Baseline Survey for Adolescent Sexual & Reproductive Health & Rights for Refugees Program Consultant

With funding from HIVOS Southern Africa, this project, “Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (ASRHR) Program,” will be implemented by HIAS over a one-year period. The project’s goal is to increase awareness of and access to SRHR services for at least 1000 refugees in Nairobi County.

The following are the project objectives:

1. Strengthen refugee youth led organizations with skills to promote and advocate for improved access to ASRHR services at the County level
2. Empower refugee youth-led/focused organizations through training in data collection and knowledge management
3. Increase capacity of refugee youth led/focused organizations to advocate and raise awareness on SRHR
4. Collaborate with refugee youth led/focused organizations to convene and coordinate SRHR activities

Baseline Survey Purpose and Objectives

The primary purpose of the consultancy is to conduct a baseline study providing HIAS with the information base against which to monitor, track progress and effectiveness of the project over the course of project implementation. The baseline study should provide data and information against which to measure the degree and quality of change and the project’s contribution to more long-term change (impact).

Specific objectives of the baseline are;

i. What is current capacity of refugee-youth led and focused community and faith- based organizations to do the following?

• Advocate and promote SRHR services for refugee youth and adolescents (This includes accessibility of the organizations, cultural acceptability, availability and appropriateness (youth-friendly, gender sensitive, inclusive, responsive)
• Collect data and manage knowledge on SRHR

ii. What is the current community level of awareness about SRH for youth in the following areas?

• The specific SRH needs of adolescent girls
• The negative effects of child marriage
• HIV/AIDS counselling and testing
• Education and counselling regarding SRH,

iii. What is the current state of coordination of SRHR services among refugee adolescents and refugee youth led/focused organizations?

iv. To provide appropriate recommendations and areas that needs more attention and focus during the project implementation and ways to strengthen on-going monitoring of the project to maximize learning and adjust/improve the project intervention.

The data collected will be both qualitative and quantitative. Data collection will adhere to HIAS’ COVID-19 safety policies and align with the Kenya’s Ministry of Health COVID-19 guidelines. Therefore, remote data collection methods should be adopted as much as possible and in cases where in-person data collection has to be done, social distancing, wearing off masks and washing of hands must be observed.

Scope of Survey

The study will be conducted in Kayole, Eastleigh and Kawangware within Nairobi County targeting refugee youth led/focused organizations and young people (boys and girls) between ages 18 – 24 years. The design and implementation of the baseline must also ensure that principles of gender equality, inclusion and non-discrimination are considered and acted upon throughout, and that the meaningful participation of the most vulnerable groups and other key stakeholders is promoted in the design and implementation of the baseline.

Methodology of the Study

The consultant will develop a detailed research methodology in consultation with HIAS program and M&E team. The following methodologies will be utilized, but should not be limited to:

1. Desk review on awareness of and access to SRHR services among refugees: The consultant will review project documents and other relevant secondary data sources.
2. Quantitative data to be collected through a representative survey and through tools administered during service delivery.
3. Qualitative approaches, such as focus group discussions and key informant interviews, as well as participatory exercises and approaches should be used.

Triangulation of information gathered during the quantitative and qualitative research is crucial in this study, with reflection on how the findings relate to the secondary documentation. The assessment is to be consistent with SPHERE standards. The baseline survey will be organized in a participatory way, including HIAS staff, local actors and project beneficiaries.

Expected Outputs and Deliverables

The expected key outputs and deliverables are:

• Work plan and Inception Report (with key parameters and indicators to be considered for the baseline survey including the methodologies for data collection and dissemination).
• Data Collection tools/instruments based on the four (4) objectives of the project as elaborated in the project document
• Draft report for stakeholder review.
• Cleaned final dataset(s) containing all data collected for the baseline, including survey responses and KII/FGD transcriptions
• Final Report (incorporating inputs from the review) will include:

The following survey report structure will be adopted:

• An executive summary. It should include the major findings of the baseline and summarize conclusions and recommendations.
• The objectives of the baseline.
• The main question or central survey question.
• Methods and techniques used (including relevant underlying values and assumptions, theories) with a justification of the selections made (of persons interviewed). Eventual limitations of the survey.
• Analysis and findings, to address status of outcome indicators and changes to project assumptions
• Conclusions
• Recommendations

1. The findings will be presented in a meeting organized for key HIAS staff:

The final report, should be a maximum of 35 pages in length, excluding Table of Content, tables and annexes).

Time-Frame

Probable date for the baseline survey to commence will be July 2021 and is expected to take a maximum of 18 working days, which includes desk-review, preparation, and implementation, report-writing.

Institutional Arrangement

HIAS establish an evaluation team to oversee all the related tasks. The HIAS Kenya and Regional M&E officers will be responsible for the overall coordination of all the evaluation tasks with the Consultant. In addition, the Program Managers, Head of Programs and Country Director will provide all the necessary technical and operational support required throughout the evaluation process.

HIAS will provide:

• Relevant documentation and background information.
• Contacts of relevant stakeholders and set up meeting(s).
• Staff to conduct the survey.
• Consolidated feedback/guidance on draft reports and strategy.

Required Experience and Qualifications

We are looking for a Consultant/team with the following skills and qualifications;

• Demonstrable expertise on SRHR and gender equality, preferably in Kenya or the region.
• Demonstrable expertise on refugee operations especially in Kenya.
• An individual with demonstrable experience in qualitative & quantitative researches, data analysis and reporting with a focus on Social research and evaluation, preferably in the region.
• The team leader should preferably possess a post graduate degree in research-oriented social science or related discipline with extensive knowledge of and experience in leading (designing and undertaking) large scale quantitative social surveys as well as qualitative research.
• Experience in managing and coordinating evaluation/research exercises, delivering agreed outputs on time and on budget.
• Experience in data collection and analysis using participatory methodologies.
• Excellent and demonstrated understanding of ethical issues in research, including child protection.
• Ability to respond to comments and questions in a timely, appropriate manner.
• Capacity to use mobile data collection for data collection, and analysis of survey results.
• Excellent verbal and written communication in English required.

Application Process and Requirements

Qualified and interested parties are asked to submit the following;

• Letter of interest in submission of a proposal
• A detailed technical proposal clearly demonstrating a thorough understanding of this ToR and including but not limited to the following;
• Consultant/Company Profile
• Proposed methodology including areas of piloting, Sample Size Determination, and a proposed consultancy work plan
• Demonstrated previous experience in similar assignments and qualifications outlined in this ToR (with submission of the most recent report of a similar assignment)
• Proposed data management plan (collection, processing and analysis).
• Team composition and level of effort of each proposed team member (include CVs of each team member).
• A financial proposal with a detailed breakdown of costs for the study quoted in Kenya Shillings.