Consultant required for Mapping
of Religious Leaders at
District Level

Terms of Reference (TOR)

Mapping of Religious Leaders at District Level

Empowerment, Voice and Accountability for Better Health and Nutrition-(EVA-BHN)

  

1. 1.     Background

 Empowerment, Voice and Accountability for Better Health and Nutrition (EVA-BHN) is a four year programme funded by UK Department for International Development (DFID) as part of its assistance to Government of Pakistan. The project is being implemented by a consortium being lead by GRM Futures Group. Centre for Communication Programs Pakistan (CCP-P) is consortium member that is responsible for undertaking a set of communication and media interventions of the project. The project will be implemented in two provinces of Pakistan i.e. Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).

The Center for Communication Programs –Pakistan (CCP-Pakistan)/JHUCCP works at scale through vibrant networks, mass media and informal community- based structures to empower communities to confront communication challenges on their own, and give them voice to effect change and improve accountability at different levels. At the policy and legislative level, CCP-Pakistan’s strategies are designed to nurture and strengthen the voice of diverse strands of civil society, going beyond traditional, professional NGOs, to identify and bring together various actors, activists, associations, religious and traditional groupings interested and acting on health issues.

1. 2.     Introduction 

Religious leaders are widely respected and have strong influence in societies like Pakistan. Besides religious education people generally look up to them for guidance in social matters. They can help bridge the gap where other conventional mediums are ineffective due to reasons such as conflict, lack of media reach and non-availability of community level health workers. Religious leaders are genuine opinion makers in society who can be used as advocates for reproductive and mother and child health programs. Social development experts has recently looked towards tapping this important source of social influence for overcoming barriers especially demand side factors in improving health issues.

Of the various components to be implemented by CCP-P in EVA-BHN, one is religious leaders’ engagement for enlisting their support for meeting the desired objectives of the project. Building on successful past experience of CCP-P, religious leaders are being involved to reach out to the males in targeted communities for creating demand for RMNCH services by increasing their knowledge about the RMNCH needs of women and children and services available to them in their vicinities.

CCP-P has developed a comprehensive engagement strategy for religious leaders which is based on the past experience of CCP-P’s work with religious leaders, global successful practices and consultations with renowned religious scholars of the country. This strategy laid guiding principles of engagement with religious leaders, detail of sub activities and process including timeframe, monitoring and evaluation framework for this intervention. The first step towards this end is mapping of religious leaders in all of the targeted districts. Since there is no prior information available about the district base religious leaders and mosques which can be helpful in planning and implementation of proposed engagement activities at the UC level. Therefore, this mapping will provide information which is needed for identifying potential religious leaders in the districts and assessing their needs for engaging them in the project.

1. 3.     Objectives of Mapping:

The key objectives of mapping of religious leaders in targeted districts are:

1.                                                    i.         To identify religious leaders, mosques and at Union Council level in  proximity with local health facilities of targeted districts;
2.                                                   ii.         To develop understanding of current knowledge and practices of district based religious leaders on RMNCH and nutrition issues; and
3.                                                 iii.         To assess specific need of district based religious leaders for generating demand of RMNCH and nutrition services

1. 4.     Scope:

Mapping of religious leaders including mosques will be carried out in districts of Manshera ,Haripur and Lodhran the project. Religious leaders will be identified at the district and Union Council (UC) levels through this mapping activity.  Mapping will inform of main religious leaders and mosques as per prescribed criteria including close proximity with health facility like Basic Health Unit (BHU) and Rural Health Center (RHC), followership, size of congregation, religious denomination, perceived influence and other similar criterion. Similarly, other information about mosque and its prayer leader (Khateeb), including but not limited to educational background and experience, school of thought, Friday’s congregation size of mosque, will also be collected on the prescribed structured format.

1. 5.     Methodology:

CCP-P has developed a structured mapping tool which will be used for gathering all relevant information of religious leaders, mosque and seminaries. CCP-P will select a consultant, preferably local, in each district and give him detailed orientation on administering the tool. The Consultant, will be required to visit each of selected Union Councils of the targeted district, meet religious leaders of each village and gather information through using mapping tool. All big mosques, where Friday prayer and Eid prayer is regularly held within its own premises, will be mapped in one targeted UC In addition to this, he will also visit local health facilities like BHU, RHC etc. and other community based organizations to collect relevant information as prescribed on the tool. 

1. 6.     Major Deliverables:

Following are the key deliverables of the mapping activity:

• Plan of data collection
• Completed data on given format (Hard copies)

1. 7.     Time Frame:

The Mapping activity will be completed in 30 days starting from signing of the contract for each district.

1. 8.     Reporting:

The District Consultant will report to Manager Networks of CCPP who will supervise the assignment

1. 9.     Schedule of Payment

Sr.No.	Deliverables	% of payment
1	Plan of data collection	25
2	Completed mapping data on given format (Hard copies)