Consultancy to Develop a Communication Strategy and Materials for the Introduction of the Hepatitis B Birth Dose Tender at Clinton Health Access Initiative, Inc.

Organization Overview

The Clinton Health Access Initiative, Inc. (CHAI) is a global health organization committed to strengthening integrated health systems around the world and expanding access to care and treatment for HIV/AIDS, malaria and other illnesses. Based on the premise that business-oriented strategy can facilitate solutions to global health challenges, CHAI acts as a catalyst to mobilize new resources and optimize the impact of these resources to save lives, via improved organization of commodity markets and more effective local management. CHAI does not operate stand-alone programs, nor does it build parallel health systems. Rather, CHAI works at the invitation and in support of governments. We focus on large-scale impact and have secured lower pricing agreements for treatment options in more than 70 countries. CHAI's teams are working side-by-side with over 30 governments to tackle many of the largest barriers to effective health care. For more information, please visit: http://www.clintonhealthaccess.org

Assignment Background

The Hepatitis B virus (HBV) remains a major global public health challenge, leading to chronic liver disease, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that approximately 296 million people worldwide live with chronic HBV infection, with about 820,000 deaths annually from HBV-related complications most occurring in low- and middle-income countries.

Hepatitis B can be transmitted from an infected mother to her child during pregnancy or the perinatal period. The most effective strategy to prevent and eventually eliminate HBV mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) is through administration of a Hepatitis B Birth Dose (HepB-BD) vaccine within 24 hours after birth, as recommended by WHO.

Rwanda has made significant progress in achieving high immunization coverage, yet Hepatitis B remains a concern due to perinatal transmission despite having introduced targeted Hepatitis B BD vaccine since 2024; currently 99% of exposed infants have been vaccinated according to program data. The country has decided to move universal HepB BD vaccination to avoid community transmission to infants beside the mothers. Throughout the program implementation, we found that there is a need of improving community awareness about both the Hepatitis B BD vaccine and Hepatitis B mother-to-child transmission. The Government of Rwanda, through the Ministry of Health and the Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC) is committed to reaching the global hepatitis elimination targets by 2030.This includes the introduction of the Hepatitis B Birth Dose vaccine into the national routine immunization schedule, with the aim of achieving more than 90% coverage and reducing HBV infections among children under five to below 1% by 2030.

To ensure a smooth introduction and high uptake of the new vaccine, Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) and RBC through the vaccine preventable diseases unit are working together to establish effective communication and social mobilization strategy to create awareness, generate demand, and address myths and misconceptions surrounding the Hepatitis B Birth Dose vaccine and newborn immunization.

Purpose of the Consultancy

The overall purpose of this individual consultancy is to develop a comprehensive Communication Strategy for the introduction of the Hepatitis B Birth Dose in Rwanda and to produce communication materials that will be used during the vaccination campaign and beyond to provide necessary community sensitization, promote uptake and sustained demand.

Therefore, CHAI Rwanda Country office invites qualified individual consultants to submit competitive proposals for providing the above-mentioned consultancy services. Instructions and other information for completing your proposals are provided in detail in Terms of Reference attached to this notice.

Please send well written proposal documents prepared in English, including a detailed CV, proof of past similar assignment, work plan schedule, consultant rates and any other relevant documentation, to this email address rwandaprocurement@clintonhealthaccess.org, with “CHAI Rwanda: Communication Strategy and materials for HepB BD” in the subject line not later than 19^th November 2025 at 05:00 pm Kigali local time. It shall remain responsibility of the applicants to ensure that bids will reach the address email above on or before the deadline. Bids documents that are received by CHAI after the deadline indicated above, for whatever reason, shall not be considered for evaluation. Only shortlisted companies will be contacted.

Any questions/concerns/clarifications related to this tender should be addressed to CHAI Rwanda procurement Office through rwandaprocurement@clintonhealthaccess.org not later than 4 days before the deadline for submission. Any questions/concerns/clarifications received after this deadline will not be considered.

Note:

• Data Protection and Consent:
  "By submitting a proposal in response to this Request for Proposals (RFP), you hereby consent to the collection and use of your personal and company data by the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) for the sole purpose of facilitating the tendering process, in accordance with the data protection laws of Rwanda."

• Conflict of Interest Declaration:
  "By responding to this Request for Proposals (RFP), you confirm that no conflicts of interest exist between your organization and any CHAI staff involved in the procurement or evaluation process, nor with any members of the leadership team at CHAI's Rwanda country office."