Consultancy Opportunity:
Terms of Reference (TOR) for Research Consultant for Health Resilience and MNCH/RH/FP Case Study, DRC
Background:
The MOMENTUM suite of awards is a flagship program designed to accelerate reductions in maternal, newborn, and child mortality and morbidity in high-burden, USAID-supported countries. MOMENTUM aims to accomplish this goal by strengthening the capacity of country institutions and local organizations to introduce, deliver, scale up, and sustain the use of evidence based, high-quality maternal, newborn, and child health and nutrition (MNCHN), voluntary family planning (FP), and reproductive health (RH) public and private sector services. MOMENTUM’s vision is that all individuals, families, and communities have equitable access to and make use of comprehensive, high-quality maternal, newborn, and child health and nutrition programs, voluntary family planning services, and reproductive health care that best meets their needs.
The MIHR project is aimed at integrating health resilience within the broader context of maternal, newborn, child health (MNCH), voluntary family planning (FP), and reproductive health (RH) services in various countries including the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Mali.
In DRC, MIHR has supported the adaptation and development of health resilience tools tailored to the unique challenges of operating in fragile settings. As MIHR enters the final phase of the project, we are looking to consolidate insights, enhance the application of these tools and share learnings through a case study.
In the Timbuktu region of Mali, health services and communities have seen an increase in insecurity and disruptions to health services. Since 2021, MIHR has been implementing a series of interventions related to health system strengthening, social behavior change, social accountability, immunization, and preparedness. As the insecurity context evolved, MIHR also had to adapt some of its interventions.
Consultancy Overview:
The consultant will lead the development of two separate documents:
- A case study provisionally titled “Tool Adaptation for Health System Strengthening with a focus on sexual and reproductive health (SRH)/FP preparedness and resilience”. The case study will explore the development and adaptation of about nine (09) tools[1] used by MIHR in DRC to assess, operationalize and evaluate various health resilience interventions.
- A technical brief reviewing the evolution of MIHR activities in Timbuktu, Mali. This brief will document the interventions, their adjustments (through adaptive management), the outcomes, challenges, and lessons learned from the initiatives in Mali,
Both documents will provide an independent analysis that will contribute to the broader understanding of health resilience in different contexts.
Objectives:
Case study DRC
- Document the development and/or adaptation processes of about nine (9) health resilience tools with the DRC context
- Analyze the challenges faced during their adaptation and early implementation of these tools
- Highlight the lessons learned and provide recommendations for future tool adaptations and health resilience strategies.
Technical brief Mali
- Document MIHR activities in Timbuktu, their evolutions, any anecdotal outcomes, challenges encountered and learnings.
Tasks:
Case study DRC
- Review project documents, reports, and previous evaluations: Conduct an in-depth review of the draft tools and all related documentation, including their theoretical underpinnings, practical applications, and alignment with global best practices (if relevant).
- Review and adapt – as necessary – a proposed analysis framework predeveloped by MIHR team
- Conduct semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders including MIHR staff and external stakeholders to gather insights and feedback.
- Synthesize findings from document review and interviews to draft a comprehensive case study report (that should not exceed 30 pages including graphs and tables), with one round of revisions with the MIHR team.
Technical Brief Mali
- Review project document and conduct semi-structured interviews with key MIHR Mali team members in Bamako and Timbuktu
- Synthesize project intervention, project adaptations, preliminary outcomes/impacts, challenges, and lessons learned to draft a technical brief reviewing the health resilience activities in Timbuktu, Mali with one round of revisions with the MIHR team. This brief will not exceed 10 pages (including pictures, tables, graphs etc.)
Deliverables:
- An inception report outlining the methodology, data collection instruments and timeline
- A case study report (20 to 30 pages) that includes an analysis of tool adaptations, expected outcomes/expected results, challenges, and actionable recommendations, formatted in accordance with MIHR branding guidelines.
- A short summary PowerPoint on key findings from the case study.
- A technical brief on health resilience activities in Timbuktu, Mali, not to exceed 10 pages – (approx. 2500 words)
Duration of Assignment: The consultancy will span 15 days for the case study and 5 days for the Mali brief. The workdays will not be consecutive, allowing intervals for review and feedback on the deliverables submitted.
Consultant Profile:
- Proven experience in health systems research, preferably within fragile or conflict-affected settings.
- Strong background in maternal and reproductive health.
- Knowledge and experience of SRH preparedness and resilience.
- Excellent analytical and report writing skills.
- Experience conducting qualitative research remotely.
- Fluent in English and French.
Application Requirements:
Candidates must submit two writing samples along with their application.
Application Process:
Interested applicants should submit the following documents in electronic form to procurement@goal.ie by 17 June 2024 with Reference number (USA-105-28580 in the subject line:
- CV and cover letter outlining your relevant skills and experience
- Up to two recent samples from similar pieces of work (please do not include any confidential / sensitive information within these samples)
- Cost proposal
- Details of three relevant referees who can be contacted to verify the information shared
[1] The list of the nine tools is available upon request to apatterson@us.goal.ie