Job: Investigator for Quantitative Assessment Consultancy

Location: Washington 
Description

The Inter-Agency Working Group on RH in Crises was created in 1995 and has since grown to become a network of over 1,200 individuals, representing some 450 organizations worldwide. In recent years, the IAWG has generated key tools and guidelines for adequate provision of RH to crisis-affected populations, including the 2010 Revision of the Inter-Agency Field Manual for RH in Crises.

In 2002, the IAWG endorsed a plan to evaluate the efforts made since 1995 to instituationalise reproductive health in programmes serving refugees and internally displaced people. A report was published in November 2004.

Since the publication of the 2004 Global Evaluation, there has not been a systematic study of the availability, quality and utilization of RH services available. Some components of SRH have been studied in different settings such as GBV services in DRC, EmOC in DRC (HeRAMS), but little is known about the availability, quality and utilization of services in crisis affected settings.

The IAWG decided to undertake a review of RH in crisis settings, supported by the Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration of the US State Department, MacArthur Foundation and the International Planned Parenthood Federation. The review will assess the current situation of RH services for crisis-affected populations through a number of methodologies, including an assessment of MISP implementation in a current crisis or crisis response settings, an in-depth study of the availability and quality of RH services in two or more crisis-affected settings and an assessment of institutional readiness and capacity to provide or support RH services among national governments and NGOs.

The purpose of the assessments is to document availability, quality and utilization of RH services in selected crisis affected settings to improve programming and subsequently increase availability, quality and utilization of RH services. The assessments will provide information from a range of conflict affected settings to identify successes, achievements and gaps in provision of sexual and reproductive health services for crisis affected populations. It will inform policies and strategies on how to address sexual and reproductive health needs and rights in emergency situations.

The tentative locations for the in-depth assessments are South-Sudan (Maban), Burkina-Faso, Yemen and Democratique Republique of Congo (Goma).

Objectives

• To assess the availability, quality and utilization of RH services to inform and guide policy and planning.
• To propose how to adapt programs according to barriers and perceptions, in terms of information, education and communication efforts, and service delivery.
• To highlight differences between policies and practice, evidence-based decisions versus beliefs/myths/perceptions-based decisions.
• To propose how to improve quality and utilization of services through training of health providers, task-sharing/task-shifting, supplies (including new-devises) and infrastructure as required.
• To systematically assess the availability and use of facility-based RH services

The study will be using both quantitative and qualitative techniques such as focus group discussions, key informant interviews and health facility assessments.

SCOPE OF WORK:

• The consultant will be the lead investigator for the quantitative assessment of RH service availability and use using facility assessments including provider interviews, room by room inventory and record review (one element of the in-depth assessments) in each country.
• Undertake the assessments:
• 10 June to 14 July: South-Sudan;
• 15 July to 11 August: Yemen;
• 19 August to 15 September: Burkina-Faso; and
• 16 September to 13 October: DRC
• Contribute to the development of beneficiary reports and individual country reports.
• Conduct analysis of the facility assessment data and contribute to a multi-country analysis.
• Contribute to the development of a journal article.

DUTIES OF CONSULTANCY:

• Prior to visits, contact NGOs on the ground to gather information on health facilities located in the study areas and determine their ability/willingness to participate
• Travel to South-Sudan and Yemen 10 June-11 August.
• Travel to Burkina-Faso and DRC, 19 August- 13 October.
• Enter data into data entry program and conduct data analysis of the quantitative assessment of RH service availability and use.
• Write sections of the reports and journal article and provide overall review of draft versions.

DELIVERABLES:

• Completed data entry program with raw data.
• Analysed data (in English) from quantitative assessment of RH availability (facility assessments) from all four studies.
• Country and beneficiary reports in English from each study site, with input from assessment team and global evaluation steering committee.
• Draft article of study for peer reviewed journal, with input from assessment team and global evaluation steering committee.

TIME FRAME OF CONSULTANCY:

The consultancy will take place over a period of 18 weeks beginning June 10, 2013 and ending December 10, 2013.

More Info and Application