ThaiNGO

Request for Expressions of Interest

Assessment to Improve Harm Reduction Program in Thailand  

Issuance of the EOI:                                          1 November 2016

Submission Date:                                              11 November 2016

Email EOI to:                                                    monsuda@raksthai.org 

Issuance of RFP:                                              14 November 2016

Submission Date:                                              25 November 2016

Finalization of Award:                                                    December 2016

Tentative Start Date of Contract:                        January 2016

1. Purpose of Expression of Interest

Raks Thai Foundation is seeking Expressions of Interest (EOI) from individual international consultant/individual national consultant/a team of international and national consultants/well-established institutions (consultancy firms, universities, etc.) to conduct an assessment and provide recommendations and capacity building package to improve the Global Fund supported civil society organization’s (CSO) harm reduction program. The assessment is scheduled for implementation starting from December 2016. Raks Thai Foundation is therefore looking for an international consultant with deep commitment and strong background in harm reduction with international experiences and good practices to undertake the assessment together with a national consultant to assess identified issues such as practices lead to increase vulnerability of PWID and drugs policy mapping. This assignment has major implications for Raks Thai Foundation and implementing agencies’ future work and partnerships in improving People Who Inject Drugs (PWID)’ quality of life in Thailand.

2. Background

Raks Thai Foundation is the Principal Recipient (PR) under the New Funding Model (NFM), Stop TB and AIDS through RRTTR (STAR) supported by The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. The program is reaching about 7,000-9,000 PWID per year in 12 provinces or around 16 – 20% of a national estimate PWID in need for harm reduction services. The setup of the program includes the drop-in centers and outreach activities. The program is focusing on Reach, Recruit, Test, Treatment and Retain (RRTTR) among PWID. The project activities are distribution of information packages, condoms and needle and syringes, referral for STI and HIV testing and treatment, referral for methadone maintenance treatment, data management and networking with stakeholders. Whilst the ultimate goal of the program is to improve PWID’s quality of life beyond the project objectives, the current implementation has faced challenges include reaching PWID, understanding their needs and providing better services, other health issues include TB and HCV, collaboration with government, health service providers and other stakeholders, support from the communities, drug policy in the country etc. Moreover, the CSO needs to establish standards, work toward achieving higher quality and perform accreditation for long term sustainability.

3. Propose of the assessment

The purposes of this assignment are as follow;

1. To assess the current harm reduction program under the STAR program and provide specific recommendations on the strengths and areas of improvements in terms of drop-in center, outreach activities, and ability to provide RRTTR services and community led services[1].
2. To identify areas that the various key stakeholders may want to consider in improving community based harm reduction program including social and health related benefits for the PWID, especially female, families and society.
3. To recommend improvement models and processes for the implementing agencies in Thailand regarding to drop-in center, outreach management, human resources training and capacity building, management practices, data utilization and performance management.
4. To recommend approach to long term sustainability of the Thai harm reduction program in all level.

Recommendation should base on international good practices and ability to apply to Thailand context. The consultant should be able to raise good examples and practices from multiple programs and countries with similar situations as in Thailand.

Key audiences of the assessment include Raks Thai Foundation and its implementing partners.

4. Scope of work

The assignment has a broad focus covering the assessment of Raks Thai Foundation and its implementing partners’ harm reduction program. It will also examine the collaboration with the stakeholders such as government, hospitals, MMT clinics, and prisons. The international consultant will conduct site visits to 6 project sites in Bangkok, Samutprakarn, Songkhla, Trang and Chiang Mai and have meetings with stakeholders in Bangkok. The national consultant will conduct an assessment with a topic will be discussed and agreed with Raks Thai Foundation.

5. Period of assignment

The assignment is preferably to commence in December 2016 and to be completed within two months with estimated 20 – 25 working days.

6. Desired team composition and profile

Qualified individual international consultant/individual national consultant/a team of international and national consultants/well-established institutions that have the capabilities to meet the following requirements are invited to submit an EOI. 

The composition of the proposed team can be individual consultant or a team of one international consultant and one national consultant:

International consultant

The international consultant will conduct the assessment and the dissemination of the findings and recommendations. S/he should have the following competencies:

• Have extensive harm reduction experiences (more than 7 years) including, but not limited to, the management of drop-in centers, outreach activities, overseeing coordination with government sector and other related services, HIV prevention and treatment, drug treatment as well as on the broader sense of improving the health and well-being of PWID
• Holding a university degree in public health or related field, including specific international experience in the harm reduction area and sound knowledge of enabling environment factors in working with government policy makers, law enforcements and private agencies
• Bringing a strong commitment to delivering timely and high-quality results, i.e. credible assessments that are used for improving the program
• Having excellent interpersonal and communication skills to help ensure that the assessment is understood and used
• Previous experience of working in a South-East Asian context is desirable, together with understanding of Thailand context
• The international consultant must be committed and willing to work independently, with limited regular supervision; s/he must demonstrate adaptability and flexibility, client orientation, proven ethical practice, initiative, concern for accuracy and quality. S/he must have the ability to concisely and clearly express ideas and concepts in written and oral form as well as the ability to communicate with various stakeholders in English

National consultant

The national consultant will conduct the assessment on identified topic such as policy mapping and various practices leading to increased vulnerability and the dissemination of the findings and recommendations. S/he should have the following competencies:

• Have harm reduction experiences (more than 3 years)
• Holding a university degree in public health or related field
• Having a firm understanding of harm reduction approached to programming, enabling environment factors in working with government policy makers, law enforcements and private agencies
• Having excellent interpersonal and communication skills to help ensure that the assessment is understood and used
• Thai national with strong, working level English

7. Submission of the EOI

Interested individual consultant/a team of international and national consultants/well-established institutions are encouraged to submit letter of intent and CVs. EOIs should be sent to monsuda@raksthai.org, no later than November 11, 2016. Kindly note that this EOI does not constitute a solicitation. We do not require proposals at this stage. Further details on the assessment can be sent to interested parties upon request. Raks Thai Foundation has a selection committee that will prepare a shortlist candidates. Terms of Reference (TOR) will be provided to those candidates invited to submit a proposal including assessment methodology and approach, relevant qualifications, budget and available date of assignment.

Only shortlisted candidates will be interviewed. In the case that there are no successful candidate or no suitable candidates, Raks Thai Foundation reserves the right to identify and send invitations to internationally known candidates. If you have any additional questions about this EOI, please email Ms.Monsuda Chansiri at monsuda@raksthai.org.

Announced by

Raks Thai Foundation

185 Soi 6, Praditpat Road,

Bangkok 10400, Thailand

[1] Community led services focus on rapid HIV testing by the communities to target key affected population to get the test and refer to the treatment if positive

Interested individual consultant/a team of international and national consultants/well-established institutions are encouraged to submit up to 10-page proposal including assessment methodology and approach, relevant qualifications, budget and available date of assignment. The proposal should be sent to monsuda@raksthai.org, no later than November 25, 2016. Further details on the assessment can be sent to interested parties upon request. Only shortlisted candidates will be interviewed. If you have any additional questions about this assignment, please email: Ms.Monsuda Chansiri (Program Officer) at monsuda@raksthai.org.