INTRODUCTION

DSW (Deutsche Stiftung Weltbevoelkerung) is an international development and advocacy organization that seeks to empower young people and communities in low and middle-income countries by addressing issues of population dynamics and health as a key to sustainable development.

With its headquarters in Hannover, Germany, DSW runs country offices in Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda and liaison offices in Berlin and Brussels.

BACKGROUND AND PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Deutsche Stiftung Weltbevölkerung (DSW) is implementing a budget advocacy project aimed at increasing family planning (FP) allocations at the national and sub-national levels in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda to address the unmet need for FP. A key approach for DSW’s country-based work on budget analysis as a source for evidence-based advocacy is tracking government commitments, allocations, and programmes.

In this regard, DSW has over the years, conducted annual reviews of national and sub-national budgets as entry points for ongoing engagements with national and subnational decision-makers with a view to increasing FP resourcing and the importance of establishing dedicated FP budget line items.

Previous findings are published in reports, fact sheets, and infographics targeting various audiences. DSW will continue to track budget allocations at both national and sub-national levels to generate evidence for our advocacy work.

Consequently, DSW seeks the services of a consultant to conduct FP budget allocation analysis for FY 2021/22, as well as track the actual FP budget allocations at the national and subnational levels.

The envisaged consultancy is expected to obtain FP allocations from previous FY to make a comparative analysis.

DSW will provide guidance throughout all phases of the assignment.

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

Main Objective

The main objective of the study is to carry out an analysis of FP budget allocations for FY 2021/022 at the national level and in 11 project counties.

Specifically, the study will:

1. Track Health and FP budget allocations at the national level and in eleven project counties for FY 2021/22 in comparison with FY 2020/21 and FY 2019/20.

2. Identify and evaluate the implementation of existing family planning policies at the international, national and sub-national levels

3. Document the effect of Covid-19 and adaptations to allocations of FP resources at National and county levels.

4. Provide recommendations that will inform evidence-based budget and policy advocacy towards increasing FP financing at national and county levels.

Methodology

The Consultant will be expected to use the existing DSW’s FP Budget Monitoring Methodology to meet the above mentioned objectives.

This methodology involves desk reviews, national policy analysis, national and county budget analysis and key informant interviews with relevant MOH and county officials.

The consultant may revise the methodology to suit the current government guidelines without compromising the expected outcome.

The Scope

The study will be undertaken at national level covering the Ministry of Health and National Medical Supplies Authority and at the county level covering the county health offices.

For the FP budget analysis, the study will cover the FY 2021/22 in comparison to FY 2020/21 and FY 2019/20.

EXPECTED ACTIVITIES

The consultant will be responsible for the budget study. The major duties of the consultant will include:

Activity 1: Developing and submitting inception report to DSW with refined methodology and data collection tools

• The consultant will develop an inception report, demonstrating an understanding of the study with a detailed field work plan on how he/she will carry out the activities to achieve the study objectives, adhering to the government guidelines and regulations especially in light of COVID-19.
• In close consultation with DSW staff, the consultant will review and revise the existing DSW’s budget and policy analysis tools and methodology that will be used in FY 2021/22 budget analysis and maintain comparability with previous findings.

Activity 2: Recruiting, orienting, and training of experienced data collectors

• With the support of DSW staff, the consultant will recruit and train data collectors on the use of the data collection tools and the process of data collection

Activity 3: Collection and analysis of initial data

• The consultant will lead the data collection at national level and support data collection activities at the subnational level.
• DSW staff will oversee/supervise data collection processes both at the national and county levels.
• The consultant will conduct desk review to provide background on key FP indicators at national and county level, identify bottlenecks/barriers to access and utilisation of FP services.
• The consultant will review and analyse collected information at both national and county levels.
• This will involve entering the budget data in the approved FP budget analysis tool and analysing the qualitative information generated from the key informant interviews.
• The consultant will develop a draft report based on the collected information

Activity 4: Data validation

• The consultant, with support of DSW, will engage the relevant government officials at national and county levels to validate the data collected.
• Data validation may involve one-on-one engagement with officials and/or through workshops/ meetings, observing the COVID-19 social-distancing regulations
• The validation meetings will help to address any data gaps, promote quality assurance and ensure that the final report will have stakeholder ownership and acceptance for effective use.

Activity 5: Data analysis and report writing

• The consultant will analyse the final data and submit a draft report, using the updated data sheets and information from interviews. The draft report will be expected to provide preliminary answers to all the objectives, including analysis of policy implementations at national and county level.

Activity 6: Final Report & Dissemination of Findings

• The consultant will incorporate the feedback from DSW and her designated partners and stakeholders, and submit a final FP budget analysis report.
• The consultant will also submit final datasets and relevant input for the development of infographics

The selected consultant is invited to comment on the Terms of Reference and suggest amendments and other approaches if deemed suitable given the nature of the study and the country context.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS OF FIRMS AND PERSONNEL

The selected consultant must possess the following qualifications:

• Demonstrable knowledge and experience working in the areas of family planning/reproductive health (FP/RH) especially at local and national levels in Kenya
• Possess knowledge and experience in budget analysis and tracking for evidence-based advocacy
• Knowledge designing research methodologies and tools for budget based data collection and analyses
• Similar work in the last 3 years (provide sample copy of recent reports). Familiarity with DSW’s work is an added advantage.
• A demonstrated high level of professionalism and an ability to work independently and in high-pressure situations under tight deadlines
• High proficiency in written and spoken English is required. Knowledge of some of the local languages is an added advantage

Compensation

The consultancy fee will be paid in instalments as agreed in contract and is based on deliverables and commensurate with contractual requirements and deadlines.

Application Guidelines

Interested firms or individuals are requested to submit a bid dossier.

The dossier as well as any inquiries shall be submitted through email by 13th August 2021 to info@dswkenya.org with the title “FY 2021/22 Budget Analysis Consultant” in the subject line.

If you do not hear from us two weeks after the deadline, consider your submission unsuccessful.

The bid dossier should contain the following:

Technical Proposal

• Understanding and interpretation of the ToRs
• Methodology to be used in undertaking the assignment
• Time and activity schedule

Financial

• Consultant’s daily rate in USD
• Other costs, e.g. training material, travel and printing

Organizational and Personnel Capacity Statement

• Relevant experience related to the assignment (including financial scope)
• Contacts of organizations previously worked for
• Curriculum Vitae of proposed team members
• Sample copy of a recent study or research report conducted

Note: Only shortlisted consultants will be contacted. Consider your application unsuccessful if you have not heard from us 8 weeks after the deadline of this application.

WHISTLEBLOWER NOTICE: DSW requires all employees to conduct themselves legally and ethically in the performance of their duties and responsibilities in accordance with the DSW Code of Conduct. Please write to us at complaints@dsw.org if you have any questions or concerns about the conduct of any DSW employee. For more information regarding our Code of Conduct visit https://www.dsw.org/en/dsws-code-of-conduct/