Request For Proposals To Conduct A Gender, Youth And .

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALSRFP SOLICITATION NUMBER: FY17-RFP01-6022Request for proposals to conduct a Gender, Youth and SocialInclusion Analysis for the USAID Regional Health Integration toEnhance Services in East Central Uganda (USAID RHITES-EC)Date of Issue: 24th January 2017Closing Time and Date for Proposals’ Submission:5:00pm (EST), 08th February 2017Proposals must be submitted to USAID’s Regional Health Integration toEnhance Services in East Central (USAID RHITES-EC)Plot 10, Kiira Lane, Mpumudde Division, Jinja, UgandaP.O. BOX 5053, Jinja-UgandaOR to: rhites-ec@urc-chs.comIssuance of this RFP does not constitute a contractual commitment on the part of URC nor doesit commit URC or the US Government to pay for costs incurred in the submission of a proposal.All costs of the Offerer in the preparation and submission of an offer shall be borne by thatOfferer. URC reserves the right to reject any and all proposals and to make no award at all, or tomake an award without further discussion or negotiations if it is considered to be in the bestinterests of the project and URC.

Table of ContentsBackground: USAID’s Regional Health Integrated to Enhance Services in East Central Uganda . 3Purpose of the Analysis . 3Specific Objectives of the Analysis . 4Scope of Gender, Youth and Social Inclusion Analysis . 4Methods . 5Specific Tasks of the Consultancy . 5Expected Deliverables . 6Consultancy Team Qualifications and Composition . 6Key Consultants’ Terms . 7Evaluation Criteria and Submission Requirements . 7Duration of the Assignment . 8Location of Assignment . 8Logistics Support and Oversight by USAID RHITES-EC. 8Application Guidelines. 8

Request for proposals to conduct a Gender, Youth and SocialInclusion Analysis for the USAID Regional Health Integration toEnhance Services in East Central Uganda (USAID RHITES-EC)BackgroundUSAID’s Regional Health Integration to Enhance Services in East Central Uganda(USAID RHITES-EC) is a five-year project (2016–2021) that aims to increaseutilization of health services in 11 districts of East Central Uganda through thefollowing result areas: Increased availability and accessibility to health services;improved quality of health services; increased availability of resources for publicsector health services; improved organization and management of services delivery;and increased adoption of healthy behaviors and positive child developmentpractices by communities in focus areas and target population groups.The project is implemented by a consortium of local and international partners includingthe prime grant recipient, University Research Co., LLC (URC) and sub-awardeepartners; The AIDS Support Organization (TASO), Communication for DevelopmentFoundation Uganda (CDFU), Youth Alive Uganda and INSIGHT Health.The USAID’s RHITES-EC seeks requests for proposals from suitable consulting firmsto conduct a gender, youth and social inclusion analysis in the 11 districts of EastCentral Uganda (Bugiri, Busia, Buyende, Iganga, Jinja, Kaliro, Kamuli, Luuka, Mayuge,Namayingo and Namutumba).Purpose of the AnalysisThe gender, youth and social inclusion analysis is to identify and document currentpractices, barriers key sub-populations face in adopting healthy behaviours and howbest to reach them. The analysis will identify marginalized/underserved populationsegments not easily accessible and make recommendations on innovative approachesto improve access to quality health services. Additionally, the analysis aims to provideguidance on how USAID RHITES-EC might adopt strategies based on local needs andpromote mainstreaming of gender and youth programming into district healthplanning by detailing specific gender-focused activities for each result area of theproject.Using analysis results, USAID RHITES-EC will subsequently work closely with USAID’sCommunication for Healthy Communities (CHC) project to develop and supportimplementation of Social Behaviour Change Communication (SBCC) interventionsthat address behavioural determinants focused on local vulnerabilities.

Specific Objectives of the Analysis Conduct a mixed method gender, youth and social inclusion analysis thatincludes a literature review, collection of primary quantitative and qualitativedata; assess the extent to which gender issues influence and impact healthstatus in terms of: risk and vulnerability, severity or frequency of healthproblems, health-seeking behavior, access to and use of health care services,adherence to treatment, psychosocial well-being; decision making on seekinghealth care, access, control and ownership of resources; involvement andparticipation in community initiatives, leadership and community demand forservices. Identify activities that promote gender equitable norms and increaseconstructive engagement of men in Maternal, Newborn and Child Health(MNCH), Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV (PMTCT), TB,HIV/AIDS, Family Planning (FP), Malaria, Early Childhood Development (ECD)and other health services. Identify and assess innovative youth-focused service delivery models, SocialBehavioral Change Communication campaigns, and community events whichserve as key approaches for reaching youth and adolescent sub-populations. Identify and document age-specific risks and opportunities to access healthservices as part of a comprehensive gender and youth analysis; andrecommend how these can be factored in the design and implementation ofactivities for better project outcomes. Assess the extent to which gender issues such as mainstreaming, analysis andoutcomes (access, equity, empowerment and capacity building) are integratedin health service delivery. Identify enabling factors and challenges to gender integration outcomes(access, equity between men and women and empowerment) Provide recommendations for gender and youth integration in health servicedelivery in East Central Uganda.Scope of Gender, Youth and Social Inclusion AnalysisThe analysis will cover all the 11 project supported districts grouped into 3 clusters.Cluster 1: Bugiri, Busia, Namayingo and Namutumba; Cluster 2: Iganga, Jinja, Luukaand Mayuge; Cluster 3: Kamuli, Kaliro and Buyende. In each of the 3 clusters, theassessment will collect, analyze and report data at three levels:Level 1 (District): Data will be collected on: district level leadership (healthmanagement, supervision, coordination, systems support); partnerssupporting different health thematic areas (HIV/AIDS, FP, Water, Sanitation,Hygiene, Nutrition, Malaria); district’s support to implementation ofgovernment youth and gender policies; district council ordinances thatpromote youth and gender equity; youth representation in councils at districtand Lower Local Governments; and leveraging youth and genderinterventions in district programs and mainstreaming of gender and youth

activities into the District Development Plan (DDP) and annual work plans &budgets.Level 2 (Health Facility): Data will be collected on: infrastructure andequipment that facilitate provision of quality youth friendly services (e.g.youth friendly corners); health personnel with knowledge and skills on howto manage gender and youth issues; availability of guidelines on provision ofyouth-friendly services; job aids and relevant gender and youth trainingmaterials (from the District Youth Office & Implementing Partners);Community Workers involved in service provision at health facilitiesdisaggregated by gender & age (e.g. expert clients); and client and diseaseburden disaggregated by gender and sex at Health Centre II, III, IV andHospitals.Level 3 (Community) Data will be collected on: availability of youth-friendlyservices, continuity of care, youth, men and women networks and linkages;and availability and utilization of community based groups that promoteaccess and use of health facilities. Additionally, data on youth leadershipstructures at community level, involvement and participation of youth incommunity work that promotes health service delivery and economicempowerment, availability of youth resources centres (knowledge rooms) toincrease access to and uptake of youth friendly services, and communityworkers involved in youth and gender related service delivery will becollected.MethodsThe gender, youth and social inclusion analysis should be conducted using a mixedmethods approach. The consultant(s) are expected to describe in detail, in theirtechnical proposal, methods of analysis they intend to use. In general, the analysis isto employ both quantitative and qualitative data collection methods. Among others,methods such as participatory appraisal with youth, men and women from targetedbeneficiary groups; and key informant interviews with experts on gender, youth andhealth should be considered.Specific Tasks of the ConsultancyThe consultancy firm will work closely with USAID RHITES-EC team to execute theanalysis, and will be supervised by designated the project staff. Estimated dates toexecute the activity are provided below,Deliverable 1Deliverable 2Deliverable 3Deliverable 4DeliverablesProposal that includes methodology,work plan and budgetBaseline assessment tool and itsdictionaryDraft ReportFinal reportAnticipated Due Date08/02/201715/02/201715/03/201724/03/2017

Specifically, the consultancy team will carry out the following: Develop a detailed work plan showing clear timelines for executing theconsultancy Develop a data collection tool with a clear description of the objectives,methodology, data collection, human subject ethical considerations, and otherkey steps of the analysis Describe the processes of data collection and development of data collectiontools in consultation with the USAID RHITES-EC team Conduct data collection Provide regular update to the USAID RHITES-EC designated supervisor on theprogress of the assignment Produce a draft report within the stipulated period, and following feedbackfrom the USAID RHITES-EC team, finalize and submit a final reportExpected Deliverables1. A detailed work plan that includes a detailed methodology, analyticalframeworks, a sampling plan, a data collection team training plan, timeline offield work and drafts of data collection tools. The work plan will be submittedto USAID RHITES-EC for review and approval.2. A data collection tool with its dictionary.3. A final report, of not more than 20 pages (body), addressing findings of theanalysis based on objectives; recommendations to promote, gender, youth andsocial inclusion in integrated health interventions; and references of all datacollected, documents reviewed and cited, copies of training materials, datacollection tools and guidelines used. A draft report will be initially submittedto USAID RHITES-EC for review and input.Consultancy Team Qualifications and Composition At least two senior staff with advanced degrees in gender and/or womenstudies, sociology, international development, rural development, publichealth or other related fields required Knowledge and experience working with programs that promote youth,gender and their social inclusion in integrated health interventions thatinclude but are not limited to: Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH),Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV (PMTCT), TB, HIV/AIDS,Family Planning (FP), Malaria, Nutrition and Early Childhood Development(ECD) At least 5 years at senior level with substantial experience in designing,implementing, and analyzing, gender, youth and social inclusion analyses inrural areas required Proven experience combining formal expertise on gender mainstreaming andgender equality with action-oriented research and learning processes