ADVERT FOR NATIONAL CONSULTANCY FOR BASELINE SURVEY.

Project: the Maternal and Mental Health Access and Psychosocial and Livelihood Support to improve Social well-being (MAMA PLUS)

JUNE 2024

Organization description
Johanniter-Unfall-Hilfe e.V. (Johanniter International Assistance) is a German non-governmental organisation, dedicated to excellence in the field of first aid, ambulance service, social service programmes and other projects in the medical and social field. The Federal Headquarters are based in Berlin, Germany. Johanniter International Assistance is the department for development co-operation and emergency aid, implementing and supporting projects worldwide. our aim is to ensure the survival of people affected by disasters and to strengthen and secure the health, resilience and livelihoods of communities in the regions where we work. We develop our international programmes together with local communities in a culturally and gender-sensitive way, based on the community’s needs. We recognize the importance of addressing climate change challenges and gender equality, and include them as core topics in all programmes.

Johanniter has been present in Uganda since 2017 working with national partners and implements projects in the areas of health, nutrition, food security and livelihoods and WASH in Adjumani, Palorinya, Rhino Camp and Palabek settlements in the refugees’ hosting districts of Adjumani, Obongi, Madi Okolo and Lamwo respectively.

TPO Uganda is a Non-Governmental Organization that started its work in Uganda as Institute for Psychosocial and social ecological Research (I.P.S.E.R) in 1994 with a study commissioned by UNHCR on the mental health and psychosocial issues affecting South Sudanese. Upon identification of significant MHPSS issues and needs, UNHCR supported TPO to implement the study recommendations. This gave birth to the TPO programs in Uganda. Later, TPO expanded its MHPSS programming in other countries including Somalia, South Sudan, Congo and Liberia. Over the years, TPO gradually moved its interventions to underserved national communities that were also in need of support. Over the years, TPO Uganda’s programme has expanded to cover mental health and psychosocial support, social protection interventions, child and adolescent focused programs as well as economic empowerment programs for women and vulnerable households.

TPO Uganda is currently present in 45 districts of Uganda, spread across seven sub-regions of Acholi, Lango, Teso, Karamoja sub-region, South West, West Nile and Central Uganda.

Programme Background
Johanniter-Unfall Hilfe (Johanniter International Assistance - Johanniter) implements projects in 4 settlements in Uganda namely Adjumani, Palabek, Palorinya and Rhino Camp with the partners, Community Empowerment for Rural Development (CEFORD) and Agency for Cooperation and Research in Development (ACORD)-Uganda. In partnership with CEFORD, Johanniter has been supporting nutrition activities, MHPSS including gender-based violence identification and referrals in three zones in Rhino Camp. In addition, Johanniter has established a complementary field office in Arua, the nearest city to Rhino Camp settlement.

Johanniter has entered into partnership with The Transcultural Psychosocial Organization (TPO), a national organization with over 30 years’ experience in providing holistic services to families and communities affected by conflict, HIV and AIDS, poverty and natural disasters around the thematic areas of mental health and psychosocial support; child care and protection; HIV/AIDS Care and Support, GBV prevention and mitigation, disaster risk reduction and livelihood support through integrated and community participative approaches that enable families and communities to regain their agency, get empowered and become self-reliant. TPO has presence in Rhino Camp and is the UNHCR’s community MHPSS implementing partner. Additionally, TPO Uganda is an active member of the inter-agency working committee, the MHPSS Working Group and the livelihood working group.

Johanniter and TPO Uganda will implement the Maternal and Mental Health Access and Psychosocial and Livelihood support to improve Social well- being (MAMA PLUS) project funded by Aktion Deutschland Hilft (ADH) to increase access to maternal and mental health and psychosocial support services and livelihood support to teenage and young mothers, women of reproductive age, women living with disabilities and other vulnerable women and female survivors of Gender Based Violence. The project will ensure that women access not only maternal and newborn services, but provide support their social-well-being through mental health and livelihood support that improve their coping mechanisms and address their daily stressors thus ensuring a healthy mother and a healthy baby.

Expected Project Result

Result 1.0: Increased access to and utilization of quality maternal-child health care services.

Result 2.0: Enhanced mental and psychosocial well-being of mothers.

Result 3.0: Improved project management

Purpose of the Baseline Survey.

The main purpose of the baseline is to examine the context in which the project will be implemented and establish baseline values on all project indicators accordingly. The  assessment seeks to collect data (quantitatively and qualitatively) on the main elements of the project (access to and utilization of quality maternal-child health care services, mental and psychosocial support services and livelihood assistance) which will be analysed to inform baseline. The survey will collect data from the refugees and members of the host community as our target groups.

Scope/ area & population of the Baseline Survey

The baseline studies will cover 3 project results and 3 thematic areas namely; maternal-child health care, mental and psychosocial support and economic empowerment components. The geographic scope of the baseline surveys will be in Rhino Camp (Olujubo II and Ocea II Health Centres in Rhino Camp settlement). A purposive sampling technique will be used to target pregnant women and those attending antenatal care and women of reproductive age from the above targeted communities and health facilities. The baseline survey will help establish the baseline values of the indicators listed in the table below.

Methodology: The consultant will employ a mixed-methods approach, combining qualitative and quantitative methods. This may include document reviews, interviews with potential project participants and stakeholders, on-site inspections, and data analysis.

1. Key Evaluation Questions: The consultant should address the following key questions:

Evaluation Outputs/Deliverables

The consultant is expected to produce and submit the following deliverables:

• An inception report detailing a study methodology, implementation plan and data collection tools approved to be approved by Johanniter International Assistance: to be submitted one week upon signing the contract.
• Refined evaluation questions: Upon review of the available documents and an initial discussion, the evaluator will develop a detailed analytical framework of questions and sub-questions, based on the evaluation questions defined in this ToR, and consistent with Results-Based monitoring framework.
• A draft baseline project evaluation report for review by Johanniter International Assistance Staff.
• A final baseline project evaluation report to be approved by Johanniter International Assistance: incorporating feedback and recommendations. The main evaluation report should be concise and not exceed 30 pages, excluding annexes (supporting data and details can be included in annexes).
• A clean data set and transcriptions shared by the consultant
• A Power-Point presentation with the preliminary findings and recommendations to be presented to Johanniter and key stakeholder group.
• Final report printed on art paper with high resolution photos and quality design (hard copy)

Composition of the evaluation team

The consulting firm/team should identify the team leader, and the other key team members. The Team Leader shall provide CVs and a description of each team members’ roles and responsibilities and their corresponding qualifications, such as highest level of education attained, discipline of study, the number of years of relevant experience, language and skills, etc. A team leader with multi discipline background, expertise and skills shall be an added advantage.

Reporting and Supervisory Arrangement

The consulting team will be directly supervised by the Monitoring and Evaluation Manager from Johanniter International Assistance and TPO Uganda. The Monitoring and Evaluation Managers will also furnish the Consultant(s) with all the information required to undertake and complete the assignment.

Required competences and experience
The ideal consultant or consulting firm must consist of a Team / Lead consultant who:

• The consulting team / lead consultant must have at least five years’ experience in qualitative and quantitative research/evaluation.
• The consulting team must have experience in Maternal health, SRHR, Mental health, GBV, Women protection interventions, child rights and community engagement and planning experience.
• Have excellent knowledge in qualitative and quantitative data analysis using Microsoft Excel, Minitab, SPSS, CSPRO, STATA and other statistical software.
• Experience in mobile data collection and conversant with mobile data collection such as, Survey ODK, Kobo collect, etc.
• Fluency in English (spoken and written).
• Ability to produce high quality work (info-graphics) and reports under tight timeframes.
• Ability to work with children and least educated people.
• Ability to produce well-written reports, in a plain text, demonstrating excellent analytical and communication skills.

Submission of proposal:
Interested Consultants can submit a letter of expression of interest, together with a technical proposal to undertake the evaluation. The technical proposal MUST include the consultant’s understanding of the assignment, CVs of technical staff to undertake the assignment and a detail evaluation cost.

Time frame for the Assignment

The evaluation will be carried out between 1st July to 7th August 2024, with a final report submission done by 10th August 2024 The schedule is as follows

Application and selection process:
The proposals will be evaluated according to the following criteria hence interested candidates should submit the following:

Step 1.    Administrative Evaluation

• The Ugandan legal Company Registration documents for consultancy firms (Registration Certificates, Memorandum and Articles of Association, clearly showing the company shareholders, valid trading license)
• Profile of the consultancy firm if not an individual.
• Tax registration and clearance certificates including exemption certificates where applicable.
• Technical proposal
• Financial proposal
• At least Three (3) traceable contactable references in evaluation of Maternal and Child Health, MHPSS, Gender, Livelihood projects in Humanitarian settings in the last five (5) years.
• Certified Bank Statement for at least the last six months and Audited Accounts for the past 12 months. (for companies)
• Banking details.
• Duly signed and stamped copy of the declaration of suppliers.
• Duly signed and stamped copy of TOR.

Phase 1. Technical Evaluation Stage (20%) 

• Proposed personnel for the assignment.

Lead Consultant(s)/ Team of Consultants have qualifications (PhD or Master’s degree) aligned to thematic sectors of the project or any relevant qualification (Health, MHPSS, Gender studies, Community Development, or developmental studies, Social Sciences) or any other relevant academic qualification.  (Service providers should provide Team / Lead consultant(s’) Academic Certificates) = 5%.

• Demonstrated / similar experience in the last 5 years with INGOs, International Organisations, Governments or the UN Humanitarian Response and development work in Uganda Context. (Service Providers should dully signed contracts for previous consultancy works conducted.) = 5%.
• Samples of previous works demonstrating expertise in designing and writing documents for publication. Where the publications cannot be shared service providers can share a list of the samples. For those that can, will share the actual samples of the works with a contact person. = 5%.

• Consultant Teams have demonstrated ability to complete the assignment. (Please attach authentic completion certificates in the most recent five (5) years in similar practical work experience. (Service Providers should attach authentic completion certificates for previous works done) = 5%

Ranking Scale;
Phase 2. Technical Evaluation Stage (Interview) (50%). 

• Appropriate methodology - Candidates should clearly outline the technical approach to achieve the assignment and mitigate project risks (qualitative and/or quantitative approaches) = 25%.
• Demonstrated clarity and understanding of the assignment/interpretation of the ToR = 25%

Phase 3. Financial Evaluation (30%).
Based on the details in the TOR, the consultant will develop a detailed itemized financial proposal aligned with the proposed work plan. All prices must be quoted in Uganda Shillings (UGX). The validity period for the financial proposal should be indicated, and consultants' professional fees and logistics costs should be quoted in separate lines and not as a lump sum. The overall consultancy fees must include all relevant taxes. The format for the overall consultancy cost must be summarized as indicated below:

• Bids that are above or below 20% of the budget value shall not be considered for financial evaluation.

Payment for the service
Payment will be made as follows;
40% Payment upon submission of Inception Report
30% Payment upon submission of Draft Report
30% payment upon validation and approval of Final Report

In the event that the consultant does not meet the agreed deadlines (without advance agreement from Johanniter), after a two weeks’ grace period is offered, the second payment will be reduced by 0.5% for each week the submission is delayed.

Please send your email applications to: hr.uganda@thejohanniter.org

For inquiries and clarifications, please  email: Lydia.Nanono@thejohanniter.org and copy Angeline.Mumbo@thejohanniter.org

Johanniter reserves the right to accept or reject any proposal and to cancel the procurement process at any stage. The selected consultant(s) or firm will be expected to adhere to Johanniter's ethical standards and guidelines, and Johanniter’s safeguarding policy throughout the duration of the consultancy.

Intellectual property and data protection:
All draft and final outputs, including supporting documents, analytical reports and raw data should be provided in electronic version compatible with WORD for windows. Ownership of the data from the evaluation rests jointly with Johanniter and TPO. The copyright and intellectual property generated by the consultancy will rest exclusively with Johanniter. Key stakeholders can make appropriate use of the evaluation report in line with the original purpose and with appropriate acknowledgement. The consulting agency will follow the data protection policy of Johanniter while collecting, processing and storing the program related data.

Safeguarding and Protection The consultant/Agency will be expected to sign a Johanniter safeguarding and protection policy ensuring adherence to high standards of safeguarding protection of its staff, enumerators and people we work with during the course of this exercise.