Consultancy - End of
Project Evaluation- “Positive Deviance
Approach” on Mother Care and Child Survival Project in Underserved Regions of Pakistan.

AGA KHAN FOUNDATION

(Pakistan)

The Aga Khan Foundation (AKF), an agency of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), is a private, non-denominational, international development agency established in 1967. It seeks sustainable solutions to long-term problems of poverty, hunger, illiteracy and ill-health with special emphasis on the needs of rural communities in mountainous and other resource poor regions, primarily in Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Its main areas of focus are education, health, rural development, environment and strengthening civil society.

The Aga Khan Foundation (Pakistan) [AKF(P)] is seeking high calibre professional for the following Consultancy to be based in Islamabad with field work in Gilgit Baltistan:

End of Project Evaluation- “Positive Deviance Approach” on Mother Care and Child Survival Project in Underserved Regions of Pakistan.

I.          Purpose of the Consultancy:

The Aga Khan Foundation Canada (AKFC), in partnership with the Aga Khan Foundation Mali (AKF Mali), the Aga Khan Foundation Mozambique (AKF Moz), the Aga Khan Foundation Pakistan (AKFP) and the Aga Khan Health Services Pakistan (AKHS,P) is implementing a three year project (2012-2015) on Mother Care and Child Survival Project (MCCS) in Underserved Regions of Mali, Mozambique and Pakistan Project an initiative funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD) Canada. One of the outputs of the project identified improved nutritional practices through Positive Deviance (PD) approaches which were incorporated in behaviour change activities. 

Research and evaluation is an important component to the mission of the PD Initiatives to ensure the quality and sustainability of PD informed projects. The Consultant will design and implement research in four districts of Gilgit-Baltistan to evaluate effectiveness of positive deviance approaches for improved nutritional practices.

II.        Background and Context:

The program seeks to strengthen health systems, engage communities in addressing poor maternal health and improve nutrition and infant/child feeding practices. The three components of the project are improved availability of quality MNCH services, increased utilization of MNCH services and improved nutrition practices of women and children in target districts. The project not only improved capacity of health workers and community committees to encourage good nutrition practices but also promoted positive deviance approach to enhance knowledge and improve nutrition practices in the catchment population of four districts.

The project worked with communities to identify locally-implemented good nutrition practices using a positive deviance approach–essentially identifying community members with above average nutritional status and understanding what practices they employ to attain this.  These local practices were included in the IEC materials of behaviour change strategies.  

III.       Research Questions:

1. What were processes and methodology of the PD approach to promote best nutritional practices?
2. What was the role of PD in solving complex problems that requires behavior or social change?
3.  What is the effectiveness of the PD process/methodology at promoting behavioral and social change?
4. What are the best nutritional practices of women and children identified through positive deviance approaches?
5. What is the nutritional status of children under-five in the intervention districts?
6. What are the limiting and enabling factors in promotion of PD approaches?
7. How PD approach can be sustained and continued in the communities?

This topic requires in-depth exploration.  AKF (P) is looking for a high caliber consultant to conduct this study in four districts of Gilgit-Baltistan. The consultant will develop research protocol, design and tools, collect quantitative and qualitative data, analyze it, write preliminary report, incorporate feedback, tailor the content  of the final report based on requirements of a reputable national/ international health journal and ensure that it is brought to a publishable manuscript form to be submitted to a peer reviewed journal. 

IV.       Specific Tasks:

1. Meet AKF team to discuss purpose, generate ideas and finalize research topics.
2. Review project documents and performance measurement framework.
3. Review and refine hypothesis and research questions.
4. Develop an evaluation research protocol and share the inception report.
5.  Design methodology and instruments for conducting the research.
6. Visit four districts to collect quantitative and qualitative data.
7. Organize and analyze quantitative and qualitative data sets.
8. Organize the information, write and present them in convincing and effective order and produce draft research report with clear recommendations.
9. Incorporate feedback, prepare the final draft tailored to the needs of any reputable national /international journal for the purpose of publishing.
10. Prepare a manuscript from final research report with references based on standard guidelines of any peer reviewed journal.

V.        Deliverables:

Remuneration will be linked to the satisfactory completion of the activities described above and the deliverable listed below:

1)      Inception report, research protocol, methodology and instruments. 

2)      Draft  research report  having the following sections: Background, global and local evidence on PD approach (literature review), hypothesis, research questions, methodology, results, discussion, conclusion and recommendation and references. 

3)      Final research  report with feedback incorporated.

4)      Manuscript of publishable quality.

VI.       Proposed Schedule and Level of Effort Required:

This assignment requires 30 work days in total, ending on 31^st July 2015. 

No	Activities	Location	# days	Participants
1	Inception report	Islamabad	2	Lead Consultant with AKFP Team
2	Project documents review	Islamabad	2	Lead Consultant
3	Research protocol and design	Islamabad	2	Lead Consultant with AKFP & AKHSP
4	Study  variables , instruments/questionnaires	Islamabad	3	Lead Consultant with  AKFC & AKFP team
5	Composition and training of data collection team	GB	2	Lead Consultant with AKFP team
6	Data collection	GB	8	Lead Consultant and data collection team
7	Data Analysis and draft report	Islamabad	4	Lead Consultant
8	Preparing  and submitting final report incorporating feedback	Islamabad	4	Lead Consultant
9	Submit manuscript of publishable quality	Islamabad	3	Lead consultant

VII.     Selection, Facilitation and Support:

The local consultant is expected to submit a short proposal (10 pages) including methodology (2-3 pages), resume, a tentative work plan and proposed budget. The proposal will be reviewed by AKDN and short-listed consultants will be asked to make presentations at AKFP premises. The successful consultant will be invited for negotiation of the contract.

After signing the contract, the local consultant will review the project documents and will submit a work plan for the entire duration of the assignment. The consultant will work closely with AKFP, AKFC, and AKHSP teams. Field level facilitation in terms of contacts, introductions and approvals will be provided by AKHSP. Work of the local consultant will be monitored by the international consultant of AKFP and AKHSP as needed. AKFP will provide their comments on the draft report, which will be finalized by the local consultant.

VIII.    Reporting:

The consultant will work under the direct supervision of AKF Pakistan. The consultant will not use any or all of the data for any other study unless AKF permission is sought prior to its use. 

IX.       Payment Plan:

The following payment plan is proposed for the assignment:

1. 30% of the contract value as advance on signing of the contract.

2. 40% of the contract value on submission of quantitative and qualitative data sets.

3. 20% of the contract value on submission of the final research report.

4. 10% of the contract value on submission of final manuscript.

Withholding tax will be deducted at source.

X.        Qualification:

The prospective consultant or consulting firm is expected to demonstrate an appropriate balance of managerial and technical skills, knowledge of the region, and experience in nutrition projects. Key team should possess good communication, writing and strong interpersonal skills. Qualifications of key representatives should include:

i)        A Master’s degree or above with specialization in social sciences preferably in public health, epidemiology, nutrition, sociology, management or development studies.

ii)      A sound experience in conducting research and evaluations is highly desirable.

iii)    Understanding and sensitivity of the culture, tradition and language of the local areas will be an advantage.

AKF(P) offers a competitive remuneration package and conducive working environment. We are an equal opportunity employer - females are encouraged to apply.

Interested candidate/firms should forward their applications or profiles by June 11, 2015.

Please note that only short-listed candidates/firms will be contacted.

For more information about AKDN, please visit www.akdn.org