CALL FOR PROPOSALS TO IMPLEMENT SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR CHANGE (SBC) STRATEGIC INTERVENTIONS FOR MALARIA RESPONSE IN THE GENERAL POPULATION

BACKGROUND

Malaria remains a significant public health concern in Rwanda, with the entire population at risk. In response, Rwanda has implemented integrated malaria control interventions, including LLN distribution through mass campaigns and routine channels, IRS, behaviour change communication, and improved access to diagnostics and treatment. These combined interventions have led to a significant reduction in malaria infections. According to the malaria annual report, nearly all 30 districts of Rwanda registered a decline in malaria during the reporting period of July 2022-June 2023
By the end of Fiscal Year 2022-2023, malaria incidence in Rwanda had reduced from 76 per 1,000 person-years in FY 2021-2022 to 47 per 1,000 (a 39% reduction), while the Slide Positivity Rate (SPR) dropped from 22% in FY 2021-2022 to 14% in FY 2022-2023. Uncomplicated malaria cases dropped from 998,81 1 in FY 2021-2022 to 622,900 in FY 20222023 (a 38% reduction), with 58% of these cases currently managed at the community level. Severe malaria cases decreased from 1,831 in FY 2021-2022 to 1,316 in FY 2022-2023, representing a 28% decrease. During the same period, malaria-related deaths decreased from 71 to 51, representing a 28% reduction.Following the recent Malaria Program Review (MPR) conducted in 2023, a gap in malariarelated SBC interventions was identified, highlighting an urgent need to design and implement key community sensitization interventions for behavior change in malaria control. These include integrated messages-to sensitize communities to ensure the use of malaria preventive measures, early treatment-seeking behavior, and support for environmental management and community-led malaria response, including larval source management. Innovative approaches for effective communication were also recommended, including mass media campaigns, community dialogues, community outreaches for targeted groups, distribution of IEC materials, interpersonal communication, and house-to-house messaging through Community Health Workers.In this context, the Rwanda Country Coordinating Mechanism of the Global Fund (Rwanda CCM) received a new grant to support malaria control interventions, including Malaria Social and Behavior Change (SBC) activities. This grant aligns with the Extended National Malaria Strategic Plan 2020-2027, which outlines essential SBC interventions for malaria control. The goal is to ensure that at least 85% of the population at risk adopts accurate and consistent practices and behaviors related to malaria control interventions.CCM-Rwanda is therefore seeking to select Local CSOs/NGOs to support RBC/Malaria Program in designing and implementing Social, Behavior Change activities. These efforts aim to raise community awareness and foster engagement in malaria response across Rwanda.

SCOPE OF WORK
This call for proposals aims to select five (5) CSOs, one per province and the City of Kigali, to focus on SBC for targeted malaria activities for general populations and identified high risk groups in line with the Extended National Malaria Strategic Plan 2020-2027 and SBC Malaria Strategic Plan. The proposed SBC interventions covers the period from July 2024 to June 2027.While applicants can submit separate applications for each province (including the City of Kigali), the goal is to implement malaria control interventions for the general population.

 Selected organizations will be required to:

• Develop a detailed Annual Action Plan that outlines tailored Social Behavior Change(SBC) strategies for the general population in the intervention area;
• Implement technically sound, high-quality targeted SBC approaches for malaria prevention and control tailored to the context of the specific population at the subnational level (District or sector, villages..etc.);
• Coordinate project implementation activities regularly;
• Implement M&E activities to ensure expected results are accomplished timely and efficiently;
• Collaborate closely with the Rwanda Biomedical Center/Malaria & Other Parasitic Diseases Division, local leaders, and other organizations working in the Province during the implementation of the program;
• Provide regular and timely reports (narrative and financial) to the RBC/SPIU covering the activities of the approved action plan with copies to RBC/RHCC, Malaria Division,and CCM RWANDA;
• Follow all legal frameworks for Public Funds Management and procedures related to the management of Government funds and resources.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Organizations that apply must:

• Provide a legal personality certificate as provided by Rwanda Governance Board
• Provide Proof of at least 3 years' experience in health sector including malaria programs
• Provide Detailed CVs of existing proposed key staff to implement the project:
• National Level: Program Manager, SBC Officer, and Accountant.
• Provincial Level: Provincial Coordinator o District Level: Malaria Zone Coordinator (s)
• Submit a letter of collaboration from District Authorities within the Province (at least two districts per Province)

TECHNICAL PROPOSALS

Technical Proposals should not exceed 15 pages and must include the following:

• Cover Page (one page): Name of organization submitting proposal; Name and title of contact person; Telephone numbers; Postal and physical address; and e-mail address;
• Technical Proposal (not to exceed six pages): The technical proposal should include the background, problem statement, current gaps in malaria response, justification or rationale, proposed innovative approaches and solutions, goals, and anticipated results for the implementation of SBC malaria prevention within the National Malaria Strategic Plan
• Management and Coordination Strategy (not to exceed two pages): describe how the overall program will be managed with clear responsibilities of key staff,
• describe how activities will be implemented and coordinated at the district level with local leaders, opinion leaders, health facilities, and other partners working in the district.

Note that it is not expected that new staff will be hired for this program;

• Project Monitoring and Evaluation (not to exceed two pages): Describe how to monitor and evaluate program progress and impact, describe how the project will ensure the use of technically sound SBC interventions to support and sustain behaviour change in malaria prevention and provide an adequate list of indicators that will be used to measure proposed results;
• Organizational Capacities (not to exceed two pages): Briefly describe the technical and managerial experience of the organization to carry out similar SBC activities and programs. Specifically describe previous activities (location, duration, results) in program implementation for disease prevention
• Experience in Resource Mobilization, Partnership Strengthening, and Project Management (not to exceed two pages) Indicate the amount of money the organization has managed during the last three to five years, including the following for each activity: i) source of funds (funding organization), ii) field of intervention, iii) beneficiaries, iv) partnership and collaborative institutions, v) key results, vi) challenges, and vii) lessons learned. This should be presented in a table format.
• Counterpart Financing (not to exceed one page): Indicate the contribution of your organization to this intervention (money or in-kind). Provide a summary table describing the contribution and quantify its total value compared to the total cost of the intervention;
• Proposed Personnel (annex): List the proposed personnel and qualifications of staff to work on this program. Include at least three CVs for relevant personnel;
• Proposed Costed Action Plan (annex): Propose a timeline of key activities to be implemented and a budget including all proposed program costs. Please note that, upon award, the CCM RWANDA will work directly with each selected organization to adjust or amend this budget

Note: Pages exceeding the page limits will not be considered nor evaluated

PROPOSAL SUBMISSION

The application documents prepared in English must be sent in sealed envelopes to the CCM RWANDA Secretariat, 3 ^rd floor of the Ministry of Health Building, not later than the 30^th August, 2024 at 05:OOPM with the subject: Proposal for GF GC7 MALARIA Implementation. Late submissions shall not be received.

EVALUATION APPROACH

The evaluation shall be done at two stages as follow:

Technical evaluation: the quality of technical proposal shall be assessed against set check list and proposal meeting the minimum score shall qualify for administrative evaluation.
Administrative evaluation: Only recognized CSOs by RGB shall undergo through the technical assessment and then technically qualified CSOs shall undergo an administrative assessment that shall include field visit to offices and verification of submitted documentations for due diligence where necessary.

In case of need for more information, please contact us on into cc ccnn.rw.

Done in Kigali, on 16^th August 2024