Call for Consultancy: Third-Party Monitoring and Verification Study

Project(s) to be assessed: Provision of Essential Basic Primary Healthcare to Vulnerable Conflict and Earthquake Affected Populations in Idlib and Aleppo

Assessment Type:

1. An integrated Third-Party Monitoring and Verification (TPM) Consultancy Services
2. Performance monitoring

Locations/District:

Northwest Syria (NWS);

Aleppo Governorate: Afrin district: Afrin city (Afrin PHC Centre), Jandairis town (Jandairis PHC Centre),

Al-bab district: Al-bab city (Al-bab PHC centre), and Al-Azraq camp (Al-Azraq PHC Centre)

The number of PHCs to be covered with the TPM exercise is to be determined based on the financial offers of the bidders, the available budget and and they will be selected in agreement with the TPM Service provider.

Purpose of the Third-Party Monitoring & Verification exercise:

• To conduct independent monitoring and verification of activity implementation and describe why and how adjustments are made in the activity implementation by the time of the exercise within at least two PHC centers.
• Asses the level of stakeholder engagement.
• To produce evidence on the added value of DoTW in the provision of pharmaceuticals and related gap analysis based on beneficiary feedback.
• To examine project activities and procedures about monitoring the context, including safety assessments.
• Identify implementation strengths and gaps and derive lessons and recommendations in line with the humanitarian aid and Monitoring and Evaluation Principles.

Proposed Methodologies (Proposed methodology is expected to be designed in line with the USAID/ BHA Monitoring principles.):

• Qualitative interviews using Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and/or Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) with relevant staff members to verify the implementation of activities in the proposed ways.
• Direct observation and on-site verification of physical activities, assets and infrastructure, health sector-specific standards, and other aspects towards triangulation with the inputs received through KIIs with staff members.
• Conduct beneficiary interviews at health facilities and other health-related activities in the host community and IDPs within a conventional sampling approach.

1. Proposed dates of Assignment:
2. Anticipated Date of Draft Report Submission:
3. Anticipated Date of Final Report Submission:
4. Project Background information

Since its inception in October 2024, the project has aimed to enhance access to quality and inclusive healthcare services, thereby increasing the resilience and well-being of 100,029 conflict-affected population in northwest Syria. Central to its mission is the improvement of the health system, with a particular focus on providing comprehensive health services and ensuring uninterrupted access to medicines and medical supplies at four DoTW Primary Health Care Centers (PHCCs) in Idlib and Afrin, within Western Aleppo.

The project provides primary healthcare, mental health support, as well as sexual and reproductive health services. These services encompassed a range of areas, including the prevention and treatment of communicable diseases, sexual/reproductive and maternal/child/newborn health, management of non-communicable diseases, mental health services, and referrals to secondary level healthcare services and available assistance schemes. This comprehensive approach underscores the project's commitment to addressing the multifaceted needs of the conflict-affected population in northwest Syria.

The project also aims to strengthen the overall health system and thereby increasing its ability to provide superior primary health care services through training medical staff and providing free and complementary laboratory testing and free pharmaceutical and medical commodities. This strategy is designed to directly impact the well-being of the conflict-affected population, ensuring they have access to the health services they need, delivered to a standard that supports improved health outcomes. It is complemented by the safe removal of medical waste through two incinerators.

By the end of first 6 months project implementation period, the project had made significant achievements, benefiting 39,379 unique individuals with essential primary healthcare services.

Purpose of the THIRD-PARTY Monitoring and Verification ASSIGNMENT (TPM)

1. The third-party monitoring and verification consultancy services are designed to independently monitor and verify the implementation of activities, assess stakeholder engagement, review working processes and procedures, monitor the context, and identify both strengths and gaps in implementation to derive lessons. The scope of the TPM should be concise, emphasizing output verification. Priority will be given to direct observations, such as visiting distribution sites, to ensure activities are executed as planned and to gather feedback directly from beneficiaries as per the USAID/ BHA M&E guidelines.
2. REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCES

Below criteria is to be considered for the selection of the TPM Service provider.

1. Service Provider as a team of experts or a TPM company to have the following.

• Extensive experience in offering consultancy services in the areas of monitoring, data analysis, reporting, and conducting research within health sector programmes.
• Ability to independently coordinate all logistical and security preparations for field activities including the authorization of missions in NWS.
• Ability to work and conduct field visits in NWS.
• Proven experience in the NWS continent, particularly in the Health and Nutrition sector.
• Previous experience collaborating with the USAID/BHA, bilateral donors, and NGOs on monitoring, evaluation, data collection, analysis, and reporting tasks.
• Being authorized to work in Türkiye is a plus.

Team Leader/ Enumerator(s)

• A minimum of 5 years of demonstrated professional experience on humanitarian assistance services in health sector at least one member of the team.
• Fluency in English with excellent health report writing skills
• Good command of Arabic.
• Proven expertise of more than 3 years conducting third-party monitoring in the mission country or a similar complex environment.
• Excellent English writing skills are essential for producing clear, well-supported, technically sound, and concise monitoring/reporting documents
• Deep understanding of the local health context in Syria, familiarity with local health systems and cultures.
• Master's or PhD in Economics, Health and Nutrition, Development Studies, Peace and Security, Monitoring and Evaluation, International Studies, or a related field.
• Familiarity with BHA-specific TPM requirements.
• Familiarity with DHIS2.
• a background in humanitarian aid and/or experience in Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) or program-related roles within the humanitarian-development-peace nexus