UNICEFNepal Country Office (NCO)

Terms of Reference

Writer– Shout Out for Health (SOFH) Programme

Duty Station: Nepal

  1. Background and Justification for Consultant / Individual Contractor Contract

Adolescents account for one-fourth (24.2%) of Nepal’s population[1]. Adolescents in Nepal face a number of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) concerns and issues due to the lack of access to quality health services and accurate information, early initiation of sexual relations and teenage pregnancy. The 2010/11 Nepal Adolescents and Youth Survey, the first nationally representative household survey focusing on adolescents, reported that 38% of boys and half of the girls aged 15-24 years had ever had sexual intercourse. In Nepal, early marriage continues to be a social norm[2]. Early childbearing is also common as 24.5 percent of 15-19 year old married adolescents are already mothers or are pregnant[3]. While significant improvements have taken place in Reproductive, Maternal, Neonatal, Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH), exemplified by the anti-natal care (ANC) visits among adolescents and youths which has increased fourfold in the last 20 years[4], there are still considerable gaps between service provision and utilization among the most disadvantaged groups of adolescents.

As a part of donor reporting as well as knowledge management of the section, UNICEF’s Adolescent Development and Participation (ADAP)section requires a number of process documentations, lessons learned, human interest stories and communication products along with high quality photographs. Feedback from donors have shown us thatwhen compelling stories are coupled with equally compelling images, it makes a huge difference, especially to individual donors who can relate to the stories at a personal level. It is also UNICEF’s accountability to generate knowledge on our work, processes and achievements.ADAP Section isthus seeking to hire a writer to capture highlights, develop communication products(e.g., human interest stories, case studies, photo story/essay, documentary, blog post, news articles, etc.) and compile feedback on Shout Out For Health (SOFH) and ADAP programmes. Travelling with a photographer, the writer is primarily responsible for writing up the stories and collecting feedbackson ADAP programme from adolescents, parents, key stakeholders and community members. The assignment needsto be out sourced to a professional writerin order to highlight the field-level lessons, feedback, recommendations and impacts of the programmes, some of which will be shared with ROSA, NYHQ and donors.

  1. Goal / Objective - Programme Group Result/Intermediate Result (PCR/IR) relevance

The outcome of the task is relevant to IRs 1.5, 3.4, 3.6 and 5.7 as follows:

IR 1.5: By 2017, the enabling environment including governancesystem strengthened to protect, inform and empower adolescent boys and girls to claim their rights and provides opportunities for their participation. (contributes to UNDAF output 3.3)

IR 3.4: By 2017, in selected districts and municipalities, adolescent girls and boys are applying age sex, and issue appropriate life skills to influence decisions that affect their development. (contributes to UNDAF output 3.1)

IR3.6: By 2017, in selected districts and municipalities, public opinion, media, community networks, employers, government institutions, religious organizations, local political leaders and families address harmful social norms and practices affecting the rights of children, adolescents and women. (contributes to UNDAF output 3.4)

IR 5.7: Improved capacity ofNational and local government systems and other key stakeholders (especially children, adolescents, youth, families, NGOs and media) to promote disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation and resilience building in earthquake affected areas. (Contributes to UNDAF Outcome 7)

The objectives of the project are as follows:

  • To identify and capture the key highlights, feedback and human interest storiesof Shout Out for Health (SOFH) and ADAP programmes and develop communication products to effectively communicate the achievements, processes and impacts of the programmes.
  • To ensure the international quality stories and documentations for advocacy, resource mobilization and effective programming.

Main intended audience for this project include, but not limited to: UNICEF (NY HQ, ROSA, Country offices), current and potential donors, partner organizations and agencies, and government stakeholders.

  1. Specific Tasks (Scope of Work)

Travel to the selected districts of Nepal,accompanying the photographer,to produce a variety ofcommunication products (e.g., human interest stories, case studies, photo story/essay, documentary, blog post, news articles, etc.) and compilation of feedbacks on SOFH and ADAP programme with the details below. Cases and districts will be identified in coordination and discussion with UNICEF NCO, Field offices and implementing partners during the inception phase of the project. Sample interview questions for each case story is presented in Annex A.

Inception Report

Based on the discussion with UNICEF NCO, field offices and implementing partners, inception report will be produced with the suggested contents as below:

-Field work plan, schedule, timeline

-Description of proposed communication materials, objectives, characteristics, intended audiences, size/amount, medium of dissemination, etc.

-Key interview questions

-Methods to ensure ethical and meaningful participation of adolescents

Case 1: SOFH- Adolescent girl volunteer promoting SOFH ina SOFH target districts[5]

Face-to-face interview will be conducted with an adolescent volunteer to capture her experience during the promotion activities and her expectations for the SOFH programme. The story explores the process of registration, learning and challenges from the experience of promotion activities, and general experience with health facilities and AFHS.

Case 2: SOFH - Group of adolescents, boys and girls, who registered to the programme approached by the volunteer in a SOFH target districts

A focus group discussion will be conducted with adolescent participants to capture their experience participating in SOFH programme and their expectations for the programme. The story explores the experience on SOFH programme and general experience and expectations for health facilities, AFHS and SOFH.

Case 3: SOFH - Health service providers and district health officer during the promotion activitiesin a SOFH target districts

Face-to-face interview and a focus group discussion will be conducted with health service providers of a health facility and district health officer to gather their experience during the promotion activities and their expectations for the programme. The story explores the experience on the understanding, challenges and expectations on AFHS and SOFH programme.

Case 4: SOFH –Key stakeholders at finding dissemination in SOFH target district

Face-to-face interviews will be organized with key stakeholders (e.g., DHO, LDO, DEO, health service providers, DWC) to capture their feedback, perspectives and commitment to improve AFHS. The story explores the overall experience with SOFH programme, perceptions and opinions regarding the influence of adolescents’ voices on health services and policy, and commitments.

Case 5: SOFH - Group of adolescents who participated in the SMS survey after finding dissemination in SOFH target district

A focus group discussion will be organized to capture adolescents’ feedback and experiences in participating in SOFH programme. The story explores the overall experience with SOFH programme, perceptions and opinions regarding the influence of adolescents’ voices on health services and policy, challenges and recommendations for future similar programme.

Case 6: SOFH - Group of adolescents, boys and girls, who dropped out of the SOFH programme in SOFH target district

Face-to-face interviews will be conducted with adolescents to capture their experience participating in SOFH programme and their feedbacks on SMS based interaction system. The story explores the challenges and bottlenecks to participate in the programme, general experience with health facilities, knowledge and utilization of AFHS.

Case 7: ADAP/SOFH - Group of adolescents who gather at health facilities regularly in SOFH target district

A focus group discussion will be organized to capture adolescents’ activities to promote healthy behaviors among communities. The storyexplores the knowledge and skills acquired from Rupantaran training, activities at health facilities and future aspirations.

Case 8-12: ADAP - Group of adolescents who participate in Rupantaran or ADAP interventions and engage in social activities to promote the holistic development and participation of adolescents in their communities in anADAP implementation district[6]

Focus group discussions will be organized to capture adolescents’ experiences in ADAP programme and their activities to promote holistic development of adolescents among communities. The storyexplores the knowledge and skills acquired from Rupantaran training, activities at communities and how the gained skills are contributing to the activities and future aspirations

Compilation of feedback for programmatic purpose and reporting on SOFH programme

Based on the discussions and interviews with adolescents, volunteers, health service providers, government health officers and key stakeholders, feedback and recommendations will be compiled for the purpose of future programme development and reporting. Feedback and recommendation will be organized in the following areas. The outline and structure of the compilation report will be decided based on the consultations with UNICEF and implementing partners as well as the key issues emerged during discussions with target groups.

  • Promotion activities
  • Registration process
  • Use of mobile phones
  • Contents of questionnaires
  • Parental and community involvement
  • Adolescent Friendly Health Services (AFHS) and health facilities

*The copy right of all final deliverables produced under this TOR will be bestowed on UNICEF. Raw materials, brolls, data and footages produced under this TOR will be submitted to UNICEF at the end of the contract. The copy right of the secondary products after the completion of the tasks under this TOR will be credited to UNICEF.

  1. Duration of the contract

15May 2017 - 30September 2017

Approximate days to complete this assignment is 31 days during the contract period.

  1. Proposed Schedule for Deliverables:

Description of Deliverables / Estimated number of days required / Target Delivery Date / Proposed Fee
1 / Submission of inception report in soft and/or hard copy with field work plan including the methods to ensure ethical and meaningful participation of adolescents / 3 days / 19May 2017 / 10% of the total fee
2 / Submission of communication product(s) on Case 1 in soft and/or hard copy / 10 days including travel days / 30 June 2017 / 20% of the total fee
3 / Submission of communication product(s) on Case 2 in soft and/or hard copy
4 / Submission of communication product(s) on Case 3 in soft and/or hard copy
5 / Submission of human interest story on Case 8 in soft and/or hard copy
6 / Submission of communication product(s) on Case 9 in soft and/or hard copy
7 / Submission of communication product(s) on Case 4 in soft and/or hard copy / 8 days including travel days / 31 July 2017 / 30% of the total fee
8 / Submission of communication product(s) on Case 5 in soft and/or hard copy
9 / Submission of communication product(s) on Case 6 in soft and/or hard copy
10 / Submission of communication product(s) on Case 7 in soft and/or hard copy
11 / Submission of human interest story on Case 10 in soft and/or hard copy / 6 days including travel days / 31 August 2017 / 40% of the total fee
12 / Submission of communication product(s) on Case 11 in soft and/or hard copy
13 / Submission of communication product(s) on Case 12 in soft and/or hard copy
14 / Submission of the compilation of feedback for programmatic purposes and reporting on SOFH programme in soft and/or hard copy / 4 days

a)List travel required for the assignment:

Destination/s / Dates / No. of Days / Proposed Amount
SOFH and ADAP focus districts in Terai/earthquake affected districts / 10 days
(8 working day + 2 travel days)
In May/June 2017
SOFH and ADAP focus districts in the Mid- and Far- West region/earthquake affected districts / 14 days (10 working day + 4 travel day) in July/Augst 2017

Notes:

a)Costs indicated are estimated. Final rate shall follow the “best value for money” principle, i.e., achieving the desired outcome at the lowest possible fee. Consultants will be asked to stipulate all-inclusive fees, including lump sum travel and subsistence costs, as applicable.

b)UNICEF is not liable and the consultant/individual contractor is responsible for paying taxes incurred from the remuneration under this contract to the relevant government authorities.

c)Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant

d)Travel related costs will be reimbursed to the consultant/individual contractor up to the amounts stipulated as standard travel entitlements and rates as per the UN upon presentation of proof of travel and as per actual, unless stated otherwise in the contract.

  1. Working Conditions

Admin Requirements
Location / Office space reqd. Y/N / Others
Working from home with field travel as indicated in this ToR / No
IT Requirements
Laptop reqd. Y/N
If Yes, provide WBS / Email Access Y/N / Others
No / No

The consultant will provide their own computer and software required to complete the tasks outlined in this Terms of Reference.

  1. Minimum Qualifications Required
  • Advance University degree in Communications, Journalism, Social Science (Sociology, Anthropology, Humanities, etc.) or related field.
  • Experience in qualitative research, especially with children and adolescents, is an advantage.
  • Fiveyears proven experience in journalism, reporting, knowledge management and evaluation
  • Excellent communication and working with people skills
  • Previous working experience with UNICEF or UN agency, especially in the area of Adolescent Development and Participation, is strongly preferred
  • Excellent written skills in English
  • Oral communication skills in Nepali, Achhameli, Maithali, Bhojipuri and relevant local languages is an advantage.
  1. Contract Supervision

The consultant will report to the program officer of ADAPSection.

  1. Application and evaluation process

Application should include but not be limited to the following:

(1)CV/P-11 should specifically mention the below points;

  • Information related to the qualifications and experience relevant to this TOR
  • References: Details of relevant or similar assignments undertaken in last three years including the following information:
  • Title of Project
  • Year and duration of project
  • Scope of Project
  • Outcome of Project
  • Reference / Contact persons

(2)The candidate is requested to submit 1-2 samples of articles, documents, written materials in English, written by her or himself in the last three years.

The financial proposal should include but not be limited to the following:

(1)Resource costs: daily rate multiplied by number of days

Travel costs will be reimbursed as per the actual travel undertaken. DSA will be reimbursed as per the UN prevailing rates for national consultants.

Annex B: Breakdown of technical evaluation criteria

1

[1] Nepal Census 2011

[2] 36.6% of women aged 20-24 reported being married before the age of 18 and 10.4% of them were married before age of 15, MICS 2014

[3] MICS 2014

[4]Sexual and reproductive health of adolescents and youth in Nepal: Trends and Determinants, Further analysis of 2011 NDHS.

[5]SOFH districts are Achham and Saptari.

[6] ADAP implementation districts are Humla, Mugu, Bajura, Achham, Dhanusha, and Saptari for the regular programme and Dhading, Dolakha, Gorkha, Nuwakot and Sindupalchowk from emergency programme.