Formative Research Consultant

  • Consultancy
  • Petauke, Zambia
  • Negotiable / Month
  • Applications have closed

Zambia Red Cross Society

Consultancy Service for Conducting of Formative Research, Validation, Development of BCC Messages and Plan and Training of staff and Volunteers in BCC Community Basic Health & Resilience Project in Petauke Districts of Eastern Province of Zambia 5th – 23rd November 2020

Zambia Red Cross Society (ZRCS)

1. Introduction

Zambia Red Cross Society (ZRCS) in partnership with the Netherlands Red Cross is implementing three years (2019 -2021) Community Basic Health & Resilience Project in Petauke Districts of Eastern Province of Zambia. The main aim of the project is to ccontribute to the reduction of Maternal (MMR 101/100,000 live births, new-born (NMR 5/1000 live births) and infant morbidity (IMR 3.4/1000 live births) and mortality rates in selected communities of Petauke district have been reduced by 2021.

The project focus is to; Increase accessibility and uptake of RMNCH services, nutrition and child spacing, improved access to safe drinking water, adequate sanitation facilities and hygiene practices, support SMAGs to have financial means to take care of themselves and their families’ health needs through empowering them with IGA’s, effective referral and follow-up as well as proper child care, enhance capacity of ZRCS, MOH staff, community and other stakeholders for project implementation is strengthened and a sustainability plan is in place, The project developed a focus on BCC aimed at understanding people’s behavior in relation to Community Basic Health & Resilience among Pregnant and lactating mothers.

2. Rationale for formative research and BCC Plan, training of volunteers

Behavior plays an important role in people’s health; in addition, evidence shows that different patterns of behavior are deeply embedded in people’s social and material circumstances, and their cultural context. The project seeks to conduct a formative research in the project implementation area of Petauke district. The research methodology will include mainly qualitative, applied through KIIs and FGDs targeting key stakeholder. As part of the process of the formative research a one-day validation workshop will be conducted for key stakeholder. Key findings of the formative research will facilitate the development of the BCC plan and training of volunteers and staff. Feedback on key findings will be shared with relevant district stakeholders and the community.
It is necessary for the project to conduct a formative research and validate the findings and collect more in-depth information based on the findings that will inform the project on preferred communication channels, explore barriers and triggers to Health facility care seeking; social-cultural beliefs encouraging visit to traditional healer. Discuss in depth with the traditional healers through KII to understand the driving factors in seeking treatment from the traditional healers as the first choice in case of maternal health. Involve traditional leaders in addressing the issue of home deliveries. Discuss in depth with the traditional leaders through KII to understand the driving factors leading to home deliveries. Work with the respective district health promotion focal persons throughout the activity and development of BCC plan and key messages.

3. Overall objective for the formative research

Through the process of the formative research, Validate the findings and give feedback to the community on key findings, further explore barriers and triggers to Late Antenatal Care booking, identify key communication channels, key messages and develop Behaviour Change C communication plan as well as facilitating trainings for staff and volunteers on the same.
4. Methodology and scope of validation of the formative research
The methodology will include FGDs and KIIs with the same communities targeted during the formative research. This will be followed by participatory analysis of findings, development of key messages and BCC implementation plan. To achieve this ZRCS is seeking to engage a consultant.

The consultant (to be engaged) will assist ZRCS to conduct the following to achieve the overall objective of the formative research:

i. Review project proposal and Baseline report to understand the specific activities of the project.
ii. Engage communities to give feedback of the findings to the community
iii. Consult with traditional leaders, traditional healers and district health officials to further refine the scope of validation of the formative research.
iv. Identification of key health communication underlying problems/issues to Delay of health care seeing behavior.
v. Develop tools for Conducting the formative research
vi. Collect in depth information through KII, FGDs, IDIs) on health seeking behavior, cultural, gender, household, individual and interpersonal barriers and enablers to change in behavior; 3) appropriate channels and agents of communication to promote child health
vii. Identify key target groups, livelihoods and day activities; desired behaviours, barriers to this behaviour
viii. Design key communication message(s) to address these Behaviour relating to Home deliveries, lack of male involvement on maternal health
ix. Design & develop methods for communication (songs, plays, radio story etc.)

5. Selection of the consultant

Consultant shall be purposefully engaged based on the similar pervious works he was engaged on through consultation with UNICEF and MoH.

6. ZRCS Responsibility

In facilitating the process, ZRCS will

1. Share project document such as the proposal and Baseline report with the consultant
2. Pay consultancy fees as agreed with the consultant
3. Provide transport for field work
4. Prepare communities for engagement and data collection
5. Arrange with relevant MoH authorities for finalization and approval of the SBCC plan
6. Facilitate implementation of communication plan

7. DELIVERABLES

The consultant shall deliver the following at the end of the formative research and validation;

1. Formative research report
2. BCC implementation plan
3. Some message/channels to be used
4. Training of staff and volunteers

Annex 1: TIMELINE FOR ACTIVITIES
Activity Date (November) 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
Week M T W TH F M T W TH F S M T W Th
Responsibility
Engage consultant ZRCS
Review of project documents; proposal and baseline report, methodology edits, and development of data collection tools Consultant
Travel to Petauke HCM/Cons/PD
Collect data in Petauke district All
Travel to Lusaka All
Participatory data Analysis – proposed key messages and BCC plan All
Writing & Sharing of the report Consultant
Training of staff on BCC Consultant

NB: You will pay for 15 days’ consultancy

As follows;

4 days Literature review – proposal and baseline, come up with key BCC issues
4 days Different teams can travel to the community to validate the issues that have come out
1 day of participatory anlaysis
4 days writing report
2 days training of staff and volunteers on BCC

Total 15 days

To apply for this consultancy services please click on the apply button below.

The closing date for this advert is 4th November 2020


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