Project Objective: Conduct 4 to 6 focus group discussions
Persons: FGD Expert, FGD Note-taker
Timeframe: July / August 2018
DESCRIPTION
JSI inSupply has received a grant from the Saving Lives at Birth Program. This program is a joint initiative by USAID, the Government of Norway, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Grand Challenges Canada, DFID, and KOICA. They seek groundbreaking prevention and treatment approaches for poor, hard-to-reach communities. They seek innovative ideas that leapfrog conventional approaches in technology, service delivery and “demand side” innovation
This project, Replicated cStock: Making Lifesaving Health Commodities Available at the Community Level, is working with the Kenyan MOH to adapt cStock, a tool developed and scaled in Malawi, to the Kenyan context. cStock has three key components: 1) a simple mHealth tool for reporting and resupply, 2) user friendly dashboards for monitoring supply chain performance and 3) IMPACT teams that review data, identify challenges and work together to improve the supply chain and reduce stock outs. The project is currently testing cStock in two sub-counties of Siaya County to prove its effectiveness and ensure it smoothly integrates into the national system. The project conducted a baseline assessment in 2018.
The project completed training all users on the system between February and April. JSI is now seeking an evaluation specialist to conduct focus group discussions with the cStock users, namely CHVs, CHAs, and health facility staff to get feedback on the system and guide future refinements. JSI requires an external consultant and note-taker to conduct these focus groups.
OBJECTIVE
Conduct focus group discussions and key informant interviews in Bondo and Ujunga sub counties in Siaya County to:
Understand the perspective of the CHV, CHA and health facility staff on the feasibility, acceptability and effectiveness of the cStock intervention.
RESPONSIBILITIES
FGD Team will work closely with JSI’s advisor based in Siaya county to organize and conduct the FGDs.
Consultant responsibilities will include:
Specific Activities / Tasks
Prepare a project plan for the implementation of the focus group discussions – this will include an outline of activities with timelines.
Consult with the inSupply team to complete a focus group questionnaire to guide the focus group discussions, using the analytical framework attached
Work with inSupply team to finalize key informant questionnaire
Work with inSupply staff based in Siaya to prepare the participant list for FGDs and key informant interviews and necessary letters of approval
Organize and conduct 2 or 3 focus group discussions in each sub-county – CHV, CHAs & HF in Charges
Conduct key informant interviews at the sub-county level with Community Health Focal Person
Obtain necessary consent from participants in focus groups
Record discussions both through audio and note taking.
Analyze results and document findings as per analysis framework and plan
DELIVERABLES AND TIMELINE
Project plan prepared and approved by JSI within one week of contract
Final audio and written documentation of responses from all focus group discussions – August 10th
Analysis of results presented in usable, digestible format highlighting the most important challenges and opportunities and other relevant feedback emerging from the FGDs – August 10th, 2018
Final summary report of findings from all focus group discussions – August 17th, 2018
QUALIFICATIONS OF CONSULTANTS
It is expected that a two-person team will conduct this activity:
FGD Lead
Training and experience in conducting and analyzing focus group discussions
Experience working with community health program in Kenya
Fluent in Dholuo
Resident of Kenya
Note taker
Experience in taking notes during focus group discussions
Experience working with community health program in Kenya
Fluent in Dholuo
Resident of Kenya