NATIONAL INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANT FOR THE BASELINE STUDY IN NIASSA PROVINCE

Terms of Reference for One Individual Consultant to KOICA project:

Baseline study in Niassa province

Purpose of consultancy:

Background:

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is the Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) agency committed to delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person’s potential is fulfilled. UNFPA has committed its global, regional and country programmes to prioritize and scale up effective programmes for women and girls with special attention to sexual and reproductive health, including HIV prevention, while providing evidence and advocating for the holistic development of young people. The UNFPA Mozambique office started the implementation of the “Health Improvements for Mothers, Neonates, and Adolescents in Niassa Province (HIMNA)” project (2024-2029) funded by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) to support women and girls to access essential sexual and reproductive health service in Niassa province.

Niassa province, located in the northernmost part of Mozambique, is often referred to as “Mozambique’s forgotten province” due to its remote location and low population density. However, the population models have shown how the province’s population size has nearly doubled over a 10-year period. Increases in the population size are expected to continue as ongoing violence and instability in neighboring Cabo Delgado province contribute to a growing number of internally displaced persons (IDPs). While current estimates of the number of IDPs in Niassa are still small, the proximity and impact of the conflict have raised concerns amongst government and international stakeholders alike.

As the country’s smallest province in terms of population, Niassa faces significant challenges in accessing essential services. The project targets four high-priority districts within Niassa—Lichinga, Cuamba, Mandimba, and Mecanhelas—which are known for their urgent needs in maternal, neonatal, and adolescent health interventions. They face significant maternal and neonatal health challenges, with high maternal mortality and over 3,140 neonatal deaths recorded between 2018-2019. Key issues include obstetric complications, unsafe abortions, and neonatal problems, compounded by inadequate healthcare facilities and training. Only 54% of health centers are equipped for neonatal resuscitation, and the province has a shortage of health workers, with just 5.7 workers per 10,000 residents, below the national average. Access to healthcare is limited, as most residents live over 8 km from a health facility. Adolescent pregnancy rates are high, and while interest in family planning exists, only 16% of adolescents use modern contraception. Additionally, while gender-based violation (GBV) outcomes in Niassa are relatively better, only 32% of health units are equipped to manage GBV cases, emphasizing the need for improved infrastructure and services to address these critical issues.

Additionally, Niassa province shares borders with Malawi, making it vulnerable to cholera outbreaks, particularly during the rainy season from December to April, when the disease often spreads across neighbouring countries. Addressing these geographical and health challenges is crucial for the successful implementation of interventions aimed at improving maternal, neonatal, and adolescent health outcomes in the region.

To respond to the urgent needs, UNFPA together with implementing partners will provide sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and GBV services in four target districts. UNFPA support includes community health activists’ service, the deployment of integrated mobile brigades, community dialogues, adolescent boys and girls mentorship, etc.

Summary of the purpose of consultancy:

The objective of the consultancy is to establish baseline data for four districts in Niassa province within the context of

the HIMNA project. This information will be used to finalize the programme design and assess its effectiveness. The

purpose of the proposed assignment is to collect data on the following key indicators:

1. % of pregnant women who have received ANC at least 4 times in the 4 target districts

2. % of pregnancies among adolescent girls aged 15-19

3. # of trained community health activists on SRHR service provision at the community level

4. % of community members with knowledge of preventing adolescent pregnancy

5. # of trained adolescent girls for mentorship

6. # of trained adolescent boys on ‘positive masculinities’

7. Level of satisfaction with maternal, neonatal, and adolescent healthcare service in 4 target districts (1-to-5 satisfaction scale)

8. # of health professionals who have completed B/CEmONC, family planning technique training

9. # of health facilities strengthened through the provision of equipment and materials to improve maternal, neonatal, and adolescent health

10. % of districts with a clearly outlined and budgeted response plan (action plan) for the maternal and perinatal death (4 target districts)

11. # of supervision missions conducted from central to provincial-district-health facility level focused on quality service provision at health facility and school level.

12. # of districts with functional M&E mechanism

• Note that some indicators are available from SIS-MA, however, the purpose of this baseline study is to compare the data collection result – via the survey questionnaire and the SIS-MA data to get more accurate data.

Methodology

It is proposed that this research will use a mixed-methods approach. Quantitative methods will be applied to extract data from existing routine district health systems, such as the District Health Information Management Software-2 (DHIS2/SISMA), program-based data sets, existing reports as well as the most recent Mozambique DHIS report. Sub-national analysis of this data may need to be performed to determine district-level values.

In addition to the quantitative data, the study will use qualitative methods, including focus group discussions (FGD) and key informant interviews (KII), to collect baseline data for the qualitative indicators and to determine the underlying causes of GBV. This will be in addition to an extensive desk review on GBV in the country.

Partnerships

The UNFPA Mozambique office will work with a number of IPs in Niassa Province on this baseline and research study, including the Provincial Directorate of Health (DPS). The IPs have the responsibility for the implementation of activities, and regular monitoring and reporting in respective development and recovery projects in Niassa province. The following are the brief roles and responsibilities of IPs in Niassa province:

Government partners:

• Ministry of Health (MISAU)
• DPS Niassa is one of the main government implementing partners in the areas of health in particular SRH and GBV survivors treatment. DPS is supporting the capacity building of health professionals, joint monitoring mission to districts and community level to verify the availability of contraceptives and provision of technical assistance of SRH services in the health facilities.
• The District Health Service (SDS) Niassa

NGO partners: Wiwanan, DKT

Scope of work:(Description of services, activities, or outputs)

A consultant is responsible for:

Submission of the inception report, questionnaire, field visit plan, site assessment reports, and final report, coordination with implementing partners to organize the meetings for consultancy visits to project districts, training of data collectors, managing data collectors’ data collection work including payment of data collectors, and baseline study in Niassa province.

The following outputs are expected from a consultancy:

A comprehensive baseline study is detailed with recommended indicators and respective metadata. To provide an information base against which to monitor and assess the interventions’s progress and effectiveness during implementation and after the activity is completed, provides a critical reference point for assessing changes and impact, as it establishes a basis for comparing the situation before and after an intervention, and for making inferences as to the effectiveness of the campaign. It should cover each level of the intervention’s log frame and should help to explain the cause of observed changes, including the specific data for each indicator. The baseline study is essential to determine the level of impact expected and to enable the monitoring of impacts after the development has occurred. 

Baseline information will need to be gathered in the field, complemented by desk reviews. Each of the sites should be included so that the relative exact situation is analyzed and can be assessed. It is essential that the baseline information which is collected represents both the temporal and spatial trends of the parameters in question. The baseline study takes place at the start of a project and its aim is to provide a greater understanding of local communities, including their social and economic environments, flag concerns regarding the project, and also show the potential positive and negative impacts that the project can create, helping prevent many issues including and underestimating project risks, impacts to communities and failure to contribute to social and economic development. A combination of qualitative and quantitative surveys is recommended.

Duration and working schedule:

The assignment will be for a period of 60 working days.

Place where services are to be delivered:

Maputo Office

Required document for the hiring process

Curriculum Vitae, sample reports from the previous works such as baseline, midline, or endline reports developed.

Delivery dates and how work will be delivered (e.g. electronic, hard copy etc.)

The consultant should submit the following key deliverables on the following dates, all deliverables should be submitted in a soft copy, in English:

Deliverable 1

Deliverables brief: Inception report: with initial literature review, detailed scope, methodology, draft questionnaires, work plan, and timelines

Due date: 1 week later the contract start date.

Payment Percentage: 10%

Deliverable 2

• Deliverables brief: Final baseline study questionnaire, field visit plan, focus group discussion plan, key informant interview plan, data collectors training plan, for interviewing IPs and local community people and expected beneficiaries in target districts

Approval of CIOB committee for baseline survey process in four target districts of Niassa province.

Due date: Within the 3 weeks after submission of 1st deliverables

Payment Percentage: 30%

Deliverable 3

Deliverables brief: Draft baseline survey report

Due date: 2 weeks later after data collection completed.

Payment Percentage: 20%

Deliverable 4 / Final

Deliverables brief: Final report with presentation of findings to the UNFPA colleagues

Due date: 2 weeks later after the submission of the 3rd deliverables

Payment Percentage: 40%

Consultancy deliverables details:

• Approval of CIOB committee for baseline survey process in four target districts of Niassa province. 30%

3 2 weeks later after data collection completed Draft baseline survey report 20%

Final 2 weeks later after the submission of the 3rd deliverables Final report with presentation of findings to the UNFPA colleagues 40%

Consultancy deliverables details:

• Develop the Baseline study final report based on the field visit assessment information in four target districts with recommendations including any necessary research, desk reviews, and analysis, using the latest available scientific data;
• Develop the inception report, questionnaire, field visit plan, site assessment, and field visit report with findings from on baseline study and any necessary research, desk reviews, and analysis, using the latest available scientific data;
• Approval of CIOB committee for baseline survey process in four target districts of Niassa province
• Site visits and assessments, key informant interviews for finding baseline data from the key informant in the local community, implementing partners (NGO, Government, Academia);
• Liaise with relevant program colleagues, government, local community leaders, and NGO partners to ensure timely collection of data and information to be used in the final reports and baseline of the project implementation;
• Additional indicators can be added for this baseline study consultancy
• The consultant will manage the payment of the data collector subsidy (including per diem, and transportation cost) during the data collection process.
• All travel-related costs will be covered by the consultant – per diem, flight tickets, terminal costs from and to Airport, etc. 
• Recruitment of data collectors, it is recommended to be local with SRH skills and at least one in each district to be from the government system. Consultant will contract the data collectors and manage the payment of data collectors per diem and other cost, and administrative works during this consultancy. 
• The Final report must be delivered in Portuguese and in English.

Monitoring and progress control including reporting requirements, periodicity format and deadline: 

The above-referenced reports will be prepared by the consultant, reviewed by the SRH Team Leader, and M&E officer, and signed off by the Deputy Representative.

Supervisory arrangements:

The Consultant shall work under the direct supervision of the SRH Team Leader and SRH Program Specialist and the overall supervision by the Deputy Representative

Expected travel:

Work remotely. Travel will be requested by the UNFPA Mozambique country office for data collection and key informant interviews in target districts and province Niassa province, travel to Lichinga, Cuamba, Mandimba and Mecanhelas. The travel cost: ticket, DSA, terminals, etc, will be covered by the consultant- organizing the trip and paying for logistics will be the responsibility of the consultant- Total 23 Days of Travel.

Required expertise, qualifications and competencies, including language requirements: 

Education:

• Master’s degree in any of the following fields: public health, international relations, social science, statistics, population studies, human rights, and gender studies, with a focus on SRH and GBV-related studies. 

Working Experience:

For the proposed consultant, knowledge and at least 2 years of professional working experience including: 

• Knowledge and experience in SRH, maternal health and gender-related research projects, SRH and GBV project monitoring and evaluation, project baseline study, etc;
• Knowledge and experience in developing result frameworks, particularly for SRH and GBV-related projects;
• Knowledge of key principles for GBV data collection including survivor-centered approach (confidentiality, safety, respect, non-discrimination)
• Attention to detail and strong analytical skills;
• The proposed consultant should have at least 3 completed projects of similar nature and scope in various countries, particularly in East and Southern Africa;
• Fluency in English and Portuguese

UNFPA Core Competencies:

• Accountability
• Integrity
• Commitment
• Cultural Sensitivity
• Valuing Diversity
• Building and managing relationships
• Personal leadership and effectiveness

UNFPA Functional Competencies:

• Client orientation
• Organizational Awareness
• Job knowledge/Technical expertise
• Good organizational and analytical skills, accuracy, discretion, and a sense of confidentiality, team and service-oriented, autonomy, flexibility to adjust schedules and work priorities, emphasis on quality, efficiency, and results
• Ability to propose solutions and improvements.

The proposed consultants’ willingness to comply with UNFPA’s confidentiality and conflict of interest rules.

• Confidentiality of manufacturer’s information 
• During the technical evaluation of tenders, the confidentiality of proposals and confidentiality of the procurement process
• During the technical evaluation of tenders, compliance with no-conflict-of-interest rules for technical evaluation committee members in the UNFPA Mozambique country office.

Other relevant information or special conditions, if any:

The consultant shall be entitled to fees as per UNFPA policy guidelines. 

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