: Raks thai Foundation
: Nonprofits / องค์กรไม่แสวงหาผลกำไร
: 888
: 30 August 2019
30 September 2019
Terms of Reference (TOR) for
a Consultant to conduct operational research on LLIHN usage and associated factors in mobile and migrant populations, particularly forest-goers, to support malaria activities in Ubon Ratchathani and Si Sa Ket provinces of Thailand
Under the program title
Regional Artemisinin-resistance Initiative to Elimination (“RAI2E 2018-2020”)
Regional Component
Finance by
The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria
|
Requisition number |
PG 154/2562 |
|
Issued dated |
1 September 2019 |
|
Purpose |
The purpose of these Terms of Reference (ToR) is to hire a professional consultant (Consultant) to design and conduct operational research for the RAI2E project. The main focus of this study is to follow up and assess LLIHN usage, but also clearly identify behaviors and needs of, and factors relating to, hard-to-reach MMPs, particularly forest-goers, to improve service delivery of Raks Thai Foundation and partners, according the scope of work in this TOR.
|
|
Program Title |
Regional Artemisinin-resistance Initiative to Elimination (“RAI2E 2018-2020”) |
|
Funding Source |
The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria |
|
Require for competitive bidding |
Yes |
|
|
1. PURPOSE
The purpose of these Terms of Reference (ToR) is to hire a professional consultant (Consultant) to design and conduct operational research for the RAI2E project. The main focus of this study is to follow up and assess LLIHN usage, but also clearly identify behaviors and needs of, and factors relating to, hard-to-reach MMPs, particularly forest-goers, to improve service delivery of Raks Thai Foundation, according the scope of work in these TOR.
Raks Thai Foundation (Raks Thai) is responsible for the ToR under the Regional Artemisinin-resistance Initiative to Elimination (RAI2E), which is funded by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Global Fund) through the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS).
2. BACKGROUND
The Regional Artemisinin-resistance Initiative to Elimination (RAI2E) is a multi-country initiative funded by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Global Fund) from 2018 to 2020. This initiative is implemented through strategic partnerships across the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS), which includes Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. Through this initiative, the Greater Mekong Subregion has committed to eliminate malaria by 2030, and earlier in some countries.
Civil Society Organizations in the GMS work in partnership with the government; providing services in active foci areas (active transmission in the last 6 months) which include established villages and remote and hard-to-reach communities, which include national, mobile, migrant and ethnic populations.
Raks Thai Foundation has been engaged with the Global Fund since its inception, and currently implementing two projects under RAI2E; the Country Component and the Regional Component. The Country Component is implemented in Ubon Ratchathani, Si Sa Ket, Kanchanaburi, Ratchaburi, Prachuap Kiri Khan, Chumphon, Surat Thani, and Ranong. The Regional Component supplements programmatic gaps in Ubon Ratchathani and Si Sa Ket. In addition to Raks Thai Foundation’s work, civil society organizations (CSOs) also implemented malaria activities in Mae Hong Son, Tak, Songkhla, Yala, Pattani, and Narratiwat.
Activities are implemented according to three main strategies:
Northeast Thailand, the focus of the Regional Component, is one of the highest malaria burden regions in Thailand. Between 2015 and 2016, the region saw a significant decline (400%) in malaria (4564 to 1134). However, in following years, the malaria incidence has slowly increase again by approximately 10-15% per year (1134 in 2016, 1249 in 2017, 1435 in 2018). The highest incidence is found along the borders with Cambodia and Lao PDR, and assumed to be related to limited and irregular service access and behaviors of the populations. In 2018, there were 1345 cases in the region (SS: 908, UB: 527). Of these, males accounted for 93% and 91% respectively, and Thai nationals accounted for 97% and 99% respectively.
To support malaria elimination in this region, the Regional Component was planned according to the following details:
Goal:
Objectives:
During 2018, Raks Thai Foundation conducted various activities to support malaria elimination from the region. This included detailed mapping of all active foci areas, including communities and worksites, conducted health education sessions, organized mobile testing, and distributed LLINs and LLIHNs to malaria affected communities and individuals. These activities were conducted in 21 townships, comprising 71 villages, with a total population of 67,934 people. Within this area, we included established villages within 5km of forest areas, ethnic monitory groups and large settlements associated with plantations. In addition, we specifically prioritized mobile and migrant populations (MMPs) working and living in the areas highlighted above, estimated as 8% percent of the total population. These MMPs include:
These mobile and migrant populations (MMPs) are often targeted by interventions as a homogenous group, but in actuality they have varying patterns of health behavior and utilization of health services due to their proximity to services, occupation, sex, income and legal status. These MMPs, in addition to some static Thai populations, are considered ‘forest-goers’, and tend to be travel regularly to high burden areas and stay overnight deep in forest settings, sleeping under makeshift shelters. This creates a large at-risk population of both MMPs and static host communities.
3. OBJECTIVES OF THE TOR
In order to support project implementation, assess malaria knowledge, treatment-seeking behaviors and preventive practices among these different categories of MMPs in Ubon Ratchathani and Si Sa Ket, Thailand, Raks Thai Foundation seeks to contract a Consultant to design and conduct operational research. The main focus of this study is to follow up and assess LLIN and LLIHN usage, but also clearly identify behaviors and needs of, and factors relating to, hard-to-reach MMPs, particularly forest-goers, to improve service delivery. Raks Thai has maintained records of all individuals who received an LLIN or LLIHN during 2018 and 2019, which can be used to develop a clear methodology and data collection plan. By utilizing available records, and a respondent-driven sampling methodology to reach this population, we hope to provide further insight which can aid health services, community workers and policymakers in developing interventions that can better reach these populations at-risk.
4. EXPECTATION
The expectations of these ToR are:
5. SCOPE OF WORK
The Consultant will be responsible for planning, conducting and communicating all aspects of the operational research, in collaboration with Raks Thai. The scope of work includes the following activities:
6. DURATION
Duration
The period expected for this consultancy is from 10 September 2019 to 28 February 2020 which is described in the table below:
|
Activity |
September 2019 |
October 2019 |
November 2019 |
December 2019 |
January 2020 |
February 2020 |
|
a) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
b) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
c) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
d) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
e) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
f) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
7. DUTY STATION
The consultant is expected to use their own facilities, space, and make use of their own equipment throughout the scope of work identified in this TOR. Moreover, in collaboration with Raks Thai, the consultant must engage through email, phone communication, and face-to-face meeting as required.
The training, if required, shall take place at a training venue selected by the consultant and agreed with Raks Thai on costs.
8. DELIVERABLES
Deliverables expected for this TOR align with the scope of work, above, and detailed again below:
|
Activity |
Deliverables |
Duration/Due Date |
|
a) |
Review of existing RAI2E project data and preparation of a detailed list of required documents or records that are needed from Raks Thai in order to prepare research methodology |
24 September 2019 |
|
b) |
Methodology and tools that will be used during the research period |
Draft by 24 September 2019 Agree on final 30 September 2019 |
|
c) |
Two trainings with implementing staff in Ubon Ratchathani and Si Sa Ket |
First week of October 2019 |
|
d) |
Implementation of the operational research according to agreed methodology and tools |
7 October 2019 to 31 December 2019 |
|
e) |
A report which includes findings from the operational research and recommendations to adapt the current interventions and design future activities |
31 January 2020 |
|
f) |
A presentation and associated materials and present findings to Raks Thai, its partners and key stakeholders |
Mid-February 2020 |
9. PAYMENT AND CONSULTANT FEES
Consultant fees
Total amount proposed for these ToR is THB 300,000. This includes all Thai Taxes, VATs and communication costs.
Any additional arrangements, including meetings, workshops, trainings and stakeholder consultations outside the scope of these ToR, including additional research provinces and events in Bangkok, will be organized and agreed in collaboration with Raks Thai Foundation and will be paid by Raks Thai Foundation. Raks Thai Foundation will cover all costs of printing and distribution of the research publication.
Payment
The payment will occur in three instalments:
|
Instalment |
Conditions |
Payment verification |
|
1st installment, which corresponds to 30% of total amount |
|
|
|
2nd installment, which corresponds to 30% of total amount |
|
|
|
Final installment, which corresponds to 40% of total amount |
|
|
Installment payment is subject to satisfactory receipt of the deliverables within the project timeframe and pending review of the deliverables by the Raks Thai Foundation – Director and designated staff of Program Quality Department. Each payment will be made in Thai Baht to the bank account designated by the Consultant or authorized representative of the Consultant.
10. RIGHTS AND PROPERTIES
Raks Thai Foundation own the data, rights and property for all products under these Terms of Reference. Dissemination of products and services owned by Raks Thai Foundation are subjected to a written permission from an authorized person of Raks Thai Foundation. The sharing or distribution of products or any other contents or documents produced under these ToR without permission from Raks Thai is not allowed.
Raks Thai will not be responsible for any harms or claims, liabilities, suits, actions (including charges, disbursements and reasonable fees of counsel), proceedings, damages, expenses and obligations of any kind that be incurred by the Consultant or asserted against the Consultant, its officers and employees, by or on behalf of any person on account of, based or resulting from, arising out of (or which may be claimed to arise out of) the willful acts or omission of the Consultant and its agents, employees, research sites, assignees, transferees, delegates or successors, for which the Consultant retains responsibility.
11. QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
Technical requirement:
The consultant must have skills and able to demonstrate evidence of experience in:
Required documents:
