Project Summary

Planned Project: Vision Zambia: Strengthening Eye Health Services for Sustainable Community Wellbeing
Country/Region: Zambia
Partner Organisation: Lusaka Eye Hospital
Planned Project start date: 01.06.2025 – 31.12.2029
Study Purpose: The aim of the requested consultancy is to assess the feasibility of a proposed project of SDL and Lusaka Eye Hospital and to systematically check the extent to which the project approach can plausibly achieve the planned changes under the existing framework conditions.
Commissioning organisation/contact person: Christian Blind Mission (CBM) Zambia/ SDL – German Lions Foundation.
Contact Person: Slinganiso Homela (Country Program Manager)
Study duration: 30 days

1. Description of the project

The project in Zambia aims to enhance eye health services through capacity building, outreach, and sustainable planning. Activities include training healthcare personnel, strengthening referral systems, and implementing telemedicine for remote consultations. Regular screenings in schools and communities will be supported by awareness campaigns and advocacy efforts. Emphasis is placed on preventive measures and healthcare-seeking behavior, with a focus on sustainability through rigorous planning and monitoring. CBM will provide technical guidance and oversee project implementation.

2. Purpose of the feasibility study

The project is currently in its development phase and SDL 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 plausibly achieve the planned changes under the existing framework conditions.
It should provide SDL and its partners 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.

The study should provide an assessment on the following:

• Situation and problem analysis at macro, meso, micro level
• Assessment of the local project executing agency in the partner country
• Analysis of target groups and other actors at macro, meso and micro level
  Based on this, the study should assess:
• The feasibility of the project concept against the OECD/DAC criteria of relevance, coherence, efficiency, effectiveness, potential impact, and sustainability prospects.
• In addition, the study will assess the inclusiveness of the project, i.e. the active participation of persons with disabilities and their representative organisations in all aspects of the project.

This assessment will be made based on a first draft effect chain and indicators, description of activities and a draft budget to be made available by SDL in cooperation with CBM and the partner organization.

3. Lead questions of the feasibility study

The feasibility study aims to assess the eye health project’s viability across macro, meso, and micro levels:

• At the macro level, it evaluates national policies, budget allocation, and social protection measures.
• Meso-level analysis focuses on the readiness of district health systems and collaboration with regional authorities.
• Micro-level assessment delves into community eye health issues, cultural beliefs, logistical challenges, and stakeholder engagement. Organizational capacity, coordination strategies, target group engagement, and project design are thoroughly examined for relevance, coherence, effectiveness, efficiency, impact, and sustainability.
• Finally, the study addresses DAC criteria, ensuring alignment with developmental objectives, human rights principles, effectiveness of intervention methods, economic use of resources, and long-term sustainability of outcomes.

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 in the project concept.
• Recommendations regarding any components or measures where potential negative effects have been identified.
• Recommendations on how to strengthen / increase viability of the cause-effect relationship of the project.
• Recommendations on the impact matrix of the project:
  – Anything that can strengthen the effect chain of the project.
  – Recommendations on indicators demonstrating progress.

5. Geographical Scope

The project is in the Southern and Lusaka Provinces of Zambia, focusing on enhancing eye health care services in these regions.

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)
• Cultural sensitivity

7. Application and selection procedure

7.1 Skills and Experience of Study Team

The consultant should have the following attributes among others:

• Academic Degree and extensive expertise and experience in eye health work, project management, disability inclusive development.
• Proven record of carrying out similar studies in Zambia and/or the region
• Track record in designing and conducting quantitative and qualitative studies.
• Experience in undertaking research with remote and marginalized communities.
• 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 and availability during the proposed period.

Safeguarding Policy: As a condition of entering into a consultancy agreement the evaluators must sign the CBM’s or the partner organisation’s Safeguarding Policy and abide by the terms and conditions thereof.

7.2 Expression of Interest

The consultant is expected to submit both the technical and financial proposal including a description of the consultancy firm, CV of suggested team members, an outline of the understanding of these TORs and suggested methodology, and a detailed work plan for the entire assignment. A detailed budget 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.
SDL 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 the 14th of June, 2024 via E-mail to: procurement.zambia@cbm.org.