Request for applications to Conduct a Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) study to measure the effectiveness of USAID-Ingobyi Activity SBC strategies

Scope of Work
This is a call for proposals from qualified research firms to support USAID Ingobyi Activity to conduct a knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) study to measure the effectiveness of its SBC interventions in 20 districts in Rwanda.

Background
IntraHealth International Rwanda requests applications from competent research and evaluation companies/firms to conduct a knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) survey in selected districts and households supported by the USAID Ingobyi Activity.
The Ingobyi Activity is a five-year cooperative agreement to improve reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH) and malaria services sustainably to reduce neonatal, child, and maternal mortality in Rwanda. The Ingobyi Activity builds upon Rwanda’s tremendous gains in the health sector and previous USAID investments in the health sector to provide a healthier, more productive future for all Rwandans. Ingobyi improves the availability, quality, and utilization of RMNCAH and malaria services with resilience and sustainability. The Activity partners with the Government of Rwanda (GOR) to build on the country’s considerable achievements, guided by national health strategies, goals, objectives, and data. Through women, adolescents, and children under five years of age are the direct beneficiaries of Ingobyi Activity, improvements in these services also indirectly benefit the millions of Rwandans who utilize public health services.

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To increase the utilization of RMNCAH and malaria prevention and treatment services, Ingobyi Activity uses social and behavior change strategies aimed at improving healthcare-seeking behaviors in communities. The project leverages existing SBC channels to increase demand for high-quality services among critical groups focused on community and facility levels while recognizing the diversified needs of targeted populations.
The promotion of key RMNCAH and malaria prevention and treatment messages is conducted during outreach events to provide integrated health services to hard-to-reach communities, during intake z’abaturage, Itorero, campaigns, immunization sites, and through radio broadcasts that include soap operas, talk shows, magazines, and sketches.

The objective of the study
The study’s main objective is to assess the current knowledge, attitudes, and practices and the reach and effect of RMNCAH and malaria messages among the project’s target population. The study will estimate population exposure to SBC messaging, short-term SBC outcomes, perceptions, barriers, and influencers of behavior. Findings from this survey will help inform future directions of the Ingobyi SBC efforts.

The specific objectives of the study are to:
• Assess community members' knowledge, attitude, and practice (adult and adolescent) concerning RMNCAH and malaria prevention and treatment services.
• Assess health care providers' attitudes, practices, and beliefs regarding the provision of RMNCAH and malaria prevention and treatment services at the facility and community level.
• Identify knowledge gaps, cultural beliefs, social norms or behavioral patterns, and community practices that create barriers to RMNCAH and malaria prevention and treatment practices.
• Measure the reach of the specified Ingobyi RMNCAH and malaria messages.
• Measure relevance and acceptability of the RMNCAH and malaria messages.
• Measure the impact of Ingobyi Activity’s SBC messages on utilization of RMNCH and malaria services, including changes in health-seeking behavior among target populations.

Specific tasks
The consultant(s) will carry out the following tasks:
1. Conduct an in-depth desk review, including, but not limited to, internal documents, such as the project’s SBC strategy, operational guidelines, project implementation plans, Performance Monitoring Plan (PMP), and technical strategy documents.
2. Conduct meetings with crucial implementing partners, Ingobyi technical staff, and other stakeholders to inform the methodology and development of data collection tools.
3. Conduct a literature review of SBC studies on RMNCAH and malaria prevention and treatment conducted in Rwanda to enrich/frame the study.
4. Develop a detailed inception report highlighting the research methodology (study population and sample, data collection tools and procedure, data analysis plan, and timeframe) to be reviewed and approved by USAID Ingobyi Activity.
5. Develop and refine data collection tools.
6. Pre-test the data collection tools.
7. Collect data while observing applicable research standards and rigorous data quality through quantitative and qualitative methods.
8. Conduct data cleaning, entry, and analysis.
9. Provide frequency and cross tabulation tables for all key indicators, with applicable comparisons with other studies.
10. Develop a draft report for review by Ingobyi Activity.
11. Convene meetings to present and validate findings with technical program leads and senior management.
12. Develop a concise final report based on feedback from the program teams.
13. Provide the study data set to USAID Ingobyi Activity for future program needs.

Methodology
Throughout this assignment, the consultant(s) will work closely with and receive guidance from USAID Ingobyi Activity’s Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) team, the SBC team, and the program’s Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP).
The study will apply mixed methods, focusing on quantitative approaches. Different questionnaires will be designed and adapted based on RMNCAH, malaria topics, and targeted audiences. Qualitative methods, namely, FGDs and key informant interviews, will also be applied.
A representative sample of beneficiaries will be drawn from 20 Ingobyi-supported districts and shall represent different categories of targeted audiences to allow for relevant demographic and socio-economic disaggregation. The consultant(s) should present a short description of the proposed methodology in the technical proposal.

Timeframe
The consultancy is expected to be implemented within twelve (12) weeks, starting when the contract is signed.
Selection criteria
Applications will be assessed on financial reasonableness and technical considerations. Maximum scores for technical and financial applications will be 70% and 30%, respectively.
Technical evaluation criteria/ 70 marks
The team leader must have a post-graduate degree (Ph.D. preferred) in public health, international development, sociology, or similar fields with further research and data analysis training.
(20 pts) The team lead must have relevant professional experience designing and implementing quantitative and qualitative studies, including KAP, baseline, and completion studies (20pts) The team lead and at least one other member must have published at least three verifiable articles in the areas of RMNCAH/Malaria in reputable peer-reviewed journals with at least two as the primary authors. (10 pts) One team member must have proven experience in implementing or measuring the effectiveness of SBC approaches. (10 pts) Clear and realistic Timeline (10
pts)

Submission Procedure
Interested applicants must submit a technical and financial proposal (in English) electronically by May 30th, 2022, to Ingobyiprocurement@intrahealth.org. The email should be titled ‘Ingobyi SBC Effectiveness Study.’
The technical proposal should explain how the applicant intends to carry out the work and should include the following:
• Updated CV(s) of the proposed study team, highlighting relevant qualifications and experience.
• The certificate of protection of research participants was issued no more than one year ago.
• Description of applicant’s experience with studies of a similar nature and details of 3 former clients who can be contacted for reference (name, position, contact details).
• The detailed methodology that the consultant(s) suggest would be appropriate from their understanding of the TOR.
• Detailed study schedule.
The financial proposal should detail the proposed budget for the study in local currency. The applicant will cover all logistical costs, including transportation, data collection, and printing costs, and should be detailed and reasonably priced as part of the financial proposal.
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