Consultant to Undertake an End-of-Phase Evaluation of the Nursing Project at SolidarMed Zambia

1.   Background

SolidarMed is a Swiss NGO dedicated to improving health in Africa. Registered in Zambia since 2010, SolidarMed shares the vision of the Zambia Ministry of Health of equitable access to cost-effective, quality health care for all Zambians, particularly in rural areas. The goal of the country programme in Zambia is to improve the provision of human resources for health in rural areas of Zambia.

The thematic focus of the SolidarMed programme in Zambia is Human Resources for Health.  One of the key components of SolidarMed’ s overall Country Programme is to support improvements in nurse training in Zambia. We first started work with St Luke’s College of Nursing and Midwifery in 2015 to pilot a decentralized practical nurse training programme.

The lessons learnt from the pilot phase (2015-18) served as a guide for the Ministry of Health (MoH) and the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Zambia (NMCZ) to create a  more effective way of training nurses in Zambia. These two key stakeholders appreciated the innovative approach and the standard of training offered. The model was formally adopted for nurse training and was promoted to all nurse training institutions in Zambia.

The second phase of the project, from 2019 to 2022, builds on the first and has had the aim of developing “a flexible, efficient and decentralized occupational training model to fast-track professional nursing education for rural Zambia”.

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The second phase was designed with three objectives in mind:

1) To scale-up up decentralized nurse education to other training institutions in Chilonga and St Paul’s nursing colleges and strengthen the sharing of experience at the policy level

2) To improve the cost-effectiveness and efficacy of the model with a blended training approach

3) To safeguard programme investment and consolidate results through improving the school’s institutional capacities

2. Objectives of the external evaluation

To conduct an external evaluation of the programme providing an analysis of the key issues and the lessons to be learned in respect of these areas, specifically

1. What achievements have been made against the specific objectives for the phase 2019 to 2022, with respect to planned activities

2. Establish the main facilitators and challenges to achieving the defined project objectives and provide recommendations for the future direction of the decentralized model with specific regard to the replication by other nurse training colleges in Zambia

This independent evaluation should focus on the following areas:

1) Scaling up decentralized education to other training institutions in Chilonga and St Paul’s nursing colleges

a. Evaluating the project focus on improving teaching, specifically the impact of site-based clinical instructors

b. Evaluating the facilitators and barriers to effective nurse and midwifery training delivery on a decentralized programme with multiple training clinical sites.

2) Improve cost-effectiveness and efficacy of the current model through further development with a blended training approach

a. Evaluating the effectiveness of the blended training approach within the nursing and midwifery colleges – for example, does the (‘3-in-1’) combined curriculum achieve savings in time and cost?

b. Evaluate the utilization of e-learning in the training of nurses and midwives.

3) Safeguard investments and consolidate results through improving the school’s institutional capacities

a. Evaluate the capacity for the institutions to sustain the decentralized model independently.

3. Methodology

The above objectives will require a range of methodologies to include, where necessary, quantitative approaches, qualitative approaches as well as case studies, interviews and/or focus group discussions.

Suitably qualified consultants who are qualified to carry out the evaluation are required to suggest appropriate approaches and methodologies, sampling, and data collection & analysis methods that can explore the above objectives in the proposed time frame.

Project documentation including the initial proposal and annual and half-yearly reports will be availed to the consultant.

4. Duration

It is expected that the consultancy will commence on 1.8.22, with the final report expected to be delivered on 16.9.22. (6 weeks)

To control the scope and time frame of the project, sites for evaluation will need to be agreed upon with SolidarMed. A maximum span of six weeks is designated for this evaluation.

5. Deliverables

Three stakeholder presentations (Dates are a guide. To be agreed in collaboration with the SolidarMed team)

Week 1

A presentation and accompanying planning note within the first two weeks of commencing the commission, outlining the goals, an understanding of the key issues, the detailed approach and the proposed methodologies and activities, and a demonstration of the tools to be used.

Week 3

A presentation outlining findings following initial desk-based research.

Week 5

One presentation highlighting key results for each objective and suggestions for future strategy

Week 6

Delivery of final report and data sets

Final report (minimum ten pages, and maximum 20 pages) following a pre-approved outline and including all summarised data (quantitative and qualitative, in an annex, pictures) as well as eight case studies (two students, two nurses/midwives in rural locations, two clinical instructors or preceptors and two lecturers/tutors ). All raw and refined data to be included digitally.

The final report will be presented to funders, presented internally and may in part of in its entirety be shared with key government partners.

Line of Communication

The consultant(s) will report to the Project Manager, Nursing.

Upon agreement of the final report, SolidarMed will prepare a management letter responding to the findings and agreeing follow up action to be taken to ensure the lessons are learned.

6.   Technical and financial proposals

The technical proposal should outline:

• The proposed approach/methodology including proposed sources and a stakeholder list
• A list of the most recent and relevant assignments in the range of 100 000 to 150 000 Kwacha
• A delivery plan for the assignment, including key meetings requested, with a reference to time frames included above.
• Relevant experience of the consultant(s) (including CVs of the proposed team) and references
• Logistical and other support necessary
• References for similar work

The financial proposal should include all administration costs including overheads, printing, copying, presentation, and transport. The daily rate should consider the deduction of withholding tax in Zambia (15% for residents and 20% for non-resident consultants).

7. Qualifications and experience

Eligible Consultants should have the following qualifications and experience:

7.1   Demonstrated experience and knowledge of the health sector policies and institutions in Zambia, specifically the MOH and health training institutions, as well as health systems strengthening activities at the national level.

7.2   Track record of previous evaluations of similar projects.  Experience in health workforce training and development (consultancies and/or direct involvement) is an advantage

7.3   Higher Degrees (Masters, PhDs) in health, development and/or related fields for lead consultants

7.4   Previous and demonstrable track record working with INGOs at a national level

7.5   Excellent communication and presentation skills and proven experience with stakeholder management.

8.   Submission of proposal

Proposals must be submitted no later than 22nd July 2022, by 17.00 hours (CAT/Zambian time).

Eligible consultant(s) should submit technical and financial proposals of no more than four pages including a budget, electronically to zambia@solidarmed.ch

9.   Background reading

The following will be provided as background reading to the selected consultant.

• The project phase contract
• The project description
• Previous evaluations
• Annual and half-year reports relating to all phases of the project