Technical Assistance to Evaluate the Adolescent-Friendly Health Facilities in the Philippines

The purpose of this Request for Proposals (RFP) is to enter into a contractual agreement with a successful bidder and select a suitable contractor to provide technical assistance to map out and evaluate the Adolescent–Friendly Health Facilities (AFHF) in the Philippines under an Agreement for Performance of Work (APW) contract.

BACKGROUND

Adolescents, like all people from all age groups, commonly want to be treated with respect and receive services tailored to their needs and comfort. Certified Adolescent-Friendly Health Facilities (AFHF) represent this approach of providing adolescent-friendly health services with respect, privacy and confidentiality. To ensure quality adolescent-friendly health services are provided by these facilities, the health services must be accessible, acceptable and age-appropriate. Adolescents need to be aware of where to obtain these services and health services need to be provided in an environment where service providers are non-judgemental, unbiased, welcoming, and considerate in their dealings with adolescents. Hence, health service providers require the competencies needed to deliver responsive health services in an appealing and friendly manner.

In September 2019, the Department of Health (DOH) w ith technical support from WHO Philippines, recognized over 700 Adolescent-Friendly Health Facilities across the country.  This was initiated to attract more adolescents to access essential health services and to acknowledge the invaluable contribution of the Local Government Units (LGUs) that established different levels of Adolescent-Friendly Health Facilities (AFHF). These facilities  offer a wide range of essential health services such as family planning, prenatal care, childbirth, post-natal care, HIV/STI screening, mental health and psychosocial support services. These facilities are also expected to be the source of correct and age-appropriate information, especially on sexuality, reproductive and health rights of adolescents. However, after 2019, DOH and relevant partners working on adolescent health, experienced challenges in tracking the number and geographical distribution of AFHF.

Given the challenges in tracking the service utilization among adolescents, there is a need to revisit the continuity of essential services of Adolescent-Friendly Health Facilities, especially amid COVID-19. In addition, the Department of Health recently released the Omnibus Health Guidelines (OHG) to serve as the overarching policy issuance which defines the services and other elements of health care across all health programs that are appropriate for each life stage under primary care, including among adolescents. An evaluation is thereby needed to determine the status of health services provided to adolescents among health facilities with existing certification as AFHF. This will pave the way to develop recommendations for policy enhancement of existing guidelines on AFHF recognition and certification as well as align it with the current DOH-DPCB Omnibus Health Guidelines.

REQUIREMENTS/WORK TO BE PERFORMED

Output 1: Inception Report

Deliverable 1.1: Develop and submit an inception report that includes a work plan with a Gantt chart of activities, and a budget. The report should include a clear plan for interviews/engagement of relevant parties, data that is needed, methodology, and identify points where DOH assistance may be needed to engage/gain access to specific parties or data sources.

Output 2: Plan, Design and Conduct Evaluation of Adolescent-Friendly Health Facilities

Deliverable 2.1: Collaborate with DOH Disease Prevention and Control Bureau, Field Implementation and Coordination Team and Centers for Health Development to map out all the AFHF and identify the target number of AFHF to be evaluated

Deliverable 2.2: Organize a meeting with DOH and relevant partners to discuss the design and methodology of evaluation of AFHF

Deliverable 2.3: Submit a draft evaluation tool for review and vetting with DOH and relevant partners

Deliverable 2.4: Conduct /implement the assessment of facilities per region/province/municipality both in urban and rural settings

Deliverable 2.5: Submit monthly progress report of the evaluation for review and submit draft evaluation report about 2 weeks before the end of engagement

Output 3: Final Report

Deliverable 3.1: Following feedback on the draft report, to revise the report with constant consultation with DOH and WHO

Deliverable 3.2: Submit a final evaluation report, based on comments and suggestions; submit a final financial report

Deliverable 3.3: Participate in any dissemination activities agreed with DOH and WHO

CHARACTERISTICS OF CONTRACTOR

Mandatory:

• Proven experience in the field of reproductive health, adolescent health and development programming, population dynamics, health systems, health service delivery modalities, and health policies.
• Previous work with WHO, other international organizations and/or major institutions in the field of  public health, health policy and research, or any related fields of expertise
• Experience in conducting assessments/evaluation or research in several levels and magnitude. E.g. municipal, provincial, regional or national level, with at least 50 respondents,in at least 5 geographical area;

Desirable:

• Has had previous work on adolescent health and development research, study or evaluation is desirable.

SUBMISSIONS

Qualified and interested specialists should submit the following documents to the Supply Officer through WP RO UNGM at < wproungm@who.int > by 6 June 2023

• • Company Profile {for institutional applications}
• • Technical proposal indicating methodology and timelines, in addition to the below annexes
  • Annex 1: Acknowledgement Form
  • Annex 2: Confidentiality Undertaking
  • Annex 3: Proposal Completeness Form
  • Annex 6: Self-Declaration Form
• • Financial proposal

Please use Tender Notice No. RMNCAH-003-2023 as subject to all submission. Only successful candidates will be contacted.

Last day of receiving queries for this tender is on 31 May 2023