SLED Opportunity · NORTH CAROLINA · IPAS
AI Summary
Ipas Nepal seeks a consulting firm to conduct a baseline survey assessing sexual and reproductive health, maternal and child health, and health system resilience in Karnali Province. The mixed-methods study will establish baseline indicators, assess service readiness, and inform project monitoring and improvement efforts. Proposals due March 22, 2026.
Baseline Survey of Resilient Health SystemINTRODUCTION Ipas works globally with a vision that every woman and girl has the right and ability to determine her own sexuality and reproductive health. Our programs use a multifaceted approach that addresses reproductive health services, access to services, and the fulfillment of reproductive rights. As part of the broader reproductive justice movement, Ipas is working to ensure that abortion and contraceptive care are recognized as essential health services and that all people can access them. We seek to expand the availability, quality, and sustainability of abortion and related reproductive health services, as well as improve the enabling environment for these services. Ipas Nepal’s program interventions prioritize intersectional partnerships that integrate broader gender equality and social justice agendas, including gender-based violence prevention and response, and women-led climate justice initiatives. The Health System Resiliency for Improved SRHR in selected municipalities of Karnali, Nepal project aims to improve the sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and Maternal and Child Health and Nutrition (MCHN) of women, adolescents, and other marginalized groups in the underserved areas of Surkhet, Salyan, Jajarkot, Rukum West, and Dailekh of Karnali Province, Nepal. The project will address poor health outcomes among women, adolescents, and children by strengthening the continuum of SRHR services and improving MCHN. The project also addresses underlying determinants of SRHR, such as gender equality, sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), women’s agency, and access to rights-based comprehensive sexuality education (CSE). The three intermediate outcomes of the project are: • Increased availability and use of gender responsive, high-quality, comprehensive, and integrated sexual and reproductive health services that are accessible, acceptable, and sensitive to the needs of adolescents, women, and children. • Increased adoption among community members of practices that advance gender-equality and the health, rights, and autonomy of women, adolescents, and children. • Strengthened endorsement, enactment, and implementation of policies and guidelines by decision makers that promote resilient health systems and uphold the health rights of women and adolescents, and children.GOAL AND OBJECTIVES OF THE BASELINE ASSESSMENT Goal The goal of the baseline is to establish baseline values for project indicators related to SRHR and MCHN, health system strengthening, governance, and community empowerment. Specific Objectives • To determine baseline levels of maternal deaths and skilled birth attendance. • To assess baseline coverage of Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) practices (including breastfeeding and complementary feeding) and growth monitoring. • To assess baseline utilization of maternal, child health, and nutrition services (including lactation consultation) and SRHR services. • To assess health facility readiness, including compliance with national service packages, climate resilience, waste management, and commodity stock status • Compile and analyze facility- and community-level data on key project indicators to establish a baseline for project design, monitoring, learning, and measuring progress. Need Assessment Focused • To understand the capacity of service providers and their training status • To assess community knowledge, attitudes, and decision-making agency related to SRHR and IYCF, including breastfeeding and complementary feeding. • To assess CSE implementation status in schools. • To identify the needs and barriers faced by women, adolescents and marginalized ethnic minority groups to access SRHR and MCHN information and services • To identify implementing health facilities • To identify implementing schools • Map relevant policies, governance structures, and implementation mechanisms affecting SRHR and MCHN services to understand their influence on service delivery and utilization.SCOPE OF THE BASELINE ASSESSMENT The baseline assessment team will: • Hold inception meetings with project teams to confirm the scope, objectives, and expectations of the assessment in line with the ToR. • Review relevant project documents, including the Project Implementation Plan, Logic Model, and Baseline Assessment guiding steps, to inform the assessment design. • Develop and submit a research proposal outlining the methodology, objectives, work plan, sample size, data collection methods, budget, and reporting structure, and revise the proposal as required. • Develop and finalize data collection tools in collaboration with Ipas team • Support the preparation and submission of ethical review applications, as required. • Lead data collection, data management, and analysis in accordance with the approved methodology. • Present and validate preliminary findings through stakeholder consultation • Produce a final assessment report, including actionable recommendations for project teams, and accompanying presentation slides.METHODOLOGY The baseline assessment will adopt a mixed-methods approach, combining primary data collection and secondary data review (including HMIS and other relevant sources). The methodology will be developed collaboratively with the project team and other stakeholders to ensure relevance and feasibility. Specific details regarding methods, data sources, sample selection, data collection tools, and analytical approaches will be defined in consultation with the project team. The methodology will draw on the teams’ experience, existing tools and documentation, culturally appropriate approaches, drawing on: • Project documents, including PMF (Performance Measurement Framework) • Ethics Guidance Note • Global situation analysis report • Situation analysis report & summary document to inform the baseline assessmentSURVEY(S) Sample Size: ~400 or lowest sample based on scientific calculation Sampling Method: Multi-stage sampling Study Area: 15 Municipalities of 5 Districts of Karnali • Dailekh (Narayan Municipality, Naumule RM, Dungeshwor Rural Municipality) • Salyan (Sarada Municipality, Chhatresori Rural Municipality, Triveni Rural Municipality)• Jajarkot (Bheri Municipality, Kuse RM, Shiwalaya Rural Municipality) • Rukum West (Sanibheri Rural Municipality, Chaurjahari Municipality, Musikot Municipality)• Surkhet District (Birendranagar Municipality, Simta Rural Municipality, Gurbhakot Municipality) Data Collection: InterviewQUALITATIVE DATA Data Collection Technique(S): Ipas Qualitative Tool (SNCIDRA) Sampling: 15 Municipalities Data Collection: ParticipatoryHEALTH FACILITY ASSESSMENT Sampling: Survey Sample Size: About 150 Sample Size: Basic Health Service Centres, Health Posts, Primary Health Care Centre, Hospitals Data Collection: Interviews and Observations HMIS DATA Data Collection: Record reviewOTHER DATA SOURCES Details to be added as neededDELIVERABLES The consulting firm shall provide: 1. Inception Report o Final methodology o Sampling strategy with power calculation o Data collection tools o Fieldwork plan o Risk mitigation strategy o Detailed GNATT chart 2. Clean dataset (SPSS/Stata/Excel format) 3. Data codebook and syntax files 4. Fieldwork summary report 5. Draft baseline report 6. Stakeholder consultation presentation 7. Final presentation 8. Final report incorporating feedback All data and materials remain the property of Ipas Nepal.WORKPLAN AND TIMELINEActivity Number of days Timeline Tools update and finalizationTraining of enumeratorsData collectionData cleaning & analysisStakeholders’ consultationReport writingTEAM COMPOSITION AND REQUIRED COMPETENCIES The baseline assessment team should comprise individuals with complementary skills and experience relevant to the objectives of the assessment. Team members are expected to have expertise in research design, quantitative and qualitative data collection, analysis, and reporting, as well as knowledge of the local context and strong stakeholder engagement skills. The team should include a balance of technical experts, field researchers, and administrative support to ensure the assessment is conducted efficiently, ethically, and to high-quality standards.MANAGEMENT AND COORDINATION The baseline assessment will be contracted and administered by Ipas Nepal. Ipas Nepal will serve as the Contracting Authority and will be responsible for contract management, financial oversight, and approval of deliverables. Ipas Nepal will review and approve key deliverables including the inception report, data collection tools, draft report, and final report. The Consultant Team Leader will serve as the primary focal point and will be accountable for the timely and quality delivery of all contractual outputs.PROPOSAL SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS 1. Cover Letter 2. Links of work samples demonstrate most relevant experiences. 3. Technical Proposal highlighting the overall implementation approach, profiles of team members (with CVs), and timelines. a) Understanding of assignment b) Detailed methodology c) Sampling strategy & power calculation d) Workplan & timeline e) Team composition & CVs f) Past relevant experience g) Risk mitigation plan h) Ethical compliance plan 4. Financial Proposal with detailed breakdown of estimated costs. a) Itemized budget b) Professional fees separated from operational costs (*NHRC approval fee will be paid by Ipas Nepal separate from this agreement) c) Taxes clearly indicated 5. Copy of latest tax clearance certificate. 6. Copy of firm/organization registration certificate. 7. Copy of VAT/PAN registration.EVALUATION CRITERIA Technical (80%) + Financial (20%) Criteria Weight Technical approach & methodology 30% Team experience & qualifications 20% Past SRHR and nutrition-based research experience 20% Risk & safeguarding plan 5% Workplan feasibility 5% Financial proposal 20% Note: The Financial and Technical Proposal should be submitted as a separate file.
SLED stands for State, Local, and Education. These are solicitations issued by state governments, counties, cities, school districts, utilities, and higher education institutions — as opposed to federal agencies.
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