Terms of Reference
HANDICAP INTERNATIONAL- HUMANITY & INCLUSION (HI), BANGLADESH PROGRAMME
Title of Project: Women’s Integrated Sexual Health (WISH)
Consultancy Work: National context analysis of the rights and protection of persons with disabilities and the application of the convention on the rights for persons with disabilities regarding sexual and reproductive health rights; mapping of the ongoing policy dialogue/reform initiatives to identify gaps, strengths and opportunities and alignment with inclusion principles for persons with disabilities; providing recommendations for policy goals and for the advocacy strategy of the project.
Length of consultancy: 1.5 months or 45 days (August – October 2019)
Expected start date: 10th September 2019
Location of work: Dhaka, Bangladesh (with travel to selected districts; Kurigram & Sitakund-Chattogram) |
1. Background
Handicap International-Humanity & Inclusion (HI) is an international aid organization operating in situations of poverty and exclusion, conflict and disaster. It works alongside people with disabilities and vulnerable populations, taking action and bearing witness in order to respond their essential needs, improve their living conditions and promote respect for their dignity and their fundamental rights. HI is operating in Bangladesh since 1997 to advance the long-term rights and inclusion of people with disabilities.
HI in Bangladesh is implementing the project “WISH2ACTION: Women Integrated Sexual and Reproductive Health” (2019 – 2021) with direct support by DFID, aiming to ensure equitable access to family planning and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). In consortium with Marie Stopes Bangladesh, Options Consultancy Service Ltd (‘Option’), HI have an important role to deliver the project through extensive service and networks at country level to provide integrated and inclusive FP/SRH services. The project has specific focus on reaching the poor, youth under 20, the marginalized and people with disabilities; prioritizing the most underserved women and girls, and people living in hard-to-reach areas.
HI is implementing the project directly in Kurigram Sadar and Ulipur upazila in Kurigram district, and Sitakunda upazila in Chattogram district with the support of two local partners respectively Solidarity and YPSA. In addition, HI is working through Disabled People’s Organizations (DPO’s) in 15 districts of Bangladesh where Marie Stopes Bangladesh are providing SRHR services under WISH project. DPOs will play a key role to advocate with policy makers and service providers on inclusive SRHR at the same time working with people with disabilities to raise the awareness on SRHR rights.
3. Rationale of the action
WISH2ACTION will promote a supportive environment for and increase public investment in SRHR by using evidence, advocacy, and accountability to foster policy change, ensure quality services are delivered, and protect and fulfil SRHR financing. Through a context analysis (Political and Social), WISH2ACTION will identify how best to implement policies or legislation within different political and social fabrics in order to gain maximum traction in countries. Also identify where policy or legislation needs to be enacted or protected from regression to respond to critical SRHR gaps, which should be on the basis of provisions in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) national legal and policy guidelines aimed at inclusion of person with disability in SRH and FP services.
As with all guidelines, the actual application of the context and recommendations would be reflected into the project or program and this guidance note provides a good basis for improved understanding of disability-inclusiveness, equitable access to family planning, sexual, reproductive health rights (SRHR) services through promotion of societal change, elimination of barriers to access, increase demand for SRHR, using innovative and inclusive approaches and contributes to better project.
The proposed study seeks to contribute to the strengthening of state laws and policies that foster social inclusion and gender equality for the benefit of young and women with disabilities, poor and marginalized; to eliminate discrimination against them, particularly with regard to access to and full enjoyment of SRHR, prevention and response services; and to recognize and promote their right to be active members of society with the acknowledged capacity to make decisions on issues affecting them.
4. Overall objective of the consultancy
To analyses policies and initiatives to set priorities and take action to promote equal access to services, quality, integration, and inclusiveness of FP and SRH, especially with respect to the fulfilment of SRHR of young and women with disabilities
5. Specific objective of the consultancy
Specific objectives of the study are as follows
- An up-to-date policy analysis with identification of gaps, strengths, challenges and opportunities within national policies related to Health including disability-inclusive sexual and reproductive health rights and family planning
- Conduct a mapping of government, private (Pharmacies) and civil society actors (NGOs, INGOs and DPOs) engaged in disability inclusive SRH and FP.
- Draw concrete recommendations to set or redefine the policy goals by supporting strategic planning, alignment of resources, interventions and to contribute to the local and global efforts to leave no one behind
- Designing a national action plan and propose a roadmap; leverage domestic financing; identify where policy or legislation needs to be enacted or protected from regression to respond to critical SRHR gaps
6. Methodology
Consultant will develop quantitative and qualitative tools and specific checklist based on objectives. Desk review and statistical data derived from series of meeting including KII, IDI and FGDs with relevant stakeholders in national and local level.
The context analysis report will therefore be based on these primary data and supported by secondary data from other reports and secondary materials. The legal analysis section consists of a brief summary of the rights set by the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Articles 6 & 25 and the Sustainable Development Goals 3 & 5 to promote Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights of people with disabilities in development and progresses to a discussion of the national laws and policy framework that currently exist for persons with disabilities before the gaps and limitations of such laws and policies is elaborated on. Each of the sections then ends with a list of recommendations addressed to the state and other concerned bodies or authorities.
Proposed methodology
- Orientation on the project background and objectives by HI
- Definition of data collection tools, report template and action plan in collaboration with HI team
- Desk review based on pre-identified resources, including but not limited to current national policies and previous independent reports, project documents and evaluations such as Rights and Protection of Persons with Disabilities Act 2013, Rules on disability rights and protection act, Neuro-development disabled protection act 2013, Bangladesh National Health Policy 2011, Bangladesh Population Policy 2012, National Nutrition policy 2015, The National Strategy for Adolescent Health 2017-2030 Strategic Plan of the GOB for Health, National Children Policy of 2013, Health, Nutrition and Population Strategic Investment Plan 2016 -21, Population and Nutrition Sector Development (2011-2016); Report of Bangladesh on United Nationals Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities, WHO Global Disability Action Plan, Women and Children Repression Prevention Act 2000 (amended in 2003) and Human Trafficking Prevention and Deterrence Act 2012 enacted to regulate offences including sexual harassment, rape, trafficking, kidnapping, dowry against women and the Child Marriage Restraint Act 1929 (amended in 1983).
- Carry out interviews with the selected stakeholders including the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and its sections, the Ministry of Social Welfare, INGOs, national NGOs, DPOs, individual practitioners and surveys and FGDs conducted across selected districts of Bangladesh
- Meeting with project consortium partners (Options, MSB), implementing partners and DPOs at national and local level. Collect existing reports or publications from consortium partners on SRHR in Bangladesh.
- Conduct Interviews with relevant stakeholders -Directorate General of Health (DGH)& Directorate General of Family Planning (DGFP) to map the current situation of National health policies and Bangladesh strategy for adolescent health, policy reform and policy advocacy initiatives
- Review and analyze policy documents based on established criteria of alignment to reference frameworks and identify gaps, strengths, challenges and opportunities and draw detailed recommendations for each key policy document (mentioning the name of policy documents, year and authority of publication, section/s where disability and/ or SR health for people with disabilities mentioned, summary of disability/SRH section)- using quantitative and qualitative data analysis tools
- Collect evidence on media coverage (newspapers, websites, etc.) on SRH and FP policies and planning.
- Prepare draft report on the policy documents analysis outcomes, and mapping the current/ongoing SRH policy advocacy and share preliminary findings with DGFP and finalize report and after presenting it to DGFP.
- Facilitate to conduct a day-long stakeholder’s workshop to discuss issues, gaps and concerns relating to access, coverage, safety and quality of SRHR information and services for people with disabilities - this will feed into immediate, intermediate and long-term solutions proposed to feed into the Policy paper.
- Produce a draft report from the workshop detailing recommendations to feed into the implementation plan and proposed roadmap to be circulated to Directorate General of Health (DGH), Directorate General of Family Planning (DGFP) of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoH&FW), International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) and DFID for comments and inputs.
Work plan: Tasks under this ToR should be completed in 1.5 month or 45 Days; these are indicative and the consultant is welcome to propose her/his own action plan for this assignment.
SL |
Activity/deliverable |
Days |
1 |
Inception, approval of method (literature review and all desk work) and work plan |
3 |
2 |
Study instrument or tools development and validation |
7 |
3 |
Quantitative and qualitative data collection, interviews and analysis (including field work as needed) at national and local level |
20 |
4 |
First draft of synthesis report and study finding |
4 |
5 |
a day-long stakeholder’s workshop to discuss study finding, potential study synergies between recommendation for national action plan and propose a roadmap. |
1 |
6 |
First draft of final report with accumulation of workshop finding and feedback |
5 |
7 |
Final report submission |
5 |
|
Total Days |
45 |
Commencement of Completion and Penalty: The Consultant shall begin performing the services on the prescribed date of the work plan on which execution of the contract shall take place, but not earlier than and without undue delay after the contract has come into force. The consultant shall deliver the services in accordance with the work plan or time schedule and shall complete the services within the Completion Period, subject to any further extensions to this contract. If the consultant fails to performed services (Specially delayed submission of final report) under this contract within the requisite timeframe, for reasons he must warrant, the Employer shall, unless the special conditions include a derogation, be authorised to inflict a penalty of 5% of the order value for every week of delay, subject to a cap of 10% of the Order Value. Beyond such penalty, the Employer may not bring any further claims arising from the delay in the performance of the Services. The right of termination shall remain unaffected.
7. Deliverables
The following deliverables are expected
- Work Plan
- A package of tools for policy review and analysis: reference frameworks, checklists, question guides (for both quantitative and qualitative data collection)
- A draft report outline, to be agreed with HI team before report writing and that should include at least: a table of contents (sections, subsections); executive summary; methods; findings; recommendations; quantitative data tables
- Produce a draft report from the workshop detailing recommendations to feed into the implementation plan and proposed roadmap
- Final full report (hard and e-copy) and a Power Point Presentation for relevant government authorities.
- Filled-in copies of all tools and check-lists used in policy analysis and interviews (hard copies only)
- Photographs, primary notes, etc.
8. Confidentiality and copyright:
All documents shared with the Consultant are confidential to HI Bangladesh and should not be used outside of HI Bangladesh without prior permission. Information received by the Consultant from HI Bangladesh and its stakeholders should be treated as confidential. The assessment report will be owned by HI Bangladesh and disseminated to or shared with authorities, as the organization feels necessary. After the final submission of assessment report, the consultant should submit all the drawing of the design, budget estimation and estimation of materials, data and meeting minutes. Therefore, all materials developed by the consultant under the TOR will become the intellectual and physical property of HI.
9. Principles and values
The consultant should comply with HI’s ethical rules and protection policies, in particular the Child Protection (CP) and Protection against Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA); these policies will be the integral part of the final contract. The consultant should also bear the image of HI and ‘do-no-harm’ to the beneficiaries or stakeholders and should maintain transparency and impartiality with project participants and stakeholders. The consultant should respect the core humanitarian principles during his/her engagement with HI.
10. Eligibility Criteria
Profile of the consultant:
- The Consultant should have an advanced university degree in MBBS/medical subject, disability studies, development studies, rehabilitation, social science, master in public health or master in health economics or similar degrees with registration from the professional association or the regulatory body. Higher study on sexual and reproductive health and family planning is preferred
- The Consultant must have sound understanding and experience in desk and field research including qualitative and quantitative data review, analysis and draw recommendations
- Very good experience of facilitating high level meetings and workshops
- Al least one (preferably more) evidence of consultancy work on national level policies’ review and analysis and preparing report
- The ability to write the final report in professional English and the ability to present this verbally
- Availability on the proposed time to complete full set of deliverables
11. Role of Handicap International – Humanity & Inclusion (HI Bangladesh)
- Provide relevant project documents
- Arrange necessary appointments to the listed stakeholders for one to one interview by the Consultant
- Make payment on consultancy work as per the following schedule:
- 30% after contract signature,
- 30% after draft report submission
- 40% after final report validation
- no later than 31 December 2019 upon receiving the agreed deliverables
- List of the health centers with their address
- Seek approval from the DGHS/ministry
- HI will link with Disabled People’s Organizations (DPOs) and other partners in each respective district
12. Consultancy contract
The contract with the consultant shall include the following documents and requirements:
- Compliance by the consultant to Clauses 7 & 8 of DFID’s Terms and Conditions, including compliance to DFID code of Conduct,
- The Consultant represents and warrants that neither it, nor any of its personnel, agents or sub-contractors, or any person acting on their behalf, have at any time prior to the commencement date and / or during the term of this Contract appeared on the UK Home Office Proscribed Terrorist Organisations List:
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/670599/20171222_Proscription.pdf
- HI Good Business Regulation
- HI Child Protection Policy
- HI Protection of Beneficiaries from Sexual Exploitation & Abuse
13. Application submission
Only interested policy research firm or individual consultants are requested to apply
Technical Proposal (maximum 8 pages) which should include:
- Introduction including understanding of the consultancy work
- Methodology of consultancy work that includes developing tools to analyze policies, template of report, interview of relevant stakeholders for mapping the current situation of rehabilitation policy advocacy, draft report submission, final report submission, etc.
- Timeline for each activity of the consultancy work (Work Plan)
- Reporting template which includes section, sub-sections, contents as well as data analysis and findings presentation, recommendations
- Schedule
- Evidence of relevant experience of the consultant
- CV of the Consultant/s as annex (not beyond the 3 pages)
Financial Proposal:
This should include: all-inclusive daily consultancy fees including local transport, accommodation, stationeries, printing, day long workshop, VAT-Tax.
Others Requirements of Business documents (copy):
- Trade License (in case of company)
- VAT Certificate (in case of company
- E-TIN Certificate (for both, either company or individual)
- Bank Solvency Certificate (for both, either company or individual)
- Insurance Certificate (for both, either company or individual)
- Bank details : name of the account, Bank name, branch, swift code
Interested and qualified consultants should submit their proposals to Handicap International – Humanity & Inclusion (HI), Bangladesh through email to logistics@bangladesh.hi.org and CC to n.asad@hi.org by 20 August 2019. Please indicate “Consultancy on Policy Review and Analysis” in the subject line of the email. |