1.Background / IRC Summary
The International Rescue Committee responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC offers help to people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover, and gain control of their future. At work today in over 40 countries and in 22 U.S. cities, the IRC serves people forced to flee from war, conflict, disaster and the host communities which support them, as well as those who remain within their homes and communities. IRC- Somalia supports health facilities in Benadir and Galmudug regions.
These Terms of Reference relates to a consultancy in which IRC- Somalia wishes to develop a behavior change communication (BCC) strategy, which is multilevel, delivering the appropriate health messages to individuals, households, and communities. The strategy will create a positive and sustainable behavior change utilizing a variety of approaches (traditional and conventional) that are appropriate within the Somalia context, This will promote improvement in health programming via community/ household empowerment & understanding on health as well as strengthening health education messaging at health facilities to promote positive health seeking behavior of the community. The rates of illiteracy and poverty are extremely high in the area, and messages must be delivered via accessible and appropriate means in order to be effective.
2. Job overview
The process of developing the BCC strategy will involve reviewing existing communication tools, being used at the health facilities and within the community, meeting with key health staff including community health workers and some members of the communities within the interventions area and some stakeholders in order to understand the culture, knowledge and health seeking behavior of the community.
The process of developing the BCC strategy will involve reviewing existing communication tools, being used at the health facilities and within the community, meeting with key health staff including community health workers and some members of the communities within the interventions area and some stakeholders in order to understand the culture, knowledge and health seeking behavior of the community.
3. Main Objectives
The main objective of the BCC strategy is to contribute to improved survival of the health status of the Somali people through increased access to quality health services with particular focus on maternal and child health.
Specific objectives:
- To facilitate in the development of a BCC strategy based on findings and involving key stakeholders in Health.
- To develop BCC Role out plan for effective and efficient implementation.
- To set up simple and effective M&E systems, to monitor the quantity, quality and effectiveness of messages, tools, materials and activities.
- To provide capacity building/ trainings to field teams on BCC tools and materials developed.
4. Responsibilities:The BCC Consultant will be responsible for the following:
- Review the existing BCC practices and documents in the project sites
- Identify different target groups and offer strategic approach for positive health seeking behavior
- Undertake an in-depth analysis of the BCC practices in the project areas in terms of their cultural appropriateness and effectiveness, and give practical recommendations on conducting BCC activities in Somalia.
- Organize meetings with health staff, CHW's and stakeholders
- Suggest appropriate and acceptable cost-effectiveness strategies able to motivate local communities to create a positive health-seeking behavior.
Based on the above mentioned points, develop a BCC strategy (realistic and effective) to reach the target groups.
- The strategy should include: identified target groups , key messages, effective channels to deliver messages and specify how they should be delivered to the target groups
- Develop key health messages for IEC materials relevant for the target groups
- Work with the communication advisor to ensure content is presented in an accurate and user-friendly manner
- Develop BCC Role out plan for effective and efficient implementation.
- Set up simple and effective M&E systems, to monitor the quantity, quality and effectiveness of messages, tools, materials and activities.
- To provide capacity building/ trainings to field teams
5. Scope of Work
The assignment is expected to be conducted for 16 days in the month of October, 2015. Specific dates will be discussed with the consultant.
The consultant(s) should allocate their time approximately as follows:
Activity & Time
- Desk Review – to review the existing BCC documents and tools(Nairobi level) 1 day
- Visit Mogadishu in Somalia for a joint planning with senior health manager, and Health Manager and project team 1 days
- Consultation and rapid assessment including visiting health facilities, meetings with staff and stakeholders 4 days
- Presentation and validation workshop ( At Mogadishu level) 1 day
- Capacity building through training/ orientation on tools and materials conducted 1 day
- Travel back from Somalia 1 day
- IEC Camera ready materials, Report and final BCC strategy document and BCC Implementation / roll out plan 6 days
- Presentation /Report submission in Nairobi – office 1 day
Total: 16 days
6. The following are the key deliverables expected of this consultancy and within the specified period:
- Initial inception report detailing the methodology to be used to assess, review, develop BCC strategy and Roll out implementation plan. IRC will require approval of the proposed methodologies, procedures to be used and instruments to be incorporated
- Develop BCC roll out/implementation plan
- M and E plan submitted (Specifically for BCC)
- Capacity building through training on tools developed and materials conducted.
- Final BCC strategy including target groups, key messages and effective channels to deliver messages
- Submit a “camera-ready” draft of IEC materials.(Assurance of quality ready to print artworks)
- End of assignment report/presentation.
7. Education Required Skills and Experience:
- Degree in communication, Public Health or relevant fields
- 4 + years’ experience in conducting BCC surveys and/or analysis/strategy designing.
- Proven expertise and experience in BCC , preferably in Maternal and child health sector
- Relevant technical knowledge, skills and extensive work experience in: designing BCC strategy, messages, tools and materials, plans including media plans
- Capability to work in both English and Somali and be willing to complete quality out puts within the stipulated deadline.
- Excellent report writing skills
Consultants should include the following considerations in their technical and financial proposals:
- No costs associated with preparing the application will be met by IRC
- The consultants will lead and ensure field work is done correctly and completed as per the agreed timeline. The expected time line may be revised based on consultant/IRC discussions.
MINIMUM CRITERIA FOR SUBMISSION OF THE PROPOSAL FOR THE BID
- The BCC consultant /institution should submit a technical and a financial proposal.
- The BCC consultant /institution is expected to demonstrate that it has a track record of not less than four (4+) years of experience executing similar assignments.
- Qualifications as specified in section (7) and proven experience in conducting search assignments
8. Contractual issues
The IRC will provide the following at no cost to the consultant:
- Travel costs (to and from – Nairobi and within Somalia)
- The consultant / team must comply with The IRC rules and procedures related to security and relations with the media
- The consultant/ team must respect the ethics related to evaluation practice
- Security would be provided and organized by The IRC team
9. Others
The consultant will work closely with IRC’s Deputy Director for Programs, Health team in Nairobi Communication Advisor, and Field health team in Mogadishu.
10. Documents of reference (To be availed by IRC)
- Existing BCC tools and documents
- Relevant project documents as deemed necessary.
HOW TO APPLY:
If you feel you/your organization fit the required profile and are available for the assignment, please submit a short technical proposal providing detailed budget breakdown, along with brief technical bio data of the core team members and evidence of similar work undertaken recently. Submit via email toQuresha.AbdullahiAhmed@rescue.org. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
Deadline for Applications: 2nd September 2015
