TOR for Documenting lessons learned from previous TDR funded projects in Ethiopia

Background  

The Armauer Hansen Research Institute (AHRI) was founded in 1970 through the initiative of the Norwegian and Swedish Save the Children organizations seconded by the Ministry of Health of Ethiopia. The Institute got its name from the Norwegian physician, Gerhard Henrik Armauer Hansen, who first described the leprosy bacillus (Mycobacterium leprae). AHRI was established as a biomedical research institute located next to the All Africa Leprosy Rehabilitation and Training Hospital (ALERT). AHRI acknowledges receiving core-funding from Swedish International Development Agency (Sida) and (Norad) in addition to Ethiopian Government contribution

AHRI is also engaged in capacity building activities in the area of clinical researches and different short term and long-term postgraduate (MSc and PhD) trainings in collaboration with different National and International Universities and Institutes contributing to the national capacity building in medical research. 

AHRI has a strong collaboration with WHO/TDR, the Special Program for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases, is a global program of scientific collaboration that helps facilitate, support and influence efforts to combat diseases of poverty. WHO-TDR has contributed to the capacity building efforts in infectious diseases research in Ethiopia over several decades. Its support has strengthened institutions, individuals and initiatives. Several of our current leading experts have benefitted from TDR fellowship, research funds, training awards or other programs in the course of their career. TDR support emphasized on sustainability and empowerment of institutions in resource limited settings.

AHRI coordinates the TDR Global Ethiopian node, a network of TDR alumni, grantee and fellows and currently has 23 active members (https://ahri.gov.et/initiatives/tdrgen/ ). The node is developing a mentoring scheme for young researchers in the health sciences run by a voluntary group of the Ethiopian node members. This is an independent initiative hosted by AHRI. 

AHRI seeks to hire an independent consultant to review and document the impact of the previous TDR funded projects in Ethiopia in terms of capacity building and sustainability. 

Objectives

The main objective of the consultancy will be:

• Highlight, review and showcase lessons from past TDR-funded projects or fellowships in Ethiopia with emphasis on impact, empowerment, sustainability and catalysis of growth.
• Gather lessons on institution building from experiences of universities or research institutes in Ethiopia supported by TDR, including the case of AHRI
• To provide recommendations to address the identified gaps and weaknesses and to guide WHO/TDR on how to support research in Ethiopia to accelerate universal health coverage. 

Scope of the Task

In this consultancy service, the consultant is expected to do desk reviews on the TDR & Ethiopian institutions/AHRI collaboration, researches & investigations produced by the collaboration of TDR and Ethiopian institutions including AHRI. Previous AHRI directors who had been engaged with TDR funded projects and other appropriate individuals shall be contacted to gather information and resources. TDR Global Ethiopian node members and other appropriate individuals shall be reached out to assess the impact of projects on institution building and individual career developments. 

Deliverables

The main outcome of this consultancy work will be analyzed and presented in a report. Two peer-reviewed publications are envisaged: one on the impact of previous TDR funded projects in Ethiopia that can be published in the TDR Gateway and one on lessons learnt on AHRI/TDR institutional collaboration on a peer-reviewed journal. Expected deliverables from this work are:

• Major lessons from past TDR supported projects in Ethiopia will be documented (e.g. Jimma University, Addis Ababa University, Hosaina College of Health Sciences, University of Gondar). TDR has funded several impactful research projects in Ethiopia over several years, many of which have served as platforms for human resource development and institute building.
• Core lessons in research capacity strengthening and institute building in Ethiopia will be obtained with main focus on AHRI. The central role TDR played in reviving AHRI from a crisis in 2001 will be discussed in relation to the TDR support model to institutions and relevant lessons documented.

Publications and acknowledgment

This work received financial support from TDR, the special program for Research and Training in Tropical diseases co-sponsored by UNICEF, UNDP, the World Bank and WHO. TDR is grateful to the commitment and support from a variety of funders. These include long term contributors to TDR from national governments and international institutions, as well as designated funding for specific projects within TDR’s current priorities. For the full list of TDR donors, please visit the website at: “http//www.who.int/tdr/about/funding/en/”. AHRI expects acknowledgment of TDR role in the publications which result from this work.

Time schedule and reporting

The aim is that the assignment shall begin no later than 01 August 2021. A draft report shall be presented to AHRI no later than October 15, 2021. AHRI will provide comments to the draft manuscripts no later than October 30, 2021. The final report shall be proof read and submitted to AHRI no later than November 15, 2021. 

The report shall be written in English and presented with two manuscripts ready for submission; the first one to TDR Gateway and other one to other appropriate and recognized peer-reviewed journal.

For quality assurance purposes, the following contacts shall take place between the consultant, the organization and AHRI

• As a point of departure for the assignment, AHRI shall organize a meeting between the consultant, AHRI and the organization to discuss the method and time-frame for the assignment. 
• As part of the assignment, the consultant shall organize a presentation of the final results to AHRI. When appropriate, representatives from the organization shall participate in the meeting.  
• At the request of the organization or AHRI, the consultant shall make her/himself available for discussions of recommendations and conclusions.

Job Requirements

A consultancy firm with renewed license working in medical research can compete for this work. The assignment requires a high level of technical competence, knowledge and experience in health research. The consultancy firm must at least deploy at least 2 teams of experts for the task.

The task requires, but not limited to the following experts:  

• Senior expert with more than 20 years’ work experience in health research, PhD, or MD/MPH or MSc
• Senior consultant on qualitative research with more than 15 years’ experience in health research PhD, or MD/MPH or MSc
• Experience working with research institutes and/or Universities
• Accountability and reporting relationships

AHRI is the client for this work. In terms of performance and deliverables, the client designates one coordinator. The coordinator shall be responsible for the coordination of activities under the contract.

As the agency responsible for the overall implementation AHRI is responsible for all payments to the consultant once the work has been accepted and cleared for payment. 

The consultancy firm can assign team leader of the firm for acceptance of the deliverables by the client.

Inputs provided by the Client

• The institute will provide to the consultancy firm work area. 
• The client also will assign one representative to coordinate the activities. 
• The institute will also provide the required documents for the evaluation. 

Consultant Selection Procedure and Criteria

The methodology for the evaluation of proposals will be Quality and Cost Based Selection. The regulations, guidance, and procedure of this particular consultancy service selection is under the Ethiopian Public Procurement and Property Administration/PPA/. 

Technical Evaluation Criteria:

Selection Procedure

• The methodology for the evaluation of proposals will be Quality and Cost Based Selection (the points for technical and financial evaluation be 70% and 30% respectively) 

Technical Evaluation Criteria

Criteria and Maximum Points

1. The consulting firm experience - 15

• Relevant experience related to the assignment ---- 10
• 8 and above ....... 10
• 5-8 years ............ 7
•  3-5 years ............ 5
• Below 3years ... 0
• General experience ----- 5
• 10 and above .......... 5
• 6-10 years ............... 3
• Below 6 years ....... 0

1. Deployed staff for the assignment - 60

• Qualifications 20
• General qualifications/education --- 8
• PhD ..................... 8
• Masters ................ 5
• Below Masters..... 0
• Relevance for the assignment - 12
• Directly related ........ 12
• Indirectly related....... 8
• Unrelated ................... 0
• Experience of the expert 40
• Relevant experience related to the assignment -  25
• 12 and above ........ 25
• 8-12 years.............. 20
• 5-8 years ................ 15
• Below 5 years 25........ 0
• General experience - 15
• 12 and above ............ 15
• 8-12 years .................. 10
• Below 8 years 15 ........ 0

1. Adequacy of the proposed work plan and methodology - 25

• Excellent ....... 25
• Good .............. 20
• Satisfactory /Average ..... 15 
• Low ...... 0

Total 100

The minimum score will be 70  

Individual weighted scores for all technical evaluation criteria shall be weighted according to the set proportional weighting factors under Ethiopian Public Procurement and Property Administration/PPA/ guidance. The weighted result shall be calculated by multiplying the score by the proportional weighting point of the individual criterion. 

Consultants getting score less than 70% in the technical evaluation shall be rejected and the envelopes containing the Financial Proposals of those Consultants scoring 70 % and above shall be opened.

Payment

The consultancy payment will be done:

• 30% on the signing of the contract.
• 70% on the final report submission

Dispute Management

Any dispute arises from the consultancy service will be handled by the Ethiopian the FDRE Public Procurement & Property Administration Agency and applicable rules and regulations. 

Legality

• Renewed Trade License 
• VAT registration certificate issued by the tax authority
• TIN Certificate

How to Apply

APPLICATION GUIDELINE

Interested and qualified applicants should submit their technical and financial proposals in person in sealed envelopes with their name and the consultancy for which they are applying to Armauer Hansen Research Institute, Addis Ababa Office to Finance and Procurement Directorate

Location : Armauer Hansen Research institute at Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.  P.O. Box 1005, Addis Ababa Jimma Road, For additional information contact Tel. 01113483752 e-mail: info@ahri.gov.et