DSW Feasibility Study Consultant at Deutsche Stiftung Weltbevoelkerung (DSW)

Background

A young adolescent (YA) is a person aged between 10 and 14 years who is in the process of developing from a child into an adult. The YAs are in a period of dramatic intellectual, physical, psychological and social transformation. This group represents a unique sub-group of adolescents undergoing rapid physical, cognitive and emotional changes related to puberty.

During this period, YAs develop a greater awareness of their social sphere, increase their ability to think logically and concretely, feel greater self-consciousness, and tend to depend less on parents and more on friends. It is also at this age that many YAs first engage in sexual activity. Sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) information and services are therefore crucial for young adolescents.

Many YAs lack knowledge about the physical changes happening in their bodies and need reassurance and support to deal with them. However, their parents/guardians and other adults are usually unprepared to deal with such changes. In most African societies, topics on sexuality are considered a taboo and parents lack the skills or time to communicate effectively about them with their YAs.

In schools, teachers who should provide SRHR education are constrained in terms of skills and time, and typically focus on those subjects that are examinable. Consequently, YAs often do not have adequate support from their social surroundings or appropriate information, access to youth-friendly health services, protection, and decision-making power or the life skills needed to handle SRHR issues

DSW intends to implement a sexual reproductive health and rights (SRHR) project for young adolescents aged 10-14 years in Kilifi and West pokot Counties, in Kenya with funding to apply from German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

The project objectives are to increase SRHR knowledge, skills and access to services among young adolescents and to create a supportive school and community environment for young adolescents SRHR.

This is a scale up of an initiative that started in 2009 in Uganda in collaboration with Bayer healthcare in districts of Masindi, Tororo, and Wakiso 10 selected schools. In 2013 the project concept was contextualised and implemented in Kilifi county, Kenya where it started with 9 schools and later up scaled to reach 29 primary schools between 2016-2018. The scale up will provide an opportunity to share the lessons learnt and best practices in the new county as well as expanding to other sub counties in Kilifi County.

As part of the proposal development process, BMZ requires a study on the feasibility of the proposed intervention design. The study will provide DSW with an independent assessment of the project prerequisites, problems, opportunities, priorities and risks for the project proposal development thereby enhancing project effectiveness, efficiency and sustainability from the start.

The consultant will provide detailed modification recommendations to the consortia. The detailed terms of reference are laid out in this document.

Study Objectives

The objective of the study is outlined as below;

• An assessment of the proposed intervention design, contextual appropriateness, proposed timeline and budgetary cost and provide a qualified opinion on its feasibility.
• An assessment of the relevance of the proposed initiative and its activities to address the problems identified in the target groups and target sectors;
• An assessment of the proposed logical framework including outcomes, outputs and respective indicators and assumptions, risks and risk mitigation strategies;
• A detailed analysis of the potential sustainability of the program results and impacts;
• An assessment of the synergies and complementarities of the program, including between programmatic areas (sectors) and program stakeholders;
• An assessment of the feasibility of the financing proposal in relation to the program activities;
• An assessment of policy (including legal), institutional and operational constraints to the program.
• An assessment of the program organisation and any phasing of activities considered necessary, including considerations around the institutional structure required for program implementation.
• An assessment of the current young adolescent programme with the view of identifying best practices and lessons learnt that can be up scaled.
• An assessment of the programme structures put in place at the community and school level in relation to the overall success of the intervention.
• Assessment of the proposed intervention design and its inclusion of gender sensitive approaches.
• Recommendations for any further actions (including program modifications)

Scope

The consultant is expected to have face to face interviews with the project stakeholders which include but not limited to ministry of education officials, school heads, school management boards, community leaders, youth mentors, health service providers, county officials, religious leaders and other partners working with young adolescents among others.

Geographical scope: The project will be implemented in Kilifi county and West Pokot Counties

Tasks and deliverables

The feasibility study will be guided by the “Guidance note on procedures for feasibility studies” by Bengo. Detailed research questions listed in the guidance document will be incorporated in the research design, particularly in relation to context and problem analyses, local partners, target groups and stakeholder’s analysis.

Further, the consultant will integrate research questions around relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, significance and sustainability in line with the guidelines.  On this basis, the consultant will provide detailed recommendations for modification of the program concept.

The consultant is expected to review the project design documents, have discussions with relevant DSW staff involved in the design, review relevant literature, have discussions with other stakeholders and partners.

The consultant will propose and develop the methodology to be used for review and this will be discussed and agreed on with DSW staff. In addition, they will be expected to brief the staff involved in the proposed design on their findings and present the report in line with the Bengo guidelines. DSW will arrange for the site visits and meetings will partners, including logistics.

Supporting documents

DSW will provide supporting documents related to the program design which will include;

• Program Logical framework and previous narrative reports from 2013-2018
• Young adolescents program baseline and Evaluation reports for Kilifi

Skills and Experience

The consultant is expected to have the following skills and experience

• Proven experience of conducting feasibility studies
• Theoretical and practical knowledge of qualitative and quantitative data collection methods
• Experience of developing logical frameworks and defining SMART indicators
• Knowledge of sexual and reproductive health and rights, youth empowerment, gender sensitive programming, WASH, and related sectors, notably in Kenya, desired
• Very good written and verbal communication skills in English

Work plan and submission

The assignment is expected to start by 13th August 2018, the first draft report findings to be shared and discussed with staff by 12th September 2018 and the final report submitted by 28th September 2018.

Your application should include the following:

• A detailed resume highlighting the work that the Consultant has undertaken, which is relevant to this assignment;
• Minimum of two (2) samples of reports developed by the Consultant addressing similar issues;
• A detailed work plan and timeframe which must be costed (in the local currency) at each stage;
• A brief outline of the methodology the Consultant will use to guide the process; explaining in detail the methodology and tools to be used in carrying out the assignment.