Consultant for Evaluation of Motivational Counselling within HIV Services At Catholic Relief Services

I. Background

According to UNAIDS Cambodia Factsheets (2020), there are estimated 12,000 PLHIV who remain undiagnosed. To address this gap in knowledge of HIV status and to achieve the national testing and treatment goals of 90-90-90, the national HIV and AIDS program, NCHADS, has applied new strategies including Partner Notification Tracking and Testing (PNTT). PNTT has the potential to improve testing coverage while also identifying people with undiagnosed HIV infection and to break the chain of HIV transmission by offering HIV testing service to persons who have been exposed to HIV and linking them to HIV treatment if positive or prevention service if negative. Successful PNTT will be a big contribution to the achievement of country’s goal of new HIV case elimination by year 2025.

Achieving the maximum outcome of PNTT means index cases being retained in service, agreeing to provide their partner information, and bringing their partner(s) for HIV testing. This work is difficult with complex social and emotional barriers, and CRS has been using the Motivation Counseling (MC) approach in PNTT. MC is a client-centered communication / interview technique which works to motivate and to support clients/ PLHIVs to overcome individual barriers to change behavior in order to maintain good adherence in services, to understand and accept their HIV status, as well as agree to provide partner information and bring them for HIV testing and enroll to service if positive.

CRS Cambodia implements national HIV programming, working in all ART sites in Cambodia. CRS has been implementing MC since late 2019.

II. Assignment Detail

CRS is recruiting a consultant to lead an evaluation which will enable CRS and partners to understand the intended and unintended results of MC in order to improve use of MC for increased ARV adherence and PNTT in contribution to new HIV infection elimination by 2025.

The specific focus for this evaluation is two-fold:

To understand the intended and unintended impact of the Motivational Counseling (MC) approach in relation to testing (partner of index, including high risk people) and ARV adherence
To understand the intended and unintended outcome/impact of MC in relation to ART Counselor daily practice with patients

The evaluation will utilize an outcome harvesting approach. Data collection tools will include focus group discussions, key informant interviews, and desk review of project data. Data will go through an iterative and participatory process of critical analysis, and the final product will:

· Provide information to help us better understand outcomes of MC.

· Enable us to understand the contribution of MC to PNTT and Counsellor attitudes and behavior.

· Enable us to understand unplanned outcomes from approaches or methodology.

· Enable us to understand better cause and effect within MC methodology to pinpoint what specifically is adding the most value, or not.

· Create valuable learning for sharing in order to improve and scale MC, and also influence key decision makers on MC.

III. Deliverables

The Consultant will play a lead role in the evaluation, working alongside with CRS’s MEAL Specialist, to develop and deliver:

Work plan (English) for data collection, analysis, and final report writing.
Data collection tools (English and Khmer)
Conduct data collection (primary and secondary)
KII/FGD notes (Khmer) (and survey data if any), and audio records (if any)
Qualitative data matrix as per CRS’ template (English and Khmer)
A summary of outcome descriptions formulated to circulate to key actors (Change Agents) for review (English and Khmer)
A draft evaluation report as per outline approved by CRS (English)
A final evaluation report in English, considering suggestions and changes recommended during the review/validation process approved by CRS; (English)
Final PowerPoint presentation of the evaluation to be shared with related stakeholders (English and Khmer)

The consultant will follow the process and steps of the outcome harvest approach, designed by CRS. More information on this can be found in the TOR.

IV. Timeframe

Consultant will engage with CRS for approximately 27 working days between 17 May 2022 to 29 July 2022.

V. Profile of the Consultant/ Typical Background, Experiences & Requirements.

The following is a non-exhaustive list of key profile attributes of the consultant:**

· Local residence in Cambodia / company registered in Cambodia.

· Have work permit / work visa required as per local law.

· Master’s degree in relevant field (e.g., social sciences, behavior change communication, public health)

· Experience leading evaluations of behavior change and/or public health interventions in Cambodia.

· Experience working with and engaging vulnerable groups in evaluations.

· A good knowledge and experience of multi-criteria assessments, stakeholder engagement and consultation, community participation; analytical skills to assess institutional capacity and to design/ review practical arrangements for implementing complex projects.

· Experience or knowledge of outcome harvest evaluation methodology a plus.

· Fluent in oral and written in Khmer

· Strong written and spoken English

Applications should include:

i) Letter of Expression of Interest

ii) A tentative work plan with indicative budgets based on TOR (maximum 3 pages)

iii) CVs of key personnel demonstrating relevant capacity and experience

iv) 2 Past evaluation reports (similarly to this assignment) written by the applicant

v) Minimum 2 referees who directly managed the consultant in similar assignment

VI. Payment Method

The payment to consultant will be based on the number of working day and can be made in installments against agreed deliverables. The consultant is expected to include in budget necessary cost for per-diem and accommodation to complete the assignment (No other benefit apart from the consultant fee daily rate).

The consultancy fee daily rate (Proposed in indicative budget work plan) which includes 15% withholding tax. The payment of consultancy will be made to the “Consultant” by wire transfer to consultant’s bank account.

Details SoW/ToR, please send request to kh.recruitment@crs.org

Interest candidate/supplier should submit their CV and Letter of Expression of Interest indicated i) the technical approaches/activities against the expected deliverable, ii) tentative workplan, ii) proposed daily rate (tax inclusive) by

06^th May, 2022 to CRS recruitment email: kh.recruitment@crs.org.**