DSW Kenya

Budget and Policy Analysis Consultant

Terms of Reference for a Consultant to support DSW’s budget and policy analysis, for the period 2018/19; 2019/20 and 2020/21

1.0 Introduction: DSW Kenya is a non-governmental organisation registered in Kenya as one of the East African country offices of Deutsche Stiftung Weltbevölkerung (DSW), a global development organisation founded and headquartered in Germany.

DSW Kenya focuses on the needs and potential of the largest youth generation in history. We are committed to creating demand for and access to health information, services and supplies for the youth, and to securing their right for a brighter future.

We achieve this by engaging in advocacy, capacity development, and family planning initiatives, which make sure the youth of today are empowered to lead healthy and self-determined lives.

DSW Kenya was established in May 2000 in Nairobi. We have additional offices in Mombasa and Kitale with active programme interventions in 16 counties.

Advocacy for better family planning policies and more funding at the national level and in 11 counties in Kenya

Deutsche Stiftung Weltbevölkerung (DSW) is implementing a budget advocacy project aimed at increasing family planning (FP) budget allocations at the national and sub-national level in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda with the aim of addressing unmet need for family planning.

In Kenya, the project is being implemented in 11 counties namely Bungoma, Kilifi, Laikipia, Mombasa, Meru, Nakuru, Nandi, Nyandarua, Uasin Gishu, Trans-Nzoia, and West-Pokot.

DSW seeks to extend successful approaches targeting the supply of family planning funding whilst also making demand for increased allocations at national and subnational/decentralised levels. A key approach for DSW country-based work on budget analysis as a source for evidence-based advocacy is tracking government commitments, allocations, and programmes.

In this regard, DSW has over the years, conducted annual reviews of national and sub-national budgets as entry points for ongoing engagements with national and subnational decision makers with a view to increasing family planning resourcing and the importance of establishing dedicated family planning budget line items.

Findings are published in reports, fact sheets and infographics targeting various audiences.

Consequently, DSW seeks the services of a consultant to conduct family planning budget allocation analysis for FY 2020/2021 at the national and subnational levels. DSW will provide guidance throughout all phases of the assignment, provide all necessary documentation and help with logistical arrangements for any task-related travel.

2.0 Objectives of the Study

2.1 Main Objective: The main objective of the study is to analyse Health, RMNCAH and Family Planning budget allocations for FY 2020/21 at the national level and eleven (11) counties.

Specifically, the study will:

  • Track changes in RMNCAH while specifically focusing Family Planning allocations at the national level and in eleven project counties for FY 2020/21 in comparison with FY 2019/20 and 2018/19.
  • Identify and assess the level of implementation of existing family planning policies at the national and sub-national levels
  • Document the effect of COVID-19 on allocation of FP resources and the delivery of FP services including the effects of COVID-19 SRH health seeking behaviour by Young People
  • Document community attitudes towards FP and barriers to access the uptake of FP services.
  • Provide recommendations that will inform evidence-based policy advocacy towards increasing FP financing both at national and county levels.

3.0 Methodology

The Consultant will be expected to use the existing DSW’s FP Budget Monitoring Methodology to meet the above-mentioned objectives.

This methodology involves:

  • Document review: This will involve collection and review of all relevant national and county policy documents, national and county budget documents such as FP Costed Implementation Plans, approved Annual Work Plans, approved Annual Budgets, budget reports, among others.
  • Focus group discussions: These will be conducted with selected FP service users in specific sub-counties in the 11 counties. The FGDs will focus mainly on young people and will be disaggregated by gender.
  • Assessment of health facilities: Selected facilities in the 11 counties will be assessed to ascertain their ability to provide FP services. These will include health centres III and IVs, referral hospitals and general hospitals.
  • Key informant interviews (KIIs): These will be held with relevant government officials at national and county levels, mainly to: understand the processes of prioritisation and resources allocations for FP and validate and confirm the analysed information. The validation exercise will address any inconsistencies in the data. This will minimize the danger of the study being extractive rather than providing learning. Besides, the interviews will also enhance ownership of the data and findings.

The consultant may revise the methodology to accommodate the current government guidelines without compromising the expected outcome.

The proposed methodology should consider community and health worker perspectives at the core of assessing FP budget allocations while observing the COVID-19 legal restrictions.

4.0 Scope of the study

The study will be undertaken at national level and across eleven counties, based on the scope in Table 1:

4.1 Table 1: Study Scope

4.2 Data analysis

The study will involve critical review of information gathered to identify FP related spending at national and county levels.

The information will be analysed using and will have the following prerequisites:

(a) clear reference to the work plan / budget (title of work plan / budget, year and page number),

(b) title of activity;

(c) amount allocated,

(d) sources of funds,

(e) categorization according to FP items (Commodities; Advocacy and Community Mobilization; Service delivery; Capacity Building; and Others).

The quality of the final results will depend on the accuracy of the work-plan and budget information.

Thus, precaution will be taken to avoid double counting or misrepresentation of the FP funding/ spending through undertaking a validation exercise with the government officials. Where FP activities are integrated into other budget lines (i.e. for Reproductive Health), an estimated percentage share of FP funding will be determined in consultation with the relevant government officials, CSOs and other stakeholders.

5.0 Tasks and Deliverables of the Consultant

The tasks and deliverables of the consultant will include:

5.1 Refining methodology and tools for the family planning Budget Analysis

  • DSW has existing tools from its previous studies, which should continue to be used in the 2020/21 study. In close consultation with DSW staff, the consultant will review budget and policy analysis tools and guidelines (i.e. FDG guides, Facility Assessment tools, FP budget analysis tool) and methodology.
  • Deliverable (a): A refined and documented methodology for the 2020/21 FP Budget Analysis, including revised Data Collection tools (i.e. excel sheet, Key Informant Interview guide, FGD guide, Facility Assessment Guide)
  • Deliverable (b): A clear activity schedule/work-plan of undertaking the assignment

5.2 Orientation and training of data collectors

  • Lead in an initial training/orientation of DSW staff and data collectors on both the use of the tools and on the process developed to collect and verify quantitative and qualitative budget data and information. DSW staff and data collectors will be responsible for data collection at county-level.
  • The Consultant will provide mentoring support to DSW staff in budget analysis during the entire exercise. Where applicable the consultant will organise sessions with DSW staff on budget analysis and report writing.
  • Deliverable: training conducted; with ongoing remote mentorship

5.3 Collection of relevant information

  • The consultant will work with DSW to ensure that all relevant data is collected. The consultant is expected to lead in the supervision of data collection and quality control at national and county level. The consultant is required to organize adequate supervision and coordination of the survey teams in the field, and provide remote guidance and support.
  • Deliverable: Data, information and documentation collected: Provide supervision and support in the collection of data, information and documentation from the 11 counties of study, and FGD & Health Facility Assessment findings. Data collected should include the extent to which CIPs have influenced the budget making process
  • Deliverable: The consultant is expected to come up with innovative data collection processes that can provide reliable information on the Costed Implementation Plans and correlate this with the budget making process

5.4 Review and analysis of initial data

  • The consultant will review and analyse relevant information for both national and county levels. This will involve entering the budget data in the FP budget analysis tools and analysing.
  • The consultant will assess qualitative information generated from health facility assessments, FGDs and KIIs.
  • Deliverable: FP budget datasheets, FGD & Health Facility Assessment reports

5.5 Data validation

  • The consultant together with DSW staff will engage the relevant government officials at national and district levels to validate the data collected. Data validation may involve one-on-one engagement with officials or through workshops/ meetings. The validation meetings will help to address any data gaps, and ensure that the final report will have stakeholder ownership and acceptance for effective use.
  • Suggestion: With reference to the March 18th 2020 Guideline for infection prevention control for the COVID-19 and the interim guidelines on the management of COVID in Kenya, the consultant is required to construct new validation methodologies that can provide feasible recommendations to family planning advocacy
  • Deliverable: 12 validated datasheets (1 national and 11 counties)

5.6 Final data analysis and report writing

  • The Consultant is required to work closely with DSW staff to finalize the report while using a reliable methodology and analysis of the national and county family planning budgets allocation FP Kenya, covering the national level and 11 counties. The report will be evaluated by DSW stakeholders
  • Deliverable: Draft FP budget analysis report (incorporating national and county findings).

5.7 Incorporating feedback and drafting the final report.

  • The Consultant will incorporate all the comments from DSW, and submit a final FP budget analysis report.
  • Deliverable: Final FP budget analysis report (incorporating national and county findings).

6.0 Time and activity schedule

The assignment is expected to take up to 50 days between July and November 2020. The timeframe will be fine-tuned later by DSW and the Consultant.

7.0 Profile of the Consultant

  • Demonstrable knowledge and experience working in the areas of family planning/reproductive health (FP/RH) especially in low- and middle-income countries
  • Possess knowledge and experience in budget analysis and tracking for evidence-based advocacy within the Kenyan context
  • Knowledge designing research methodologies and tools for budget-based data collection and analyses
  • Similar work in the last 3 years (please provide at least one sample copy of a recent study or research report conducted)
  • A demonstrated high level of professionalism; ensure frequent, efficient, and constructive communication with DSW, partners and stakeholders.
  • Ability to work independently and in high-pressure situations under tight deadlines involving teams in remote locations
  • High proficiency in written and spoken English is required.
  • Extensive experiences in research work in reproductive health and development projects in Kenya.

8.0 Compensation

The consultancy fee will be paid in instalments with reference to the aforementioned deliverables in accordance with contractual requirements and deadlines.

9.0 Application guidelines

Interested firms or individuals are requested to submit a bid dossier.

The dossier as well as any inquiries shall be submitted through email by 24th July 2020 to info@dswkenya.org with the title “Kenya Budget Analysis Consultant” in the subject line.

The bid dossier should contain the following:

Technical Proposal

  • Understanding and interpretation of the ToRs
  • Methodology to be used in undertaking the assignment, explaining how you will undertake the work in light of COVID-19 restrictions
  • Time and activity schedule

Financial

  • Consultant’s daily rate in USD
  • Other costs, e.g. training material, travel and printing

Organizational and Personnel Capacity Statement

  • Relevant experience related to the assignment (including financial scope)
  • Contacts of organizations previously worked for
  • Curriculum Vitae of proposed team members
  • Sample copy of a recent study or research report conducted

WHISTLEBLOWER NOTICE: DSW Kenya requires all employees to observe the highest standards of business and personal ethics in the conduct of their duties and responsibilities. Please write to us on report@dswkenya.org if you have any questions or concerns about the conduct of any DSW Kenya employee.

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