German Foundation for World Population (DSW) is seeking an external consulting firm to conduct a multi­layered ASRH budget and expenditure analysis in the national and two districts

Background and Project Description

German Foundation for World  Population (DSW) is a global development organization that 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, supplies, and eco­nomic empowerment for  youth. We  achieve this by  engaging in advocacy, capacity development, and  reproductive health initiatives so  that young  people are  empowered to lead healthy and self­determined lives.

DSW has been working  in Ethiopia for more  than two decades focusing on adolescent and young  people’s sexual  and  reproductive health programs in collaboration with government, international and local partners at different levels.

DSW Ethiopia through a consortium led by MSI Reproductive Choices has received funding from the European Union (EU) to implement the Youth 4 Health Project (Y4H) in 6 countries, including  Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania  in east Africa, Zambia  in South Africa, and  Sierra Leone and Ghana  in west Africa. The project aims at Expanding Access to Life­Changing Adolescent Sexual  and  Reproductive Healthcare and  improving enabling policy and  domestic resource mobilization in the target countries.

It  is against  this  background that DSW  Ethiopia  is seeking  an  external  consulting  firm to conduct a  multi­layered ASRH budget and  expenditure analysis  in the national and  two districts of  the Oromia  and  SNNP  regions (Shashemene and  Wonago). In  addition, the consulting firm is expected to develop a new budget and expenditure tracking framework for DSW that fits ASRH.

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY Main Objective

The main objective of the consultancy service is to conduct the baseline budget study using the appropriate framework at the national, regional and district level and develop a new DSW budget and expenditure tracking framework that fits for ASRH.

Specifically, the study will:

1. 1. To Conduct budget and expenditure analysis of Adolescent Sexual Reproductive Health (ASRH) program using the appropriate budget study framework at national, regional and district level.
2. To Identify potential areas  for domestic resource mobilization and Recommend Advocacy  target for ASRH budget increment.

3. To adopt DSW global budget and public expenditure tracking framework that fits for ASRH.

Methodology

The  consulting firm is expected to conduct a budget study of ASRH programs at national, regional and  the target districts using  the appropriate framework that shows how  budgets are  designed, allocated, and  used.  Moreover, develop a new  DSW  ASRH budget tracking framework that  can  align  with  different  government policies,  strategies,  and  guidelines without compromising the expected outcome. The  study will mainly  focus  on  quantitative and  qualitative data which  include   document reviews, policies,  and  strategies of  ASRH, annual  work plans, fiscal space,  allocation, release and expenditure, and extraction of ASRH data  from   data  management systems at  respective  different  government  sectors.  for triangulation, key informant interviews (KIIs) at a national, regional and  district level will be employed and Focus  Group  Discussion (FGD) at the service delivery  level will be used.  Upon the consultant’s recommendation, it may consider other approaches to ensure that report is authentic.

The Scope  of work

1. a) Geographic scope: The budget analysis  approach is a multi­layered ASRHR budget analysis that targets one national/regional and two district r The budget study will consider national and regional level stakeholders and institutions including  but not limited to:

• Ministry of Health (women, Child, and youth Affairs directorate),
• Ministry of Finance (state minister of fiscal policy and public finance),
• The parliament (budget and finance affairs standing committee, health, social development, Culture, and youth affairs and women Parliamentarians)

And  at the regional level,  government structures to the woreda level  will be  followed. respective sectors at each  government structure will be  considered. That means the final target study districts will be  Shashemene from  Oromia and  Wonago from  SNNP  region, where the project intervention districts are.  Three  budget study reports will be  generated (one at the national/regional level and two at the district level i.e., Shashemene and Wonago woredas).

1. b) Periodic scope: The  budget  study is  a  multi­year  study that  aims  to show   budget allocation  increment  due   to  the  budget  Advocacy measures  taken  by  the  project throughout the project period i.e…, (2023 through 2025). However, this study’s scope is to conduct a baseline study for the project. The fiscal year included in the baseline study will be the budget allocation for FY year 2022/23 (for ASRH budget allocation), and public expenditures for ASRH analysis  for FY 2021/22. c) Time  scope:  The  consultant  will provide  all final  deliverables  latest  by  28  Feb  2023.

Therefore,  the technical  proposal  should  provide  a  realistic  work   plan  giving  each deliverable a specific  last submission date.

EXPECTED ACTIVITIES

Activity 1: Developing and submitting inception report that included detail work plan to DSW Ethiopia with refined methodology and data collection tools.

●   The   consulting   firm   will   develop   an   inception   report,   demonstrating   an understanding of the study with a detailed fieldwork plan on how  s/he will carry out the activities to achieve the study objectives. ●   In close consultation with DSW Ethiopia staff, the consulting firm will review  and revise  the new  DSW’s  budget and  policy analysis  framework that is to be  used during  the budget study.

Activity 2: Recruiting, orienting, and training experienced data collectors.

●   The  consulting  firm  will  recruit  and   train  data collectors  on  using  the data collection tools and the data collection process.

Activity 3: Collection and analysis  of initial data

●   The  consulting firm  will lead  the data collection at the national, regional and district levels. ● The  consulting firm  will review  and  analyse collected information at national/regional and district levels. ●   This will involve entering the budget data in the approved ASRH budget analysis framework  and   analyzing   the qualitative  information  generated from   health facility assessments, KIIs, FGDs,  or  any  other approved analysis  tools by DSW Ethiopia. ●   The consulting firm will analyze  and develop a draft report based on the collected information. DSW Ethiopia and relevant stakeholders will review  the draft report.

The  consulting  firm  will be  responsible  for  the budget study. The  primary  duties  of  the consulting firm will include;

Activity 4: Data validation

●   The  consultant, with the support of  DSW  Ethiopia, will engage in the validation workshop that will be organized by DSW Ethiopia and present the report findings to the relevant government officials at national, regional and  district levels to validate the budget study findings. ●   The validation meeting will help to address any data gaps, promote quality assurance and ensure that the final report will have  stakeholder ownership and acceptance for practical use

Activity 5:  Final Report and specific  deliverables

●   The consulting firm will incorporate the feedback from the validation workshop, DSW Ethiopia, the designated partners and stakeholders and submit a final ASRH budget analysis  report (one national and two district reports). ●   The consulting firm will also submit final datasets and relevant input for the development of infographics. ●   Specific  deliverables:   Final budget analysis  reports, one for national/regional and two for district (Shashemene and Wonago)   ASRH budget analysis  framework   Validation workshop report   Key Identified ASRH budget advocacy issues,  potential target for domestic resource mobilization and institutions for ASRH budget fiscal space increment advocacy.    Data collection and analysis  Tools for the budget study

In addition to the TOR, the selected consulting firm is expected to come up with suggestions/ideas that suits to the national and regional context

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

The selected consulting firm must possess the following  qualifications:

–           Be a consulting firm with a team of expertise Possess knowledge and experience in budget analysis  frameworks for evidence­based advocacy.

–           Experience and knowledge in the Ethiopia Budgeting, allocation and expenditure.

–           Demonstrable knowledge and experience working  in the areas of Sexual reproductive health, especially at local, national, and international levels is desirable

–           Knowledge of designing research frameworks, methodologies and tools for budget­

based data collection and analyses

–           Similar work in the last three years  (provide a sample copy of recent reports).

Particularly in Ethiopia context.

–           A demonstrated high professionalism and ability to work independently and in high­pressure situations under tight deadlines.

–           High proficiency in written and spoken English is required. Knowledge of the local languages is an added advantage.

–           consulting firm under the set of legal provisions or under any valid legal cover

–           Have  a commitment to meet the deadline.

Application guidelines

Interested  firms  or individuals  are  requested to submit a bid dossier.  The  dossier and  any inquiries    shall   be    submitted   through   email    to   dsw[email protected]  and    cc   to meskerem[email protected]     with  in  ten  (10)  working   days   from   the  date  of  this announcement with the title “DSW ASRH Budget Analysis consultancy” in the subject line. The bid dossier should contain the following:

Technical Proposal

          Understanding and interpretation of the TOR

          Refined  Methodology to be used  in undertaking the assignment

          Time and activity schedule

Financial

• The budget break  down  should be in ETB

Organizational and Personnel Capacity Statement

           Relevant experience related to the assignment (including financial scope)

          Contacts of organizations previously worked

          Curriculum Vitae of proposed team members

           A sample copy of a recent study or research report conducted, especially in budget analysis  for ASRH