Terms of Reference for a consultancy to review and implement the Social and Behavior Change Communication (SBCC) strategy for the Visceral Leishmanias

1. CONSULTANCY SUMMARY

The consultancy will provide technical support to the Ministry of Health (MOH) – Uganda to review, develop, and implement the Visceral Leishmaniasis SBCC strategy & materials that will result in increased demand and uptake of, VL treatment and screening services in Endemic communities of Karamoja region.

2. INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND

Visceral Leishmaniasis in Uganda has received limited attention in the past, and only Amudat hospital has had the capacity to detect and manage cases since 1962. With about 40% of indigenous cases managed at the hospital. However, the current geographical spread of VL transmission in Uganda is not known. However, in the past 5 years, some VL cases seen at Amudat Hospital came from several other districts in Karamoja region (DNDi annual reports, MoH, 2017).

In collaboration with the NTD program of MOH (Uganda), ASCEND Lot 1 seeks to empower local communities and health care workers in Karamoja region to conduct routine rapid VL case detection, isolation to the nearest health facility for further diagnosis using clinical approaches and use of rapid tests, and if still suspected, for a referral to established referral facilities in Amudat or Moroto hospitals for confirmatory tests and treatment. The BCC messages should also motivate the people with VL clinical signs and symptoms to seek health care services at the nearest facilities.

In order to do this, the program will:

· Identify and review existing literature on VL in Karamoja since 1962 to date,

· Identifying and review the available materials on VL care-seeking, signs and symptoms and referral if any,

· Conduct desk review of MOH Uganda, NTD Strategy to identify Barriers/Misconceptions or bottlenecks and or motivators and enablers of communities towards VL screening and care-seeking in Karamoja region.

· Develop appropriate SBCC messages from the reviewed documents and the desk review,

· Pre-test the develop messages and develop final messages to be utilised to sensitise and mobilise communities to seek VL management services from nearest health facilities and to adopt to appropriate VL measures

3. SCOPE AND PURPOSE OF THE CONSULTANCY

Scope

The consultancy will provide technical support to the Ministry of Health (MOH) – Uganda to review, develop, and implement the Visceral Leishmaniasis SBCC strategy.

Specific objectives of the consultancy

Develop the SBCC strategy

· Review of policy documents, guidelines, assessment reports and other studies to gain a deeper understanding of the SBCC challenges to be addressed and of the social and behavioural drivers that facilitate or act as barriers to uptake of the desired behaviour (s)

· Understand social and cultural norms that may affect the changes.

· Identify communication resources and existing capacity.

· Develop a clear and concise SBCC Strategy for the target audience.

· Pre-test the VL SBCC materials and messages developed or different media/ target audience, particularly amongst marginalised groups.

· Document information from the situation analysis, communication objectives, audience segmentation, program approaches (strategic approaches – a mix of tools, channels, vehicles, and media which will convey and mutually reinforce messages.

· Develop an ad-hoc M&E Plan within the SBCC Strategy aligned with the MOH/ NTD Program’s M&E framework.

· Develop communication materials, including IEC materials as per literature and desk review analysis and project requirement.

The SBCC Strategy has the objective to:

· Motivate people to be more knowledgeable about identifying when they need care, where to go for such care, and being motivated/enabled to go for such care.

· Define and adopt the most appropriate model to communicate with the target population and address barriers to change for the region.

· Develop creative briefs to guide the Development of Radio jingles and or IEC/ BCC materials to promote VL screening and care-seeking in Karamoja region.

4. RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES

The identified consultant will:

· Develop a comprehensive SBCC strategy addressing the priority gender norms in this TORs and the scope of work above.

· Review all messages, tools and materials including infotainment scripts, visuals, radio scripts, training packages/modules, tool kits, etc.

· Develop a customised SBCC implementation user guide for gender norms and behavioural change influencing addressing the priority gender norms.

· Develop a detailed schedule and plans with required materials.

5. CONDITIONS

The consultant should send a technical and financial proposal detailing his/or her understanding of the TOR and methodology. The application must include a portfolio of relevant activities carried out in the last 3 years, a detailed work plan and budget, team composition and CVs of key personnel.

6. QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

ASCEND Uganda intends to contract a consultant with extensive experience in development of SBCC strategy and communication materials and graphics designing of materials

· A Master’s degree in social studies or social anthropology or gender studies or communication or media or development studies or related field with a minimum 5 years’ experience in implementing Social and Behaviour Change Communication (SBCC) interventions.

· Demonstrate knowledgeable practice of working with districts, nongovernmental and community-based organisations as well as government departments—knowledge and experience in implementing of NTDs interventions.

· Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.

· Skills in developing informative and training materials targeting communities with low-literacy audiences.

· Knowledge and experience working with community outreach and educational programs.

· Familiarity with Karamojong culture.

7. TIMELINEThis consultancy will be for an estimated period of 2 months from inception through development, pre-testing and dissemination.

8. DELIVERABLES

A comprehensive SBCC strategy including:

· Inception Report

· Draft SBCC strategy Report

· Final SBCC strategy report