NP-Other-0177 - Consultant for chatbot content development on Safe Abortion

Ipas works globally with a vision that every woman and girl has the right and ability to determine her own sexuality and reproductive health. Ipas Nepal has been providing technical support to initiate and expand evidence informed Safe Abortion and contraception services across the country since the legalization of abortion in 2002. Beside this, Ipas Nepal has been rigorously working for on responding Gender-Based Violence, linkage of climate change, gender, and SRHR, Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, and Humanitarian context and SRHR. Ipas Nepal works intensively with the MoHP, Ministry of Forest and Environment, Ministry of Women Children and Senior Citizens, the Department of Health Services (DoHS) and different divisions, centers, and organizations at the Federal level while working closely with the province government and Local Government.Ipas Nepal has been implementing Improving the Journey of People Using Medication Abortion in South Asia in Nepal. The project focuses on refining successful interventions, potentially bringing them to different geographies or to a larger scale, while simultaneously developing and testing new ideas and approaches to improve the journey of women and girls in south-asia using medication abortion. One of the key problem of individuals navigating their abortion journey have limited access to medically accurate, truth worthy and personalized information. This gap leaves them feeling anxious, fearful, and isolated during one of the most vulnerable moments in their lives. Thus, Ipas Nepal is currently designing an innovation on Digital Accompaniment model- where users gain access to personalized, medically accurate information/support in their local language at anytime during their abortion journey through a Messenger-based chatbot, with assurance of privacy and confidentiality.Objective of the assignment The consultant will support Ipas Nepal in developing content on safe abortion for First Trimester and At or after 13 weeks abortion including types of abortion procedures, medicine information for abortion and pain management, certified health facilities for abortion referral, Helpline services (Government and Nongovernment) and myth & facts regarding abortion. The content must be framed in three specific journey of abortion which includes but not limited to: 1) Before Abortion (Decision-making & options)2) During Abortion: Personalized information and experience-based guidance, type of abortion taken, understanding the problems/ potential complications and considering the expectant management and place to seek the management including pain management and symptoms that need clinic referral, and referral to trusted clinics for post-abortion care & contraception.3) After Abortion: example: symptom check for red-flag, mental health support, physical recovery, emotional support, and any follow-up medical checks, Information on post abortion contraception and fertility return,Detail activities of the assignment Literature review • Literature review on abortion services including Post Abortion Care (PAC) and PAFP, recent global, regional and national evidences • Review of existing relevant national policies, guidelines, toolkits, frameworks on safe abortion and PAC, and Information and Technology (IT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) • Compile the list of important literatures and reading materials for the users based on the content.Revision and development of content • Review of existing chatbot content to include information on privacy and data disclosure statement, consent prompts • Revise and update the content in knowledge bank on:  Medical abortion pills and their use  Abortion safety and effectiveness  Side effects and expected symptoms for medical abortion  Warning signsand emergency care  Post abortion care  Public and private service options and choices based on the SMRH guideline  Cost and availability of services  Privacy and confidentiality • Develop abortion journeys and pathways to be integrated in the chatbot • Define and develop referral pathways and follow-up options for abortion seekers including helplines • Develop a comprehensive repository of 100–150 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) in English and Nepali based on the revised content from dignity and respectful safe abortion care lens for the user • Review of the existing content/Knowledge bank for empathetic, non-judgmental and supportive tone and languageCoordination and collaboration • Conduct site mapping (specific location of district/palika level site, name of site, service provided and of certified health facilities for abortion referral • Periodic review meeting with Ipas Nepal, Visible Impact and Naamii • Conduct coordination meeting with FWD and NHEICC for approval of content • Further revision and finalization of the content based on the recommendations from Ipas Nepal and field testing of chatbotTranslation, documentation and report • Translate the English content in the professional Nepali typed in unicode • Develop inception report with the method, timeline and deliverables • Final report with the revised content including the site mappingTimeline The consultant should accomplish the tasks within 30 days of LoE, and the tasks should be completed by the end of September 2026.Deliverables • Inception report with detail methodologies, timeline, outcome and deliverables • Final content report with revised content, FAQs and abortion site mappingExperience An individual consultant with minimum of 5 years of experience working on safe abortion services. Experience in developing digital content and ground experience with abortion service seekers/users is desirable.

Events & Timeline

Attachments

• Scope_of_Work_consultant.docx