Call for Expression of Interest

TERMS OF REFERENCE (ToR)

TO THE CONSULTANT/AGENCY TO DEVELOP PROPOSAL ON SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH RIGHTS AND CAPACITY BUILDING

Background :

Blind Youth Association is an organisation establish by the Blind and Partially Sighted Youth of Nepal. With the vision of ‘BPS people of Nepal enjoying dignified life in an inclusive society’ BYAN is currently working in the area of policy advocacy, education, employment disaster risk reduction, political participation and SRHR of persons with disabilities in general and BPS in particular.  Blind Youth Association Nepal (BYAN) is a right based organisation established to advocate and promote the rights of blind and partially sighted youth that are scattered across the country of Nepal. Since its establishment, this organisaiton has expanded its organisational network in different parts of the country and has been conducting different programs such as capacity building, leadership development, personality development and skill development related training to the blind and partially sighted youth. Till the date, the organisation has been able to expand its district level branches in Jhapa and Morgang in provience 1, Bara in Provience 2, Kathmandu valley and Chitwan in provience 3, Kaski in Gandaki province, Rupandehi and Banke in Provience 5, Surkhet in provience 6 and kailali in far west provience. Inclusive of all these branches more than 500+ blind and partially sighted youth are the members of this organisation with equal numbers of men and women. In this regards, BYAN is developing a project with CBM-Global and the consultant will technically lead the project design and development process.

Rationale:

Traditionally, although premarital and extra marital sex have been discouraged in Nepal and most of the Asian societies6, studies conducted in different geographical settings have shown that unmarried adolescents in Nepal are becoming more sexually active and are also increasingly vulnerable to STIs and HIV infection due to changing values, norms and independence.

In the context and societies where the ‘person’s disability’ is accounted as a problem, the social perspective promoted by WHO is of high importance whereby the person or their impairment is not viewed as ‘the problem’, but rather understand disability as a result of the barriers they face in society. Therefore, the challenges are not necessarily due to having an impairment in itself, but rather reflect a lack of social attention, legal protection, accessibility, understanding and support. The ignorance and negative attitude of society and individuals, including health-care providers, raise most of these barriers – not the disabilities itself. In fact, existing services usually can be adapted easily to accommodate people with disabilities. Increasing awareness is the first and foremost step. Beyond that, much can be accomplished by involving people with disabilities in programme design and monitoring.1 This is all about understanding and adopting the ‘social model’ of disability in SRHR.

SRH demand in Nepal is still underserved (45% of total demand 72%) by the SRH and FP service providers. Disability along with gender and geographical differences multiplies the discrimination further. Moreover, studies suggest that people with disabilities are twice as likely to be on the receiving end of inadequately skilled healthcare providers at improper facilities, and are three times more likely to be denied health care and four times more likely to be treated badly by health care systems. People with disabilities are three times more likely to become a victim of sexual, emotional and physical violence where people with mental and intellectual disabilities are the most vulnerable ones. Between 40- 60 per cent of young women with disabilities and 16-30 per cent of young men with disabilities experience sexual violence before the age of eighteen Women and girls with disabilities have up to three times more chances of forced sterilization14 and exposed to the risk of HIV.

In the context, BYAN has been working to promote sexual and reproductive health of persons with disabilities since 2016 and it is most to capacitate the members and the chapter members on the SRH and leadership development. So, to insure the inclusive sexual and reproductive health for persons with disabilities we are seeking for a competent expert who would discuss with our members in the chapters as well as center and stakeholders to drag out the core issues and challenges and pave them in consolidated report .

Objectives

-       To identify the core issues of SRHR of youths with disabilities

-       To develop a report of the consultations at the local and national level.

• Provide sufficient information about the major issues and challenges that are prevailing in the target group.
• To technically lead the project design and development process of a project of  BYAN with CBM-Global.

Duration of Assignment :  12 working days within 1 months within the date of signing of the agreement

Submission of proposals:

Interested candidates or organisations are hereby invited to submit a proposal for the assignment.

Eligibility to submit the EOI ;

• EOI can be submitted by a company or person having the potential eligibility.
• Interested consultants must provide information with their personal CV indicating their qualification to perform the services.
• This expression of interest is open to all eligible Consulting Firm and individual consultants. Renewed Company documents should be submitted in case of the companies.
• Individual consultant shall provide at least 1 details of similar assignment experience, their location in the previous 3 years.
• BYAN will select the consultant based on their experience and amount proposed for the task.
• Working experience and knowledge in disability will be an advantage.

Documents to submit along with EOI :

• Cover letter on the official letter head of company or individual consultant duly signed by authorized signatory.
• Include at least 3 years’ experience in the field of SRH and disability in the related topics.
• Budget for the completion of  the task.
• Updated curriculum vitae demonstrating the mentioned knowledge, skill and expertise required, availability in the proposed service period, a brief plan for how to carry out the services.
• Consultancy fees to carry out the overall task

Date of call for the EOI: 16th Sept, 2022

Deadline for the Submission of EOI: 5 pm, 21st Sept, 2022, 2022. (Nepali Standard Time)

BYAN reserves the right to select or not to select any of the application. BYAN keeps safeguarding as a top priority so, any data or information collected during the task shall be kept confidential and shall not be disseminated without BYAN’s prior consent.