Introduction

Reproductive Health Services Training & Education Program (RHSTEP) is a pioneer national non-government organization focusing on Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) for more than three decades in Bangladesh. RHSTEP was evolved in 1983 as a special project under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) of the Government of Bangladesh titled MRTSP. In 1989 MRTSP was transformed into an NGO. Considering the increasing need for other reproductive health care, MRTSP stepped forward in 2002 with multifaceted services and a new name 'Reproductive Health Services Training and Education Program - RHSTEP. RHSTEP has extended its activity centers in 20 districts of Bangladesh. Every year approximately 6,00,000 women, and men including youth adolescents, and children reached with different health care services, education, and awareness support through its 23 service delivery centers and 11 youth lead resource center. RHSTEP is registered with Department of Social Welfare and NGOAB of Government of Bangladesh

Access to quality Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) services is crucial for promoting public health and gender equality. Effective advocacy skills among SRH service managers can enhance their ability to influence policies, secure resources, and improve service delivery. To strengthen these skills, RHSTEP seeks to hire a consultant to conduct a specialized training on advocacy for staff.

Objective

The primary objective of this consultancy is to equip SRH service managers with the necessary advocacy skills to:

• Understand the basics of Advocacy
• Influence policy and decision-making processes in favor of SRH services.
• Engage stakeholders and build partnerships for effective service delivery.
• Develop and implement advocacy strategies to address barriers to SRH services.

Scope of Work

The consultant will be responsible for the following tasks:

• Conduct a needs assessment to identify key advocacy skill gaps among SRH service managers.
• Develop a tailored training curriculum in Bangla incorporating best practices in advocacy for SRH.
• Deliver an interactive training program using participatory methodologies.
• Provide training materials, case studies, and resource guides in Bangla
• Facilitate group exercises, role-plays, and practical advocacy action planning.
• Evaluate training effectiveness through pre- and post-training assessments.
• Submit a final report detailing the training process, outcomes, and recommendations.

Deliverables
 
The consultant will be expected to deliver the following:

• An inception report outlining the advocacy landscape for RHSTEP and identifying specific needs and challenges
• Training needs assessment report
• Training curriculum and materials in Bangla along with presentations
• Conducting at least one training batch for 3 days with 10-15 participants
• Training evaluation report, including participant feedback and impact assessment
• Final consultancy report with recommendations for future capacity-building initiatives

Expected Qualifications and expertise

The consultant should possess the following qualifications and experience:

• Advanced degree in Public Health, Social Sciences, Development Studies, or a related field.
• Proven experience in conducting advocacy training, particularly in SRH-related topics
• Strong understanding of SRH policies and governance structures in Bangladesh
• Excellent facilitation and training skills with participatory approaches
• Strong writing and reporting skills in English
• Experience working with government agencies, NGOs, and development partners is preferred

Timeline

The consultancy is expected to be completed within 10 days commencing on date of signing agreement. The specific timeline for each deliverable will be mutually agreed upon between RHSTEP and the selected consultant(s) upon contract signing

Application Process

Interested consultants are requested to submit:

• A detailed proposal outlining their approach to the training, including methodology and timeline
• A financial proposal detailing consultancy fees and other relevant costs
• CV(s) of the consultant or consulting team, highlighting relevant experience
• At least two references from previous similar assignments

Applications should be submitted to the Executive Director, RHSTEP mentioning the name of training on the subject line via email to rhstep@gmail.com

Evaluation Criteria

Proposals will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Demonstrated experience and expertise in delivering Advocacy related training
• Quality and feasibility of the proposed methodology
• Clarity and relevance of the proposed timeline
• Cost-effectiveness of the financial proposal
• Ability to meet the specific needs and requirements of RHSTEP

Contractual Arrangements

The selected consultant(s) will enter into a formal contract with RHSTEP outlining the terms and conditions of the consultancy, including deliverables, timeline, payment schedule, and confidentiality agreements

Amendment of Terms

The terms of reference may be amended by mutual agreement between the RHSTEP and the selected consultant, if necessary

RHSTEP reserves the right to accept or reject any proposal received.

Application Deadline: 11 May 2025