ThaiNGO

Plan International Thailand - Consultant

Terms of Reference for

The Final Evaluation of “Empowering Civil Society to Engage for the Social Inclusion of Children and Young Women Living with HIV/AIDS”

----------------------------------------------

I.        Background and Objectives

Thailand has the second highest rate of teenage pregnancy in the world - 70 per 1,000 girls aged 15-19 years old. Adolescents aged less than 20 years account for 14% of all births in Chiangmai and Chiangrai provinces (Department of Provincial Administration, Ministry of Interior). These two provinces are also the top two provinces of cumulative AlDS patients in the northern region. As a result, People Living with HIV (PLHlV), especially children, young women and girls being infected and affected by HIV/AIDS face challenges of integration in society and access to their rights and services from local government and community.

Moreover, an antiretroviral therapy (ARV) has been initiated with triple drugs combination for nearly ten years which is long enough to develop long-term side effects such as lipodystrophy. Lipodystrophy causes fat loss on the face, arms, legs and buttocks, and fat gain at abdomen, between shoulder blades and breasts. All of those figure changes can lead to the loss of PLHlVs' self- confidence. As a result, PLHlVs tend to be self-stigmatized on the basis of their appearance. With a disclosure of their HIV status and lipodystrophy, most of them experience more discrimination from people in their community.

Plan Thailand has implemented the project in five districts of Chiangmai Province and in three districts of Chiangrai Province since October 2013. The primary beneficiaries are PLHlVs, especially children, young women and girls infected and affected by HIV/AIDS in target areas. Implementing partners are PLHIV peer support groups which have been working closely with health care providers at those community hospitals. (The Results Framework is attached).

Objectives of the project:

1. To decrease HIV/AIDS risk behavior and new HIV infections through empowerment of local partners to be more responsive towards the needs and concerns of the PLHIVs in program implementing areas, and to create platforms for dialogue on their rights and needs.
2. To improve the technical, operational, and management capacities of the local HIV/AIDS partners, networks, institutions, and communities through capacity development trainings.
3. To empower PLHIV networks, and partners to ensure an access to health facilities through awareness and recognition of their rights through capacity building of local partners.

1. Objective of this TOR:

This TOR aims to recruit external consultant(s) to conduct the final evaluation of the project’s implementation in 8 districts which are Chaiprakarn, Chiangdao, Fang, MaeAi, Wianghaeng, in Chiangmai province, and Maechan, Pan, Chiangsaen in Chiangrai province.

• Objective of the final evaluation:

The main objective of this evaluation is to assess project implementation against project objectives and the project’s results framework – activities, outputs, outcomes, and impact related to indicators. In addition, the evaluation is expected to demonstrate the project’s achievements, challenges, lessons learned, and sustainability of the implementation of the project.

1. Scope of the evaluation:

This evaluation needs to answer key questions as follows:

Q1) – Project implementation:

• What are the current status/situation of technical, operational and management capacity of PLHIV volunteer networks in 8 project areas? What are the significant improvement of the PLHIV networks since the beginning of the project and compare to the baseline and midterm evaluation results?
• What are the achievements of the existing platforms in 3 districts consisting of Chai Prakarn, Chiang Dao, and Chiang San District regarding
• The current activities/services operated by the platforms, managerial structure, existing supports from the external sources, income, and marketing activities, etc.
• Strengths and weaknesses
• Indications of sustainability
• A comparison between PLHIV networks in the districts of having “no platforms,” and “having platforms” to see whether the platform is a good model for capacity development of the PLHIV groups. If so, in which ways?
• What are the awareness and recognition of the existing members of PLHIV networks on the rights to access care and support services? What are additional awareness and recognition need to be provided by the project?
• What is the current degree of awareness/recognition of duty bearers to the rights of PLHIVs?
• Whether the score of the Quality of Life assessment (WHOQOL) improves comparing to the baseline results? A qualitative evaluation is also recommended to support the WHOQOL.

Q2) - Quality of performance, extent of results and learning:

• What are the progress and outcomes/impact of the project against the project’s result frameworks? What are the key achievements, factors, challenges and lessons learned of the project?
• Do the project’s inputs i.e. activities, resources, operational/ program management in relationship with the outputs/results have supported and ensured that the objectives proceeding to the right direction or not? Are there any recommendations for future programming to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of similar future programs?
• What are indicators of sustainability of the PLHIVs network after the project ends? What are the major factors which influenced the achievement or non-achievement of sustainability of the project?

How key stakeholders are involved in the evaluation:

• Plan Thailand will participate in evaluation design, selection of consultant(s), and identifying and coordinating with key informants.
• External consultant(s) will finalize study design, develop study tools and materials, collect and analyze data, prepare report, present the results to key stakeholders, and submit a final report to Plan Thailand.
• Members of PLHIV network and other key stakeholders i.e. staff in the district hospital, in Provincial Public Health Office, etc. will participate as key informants and act as information resources.

Method of Study:

The study will adopted Qualitative & Quantitative research methodology, and Mixed Methodology, including key informant/in-depth interviews, focus group discussions and WHOQOL assessment. Desk research and documentary review are also utilized as key methods for the study.

Consultant Selection Criteria:  
The selection criteria of consultant(s) will emphasis on “method of study,” and “background/experience” of consultant(s).

The minimum qualifications and experiences required for the consultants are:

• Proven research background in area of Public Health, SRHR, and HIV/AIDS
• Familiarity with conducting research on PLHIV networks and livelihood
• Excellent documentation and qualitative data analysis skills
• Relevant post graduate background and experience in working with non-government organizations will be an advantage
• Ability to meet deadline.

Reporting:     

Final report will include

• Standard cover sheet
• Acknowledgement (if applicable)
• Executive summary
• Background and objectives, research methodology, scope of the evaluation, limitations of the study;
• Program descriptive (where available)
• Findings: project relevance, efficiency, effectiveness, results (outcome/impact) and sustainability of project activities, and lessons learned
• Conclusions and Programmatic recommendations
• Annexes: TOR, list of people interviewed, list of documents reviewed etc.

Implementation plan:

Roles and responsibilities of each party will be as follows:

          Sources of information

Secondary data:  reports/records of district hospitals, reports of existing platforms and PLHIV network, publications of Provincial Public Health Office, etc.

Primary data:  direct interviews

1. Budget and timeframe

Budget will be proposed by external consultant and the final report will be submitted to Plan Thailand by 30 June 2017.

1. Request for Proposal

Plan International Thailand Country Office is looking for research consultant who will be able to deliver the information as identified in Section III & IV.

• Deliverables

The consultant will provide the final evaluation report in English consisting of details stated in section III and IV.

How to apply?

A consultant or a team of consultants should submit a research proposal based on the Terms of Reference, consisting of study design and scope of the study, methodology, tools to use, implementation plan, budget, timeframe and curriculum Vitae of each team member by email to janjira.sribanbark@plan-international.org

The deadline for application is on 30 March 2017.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Plan is an equal opportunity employer.

Closing Date               :      19 April 2026 (11:59 PM, Bangkok Time)