Data Collection for Sustainability Inquiry in SNNPR and Somali Regions, Ethiopia 31 views

Background and Context:

In 2011, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation awarded JSI Research & Training Institute, Inc. (JSI)the Universal Immunization through Improving Family Health Services (UI-FHS) project to develop an evidence-based approach in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) to pursue nationwide universal immunization, integrated with family health approaches, and what it will take to do so effectively, affordably and sustainably. Building off the national strategy for strengthening routine immunization in country, Reaching Every District (RED), UI-FHS developed an approach called RED for Quality Improvement (RED-QI) which utilizes quality improvement tools to build immunization management and technical capacity. Between 2014 and 2018, UI-FHS implemented the RED-QI approach in over 100 woredas (districts) across six regions through a phased approach (strategically introducing the approach in a region, a few woredas at a time). In mid-2018, UI-FHS shifted focus from woreda level implementation to capacity building at the regional level, and phased out implementation of the RED-QI approach in all woredas, except for a few (11) demonstration woredas. As UI-FHS continues to support routine immunization at the regional level, the project has a unique opportunity to re-visit woredas where RED-QI had been implemented to examine sustainability of the RED-QI approach in those woredas.

Overview of the work:

The purpose of this RFP is to solicit the services of 6 data collectors (either individual consultants or aresearch firm, hereafter referred to as the “Service Provider(s)”) who are highly skilled in qualitative research and have familiarity with RED to carry out Key Informant Interviews (KIIs)  in three woredas of Ethiopia across two Regions– Somali and SNNPR. Service Providers much have the required English, Amharic and Somali language skills (see Section 6 below for more details). Service Provider(s) will administer, record, transcribe and translate 54 KIIs with a combination of management staff, health care providers and community representatives. These KIIs are expected to be conducted with supervision support from JSI over the course of approximately 25 working days, which includes time for training, field-testing, revising tools, travel, conducting KIIs, transcribing and translation.

Sample Population

The inquiry will take place in 6 woredas drawn from the Somali and SNNPR Regions (3 woredas in each Region), specifically:

• Sodo, Bonke and Gena Bossa in SNNPR
• Harshin, Kabribayah, Babile in Somali

 Key informants for this study will include the following:

• Management personnel (the WoHO Heads and EPI focal persons)
• Service Providers (Nurses and HEWs)
• Community representatives on the QITs at the health post level.

 The KIIs will follow one of three interview guides developed for use by JSI and provided to the Service Provider(s) with each cadre using both closed- and open-ended questions. These KIIs will elicit respondents’ knowledge, experiences, perceptions, and attitudes regarding RED-QI as it impacts their ability to improve RI. In addition, each KII will consist of a record reviews at administration offices as required to confirm and clarify changes to the routine immunization system and services.  The triangulation of data from both KIIs and available records will help ensure that the review is as accurate and informative as possible

Scope of Work for the Service Provider(s):

Service Provider(s) will be responsible for carrying out the following major activities:

• There will be a total of 3 teamscarrying out data collection – each team consisting of 2 data collectors. 2 teams will be placed in SNNPR and 1 team will be placed in Somali Region.
• The Data Collectors will work in teams of 2 data collectors per team (1 facilitator, 1 note-taker) to complete various data collection activities, at Woreda Health Office (WoHO), Health Center (HC), and Health Post (HP) levels to conduct the following interviews in each Region:

	woreda #1	Woreda #2	Woreda #3	Total per faculity level
WoHo	1	1	1	3
HC	1 1	1 1	1 1	6 (1 per HC, 2 HCs per Woreda)
Health Post	1 1 1	1 1 1	1 1 1	9 (1 per Health Post, 3 HPs per Woreda)
Community Representation	1 1 1	1 1 1	1 1 1	9 (1 per Health Post, 3 HPs per Woreda)
Total Per Wereda	9	9	9	Total Regional KII = 27

Total KIIs Conducted in both Regions: 54

In addition to conducting the KIIs, Service Provider(s) will:

• Participate in initial 2-day practical training in Addis Ababa led by the UI-FHS team and the evaluation’s Principal Investigator. The training will cover elements of qualitative research methods and techniques and a thorough review of the study tools and relevant data.
• Participate in a 2-day pre-test activity near Addis (location to be confirmed) to pilot test KII guides. These will then be finalized together with the Principal Investigator on the third day.
• After each KII/FGD is complete, transcribe full interviews and translate from Amharic/ Somali to English.
• Actively participate in evening “data debriefs” to discuss data collection process, identify and resolve issues, and analyze trends. These debriefs will be done by phone or in person depending on location of team and JSI staff. A schedule will be agreed upon beforehand.
• In a typical day of data collection, each data collection team of 2 can expect to: complete several interviews (at least 2 per day), complete transcribing of day’s interviews and begin translation (time allowing), and participate in daily evening debrief.

Role of JSI:

• JSI will provide Service Provider(s) with a 2-day training, to be held in Addis, which will cover an overview of the project, the RED-QI approach, orientation of data collection tools, and provide an opportunity for discussion with the Principal Investigator of this evaluation.
• JSI will arrange all interviews and provide the Service Provider(s) with a pre-set schedule to each team.
• JSI will print KII guides, and provide Service Provider(s) with audio recording devices.
• JSI will provide travel and accommodation arrangements from Addis to the regional level, as well as ground transportation within the region to travel to each of the interview locations. All transportation and accommodation costs will be covered by JSI.
• UI-FHS team will provided ongoing expertise of the RED-QI approach.
• Service Provider(s) will be supervised by UI-FHS Monitoring and Evaluation staff.

Contractor:

• Service Provider(s) for Qualitative Data Collection

Timeframe:

• Approximately September 9-October 4, 2019 (exact dates may vary); Approximately 25 working days

Account code:

• 0001

Funding source:   

• UI-FHS, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Activity manager:

• Senior Immunization Program Advisor

Job Requirements

Qualifications:

• Service Provider(s) should have the following qualifications:
• Familiarity with RED (preferably through the UI-FHS Project);
• Have worked on previous research projects;
• Have at least 1 year of experience conducting qualitative data collection;
• Demonstrated capability to conduct qualitative research;
• Sound understanding of EPI in Ethiopia;
• Experience conducting KIIs with interviewees at various levels of the health system;
• Familiarity with local culture of Somali and/ or SNNPR Region;
• Ability to travel outside of Addis for up to 15 days.

 Language requirements:

• All 6 Service Provider(s)must be fluent (written and spoken) in English AND Amharic;
• At least 2 Service Provider(s)must also be fluent in Somali, in addition to English AND Amharic;
• Experience translating from Amharic to English(and for 2 Service Provider(s), from Somali to English);
• Experience transcribing in English AND Amharic (and for 2 Service Provider(s),in Somali).

Deliverables:

• Service Provider(s) will be responsible for submitting the following, within 5 days of returning to Addis:
• Trip report summarizing activities conducted and any notable observations. A template will be provided to the Service Provider(s) in advance.
• Recoding of all KIIs administered.
• Typed transcription of all KIIs administered – in original language (Amharic/ Somali) AND English.
• Original copies of signed informed consent forms from each interviewee.

How to Apply

NB: Make Please write “Data Collector for SNNPR / Somali Region” on the subject line of your application. 

Interested applicants please submit your application and CV to: [email protected]