DSW Development of a Baseline Study for the ‘Young Adolescents Project in Kenya’ (2013 – 2015) Terms of Reference

Terms of Reference 
 

Development of a Baseline Study for the ‘Young Adolescents Project in Kenya’ (2013 – 2015)
 

Full project title: “Improving the Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights of Young Adolescents in Kenya”

DSW Background
 

DSW (Deutsche Stiftung Weltbevoelkerung) is an international development and advocacy organization that empowers young people and communities in low- and middle-income countries by addressing the issues of population dynamics and by improving health as a way to achieve sustainable development. 

With a headquarters in Hannover, Germany, DSW maintains four country offices in Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. 

DSW has been implementing adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) programmes in East Africa for over ten years in both rural and urban settings.
 

In this region, it is a common belief that boys and girls under the age of 15 are “too young” to be in need of SRH information; hence they are denied access to much-needed information and knowledge related to their health as well as respective life skills. 

Therefore, many young adolescents aged 10 to 14 years are at great risk for new HIV infections, risky sexual behaviour, unplanned pregnancies, birth-related complications and sexual abuse.
 

Some of the factors contributing to these include low SRHR skills, unsupportive community environment, and lack of consolidated or institutionalized approaches to deal with challenges affecting young people.

Background to the Young Adolescents Project in Kenya

In order to address young adolescents’ SRHR needs and situation, DSW, in close cooperation with Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals, developed in 2009 a four years pilot project called the Young Adolescents Project in Uganda (YAP Uganda) which was successfully implemented and ended in 2012. 

As young adolescents in Kenya face similar challenges as their counterparts in Uganda, DSW, again in close cooperation with Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals, developed a Young Adolescents Project for the Kenyan context, based upon the same project approach, methodology, strategies and target groups as the Ugandan pilot project. 

Under its full title “Improving the Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights of Young Adolescents in Kenya” (Working title: YAP Kenya), DSW has started in summer 2013 a three years scaling up project in Kenya in order to contribute broadly to the improvement of health and well-being among young adolescents aged 10-14 years in Kenya.

YAP Kenya will replicate identified good practices, such as all-inclusive dialogue and involvement of various stakeholders in design and implementation of the project; addressing cultural barriers to parent-child communication on issues of sexuality; supplementing peer education by building teacher capacity; ensuring steady and correct flow of SRHR and HIV & AIDS information; and also being flexible and adaptive to the needs of the target groups and the cultural, behavioural and environmental contexts.

Project Objectives and results 
 

Specifically, the project will improve sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) among young adolescents in nine primary schools in Kilifi County, Coast Region, Kenya.
 

The following three key results shall be achieved throughout the project period:

1. Increasing SRHR knowledge, skills and access to services among young adolescents in nine primary schools in Kilifi County
2. Creating a supportive school and community environment for young adolescents' sexual and reproductive health and rights
3. Institutionalizing, documenting, and widely sharing project approaches and methodologies.

Geographic area (scope) 
 

The project will be implemented in a total of nine primary schools in both Kilifi and Kaloleni districts of Kilifi County.

In Kilifi district, the selected primary schools are Msumarini, Bodoi,Vipingo, Mtomondoni, Mtwapa and Mtepeni while in Kaloleni district, the project will be carried out in three schools (Benyoka, Lungwe and Kailo Primary Schools).

Target groups
 

Primary target groups: Young adolescents aged 10 to 14 years in project primary schools; 
 

Secondary target groups: parents, teachers, health workers as well as community leaders, religious and other leaders in Kilifi and Kaloleni sub-counties-Kilifi County

Objectives of the baseline study:
 

1. To collect data on the knowledge level, attitudes and practice of young adolescents in the nine project schools (10-14 years) related to sexual and reproductive health and rights and respected services.
 

2. To assess attitudes and perceptions of community leaders, teachers and parents on information access, sex education in schools, teacher-pupils-communication, parent-child-communication, as well as on sexual and reproductive health services for young adolescents in the targeted communities.
 

3. To establish the type and quality of youth friendly services provided by healthcare service providers to young adolescents in targeted communities 
 

The baseline survey needs to include (among others) the same indicators and methodology (Lot Quality Assurance Sampling) that have been used in the YAP Uganda baseline survey in order to ensure comparability of the YAP Uganda and YAP Kenya project outputs and outcomes. 

Deliverables

• Study Design, methodology and data collection tools (including questionnaires for different target groups)
• Desk review of related documents available at national and district/county offices before data collections.
• Data collection and analysis
• Draft report for comments
• Final report

Preliminary Timeframe:

Activity Description: Meeting with Project Coordinator to discuss proposal and data collection tools

Period: September - week 1

Activity Description: Revise proposal, finalize data collection tools and organize data collection teams

Period: September - week 2

Activity Description: Data collection

Period: September - week 3 and 4

Activity Description: Data evaluation

Period: September - week 4

Activity Description: Report writing

Period: October - week 1

   

Activity Description: Submission of Baseline study report

Period: October – week 2

Requirements

• A recognized university degree in Population studies/Demography, Bio-statistics, public health, Statistics or related social science (at a minimum of Masters Level).
• Sound knowledge of major reproductive health issues, especially issues to do with adolescents and youth.
• At least 8 years of consultancy experience in the area of reproductive health.
• An understanding of and experience in the formulation, monitoring and evaluation of projects using Lot Quality Assurance Sampling (LQAS) techniques in the reproductive health sector.
• Similar work in the last 3 years (to provide sample copy of a recent report).
• A demonstrated high level of professionalism and an ability to work independently and in high-pressure situations under tight deadlines.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills (especially needed for working with young adolescents)
• High proficiency in written and spoken English and Swahili is required.

 Application guidelines
 

The bid should, among other things, contain the following: 
 

Technical Understanding and interpretation of the TOR

• Methodology to be used in undertaking the assignment
• Time and activity schedule

Financial

• Consultant’s daily rate in Kenyan shillings
• Other costs e.g. accommodation, travel and printing

Organisational and personnel capacity statement

• Relevant experience related to the assignment and amount
• Contacts of organisations previously worked for
• Curriculum Vitae of key personnel

Interested firms or individuals are requested to submit their bid and any inquiries on or before September 1st 2013 by 1200hrs on to info@dswkenya.org.