GFPREQ02027 – Call for Consultancy to Conduct targeted study using the National human rights and gender score cards for HIV, TB and Malaria – Kenya

https://www.redcross.or.ke/uploads/tenders/pr382023GFPREQ02027GFPREQ02027-CallforConsultancytoConducttargetedstudyusingtheNationalhumanrightsandgender(HRG)scorecardsforHIV,TBandMalaria.pdf

The full document can be accessed on the Kenya Red Cross Society via the link above.

1. Summary of the Study Assignment.
   1. Purpose: The purpose of the assignment is to conduct targeted study using the national human rights and gender (HRG) scorecards for HIV, TB and malaria focusing on Key Populations (KP), People living with HIV (PLHIV), adolescents, and young people (AYP, TB/DRTB and malaria-affected populations to share their experiences in accessing health services.
   2. Partners: Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS), National AIDs and STI Control Program (NASCOP), National Syndemic disease and control council (NSDCC), National Malaria Control Program, The National Tuberculosis, Leprosy and Lung Disease Program (NTLD-P) County Governments, AMREF Health Africa in Kenya, community representatives of HIV, TB and malaria, KPs umbrella organization, AYPs representatives, People with disability (PWDs) and other relevant stakeholder
   3. Duration: 25 days
   4. Estimated Dates: 24th April 2023 to 26th May 2023.
   5. Geographical Location: The study will be conducted in 12 counties; Low and medium HIV burden counties (Garissa, Uasin Gishu, Machakos and Nyandarua), High TB burden counties (Nairobi, Kiambu, Mombasa, and Meru), and lake endemic counties with the burden of Malaria (Busia, Siaya, Homabay and Migori)
   6. Target Population: Key populations KPs (Female sex workers, Men who have sex with men and people inject drugs) Adolescents and young people, people living with HIV TB/DRTB, and malaria and other affected populations.
   7. Deliverables: Inception report, study protocol development and ethical approval, data collection tools, Final Evaluation Reports, and Dissemination of the findings.
   8. Methodology: It is expected that the proposed study questions and methodology will be effective in responding to the specific study objectives as well as friendly to the specific population under the program.
   9. Evaluation Management Team (EMT): Representation of the national joint HRG TWG, KRCS, NSDCC, NASCOP, NTLD, NMCP, AMREF KELIN, KP, AYP and representatives of the 3 HIV, Malaria and TB diseases.
2. Background Information

Human rights and gender-related barriers to health have long blocked national responses to HIV, TB and malaria, including stigma and discrimination; gender inequality and violence; punitive practices, policies, and laws; and social and economic inequality. These barriers are pervasive and interfere across the prevention and treatment continuum, keeping key and vulnerable populations away from primary healthcare services, including HIV, TB and malaria services.

Kenya has a strong Constitution and laws, policies and human rights bodies that are intended to uphold the rights of people living with HIV and key and vulnerable populations. Several bodies have also been created to address human rights violations, including the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights and the National Gender and Equality Commission, which were established under the Kenyan Constitution to investigate and provide redress for human rights violations. However, implementation and enforcement of the legal framework remain weak or inconsistent and is impeded by barriers to accessing justice. Punitive laws that discriminate against key populations and criminalize HIV exposure and transmission. Additionally, there is significantly less programming specific to removing human rights-related barriers to TB and malaria services than there is for HIV services, although many programs concurrently address HIV and TB.

High levels of stigma and discrimination continue to undermine national responses. Stigma involves negative attitudes as well as behaviours and judgments, often driven by fear or ignorance. Discrimination involves unfair treatment, laws and policies and is a violation of international human rights law. Stigma and discrimination can take many forms, including disparaging attitudes, sub-standard treatment and denial of treatment, and reduce people’s uptake of and retention in prevention and treatment.

In the context of health care, many laws, policies and practices impede effective responses. These include: (a) lack of informed consent and confidentiality; (b) mandatory testing; (c) demands for bribes or high fees; (d) policies allowing for discriminatory treatment; (e) lack of enforcement of anti-discriminatory and other protective laws; and (f) laws requiring health care providers to report certain groups to law enforcement. Laws and policies can also limit access to HIV and sexual and reproductive health services for adolescents and young people (e.g., age-of-consent laws and parental consent requirements). Spousal consent laws further limit service access for women and girls.

Programmes that are designed to reduce human rights and gender-related barriers to services are comprehensive when the right programs are implemented for the right people in the right combination at the right level of investment to remove such barriers and increase access to services.

In regard to assessing county-level progress, the scorecards will be used to assess how well counties are implementing human rights and gender-responsive approaches to HIV, TB, and malaria. By providing a standardized assessment tool, the scorecards will help identify gaps and areas where improvements are needed. In addition, the scorecards will also help identify priority areas where human rights and gender considerations need to be addressed in order to improve disease control and elimination efforts. For example, if the scorecard reveals that stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV are prevalent in a county, efforts can be made to address this issue and ensure that all individuals receive equal access to care and treatment. The scorecards will also help improve accountability for human rights and gender-responsive approaches. By publicly sharing the results of the scorecards, governments and stakeholders can be held accountable for their progress and commitments. The scorecards will promote collaboration among different sectors and stakeholders involved in disease control and elimination efforts. By highlighting the importance of human rights and gender considerations, the scorecards can encourage collaboration between health, human rights, and gender equality advocates.

Overall, the national human rights and gender scorecards for HIV, TB, and malaria is a valuable tool for assessing progress and identifying priority areas for improving human rights and gender equality in disease control and elimination efforts.

It is on these bases, that the Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS) was selected to manage Global Fund HIV grant as a non-state Principal Recipient (PR) for the Global Fund HIV Grant for the period between July 2021 and June 2024. The goal of the grant is to contribute to the attainment of universal health coverage through comprehensive HIV prevention, treatment, and care for all people in Kenya with the objectives of reducing new HIV infections by 75%, reduce AIDs related mortality by 50%, and reduce HIV related stigma and discrimination to less than 25%.

Therefore, the Kenya Red Cross Society is seeking to recruit a qualified consultancy firm to conduct targeted study using the national human rights and gender (HRG) scorecards for HIV, TB and malaria focusing on KPs, PLHIVs AYPs and TB/DRTB and malaria-affected populations to share their experiences in accessing health services.

The Assessment Purpose, Scope & Deliverables

1. 1. Purpose:

The purpose of the assignment is to conduct targeted study using the national human rights and gender (HRG) scorecards for HIV, TB and malaria focusing on access to HIV, TB and malaria services among KP, PLHIV, AYP and TB/DRTB and malaria-affected populations.

4.1.1 Broad Objective

The objective is to conduct a targeted study for HIV, TB, and malaria using a national human rights and gender (HRG) scorecard to evaluate how well counties are protecting and promoting human rights and gender equality in their efforts to control and eliminate these diseases.

Specific Objectives

4.1.2 The specific objectives

The specific objectives for the study will include:

1. 1. 1. 1. To assess the experiences in accessing HIV, TB and malaria services among KP, PLHIV, AYP and TB/DRTB affected populations. 2. To assess the knowledge on human rights and gender rights in accessing HIV, TB and malaria services among KPs, PLHIVs, AYPs, TB/DRTB and malaria affected populations. 3. To assess how the available policy and legal framework affect uptake of services among the different populations. 4. To assess the opportunities available to integrate services deliveries of HIV, TB and Malaria to KPs, PLHIVs, AYPs, TB/DRTB and malaria affected populations. 5. To develop action plan through stakeholder engagement process.
2. 1. Scope of Work:
      1. Geographical Coverage: The study will be conducted in 12 counties; Low and medium HIV burden counties (Garissa, Uasin Gishu, Machakos and Nyandarua), High TB burden counties (Nairobi, Kiambu, Mombasa, and Meru), and lake endemic counties with the burden of Malaria (Busia, Siaya, Homabay and Migori)
      2. Targeted study population: Key populations (Men who have Sex with Men (MSM), Female Sex Workers (FSW), People who inject drugs (PWID), Transgender Population, Adolescents and young people (AYPs), People living with HIV and affected by HIV/TB/DRTB, People affected by malaria. persons with disability and other stakeholders.
      3. Expected Outputs:
         1. A technical and financial response to the call for applications outlining the understanding of the various subject areas and study task/assignment, detailing the appropriate methodology for the study, proposed sample size calculations, and techniques, work plan with tentative timelines and summary budgets, with costs clearly separated as consultancy cost and field work cost. The consultant should also provide the study dissemination plan.
         2. An inception report of the desk review prior to fieldwork to demonstrate a clear understanding of the assignment, proposed methodology, data collection tools and a plan of activities throughout the exercise.
         3. Submission of the final study report to the management evaluation team, including raw, final databases and any recorded material such as video, audio etc.
      4. Deliverables: The study will be phased with deliverables at intervals that will be discussed and agreed with the consulting firm. However, at the minimum.
         1. The Inception reports (including study collection tools and translated tools) should be submitted in soft copy.
         2. Ethical review and study protocol
         3. A soft copy Draft Study Report, editable for review and inputs.
         4. Final study Report, well visualized – At least 10 hard copies (Printing to be done on 170gms glossy paper and full colour and cover with perfect book bound 300g, A4 size) and soft copy in a Flash Disk, including the PowerPoint presentation used during dissemination.
         5. Dissemination plans of the study findings.
         6. Dissemination of the study findings to stakeholders.
3. Study Methodology Approaches

KRCS highly recommends that the consultant considers effective approaches, study questions and designs that specifically respond to each of the study objectives and scope of this assignment. However, additional, and effective approaches may be recommended by the EMT to meet other data requirements as well as population driven. The applicant is required to recommend verifiable sampling size and techniques in their technical proposal, which adheres to the laws of Statistical Regularity and Inertia of large numbers. The methodology, data collection and analysis methods must be comprehensively and explained in the technical document.

1. Quality & Ethical Standards

The applicant is required to outline quality and ethical standards in their technical proposal and ensure that the evaluation is designed and conducted in respect and to protect the rights and interests of the key and other vulnerable population. The findings of the assignment will be expected to be technically accurate and reliable; conducted in a transparent and impartial manner. The firm will be required to seek for ethical approval prior to the commencement of data collection process. In addition, the team will be required to adhere to the research standards and applicable practices as recommended locally and internationally.

1. Qualifications and Experience for the study firm

For the purposes of this assessment, the firm is expected to have:

1. 1. Master’s degree in public health, Program planning and management, human rights and gender, monitoring and evaluation. Statistics and Computing and any other relevant social science studies
   2. A minimum of 5 years’ extensive experience in carrying out comprehensive studies or similar assignment.
   3. Good understanding of human rights and gender, Adolescent and young people key populations, and other vulnerable population, as well HIV, TB and malaria programming in Kenya.
   4. Availability of experts in each of the subject areas, with experience and relevant qualification for the assignment.
   5. Experience in mobile phone technology in data collection, statistical packages for quantitative and qualitative analyses.
   6. Excellent analytical (qualitative and quantitative), presentation and writing skills among the team.
   7. Ready to carry out the assignment and deliver results within the specified period/time.

2. Management of the Study

   1. Duration: The entire survey will take a maximum of 25 days tentatively from 24th April 2023 to 26th May 2023
3. 1. Roles of Evaluation Management Team: The project management team will include KRCS and stakeholders including NASCOP, NSDCC, NTLP, NMP, KELIN, AMREF, KP umbrella organization, AYPs representatives and community representatives of HIV, TB and malaria, People with disability (PWDs). The role of the team is envisaged but not limited to the following:
      1. Development and finalization of the Evaluation Terms of reference (ToR).
      2. Procurement of the consulting firm and implementation of the study plan.
      3. Provide consulting team with the relevant documents as required.
      4. Plan for the report validation meeting with key stakeholders.
      5. Review and approve the study documents and the final report.
      6. Make fund available to the consultant as per the contract document.
4. 1. Role of the Consultant: The consultant will consult with KRCS in undertaking the following:
      1. Respond to the TOR highlighting the understanding of the subject areas, assignment/tasks, propose a detailed methodology, work plan and budget.
      2. Undertake the desk review and develop literature review.
      3. Develop inception report, develop study collection tools and translation of the study tools.
      4. Sensitize research team for the study.
      5. Oversee conducting of the study, study analysis, reporting, etc.
      6. Develop and submit the final study report.
      7. Develop study dissemination plans and the dissemination pack and as well as facilitate actual dissemination.
      8. Share all the data sets with KRCS.

5. Submission of proposal

The Technical Proposal MUST be prepared in conformance to the outline provided in Annex 1 while the financial proposal shall conform to the template provided in Annex 2.

Bidders should provide a technical and financial proposal in two separate folders clearly marked “Technical Proposal” and “Financial Proposal” and sent as one email with the subject: “Tender No GFPREQ02027: Call for Consultancy**” to Conduct targeted study using the National human rights and gender (HRG) score cards for HIV, TB and Malaria”

The Proposal should be sent on mail to reach tenders@redcross.or.ke by 29th March 2023 at 11:00 am

How to apply

The Technical Proposal MUST be prepared in conformance to the outline provided in Annex 1 while the financial proposal shall conform to the template provided in Annex 2.

Bidders should provide a technical and financial proposal in two separate folders clearly marked “Technical Proposal” and “Financial Proposal” and sent as one email with the subject: “Tender No GFPREQ02027: Call for Consultancy**” to Conduct targeted study using the National human rights and gender (HRG) score cards for HIV, TB and Malaria”

The Proposal should be sent on mail to reach tenders@redcross.or.ke by 29th March 2023 at 11:00 am