Project Title :Ensuring School Eye Health (SEH) for rural communities in Ethiopia

Implementing Organization : Vision Aid Overseas, Ethiopia (VAO-E)

Partners: FMoH, FMoE, Oromia Regional Health and Education Bureaus, Exeter Ethiopia Link, Ethiopian Evangelical church Mekane Yesus Development and Social service commission (EECMY- DASSC), Wollega University Referral Hospital (WURH), East Wollega Zonal Education Bureaus, Districts of Wayu Tuka, Jima Arjo, and Leka Dulcha Health and education offices, Government Schools.

Project Duration: 3 years

Project Background: Ethiopia has one of the world’s highest rates of blindness and low vision. Whilst the country has received strong investment to eliminate Trachoma in recent years, Uncorrected Refractive Error (URE) - the simple need for an eye test and prescription glasses - is a neglected area of health. This is despite URE being the leading cause of visual impairment after cataract in Ethiopia. In view of this, VAO has received funding to work with key government ministries and their respect decentralized bureaus/offices to ensure School Eye Health through eye screening and early detection of eye problems, and to address the unmet need for prompt and appropriate eye treatment for URE among children and teachers. 

Project Scope and Location: 70 primary schools from 3 districts in East Wollega Zone in the Oromia region of Ethiopia 

Project Goal and approach: The goal of the project is to reduce visual impairment in school-age children, so they have improved academic outcomes and enhanced health and well-being. We will do this by 1) Training teachers in basic eye screening techniques and referral processes; 2) Conducting Optometrist led Mobile Eye Clinics in schools; 3) Ensuring a referral pathway for continuum of care; 4) Ensuring a sustainable supply of quality eyeglasses; 5) Building a blueprint for a context specific standard national guideline to ensure SEH is integrated into existing government School health and nutrition policy and program.

 The Task / Assignment

We are looking for an independent consultant to conduct a thorough research and establish a scientific baseline for the project. The consultant is expected to achieve the following:

• Develop the study methodology which includes desk review, formative assessment, and field visit, data collection tools, and reporting templates for VAO validation.
• Conduct the survey and data collection – adhering to all data quality assurance procedure and VAO policy guide on safeguarding of children.
• Document all survey data and complete data analysis and interpretation.
• Manage relationship with key government stakeholders, school authorities, and respondents for the purpose of conducting a participatory research.
• Write the final formal report, (Note: exact format to be agreed as part of the task)

It is expected that the outcome of this survey will help to inform and refine the project’s MEL framework.

 Study Design Preference: The study design should be cross-sectional quantitative and qualitative survey using multiple qualitative approaches including structured interviews, in-depth interview of key informants, focus group discussions for primary source collection complemented with secondary data sources through desk review. The consultant would establish a sample size proportionally allocated to address location and key indicator category selection.

Presentation of study findings: The findings of the study should align to an agreed set of output and outcome indicators that will be agreed with the selected candidate, but may include the following:

Indicators Male  - Female

1. No. of teachers trained to conduct eye screening
2. No. of Health Extension workers trained to reach out-of-school children
3. Proportion. of school children screened for eye problems
4. Proportion. of out of school children screened for vision and eye problems
5. Prevalence of refractive error in school children (Sampled)
6. Proportion of children and teachers able to demonstrate good knowledge and understanding of common eye conditions and how to get treatment.
7. No. of children wearing eyeglasses as treatment for eye problems
8. Number of children dropped out of school due to poor vision
9. % of children able to demonstrate an improvement in their academic performance following treatment for an eye condition.

Team Composition: The Consultant or Firm will submit CVs of team members, including those of enumerators that will conduct the data collection (Teams with a gender balanced composition will be a plus).

 Key Deliverables: The Consultant or Firm will provide the following deliverables:

• An inception report with the detailed work plan, appropriate methodology, sampling, timing, roles, and responsibilities of researchers of the assignment
• Final tools/instruments of the baseline survey.
• Field manual for enumerators and supervisors.
• Data entry and analysis plan.
• Training report of required number of enumerators, supervisors, and data entry staff.
• Electronic files with all raw data in 2 jump drives
• Draft survey report which will be submitted within 7 days after completion of the field work.
• Presentation of the key findings to the stakeholders.
• The final report which will be submitted within five days after the finding dissemination workshop with the stakeholders.

Budget/Payment Procedure

Applicants are expected to submit their financial proposal (inclusive of Tax (GST)) for the entire exercise. Please note that all good and service tax amounts will be deducted from the total amount at source (i.e., VAO) as per Government of Ethiopia Regulations. The consultant/consultant firm will be paid in phases. The payment schedule will be as follows:

• 40% of the contract sum will be paid to the consultant/consultancy firm upon submission of a satisfactory inception report.
• 30% of the contract sum to be paid upon completion of data collection, validation, entry, etc.
• 30% of the contract sum will be paid upon submission and acceptance by the client of a comprehensive final report.

 Application Process

Interested Individual Consultant or Consultant Firms are invited to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) for delivery of the assignment. The EOI should include:

• Detailed technical and financial proposals.
• Clear work plan including outputs/deliverables and detailed time frames.
• The financial proposal will include detailed budget containing total costs as per man-day rates, work plan and any other costs anticipated in undertaking process of the assignment.
• Detailed CV of the consultant/firm with full description of the profile and experience.
• Contact details from at least two independent referees with in-depth and proven knowledge of the applicant’s expertise and relevant work experience.
• Sample of 2-3 relevant studies previously produced.
• A cover letter outlining the suitability of consultant or consultant firm for the assignment, motivation and summarizing relevant experience.

Evaluation and Selection Process

• The selection process of the Consultant or Firm will be based on the set of criteria developed by VAO to evaluate the proposals. VAO will evaluate the proposals by using the combined scoring method.
• Technical proposal will be evaluated on 70%; whereas financial proposals will be evaluated on 30%.
• The short-listed consultant or firm may be asked for a formal presentation prior to the final selection. The successful consultant or firm should sign a contract with VAO to undertake the assignment.

 Ethical standards and Intellectual Property

Ownership and copyright of all data, drafts and final products of the assignment will be the sole and exclusive property of VAO and restricted for public use. The consultant or firm will submit all original documents, materials, and data to VAO.

Job Requirements

Required Experiences, Skills and Competencies:

• Minimum 3-5 years’ experience in designing, implementing, managing, and coordinating baseline survey, research, and assessment (Previous copies of similar assignment may be required)
• The lead researcher should have excellent academic and research background and have proven track record in conducting similar assignment
• Knowledge and experience of using research/survey concept, approaches, tools, techniques, methodologies, sampling, etc
• Experience in qualitative and quantitative data collection, validation, entry, and analysis using statistical software and drafting skills
• Strong analytical skills in overall aspects of survey designing and conducting
• Excellent communication and facilitation skills as well as fluency in English (written and spoken)
• Ability to work collaboratively with multiple individuals and groups
• Demonstrate excellent interpersonal and professional skills in interacting with VAO and different stakeholders of VAO
• Evidence of having undertaken similar assignments
• Ability to develop high quality research reports in English

How to Apply

The application (in English) to be sent via email: belachew.paulos@visionaidoverseas.org copied to aster.berhanu@visionaidoverseas.org before July 27th, not later than 5:00 pm.

 Disclaimer

NB: VAO reserves the right to accept or reject any or all proposal.