Midterm, Focus Group Discussions Consultancy at John Snow Inc (JSI)

Project Objective: Conduct 4 to 6 focus group discussions

Persons: FGD Expert, FGD Note-taker

Timeframe: July / August 2018

DESCRIPTION

JSI inSupply has received a grant from the Saving Lives at Birth Program. This program is a joint initiative by USAID, the Government of Norway, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Grand Challenges Canada, DFID, and KOICA. They seek groundbreaking prevention and treatment approaches for poor, hard-to-reach communities. They seek innovative ideas that leapfrog conventional approaches in technology, service delivery and “demand side” innovation

This project, Replicated cStock: Making Lifesaving Health Commodities Available at the Community Level, is working with the Kenyan MOH to adapt cStock, a tool developed and scaled in Malawi, to the Kenyan context. cStock has three key components: 1) a simple mHealth tool for reporting and resupply, 2) user friendly dashboards for monitoring supply chain performance and 3) IMPACT teams that review data, identify challenges and work together to improve the supply chain and reduce stock outs. The project is currently testing cStock in two sub-counties of Siaya County to prove its effectiveness and ensure it smoothly integrates into the national system. The project conducted a baseline assessment in 2018.

The project completed training all users on the system between February and April. JSI is now seeking an evaluation specialist to conduct focus group discussions with the cStock users, namely CHVs, CHAs, and health facility staff to get feedback on the system and guide future refinements. JSI requires an external consultant and note-taker to conduct these focus groups.

OBJECTIVE

Conduct focus group discussions and key informant interviews in Bondo and Ujunga sub counties in Siaya County to:

Understand the perspective of the CHV, CHA and health facility staff on the feasibility, acceptability and effectiveness of the cStock intervention.

RESPONSIBILITIES

FGD Team will work closely with JSI’s advisor based in Siaya county to organize and conduct the FGDs.

Consultant responsibilities will include:

Specific Activities / Tasks

• Prepare a project plan for the implementation of the focus group discussions – this will include an outline of activities with timelines.
• Consult with the inSupply team to complete a focus group questionnaire to guide the focus group discussions, using the analytical framework attached
• Work with inSupply team to finalize key informant questionnaire
• Work with inSupply staff based in Siaya to prepare the participant list for FGDs and key informant interviews and necessary letters of approval
• Organize and conduct 2 or 3 focus group discussions in each sub-county – CHV, CHAs & HF in Charges
• Conduct key informant interviews at the sub-county level with Community Health Focal Person
• Obtain necessary consent from participants in focus groups
• Record discussions both through audio and note taking.
• Analyze results and document findings as per analysis framework and plan

DELIVERABLES AND TIMELINE

• Project plan prepared and approved by JSI within one week of contract
• Final audio and written documentation of responses from all focus group discussions – August 10th
• Analysis of results presented in usable, digestible format highlighting the most important challenges and opportunities and other relevant feedback emerging from the FGDs - August 10th, 2018
• Final summary report of findings from all focus group discussions - August 17^th, 2018

QUALIFICATIONS OF CONSULTANTS

It is expected that a two-person team will conduct this activity:

• FGD Lead
  • Training and experience in conducting and analyzing focus group discussions
  • Experience working with community health program in Kenya
  • Fluent in Dholuo
  • Resident of Kenya
• Note taker
  • Experience in taking notes during focus group discussions
  • Experience working with community health program in Kenya
  • Fluent in Dholuo
  • Resident of Kenya