals.
• Submit baseline protocol to Jhpiego institutional review board, NISR for VISA and to RNEC for ethical clearance. 

Training and preparation of data collection: 

• Digitalize baseline assessment tools.
• Conduct enumerator training sessions.
• Conduct pilot of baseline tools 

Data Collection and Management:

• Oversee data collection.
• Oversee data cleaning, analysis, and synthesis. 

Reporting and Presentation:

• Draft a comprehensive baseline report.
• Present the report during a participatory reflection event.
• Integrate feedback from the reflection event into the final report. 

5. Qualifications for the Consultancy and Required Experience 

Lead Consultant:

• Holder a PhD or DrPH degree in relevant fields such as public health, Maternal, Child Health, Pediatrics with strong background in working with local / international NGOs in the research domain.
• Expertise in quantitative and qualitative data collection and data analysis
• Demonstrated 10 years or more experience implementing large and complex public health projects in maternal, newborn, child health family planning areas and at least 5 years’ experience conducting research, baseline surveys, project evaluation, impact assessment preferably in the field of health.
• Capability to effectively present survey findings to stakeholders through reports and presentations. 
• Demonstrate experience in research publication in the health domains.
• The consultant should have demonstrated research and analytical skills, including the ability to collect, analyze, and interpretation, leading to the production of comprehensive studies reports.
• Familiarity with Rwanda regulations related to research protocols, including experience in obtaining necessary approvals from relevant authorities.
• Demonstrated proof of previous experience in similar assignments in MNCH and Malaria, will be an asset.
• Must be available within the period of the assessment.
• The consultant must be a Rwanda citizen.
• Be registered to the Office for Human Research Protection Database before signing a contract.

Consultancy company/firm:

• Possess a pool of medical and public health professionals experienced in data abstraction from facility documents, observation of health care provision and conducting both quantitative and qualitative data collection.
• A team that will conduct the assignment should comply with Rwanda data protection law requirements.

6. Timeframe

This assignment is expected to be conducted from February 2024 and completed in May 2024.

7. Confidentiality

All documents and data will be treated as confidential and used solely to facilitate this assignment. 

8. Instructions to Bids

The consulting firm should possess the following mandatory  administrative documents:

• RDB registration certificate (matching the field)
• Valid Tax clearance certificate
• Valid RSSB Certificate
• Referees or references certificates of similar tenders executed (At least three )

9. Evaluation criteria and methodology

The consultant will be selected using the quality and cost-based selection and the evaluation will be conducted against the following criteria: 

10. How to Apply 

Technical proposal should explain how the applicant intends to carry out the work and should include the following:

• Updated CV(s) of the proposed study team, highlighting relevant qualifications and experience.
• Certificate of protection of participants in research of not more than one year ago.
• Description of applicant’s experience with studies of a similar nature and details of 3 former clients who can be contacted for reference (name, position, contact details).
• Detailed methodology that the consultant(s) suggest would be appropriate from their understanding of the TOR.
• Detailed study schedule.

The financial proposal should detail i.e  Breakdown of  the proposed budget for the assignment with (tax inclusive) in local currency. 

Interested consultant firms are encouraged to  submit both technical proposal  and stamped financial proposal in separate sealed envelopes not later than Thursday, 15/02/2024, 5:00 PM, local time. Indicate on the envelopes: “Supporting the baseline assessment of USAID Tubeho Project in Rwanda.’’

Address your Proposal  to the Finance and Operations Director at JHPIEGO, Gasabo, Kacyiru, KG 563 ST ROAD, Golf View Rise Building, 3rd Floor. Tel: 0788381188.

For any inquiry, please submit through,  Rwanda.Procurement@jhpiego.org   in at least 2 days before the bids submission deadline.

Done at Kigali, January 29,2024

Laurence Mukanyindo 

Finance and Operations Director