Terms of Reference - Short Term Consultant

Transcription

1 Terms of Reference - Short Term Consultant Position Title: ARF Professional Discipline Category: ARF Job Level: ARF Daily Rate: Program: Location/s: Term: Reporting to: Adviser to conduct pre-feasibility study of contraceptive social marketing in the Pacific B 3 TBC DFAT health programming and performance section Consultant s home base with possible visit to Canberra Up to 22 days Assistant Director, Health Programming and Performance, DFAT Director, Specialist Health Service Background: The Specialist Health Service (SHS) provides strategic input on health to the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). The SHS allows DFAT to source high quality technical advice to support health policy, strategic planning and health programming across the aid management cycle. DFAT is committed to advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) globally, particularly in the Pacific. Some evidence suggests that contraceptive prevalence rates have been stagnant for perhaps a decade, while total fertility rates and adolescent fertility rates remain high compared to countries with a comparable level of development. Continuing DFAT s commitment to SRHR, the Health programming and performance branch of DFAT has a small grant to develop an innovative approach to improving SRHR in the Pacific, through social marketing for contraception. The social marketing of contraceptives has been identified as one of the High Impact Practices in family planning service provision and has been successful in contexts outside the Pacific in improving access and demand. Investing in social marketing provides the opportunity to expand the promotion and delivery channels for family planning, and thus offers the potential to reach more users. Social marketing in the Pacific has not been fully explored and is challenged by the absence of a number of preconditions that exist in other contexts, such as a capacity within the existing private sector, market size and, in some countries, resistance to making contraceptives more widely available. Page 1

2 To guide the design and implementation of a social marketing approach appropriate to the Pacific, DFAT would like to undertake preparatory research. Purpose and objectives The purpose of the pre-feasibility study is to assist DFAT decide how to proceed with a contraceptive social marketing initiative in the Pacific. The objective of this work is to provide answers to the following questions: Would a social marketing approach be useful in the Pacific to boost uptake of modern methods of contraception? If so: What are the key features of one to three models which, based on prior experience and evidence, would be likely to be effective in the Pacific context? o What specific programs / examples are these models drawn from? o Which contraceptive method or methods? o Which target groups or market segmentation strategy? o Which distribution channels would be used? What role, if any, is there for the private sector? o What features of demand creation / behaviour change communication could be used including main messages and mediums? What are the main supply and demand side opportunities, risks and barriers for each model? Who are the principal actors and stakeholders who need to be engaged and influenced for each model/ country? What are the strengths and weakness of each model for sustaining and scaling benefits? What strategies could maximize likelihood of sustaining and scaling? In order to help inform DFAT s decision on country targeting for the new social marketing program, the advisor will assess in which one or two countries this program has the greatest chance of success and the highest potential impact. Such an assessment will be based on (but not limited to) known unmet need; government policy with respect to family planning; total and adolescent fertility rate; the strength of service providers to meet additional need; population size; DFAT s current aid targeting in health in the Pacific. DFAT provides bilateral health assistance to Fiji, Kiribati, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, and Vanuatu, although consideration of targeting may extend to other countries in the region. DFAT will separately evaluate Post capacity to monitor and support a program of this nature. Duty Statement: The Adviser, working closely with DFAT and supported by SHS, will use an iterative process consisting of reviewing published literature, finding and incorporating grey literature (reports and evaluations) of relevant contraceptive social marketing projects, and conducting semi-structured interviews with key informants on contraceptive social marketing experiences and lessons in settings comparable to Pacific Island context and to gather relevant information on the situation in selected Pacific Island countries not available elsewhere. The Adviser will produce the following: (a) one document that synthesises findings, clearly indicating the sources of information, to answer the study objectives. Page 2

3 (b) The Adviser will also provide a record of conversation with each interviewee. Milestones will be constructed to coincide with fortnightly meetings with DFAT representatives. The meeting agenda will include a report and discussion of what has been done since the last meeting, emerging findings and next steps. Specific Duties: 1) Prepare a study plan 2) Participate in regular meetings and other forms of collaboration with DFAT. The meeting agenda will include a report and discussion of what has been done since the last meeting, emerging findings and next steps. 3) Conduct a brief literature review on current practice and trends in social marketing globally 4) Develop and populate a template on the relevant contextual factors which would affect the design and success of a contraceptive social marketing program in the selected six Pacific Island countries 5) Conduct key informant interviews (more details below) 6) Prepare a draft report and finalise based on feedback 7) Provide documentation of the content of interviews Key informant interviews The Adviser will provide the list of questions for the semi-structured interviews to DFAT for review in advance of the telecons, and will facilitate DFAT s participation in the telcons if/as requested. For planning purposes it is assumed that there will be interviews with approximately 20 persons. Stakeholder discussions may include but not necessarily be limited to: - Staff at DFAT posts - Representatives of National Family Health Associations in the Pacific - Marie Stopes International Australia and/or other MSI operations with greater experience in delivering social marketing programs - John Snow International Australia and/or other JSI operations with greater experience in delivering social marketing programs - International Planned Parenthood (specific office(s) to be identified) - Population Services International (specific office(s) to be identified) - UNFPA Suva Regional Office and potentially NY or Bangkok regional office - DKT International (specific office to be identified) - Other informants and stakeholders identified during the course of the study At the informant request, the interview may take place by , but this is expected to be the exception rather than the rule. Page 3

4 Performance Outcomes and Deliverables, with dates: Days allocated Deliverables 2 days Study plan including: list of main resources (e.g. UNFPA country Reproductive Health Assessments, HRF 2015 review of family planning in the Pacific, latest health survey reports), sources of information of program-specific examples Framework for describing the context in selected countries Preliminary list of key informants and question guide for semi-structured interviews Methods of analysing information 3 days Brief overview, drawing on literature and websites, of current practice and trends in contraceptive social marketing globally 2 days Initial population of the country specific table of features affecting the potential for contraceptive social marketing in the six selected Pacific Island countries 9 days Semi structured interviews with key informants, recording and analysis, following up on new documentation 3 days Draft report addressing the objectives, based on findings from the desk review and interviews 2 days Revisions based on feedback and additional questions raised by DFAT 1 day Preparing for and participating in meetings with DFAT 22 days TOTAL Timeframe Mid to late December Mid to late December Early January Late January Mid February Late February Reporting: Provide an activity report at end of assignment to SHS Conditions: Conditions of engagement may include completing and signing the following documents: The Deed of Confidentiality The Declaration of adviser status The Child Safe Code of Conduct As per the requirements an Adviser Performance Assessment will be undertaken at the completion of the assignment. Page 4

5 Key Selection Criteria Required Experience KSC 1. Experience in the social marketing of contraceptives in a development context. KSC 2. Expertise in reproductive health in the Pacific KSC 3. Broad experience and understanding of the cultural, technical and operational issues involved in promoting and delivering family planning services. KSC 4: Experience in conducting similar exercises incorporating literature reviews, semi-structured interviews and drawing conclusions and actionable recommendations. Required Skills and Qualifications Cultural/Language Requirements KSC 5. The Adviser should hold a relevant higher degree in public health, health systems management or related field KSC 6. Fluency in English and demonstrated ability to synthesis large amounts of technical information and convey the main points in clear and simple language. KSC 7. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including a proven ability to liaise and communicate effectively with colleagues from different cultures. Desirable Experience KSC 8. Experience working with the current DFAT aid strategy and health for development strategy, including investment modalities Page 5