CALL FOR APLLICATIONS FOR PROVISION OF RESEARCH WORK (BASELINE SURVEY)

Good Neighbors Bangladesh (GNB) is announcing an open call for applications for the provision of research work. Please find the detailed terms of reference (ToR) attached.

GNB has recently launched a maternal-child health care project in Bochaganj, Dinajpur in support from Good Neighbors International (GNI) and Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA). The project has being carried out from 2019 to 2021 in collaboration with local health authorities, which aims to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality by empowering community health workers, improving infrastructure of CC and FWC, and increasing awareness of the community.

1. Description of the project

The project ‘Improvement of Maternal and Neonatal Health through Community Health Worker Mobilization in Bochaganj, Bangladesh’ is to promote maternal-child health through three components as below:

1. Improvement of health service for quality delivery: Renovate 2 Family Welfare Centers (FWCs) and 7 Community Clinics (CCs) in Nafanagar and Ishania Union. Skilled Birth Attendants (SBAs) are supported with appropriate equipment to FWC. This supports local women to receive high-quality antenatal & postnatal care and safe facility-based delivery.
2. Increasing access to essential quality maternal-child health service: Hire 70 CHWs in each union and visiting families, finding mothers not registered in the health care facility and registering them to receive antenatal and postnatal care. In addition, a referral system between CHWs and SBAs will be established so that immediate care can be taken when an emergency occurs. Their activities are reported to CHW manager and health facility to provide maternal health information of the target sites.
3. Promotion of community’s awareness of maternal-child health care: Organise patronage committee and family groups for each union to improve awareness of maternal-child health among community members. Also, through campaigns for the community, local people will aware the importance of maternal-child health care.

2. Purpose of the Research

The baseline survey is intended to collect primary data on the pre-implementation situation and to obtain reliable and relevant data on various factors affecting maternal-child health from the community in Nafanagar and Ishania Union, Bochaganj. Information from the survey will be used as a basis for monitoring the project and will also be used to assess the relevance of health behaviour and perceptions of various community members that affect maternal-child health. The main survey is for ever-married women age 15-49, family members, community members, and CHWs.

3. Methodology

A research agency should comply with community assessment tools as detailed in ToR (See attached ToR). Recommended statistical analysis programmes are: SPSS, STATA, and SAS.

4. Required qualifications

1.  Eligibility criteria (Not mandatory)
• At least a master’s degree of a senior researcher/principal investigator in a relevant domain is required.
• Sound professional experience in maternal and neonatal health (MNH) project evaluation.
• Specialty in MNH is required.
• Previous work experience with GNB is appreciated; work experience in Bochaganj district is an asset.
• Professional knowledge of English is required.
• Familiarity with local context cultural background is an asset.
2.  Award criteria: Applications will be assessed against the following criteria:
• Submitted proposal (40 points)
• Relevance and clarity of the research methodology (12 points)
• Validity of the research contents (16 points)
• Propriety of research practice capability (12 points)
• Relevance of the application’s experience (30 points)
• Records of previous similar work and research (30 points)
3.  Exclusion criteria: By submitting your tender, you declare on your honour not being in any of the below situations. The applicant agency shall be excluded from participating in the tender procedure if they:
• have been sentenced by a final judgement on one or more of the following charges: participation in a criminal, corruption or fraud.
• are in a situation of bankruptcy, liquidation, termination of activity, insolvency or arrangement with creditors or any like situation arising from a procedure of the same kind.
• have received a judgement with finding an offence that affects his/her professional integrity or serious professional misconduct.
• do not comply with his/her obligations as regards payment of taxes and dues according to the statutory provision of the country. 

5. Procedure for submission of applications

Incomplete submission will not be given consideration. Applications must be submitted in English and include:

• Letter of Interest from the applicant agency briefly highlighting the experience in conducting similar tasks.
• Research Proposal. (see attached form)
• Lists of relevant experiences. (see attached form)
• Records of previous similar work and research. (see attached form)
• Proof of institution registration. (certificate of registration, etc.)
• Personal information of the researchers. (full name, phone number & e-mail)
• Table of the role division of researchers. Please indicate a senior researcher/principal investigator who has the responsibility for this project.
• Proof providing electronic fiscal device (EFD) receipt upon payment. (if EFD receipt is not available, explain justifiable reasons) (see attached form)

§ This bid notice will be one of the parts of the contract between GNB and the selected research agency.
§ Neither Good Neighbors nor KOICA is responsible for any costs or expenses incurred by bidders in connection with the preparation or delivery of bids.
§ Applications MUST be submitted by e-mail to: KOICA-CHW@gnbangla.org
§ Please note the DEADLINE for submission of application is on 20th May 2019 at 23:59 hrs.

Terms of Reference

Research Proposal Format

Lists of Relevant Experiences

Point of Contract: GNB Office