Project Summary:

Planned Project: Strengthening the inclusion and social participation of people with disabilities
Country/Region: Zambia, Eastern Province
Partner Organisation: St. Francis’ Hospital
Planned Project start date and end date: 01.07.2025-31.12.2029
Study Purpose: The aim of the requested consultancy is to assess the feasibility of the proposed project and to systematically check the extent to which the project approach can achieve the planned changes under the existing framework conditions.
Commissioning organisation/contact person: CBM Zambia Country Office: Slinganiso Homela Program Manager supported by Malilwe Malilwe Program Officer CBID
Study duration: 30 working days

1. Description of the project

This project aims to address significant gaps in accessing inclusive medical rehabilitation services including provision of physiotherapy and assistive devices for people with disabilities in the Eastern Province, which has a population of over 2 million; and will identify challenges such as the long distances people with disabilities must travel to access services and their inability to afford transportation due to poor socio-economic conditions. The project aims to establish a well-equipped orthopaedic workshop, train hospital staffs to provide both surgical and therapeutic services and equip existing community structures, including the Ministry of Health’s Community Health Workers and the Ministry of Community Development’s Community Welfare Assistance Committees, with the necessary knowledge to provide inclusive services effectively at the community level. CBM will provide technical guidance and oversee project implementation.

2.Purpose of the feasibility study

The project is currently in its development phase and CBM is seeking to recruit a consultant to conduct a feasibility study to assess the feasibility of the proposed project and systematically check the extent to which the project approach can achieve the planned changes under the existing framework conditions.
It should provide CBM and its partner(s) with sufficient information on the project opportunities and risks as well as concrete recommendations for improving the project concept. The study will be submitted to BMZ together with the project proposal.

3. Lead questions of the feasibility study

As a first step, the feasibility study should provide an assessment on the following:

• Situation and problem analysis at macro, meso, micro level disaggregated by gender, disability and age
• Assessment of the local partner organization in the respective country
• Analysis of target groups and other actors at macro, meso and micro level disaggregated by gender, disability and age

It is important to note that the study should be complementary to any assessments/field research/information already available to CBM and St. Francis (please see list under 5.3.).

Based on this, the feasibility study should assess as a second step:

• The feasibility of the project concept against the OECD/DAC criteria of relevance, coherence, efficiency, effectiveness, potential impact, and sustainability.
• The inclusiveness of the project, i.e. the active participation of person with disabilities and their representative organisations in all aspects of the project.

For the assessment of both steps a first draft of the impact chain and indicators, description of activities and a draft budget will be made available to the consultant by CBM and the partner organization.

STEP 1 of the Assessment (Problem, Local Partner, and Target Group)

3.1 Initial situation and problem analysis at macro, meso, micro level

• Which current problems in the life situations of men, women, boys and girls with disabilities and their families have been identified and are relevant to the project design?
• Do females with disability face different problems compared to males with disability?
• What is St. Francis current capacity to provide rehabilitation services to persons with disability? (Workshop equipment, staff availability and their competencies)
• Which of the problems are prioritised and addressed by the project?
• What is the existing social system regarding attitude towards persons with disabilities
• What are the barriers hindering inclusion in the communities?

3.2 Local project implementing partner organization in the partner country

• What is the special expertise that justifies the selection of St. Francis to implement the proposed project?
• Which relevant technical and methodological competences are already available at St. Francis for the implementation of the project?
• Which relevant technical competences should be strengthened at St. Francis for the implementation of the project: e.g.: Assessment of availability of Surgical, Therapy, Physio- and Orthopaedic skills, HR, infrastructure/patient hostel accommodation and equipment.
• Are capacity-building measures necessary to strengthen St. Francis capacities in relation to gender equality and inclusion approaches?
• Can the local implementing partner adapt the use of IT, integrate with the existing system of referring clients?

3.3 Target groups and other actors (at micro, meso and macro level)

• How and by whom are the direct target groups (people with disabilities, family members and caregivers of people with disabilities, teachers, religious and community leaders, Community Health Workers, Community Welfare Advisory Committee Members) selected according to which criteria? Are the selection criteria considering gender equality?
• What is the composition of the respective target groups? How homogeneous or heterogeneous are the target groups in terms of gender, ethnicity, age, language, capacities and to what extent does the project have to take this into account?
• Which self-help potential does the respective target groups have? How can local problem-solving capacities be strengthened?
• Do the target groups and other actors have a collective understanding of the problems, prioritisation, and objectives of the project?
• How strong is the support (for example in the form of own contributions), of the different target groups for the project?
• Is it ensured that people of different gender and ages, with and without disabilities, will receive the same benefit from the planned project, i.e. are all able to participate in activities? Are complementary activities needed that target the societal context as a whole to enable the entire target group to participate in the first place (e.g., addressing traditional gender roles together with community leaders)?
• What are other key stakeholders to collaborate with in order to develop a sustainable programme, preventing parallel systems?

4. Recommendations

Based on the main findings and the assessment according to the DAC criteria, the consultant should provide concrete recommendations for the project concept. These recommendations should be within the thematic and financial scope of what the project aims to achieve. They should be practical and implementable.

In particular, the following should be addressed:

• Recommendations on any components, measures, approaches that might be missing or not fitting into the project concept.
• Recommendations regarding any components or measures where potential negative effects have been identified.
• Recommendations on the impact matrix of the project:
  – Anything that can strengthen the impact matrix of the project.
  – Recommendations on indicators demonstrating progress.

5 Geographical Scope
The project will be implemented in the Eastern Province of Zambia

6. Methodology

Independent of the methods to be used, there are mandatory mechanisms that must be adhered to during the entire process:

• Participatory and inclusive
• Safeguarding of children and adults at risk
• Data Disaggregation (gender/age/disability)
• Data Security and privacy (informed consent)

The consultant is expected to use a variety of methods to collect and analyse data. Participatory methods should be used to collect qualitative and quantitative data. The consultant shall indicate the methodology he/she intends to use in his/her offer. It is expected that relevant data on the target group is disaggregated on sex, age, and disability. For collection of data on disability, the use of the Washington Group Short Set of Questions is mandatory.

7. Deliverables and schedule

7.1Deliverables

• Inception report including proposed data collection tools and feasibility study design matrix (matching feasibility study questions with data collection tools).
• Final report (max. 30 pages without annexes) according to CBM’s report template and in accessible format.
• Any data sets collected/analysed and other documents related to the feasibility study.
• A summary Power Point Presentation highlighting main findings and recommendations.
• Presentation of findings and recommendations in a validation workshop.

7.2 Time Frame and schedule
The study is expected to start 22nd July 2024, taking 25 – 30 days. An itemised action plan should be submitted with the expression of interest.

8. Application and selection procedure

8.1 Skills and Experience of Study Team

Ideally teams need to be made up inclusive of men and women and persons with a disability.

The consultant (team) should have the following attributes, among others.

• Academic degree in Development Studies/ Disability Inclusion / any other related subjects.
• At least 5 years of work experience in Disability Inclusion/policy (programme design, implementation, and/or assessment)
• Working experience in the field of rehabilitation.
• Experience in applying the Washington Group Short Set of Questions for the collection of data on disability.
• At least 3 years of work experience designing and conducting quantitative and qualitative studies.
• Experience in undertaking research with remote and marginalized communities.
• Knowledge of the Zambian context in the field of disability inclusion
• Working independently and pro-actively seeking information, while remaining culturally sensitive
• Knowledge of international instruments and national statutes for persons with disabilities.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills including ability to facilitate and work in a multidisciplinary team.
• Strong analytical skills and ability to clearly synthesise and present findings.
• Ability to draw practical conclusions and to prepare well‐written reports in a timely manner.
• Ability to speak local languages (Chewa, Ngoni, Tumbuka and Nsenga).
  Safeguarding Policy: As a condition of entering into a consultancy agreement the consultants must sign the CBM’s or the partner organisation’s Safeguarding Policy and abide by the terms and conditions thereof.

8.2 Expression of Interest

The consultant is expected to submit a technical and financial proposal including the following:

Technical proposal:

• A description of the consultancy firm,
• CV ´s of suggested team members,
• An outline of the understanding of these TORs and suggested methodology (NOT exceeding 10 pages). The methodology shall contain suggestions for the sample size of the different target groups and the suggested data collection methods for the different target groups)
• A detailed work plan for the entire assignment.

Financial proposal:

• A detailed budget in EUR or Zambian Kwacha for the expected assignment shall include all costs expected to conduct a disability inclusive and participatory study, and taxes according to the rules and regulations of the consultants’ local tax authorities.

CBM reserves the right to terminate the contract in case the agreed consultant/s are unavailable at the start or during the assignment.

All expressions of interest should be submitted by email to: procurement.zambia@cbm.org by the 28th of June 2024.