Save
the Children
Terms
of Reference
EC Kibera
Programme Operational Research on Family Planning
Factors
affecting uptake of family planning in urban poor settlement; A focus on
involvement of men and boys above 15 yrs. in Kibera
1. Organizational Background: Save the Children has been operational in Kenya since the 1950s, providing support to children through developmental and humanitarian relief programmes delivered both directly and through local partners.
Project
Overview: EC-Kibera
project is a 2-year project implemented by Save the Children in partnership
with Carolina for Kibera and Family Health Options Kenya.
The
project has also partnered with Langata Sub County Health Management Team to
enhance quality of health services in an effort to improve health outcomes in
the location.
The initiative is funded by European Union with the objective to contribute to a reduction in maternal and child mortality by improving maternal and child health status for 226,160 people in Kibera informal settlement of Nairobi County (74,840 women of child bearing age, 28,392 U5s, 6,685 U1s and 11,308 pregnant women.
This
is through increasing demand for and access to quality maternal, newborn, and
child health (MNCH) services at health facility and community levels; improving
nutritional status of mothers, newborn and children under five by preventive
actions; improvement of family planning uptake; and improvement of the capacity
of the health care delivery system.
2.
Problem Statement
Kenya
is one of the countries with very high maternal and neonatal death ratios.
According to the KDHS 2008/2009 report, the MMR is 488/100,000 live births.
Maternal deaths represent 27% of all deaths to women aged 15 to 45 years of age
and abortion related complications contribute up to 30% of the deaths.
In Kenya
according to the latest study on the magnitude of abortion; 300,000 unsafe
abortions occur annually. This is occurring in the face of low contraceptive
prevalence rate in Kibera (37.8%) in comparison with national and county ratio
at 63% in Nairobi and the national average at 58% (KDHS, 2014).
The contraceptive prevalence peaks among women in the 30-34 age-group and is lowest for women aged 15-19 years with increased utilization of all Family Planning methods by women with highest level of education at 58%. The unmet need for contraception remains high.
About
47% of women had an unmet need for family planning and is higher among women in
the 15-19 (46%) and 20-24 (37%) years age group compared to those above 30
years of age (26%). This is an indication of lower access to family planning by
adolescents and youths.
This is a major gap considering that adolescents that were interviewed during the EC-Kibera KAP survey confirmed that boys and girls were sexually active as early as 10 for girls and 14 for boys, EC-Kibera KAP survey report 2015.
Statistics
also indicate that, 53% of the married respondents were currently using Family
Planning in the target region Kibera.
This
puts the contraceptive prevalence rates (CPR) for Kibera lower than the CPR for
Nairobi County at 63% and national average at 58%.
CPR
peaks among women 30-34 age group and is lowest for women aged 15-19 years47%
of women in Kibera had an unmet need for family planning services compared
National figure of 18% and 11% for Nairobi County.
Men and boys play vital roles in enhancing demand of family planning services and commodities and therefore the need to target men and boys with awareness creation interventions on FP and the role they play in providing an enabling environment that would enhance increased uptake of family planning.
Family
Health Option Kenya, Save the Children partner implementing the family planning
component conducts various events to improve uptake for FP.
The
activities include outreaches, sports tournament, youth forums, men at work
sessions and street-theatres to increase awareness on FP and dispel myths and
misconceptions surrounding FP use.
This
has reached 1240 men aged between 18-35 years through which 25 referrals have
been attained through the male support.
The
reality is that with the efforts the desired uptake has not yet been achieved
owing to impeding factors that affect the uptake of family planning services
and the commodities coupled with bottlenecks within the supply side of these
commodities and services.
These
factors include; partner’s approval, quality of
the services, involvement of the male staff
administering the family planning services to adolescents girls
and the woman’s knowledge about family planning
services and proximity to the provider; (International journal of business and
social science Vol 2 No.1 January 2011).
Additional bottlenecks limiting the uptake of all FP includes: general myths and misconception around the use of FP that could lead to infertility, use of FP reduces sexual pleasure; the use of FP causing illnesses; use of FP is meant to depopulate; the use of FP disfigures women; minimum male support and fears on side effects across men and boys.
There
has also had limited access of FP services by adolescents and inadequate FP
commodities supplies including IEC Materials (as per project reports).
3. Purpose of the Operational Research
The
purpose of this operation research is to assess the role of men and boys in
increasing the uptake of family planning services focusing on the involvement
of men and boys above 15 years.
It
will also explore the behaviour aspects of adolescent boys (15 – 24 years) on
understanding and perceptions regarding family planning together with their key
role in support for the uptake of family planning services.
It will also assess barriers in the supply of family planning services and commodities to women and adolescents and learn from the process, achievements and challenges encountered in the supply side of the family planning commodities.
It will also be integral to develop recommendations to address these challenges and factors to enhance the performance of the program, improve outcomes, assess feasibility of new strategies and/or assess or improve the programme Theory of Change.
It should aim at finding solutions to perceived challenges on the involvement of men and boys above 15 years and the supply side bottlenecks in the delivery of family planning services within the project location.
The
perceived challenges on involvement of men and boys ranging from;
- Messaging
of family planning information and communication methodologies.
- Cultural
practices within the community.
- Attitude
of men and boys on family planning.
- Knowledge
levels and understanding on family planning (myths and misconceptions).
Service
delivery access points bottlenecks;
- Availability
of health workers.
- Health
workers knowledge and capacity.
- Efficiency
of supply system.
- Integration
of family planning with other primary health care services.
The
operational research will derive models and approaches to address the
bottlenecks and challenges identified and propose innovative methods to
strengthen engagement of men and boys above 15 years in improving FP uptake.
4.
Methodology
The
methods of operational research will range from the qualitative to quantitative
techniques.
This
will be an exploratory study focusing on the involvement of men and boys
together with the supply systems of the family planning services and
commodities within the location.
The data sources will comprise of primary and secondary sources.
The
secondary sources will involve information derived from other research work
conducted on male involvement in uptake of family planning services.
Primary
data will be derived from the following informants of the study;
a) Men and boys above 15 years. (Adolescent boys of 15 – 24 years to explore behaviour and perceptions on FP)
b) Women of reproductive age at the community level
c) KII (including the Langata Sub-County Health Management Team)
d) Family Health Options Kenya/ Carolina for Kibera
e) Other NGO’s and stakeholders as may be identified.
Sampling methodology: The recruited consultant will recommend an appropriate study design applicable in effectively addressing the objectives of the study. The project works in 9 villages out of a total of 13 villages.
a) Men and boys above 15 years. (Adolescent boys of 15 – 24 years to explore behaviour and perceptions on FP)
b) Women of reproductive age at the community level
c) KII (including the Langata Sub-County Health Management Team)
d) Family Health Options Kenya/ Carolina for Kibera
e) Other NGO’s and stakeholders as may be identified.
Sampling methodology: The recruited consultant will recommend an appropriate study design applicable in effectively addressing the objectives of the study. The project works in 9 villages out of a total of 13 villages.
Tentative work plan
The
exercise is projected to be undertaken in 20 days from 15th August to 5th
September 2016.
The
Consultant(s) is expected to deliver the following:
a) Introduction/inception meeting with EC-Kibera project Core team & relevant staff.
b)
Research tools and framework for the research, in line with project
documentation and with input of partner, project and MEAL team.
c)
Visit project sites, interview respondents from the project sites (Men and boys
above 15 years), women and KII.
d)
De-briefing including recommendations at end of the data collection process.
e)
Deliver one in-depth report with detailed analysis and methodology for findings
of the operational research.
The consultant will have the primary responsibility of conducting the operational research and preparing the report.
The
consultant will be expected to lead and coordinate the data collection, entry
and analysis of data and report writing.
5. Qualifications and Experience:
Specifically,
Consultant will possess:
a. Relevant academic qualification in public health/ health systems management or related health field.
b.
Specific experience in family planning research and/or evaluation is essential.
c. At
least 7 years of experience in the area of maternal, newborn and child health
and public health and in conducting research and evaluations for health
programmes in Kenya. Experience conducting evaluations in an urban informal
setting is an added advantage
d. A
demonstrated high level of professionalism and ability to work within tight
deadlines.
e.
Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
f.
Computer skills and proficient in English.
6.
Duration and Timeline of Consultancy
The
consultancy is expected to take a maximum of 20 days. Data collection is
expected to take 5 days out of the 20 days. The following will be the
requirements.
a. A
technical proposal outlining the objective, methodology to be employed with
mention of the data collection tools and approaches to be used for the
research. The technical proposal should also include a detailed implementation
plan outlining key timelines within the outlined period.
b.
Financial proposal should only include the fees payable (In Kshs) to the
consultant(s). The consultant is expected to cover costs related to
travel, accommodation, meals and allowances and data collection.
7.
Intellectual Property Rights
All
products developed under this consultancy belong to the project exclusively,
guided by the rules of the grant contract between EU and Save the
Children.
Under
no circumstances will the consultant use the information of this evaluation for
publication or dissemination without official prior permission (in writing)
from Save the Children.
8. Submission of Proposals
CLICK HERE to download the EOI format
The
submission of proposals is only open to the prequalified consultants (firms).
The
technical and financial proposals should be e‐mailed to
kenya.jobapplications@savethechildren.org by close of business (5.30pm), August 18,
2016.
9. Evaluation and Award of Consultancy
Save
the Children will evaluate the proposals and award the assignment based on
technical and financial feasibility criteria guided by this ToRs.
Save
the Children reserves the right to accept or reject any proposal received
without giving reasons and is not bound to accept the lowest, the highest or
any bidder.
The
consultancy is subject to Save the Children policies.
Expression
of Interest
Gender
Analysis in Relation to Vocational Skills Development and Access to Employment
Objective: Gender analysis will inform development
of an approach for inclusion of adolescent girls and women in the vocational
skills training and access to profitable employment.
Location: Nairobi
Duration: 1 Month
Background: Save the Children is
investing and testing systems change for transformative youth livelihood in
Mandera with the overall objective of enabling youth to break out of chronic
poverty and thus break the inter-generational transmission of poverty.
The
project is specifically aimed at increasing the number of youth who are in
decent employment or who run profitable businesses.
Save
the Children will invest and test the ‘market systems change approach to youth
livelihoods’ because it has the potential to lead to sustainable change for the
most deprived youth at scale.
Through
transforming deprived youths’ opportunities to learn marketable skills and to
transition into profitable work, the inter-generational transmission of poverty
will be broken.
The
market systems approach for youth livelihoods will deliver where traditional
youth livelihoods programme approaches fail to deliver and at scale: in remote
and structurally neglected areas such as arid and semi-arid lands (ASAL) of
Kenya.
Testing
and refining this approach will enable us to develop a replicable model of
value to the wider Save the Children and partners.
However, based on our findings from testing of the approach in 2015, it was noted that adolescent girls and young women were excluded in development of a broad range of vocational skills and thus sustained barriers in accessing diverse, decent and profitable employment opportunities.
A
tracer study of graduates from enterprise based vocational skills development
(EBTVET), found that although adolescent girls and young women were the
majority (60%), their skills were limited to only 4 out of 15 skill
areas.
This
therefore limited their employment opportunities and resulted in many of them
being employed at family/relatives businesses and about 8% of them reverting to
poorly paid or less profitable occupational they were engaged in before the
training.
The
tracer study established that female graduates were twice as likely to fall
back into unemployment, unpaid work and/or lowly paid unskilled work compared
to male graduates.
Scope of Gender Analysis
Scope of Gender Analysis
It is
against this background that Save the Children intends to undertake gender
analysis to enable us to understand social, cultural, economic and other
possible barriers that restrict or cause exclusion of adolescent girls and
young women from various vocational skills which could enable them to access
diverse employment opportunities.
Gender
analysis will also help us understand why female graduates were twice as likely
to fall back into unemployment, unpaid work and/or lowly paid unskilled work
compared to male graduates.
Results from the study will inform development of an intervention approach aimed at:
Results from the study will inform development of an intervention approach aimed at:
1.
Identifying approach/es to ensure best possible inclusion of girls
and young women in the EBTVET programme.
2.
Identifying how best to support girls to transition to
profitable employment (including self-employment).
Methodology
- Review
of the existing secondary literature.
- Review
of the data collection tools and improve where necessary in consultation
with project staff.
- At
least 21 focussed group discussions (FGD) with; community/religious
leaders, female graduates, current female trainees, male graduates,
current male trainees, host trainers and parents.
- Individual
key informants’ interviews of: County TVET Director and 3 Sub-County Youth
Coordinators or Officers.
- Analysis
of findings from above data collection.
- Debrief
of the field staff.
- Presentation
of draft report.
- Report
finalisation.
Specific
Deliverables from Gender Analysis:
1. The consultant will in
consultation with project staff review the tools, provide feedback and improve
if required.
2. The consultant will carry out at least 21
separate FGD’s with separate stakeholder groups at Takaba, Banissa and El
Wak.
This
will consist of 3 FGD with female graduates, 3 FGD with male graduates, 3 FGD
with current female trainees, 3 FGD with current male trainees, 3 FGD with host
trainers and 3 FGD with parents/guardians or spouses of the graduates/trainees
and 3 FGD with community leaders including religious leaders.
3. The consultant will
conduct key informants interviews with County TVET Director and Sub-County
Youth Coordinator or Officers at Takaba, Banissa and El Wak.
4. Based on above interviews, the consultant
will identify the different needs, opportunities and constraints that girls and
boys, young women and men face in accessing Enterprises Based Technical
Vocational Education Training (EBTVET) skills and thereafter utilising skills
attained in accessing decent employment.
Assess
the chances and success of male and female youth in the EBTVET or
apprenticeship programme in reference to:
- Information
provision/advertisements
- Application
- Selection
- Matching/Placement
with enterprise
- Doing
and completing the apprenticeship
- Transitioning
into employment or self-employment
5. The consultant will
analyse the different opportunities and challenges that female and youth face
at above different stages?
6. The consultant will
analyse why female youth choose a limited range of sectors for vocational
skills development.
7. The consultant will analyse why female
youth choose to be self-employed rather than to seek employment with local
entrepreneurs
8. The consultant will
analyse why female youth are almost double as likely to fall back into
unemployment or lowly paid unskilled work as compared to male apprentices.
9. The consultant will
analyse and identify sectors most profitable and whether being self-employed
(including employment in family/relative’s business) is necessarily better or
less profitable than being employed by local traders.
10. Based on above findings as well as
economic analysis, the consultant will identify most profitable employment
(including self-employment) opportunities accessible to women and how best we
can support young women to take advantage and maximise on the opportunities.
11. On completion of the
field work, the consultant will debrief the relevant project staff in country
and SC UK colleagues (via skype) before producing a draft report.
12. On completion of the
draft report, the consultant will present their findings to the relevant
project staff in country and SC UK colleagues (via skype) with time for
feedback and questions before finalising the report.
13. The consultant will
produce a final report outlining findings from each stakeholder group and
recommendations for improving the programme. This will include a two page
summary/lessons learnt.
Timeframe: The task should be completed before end of September 2016
Timeframe: The task should be completed before end of September 2016
Minimum
Qualifications
At the
minimum, the gender analysis consultant must possess the following:
- Advanced
degree in areas of gender studies or other related fields.
- Over
5 years’ experience in undertaking gender monitoring and analysis in
preferably pastoralist communities in Kenya.
- Experience
in monitoring and evaluation of project through a gender lens.
- Have
proven knowledge and practical experience in quantitative and qualitative
research on gender issues.
- Excellent
organising, facilitating, presentation and communication skills.
- Excellent
report writing skills.
The
consultant will be provided with tools or check list of questions for focused
groups’ discussion targeted to specific groups and check list of questions
targeted to key informant from County/Sub-County offices.
All interested individuals are requested to express interest following the EOI format ONLY (CLICK HERE to download) by email to: Kenya.jobapplications@savethechildren.org indicating the Assignment Title on the subject line by 18th August 2016.