Expression of Interest (EoI)

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is looking for Organizations/NGOto conduct the Health Outreach Programme in Ukhiya and Teknaf Upazilasas per attached Terms of Reference (ToR):

  1. Background/Context of the programme:

Cox’s Bazar (CXB) hosts approximately 300,000+ Undocumented Myanmar Nationals (UMNs), in makeshift settlements and within the host community. This number increased drastically following communal violence across the border in the Northern Rahkine state of Myanmar which forced an estimated 75,000 Rohingya to flee into Bangladesh.

Table 1: Estimated Population Figures for Makeshift Settlements in Cox’s Bazar District

Makeshift Settlement Name (Upazila) / Estimated Population Figure (as of May 2017)
Kutapalong Makeshift Settlement (Ukhiya) / 33,000
Kutapalong Makeshift Settlement Extension (Ukhiya) / 33,000
Balukali Makeshift Settlement (Ukhiya) / 15,000
Leda Makeshift Settlement (Teknaf) / 18,000

In addition to the UMNs, 30,000 officially registered refugees continue to live in two official camps. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) had been coordinating humanitarian services to the registered refugees since the 1990s, but UMNs located outside of the registered refugee camps continue to be under-served and not officially recognized. Although the government, international organisations and local-national NGOs do provide different development and humanitarian services in CXB which benefit both UMNs and the local communities, it is still insufficient when compared to the number in need.

The Government of Bangladesh adopted the National Strategy on UMNs in September 2013 to address the challenges in the long term. The six main components of the strategy include ‘sustaining uninterrupted humanitarian services for UMNs living in makeshift settlements’ and ‘strengthening national level coordination’ and International Organization for Migration (IOM) Bangladesh mission has been given the mandate to undertake and coordinate humanitarian efforts for the UMNs[1].

Given the recent influx late last year, UMN, including new arrivals, and the host population have below average access to basic health, water and sanitation services. Amongst the UMN population, women have an increased risk of domestic violence and sexual abuse, with limited access to family planning and maternal health care services. During the last three years, IOM has been implementing its comprehensive primary health care project in collaboration with the government and its NGO partners to increase access to the services, while improving quality of care, particularly in Ukhiya and Teknaf. The programme also focuses on working with the community to enhance their knowledge on key health issues and build their capacity to respond in emergency situations. IOM provides direct clinical services at the Upazila Health Complexes and union and community level facilities. The services also include referral management of complicated cases to higher level health facilities. Moreover, at the community level IOM’s approach is to work at the grassroots level to raise local community awareness in in hard to reach and underserved areas by engaging and training community volunteers to conduct outreach and establish community groups. With this backdrop, IOM would like to engage 2 (two) national NGOs to implement outreach health awareness programmes at Ukhiya and Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar, respectively.

  1. Objectives:

IOM’s outreach health programme will complement and contribute to the multiple donor funded projects in Cox’s Bazar, which aim to address the health needs of the UMN and host communities, strengthen health care facilities and improve health awareness through community engagement in Ukhiya and Teknaf upazilas.

Overall Programme Objective: Improved accessibility and delivery of quality primary and secondary health care services (including pathology, diagnostic, clinical and surgical management of complicated cases) at community and facility level in the makeshift settlements and host communities.

  • Enhance the quality of essential preventative and curative health care services by building capacity of HRH and infrastructure upgradation in the facilities to meet referral, minor surgical and other needs of the population.
  • Support and strengthen investigation of facility based and community based deaths particularly maternal and perinatal
  • Increase community awareness and sensitization on good hygiene and health practices and good health seeking behaviors

IOM is seeking to collaborate with local NGOs experienced in comprehensive health promotion and awareness raising through outreach which engages and enables community members and volunteers to:

a)To enhance awareness and knowledge of maternal and child health care, reproductive health care and family planning services available in order to improve access

b)To improve demand for ANC, PNC and institutional delivery services on maternal/reproductive health through community awareness and education.

c)To reduce gender based violence among target population by increasing access to knowledge by women and men and youth on key life-saving, care and protective behaviors related to sexual and gender based violence (SGVB) within their community.

d)To improve awareness of sexual and reproductive health rights by women, men and youth.

e)To support positive community resilience mechanisms through basic psychosocial approaches and activities, ensuring a strengthened ability of the community to respond to any future emergency and disaster.

  1. Scope of work:

Geographic Location: One NGO(s) will be assigned for either Ukhiya or Teknaf Upazila. Applicants should designate in which Upazila they are applying to work in their expression of interest.

Target Population(s):

-Host communities of either Ukhiya (5 Unions: Rajapalong, Jaliapalong, Palongkhali, Ratnapalong and Holdiapalong) or Teknaf (6 Unions: Whyaikong, Hnila, Baharchara, Sabrang, Teknaf Sadar, Saint Martin and Teknaf Municipality) Upazila

-Undocumented Myanmar Nationals (UMNs) in the makeshift settlements (old and new arrivals) and surrounding host communities in the assigned Upazila

  1. Methodology:

The selected NGOs shall implement a comprehensive set of awareness building activities using a mixed approach that engages and enables community volunteers/Health Promoters and support groups.

The selected NGO partner will deploy one (1) Health Promoter (HP) per Ward; so that nine (9) HPs will be engaged in each union. IOM has selected specific unions in each each upazila as detailed above. In the makeshift settlements, one (1) HP will be deployed for each block of Leda, Kutupalong (old + Extension), Balukhali and Shamlapur MS. It is expected that each HP will cover around 150 – 250 households. They will work in close coordination with the CEHAT (Community Emergency Health Action Team) members in their respective upazilas in day-to-day activities. CEHAT members will be oriented on their roles as a key informant for pregnancy related care as per their TOR (including clients for ANC, PNC and delivery). They will monitor and support HPs’ outreach programmes activities in their respective areas. The HPs also need to keep an active contact with their nearest government Union/community clinics, UHC and IOM’s medical teams for any technical guidance/assistance. The overall methodology will constitute the following methods, but not limited to:

a)Household visits and limited primary health care: HPs are expected do regular house hold visit in their assigned catchment Wards for Interpersonal communication (IPC) and provide first aid treatment for common ailments. As such the HPs will be provided with limited range of basic medication and first aid logistics. Moreover, after being trained, the HPs will provide Psychological First Aid (PFA) and referral services as appropriate for certain cases.

b)Health and hygiene messages should include Sexual and Gender Based violence (SGBV), Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR), Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS), Hygiene Promotion and communicable disease prevention etc. All thematic activities/events should be properly recorded, so that at the end of the month disaggregated reports could be generated and submitted.

c)Health Promoter Training:Implementing NGO will organize trainings for the HPs as appropriate to update their knowledge and skills in delivering basic primary first aid services and communication. In addition, regular monthly meeting will be organized to provide logistics and receiving reports.

d)Court Yard Meeting: Based on the feasibility and workloads, HPs are expected to organize at least 10 Court Yard Meetings (CYM) per month. The CYM should have a minimum 25 to 30 attendees present in the sessions. The HPs will discuss each of the 5 (five) mentioned thematic issues at least once in each of CYM house hold. When a round is complete, all themes could be repeated. At least 10 – 15% of these events should be evaluated. Monthly complied reports of CYM and evaluation, CYM resolution, register and photograph, etc. will be counted as a Means of Verification.

e)Coordination/advocacy meeting with CMC (camp management committee), CEHAT Members and CwC actors: NGOs will regularly participate in the CwC meetings to become aware of community needs and provide feedback on community concerns as well as respond/address those targeted to the health partners.

f)Video Show: NGO will organize Video Shows with thematic health messages at ward levels. It is expected that 150 to 200 participants will attend these shows. Report, opinion from visitors, photograph will be used as Means of Verification.

g)Religious Leader Orientation: It is expected that Religious Leaders will guide community people accordingly during Khudba and preaches at least once in a month and at Temples during prayer time. Attendance, Report, Photograph, etc. will be counted as Means of Verification.

h)School/Learning Centre Campaign: Considering the new number of learning centers within the makeshift settlements and the target population, the NGO will arrange health awareness campaigns at schools and/or madrasas. Reports, comments from Head Master, photographs will be considered as Means of Verification. It is anticipated that around 200 to 250 students will receive messages in each round SCs.

i)Celebration of health related special events: NGOs will participate/organize health related special events/days in coordination with local health administration (Upazila health Complex) and relevant development partners, such as –

  1. World TB day on March 24
  2. World Malaria Day on April 5
  3. World Health Day on April 7
  4. World Mental Health Day on 10 October
  5. World AIDS Day on 1 December
  6. Global Hand Washing Day on 15 October
  7. Supplementary/special mass vaccination campaigns

j)Coordination with clinical management teams: Staff will also participate in the clinic management coordination meetings. The NGOs will maintain a roster for HPs to attach them with the nearest health facilities. Participate in queue management and clinical activities.

k)Support to Community based Surveillance:NGOs will complement in the community based birth and death reporting and verbal autopsy, particularly maternal and perinatal death review (MPDR) through the HPs. They will contribute in the outbreak response/surveillance mechanism in the forms of data collection, service provision and reporting.

l)Organize Adolescent Girls Health Care Session for targeted host communities and makeshift settlements: These sessions will be organized for the selected blocks in the settlements and for the selected Wards in the Unions. Messaging will include health related behavior change issues, health needs during adolescent and ways to address them.

m)Awareness sessions with male counterparts: These sessions will be specifically targeted for male members of the families, such as husbands and father-in-laws to convince about them about benefits of ANC/PNC, institutional deliveries, health rights, family planning and minimizing gender disparities in the societies.

n)Satellite ANC campaigns: Depending on needs and remoteness of a community, the NGO will organize special Satellite ANC campaigns for the communities living in remote and hard-to-reach wards/villages

o)Evaluation of intervention: the NGO will apply appropriate tools to evaluate all the events. At least 10 - 15% of the activities need to be evaluated. Evidence should be submitted accordingly.

  1. Deliverables:

The awarded NGO will submit monthly and final quantitative and narrative reports of their activities implemented under this project according to this ToR and a signed contract based on the final agreed upon activities. All Means of Verifications and other documents (if any) will be attached with the reports as annex.

  • Timely submission of deliverables
  • Quality of deliverables (contents, presentation, writing)
  • Level of adherence to the comments/inputs suggested by the relevant stakeholders
  • Timely reporting and response to inquiries
  1. Criteria for NGOs:

IOM seeks to have credential NGOs with technical expertise to undertake this outreach community based health care project. Individual local NGOs are encouraged to express their interest and submit a project Concept Note in line with this ToR. The successful NGOs should have:

  • Experience in conducting health awareness activities in Bangladesh and among Rohingya communities.
  • Experience of engaging community groups and volunteers
  • Experience in humanitarian and development activities
  • Good relations with local administrative and health authorities
  • Have sufficient financial and administrative capacity with good standing
  • Have good governance and internal control system
  1. Project Duration/ Timeline:

12 Months: 01 July 2017 – 30 June 2018

  1. Applications deadline:

12 Midnight; 20 June 2017

  1. Mode of circulation:
  2. IOM Bangladesh Website
  3. BDjobs (15000/ position)
  4. New Paper (please coordinate with procurement department)

The completed EoI should be placed in a plain, sealed envelope and clearly marked: CFCV-36/2017/C-BD1: EOI: Health Outreach Programme in Ukhiya and Teknaf Upazilasto IOM, Dhaka Office by 20 June 2017 in the below address:

Procurement Department

International Organization for Migration (IOM)

House 13/A, Road 136, Gulshan-1, Dhaka 1212

Phone: +880-2-55044811 – 13

Or

IOM Cox’s Bazar Office

Parjatan Luxury Cottage (1-3)

Motel Road, Cox’s Bazar

Office: +88-03-4152194-6

For more clarification, please contact:Haley West at

Required Documents:

  1. A brief summary of the organization
  2. Details of the organizational governance structure
  3. Legal identity documents of the organization
  4. Registration with Ministry of Social Welfare under the Social Welfare Act and NGO Bureau
  5. Organizational vision, mission, goal and objectives
  6. Organizational set-up in the target districts and nationally
  7. Programs and projects (current and past) with short descriptions
  8. Partners (current and past) with government and non-government
  9. Donors (current and past)
  10. Reporting and monitoring systems
  11. Copies of annual reports for last two years
  12. Copies of organizational audit reports for last two years
  13. Copies of legal documents to be attached as an annexure
  14. List of partners (current and previous)
  15. List of donors (current and past)
  16. Financial proposal for assigned task
  17. Tentative work plan
  18. CV of the relevant persons

The EoI should be written in English.

Any attempt for persuasion will be considered as a disqualification

ONLY SHORT LISTED NGOs WILL BE ASSESSED

ORGANIZATIONS WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY TAX OR VAT ISSUES IF APPLICALE.

IOM is an equal opportunity employer and women are encouraged to apply.

IOM Offices and vehicles have smoke-free work environment.

[1] Letters issued to IOM by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in March and August 2014, on behalf of the National Task Force (NTF) for the UMN Strategy