Background
Bangladesh is a lower-middle income country with an estimated population of 164.6 million in 2019 (37% urban, 63% rural) and a life expectancy of 72.5 years. Bangladesh’s GDP is growing fast at an annual growth rate of 7.9% in 2019; its gross national income was US$ 1,750 per person (in current US$). Government health spending as a proportion of total government spending is still low at 3.4%. Per capita public and private health expenditure is respectively US$ 6.1 and US$ 25 with the latter mainly out-of-pocket, with total health expenditure per person of US$ 34 in 2016 (extracted from pre-populated Essential data table).
HIV Epidemiology
Bangladesh has maintained a low HIV prevalence of <0.01% among its general population since the first case was detected in 1989, however, it is one of seven countries in the region where the epidemic continues to increase. Overall HIV incidence rose by 56% and HIV-related mortality by 110% since 2010.
There are an estimated 14,000 people living with HIV (PLHIV) in Bangladesh. National programmatic data of the AIDS/STD Program (ASP) indicates that from 1989 to October 2019, a total of 7,374 HIV positive cases were detected (52.7%); during Nov 2018 to Oct 2019, a total of 919 new cases were detected. Most newly infected people were from Dhaka (381) followed by Chattogram (203), Khulna (90) and Sylhet (59). 105 were Rohingya people, referred to as ‘Forcibly Displaced Myanmar Nationals’ (FDMN).
The HIV vulnerabilities of PWUDs especially PWIDs are much higher than any other groups due to drug dependency & sharing of needle-syringes, mental health problems, violence & harassment, stigma & discrimination, legal and social factors. Since 1998, Harm Reduction programme has been implementing with PWIDs by International / National NGOs supporting by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare but still it is not legalized by the laws of the People Republic of Bangladesh, as such imprisonment, violence and harassment is a common phenomenon in the daily life of PWUDs both by the law enforcement agencies and the society. It is widely documented that PWUDs who are in prison are more vulnerable to HIV transmission than those who are outside of the prison and other close settings. As the responsible department the national AIDS/STD Programme (ASP), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has limitation to engage the DNC, Bangladesh Police and Prison authority for effective HIV response due to limited financial and human resources. Therefore, there is a critical need for a multi-sector response for effective HIV programme implementation in Bangladesh, particularly to address the legal and structural factors.
These multifaceted problems have been affecting the implementation of HIV Programme-harm reduction programme to reach the PWUDs with services as well as accesses to services by PWIDs without fear of legal action, violence, harassment, stigma and discrimination. The HIV epidemic is increasing gradually among PWUDs and their partners, which became a public health threat for HIV transmission among general population. Considering the ongoing HIV epidemic and being the responsible agency, UNODC ROSA through its programme office in Bangladesh is planning to identify the needs of stakeholders, especially government counterparts to address the issues affecting the implementation of national HIV Programme-Harm Reduction Intervention and accordingly to provide technical support to government counterparts.
Introduction:
The UNODC Regional Office for South Asia (UNODC ROSA) is located in New Delhi (India) and covers six countries of the region: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka. Under its Regional Programme for South Asia for the period 2018-2021, UNODC ROSA is delivering technical assistance to South Asia under the following five components: (1) Countering transnational organized crime; (2) A comprehensive response to the drug problem (drug trafficking & drugs and health); (3) Countering corruption; (4) Terrorism prevention; (5) Criminal justice and crime prevention.
UNODC ROSA is currently implementing a project in Bangladesh with the aim to identify the key gaps in the harm reduction programme specially for PWUDs and accordingly to identify key areas for providing technical support to national stakeholders on Drugs and HIV/AIDS for effective implementation of HIV programme with PWUDs (People Who Uses Drugs). As a part of this project UNODC will conduct a Need Assessment Study to find out the gaps in HIV response among PWUDs following UNODC mandates.
Duties and Responsibilities
Overall objective of assignment:
The overall objective of this assignment is to find out the area of providing technical support to stakeholders including legal and policy advocacy for effective implementation of harm reduction programme in Bangladesh among PWUDs as per UNODC mandates.
Specific objectives:
- To identify gaps in national response to drugs and HIV/AIDS-Harm Reduction Programme specially with Ministry of Home Affairs (prison Authority, Bangladesh police and Department of Narcotics Control.
- To identity the working area on drugs and HIV/AIDS-Harm reduction programme for UNODC to work with government counterpart and other relevant stakeholder including community base organizations (CBOs).
- To conduct a consultative meeting with government counterparts and other stakeholders following study findings to determine the set of intervention for UNODC with government counterparts and other relevant stakeholders
Scope of work and expected outputs/ deliverables:
As a part of the HIV/AIDS project activities, UNODC would like to engage a consultant for reviewing ongoing responses/initiatives which were taken by the government counterparts on drugs and harm reduction programme. Based on the findings of this study UNODC will design its programme activities around drugs and HIV/AIDS for effective implementation and efficient use of resources. In addition, UNODC will also explore the collaborative working opportunities with other relevant agencies such as UNAIDS, WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA etc. to leverage resources and technical knowledges for creating a sustainable impact of HIV prevention programme in Bangladesh. This need assessment study will focus on aforementioned areas related to drugs and HIV/AIDS-Harm Reduction Programme in 23 priority districts in Bangladesh identified by national AIDS/STD Programme (ASP).
- Assess the prison health situation in Bangladesh and recommend set of tailor-made intervention packages focusing on comprehensive HIV prevention programme.
- Identify the gaps to provide technical support to Bangladesh Police department, Ministry of Home Affairs on Drugs and Harm Reduction Programme for HIV prevention among key population specially among PWUDs.
- Identify the gaps to provide technical support to Department of Narcotics Control (DNC), Ministry of Home Affairs on Drugs and harm Reduction Programme with PWUDs.
- Assess areas of capacity building/providing technical support of/to national AIDS/STD Programme (ASP), Ministry of Health & Family Welfare and others relevant stakeholders (including CBOs among Key Population) on Drugs and Harm Reduction Programme.
- Conduct desk research on best practice of harm reduction programme at regional and global level specially among Muslim countries like Iran, Malaysia, Indonesia, Morocco etc. where prevails similar religion, social and cultural values.
- Review national and global policy instruments such as national laws & policy especially narcotics laws, national drug policy, guideline/protocol developed by UNODC, WHO, UNAIDS etc.
The consultant is expected to carry out a comprehensive quality need assessment on past, present and future initiative especially undertaken by DNC, Bangladesh Police, Prison Authority and ASP and come up with set of recommendations / a road map for capacity building/technical support for effective HIV programme implementation as well as efficient use of resources in Bangladesh. The consultant will be responsible to develop a need assessment plan in consultation especially with government counterparts. The consultant must conduct various consultation/meeting with stakeholders identified by UNODC and government counterparts. The consultant has to present the study finding at national level roundtable meeting which will be organized by UNODC ROSA jointly with government counterparts.
Specific deliverables and payment terms:
Deliverable | days |
First draft report with UNODC team and committee members for their review and feedback and accordingly organize meeting with stakeholders to address their inputs / feedback in the final report following a power point presentation. Develop and share a six pages study brief notes extracting the key finding from final study report in consultation with UNODC team. | 20 working days
|
Submit the final study report (50-60 pages) to UNODC including six-page study brief notes accommodating all feedback and suggestions made by UNIDC team and committee members formed by government counterparts. | 10 working days
|
Note:
- Technical Proposal must include the timeline, methodology and plan of action
- The consultant will bear the associated cost while meeting with national working group members (12-15 members) if require;
- Any kind of miscellaneous charges i.e. Internet, phone etc. would not be reimbursed;
- Please note proposals without the financial proposal will not be considered.
Time frame:
The contract will be for a period of 2 months (30 working days).
Reporting and communication:
The consultant will work under the overall supervision of the Representative/Deputy Representative UNODC Regional Office for South Asia, and the direct supervision of the National Programme Coordinator (Drugs and HIV/AIDS), and in coordination with the relevant staff of country team, ROSA, Headquarters (HIV/AIDS Section).
Competencies
- Proficient writing, editing, and oral communication skills in English and excellent drafting skills in Bangla.
- A good understanding of the local context and cultural sensitivity, specifically in the area of drugs and narcotics laws, prison health & laws; national programme and policies on HIV/AIDS issues;
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
- University degree or equivalent in the field of Public Health, Social Sciences, or an alternative relevant field;
Exoeriance
- At least 5 years of experience in areas related to Public Health especially on Drugs, SRH, and HIV/AIDS issue;
- Experience working with government officials;
- Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, PowerPoint, Bijoy etc.).
Cumulative analysis
When using this weighted scoring method, the award of the contract should be made to the individual Consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:
a) responsive/compliant/acceptable, and
b) Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.
Technical Criteria weight: 70%
Financial Criteria weight: 30%
Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 70% point in technical criteria would be considered for the Financial Evaluation.
Technical Evaluation Criteria
- Educational qualification - 20 points
- Experience in the public health-Drugs and HIV/AIDS - 30 points
- Experience of working with government officials of the people republic of Bangladesh. 20 points.
Financial Evaluation (Total 30 marks)
All technical qualified proposals will be scored out 30 based on the formula provided below. The maximum points (30) will be assigned to the lowest financial proposal. All other proposals received points according to the following formula:
p = y (µ/z)
where:
- p = points for the financial proposal being evaluated;
- y = maximum number of points for the financial proposal;
- µ = price of the lowest priced proposal;
- z = price of the proposal being evaluated.
The financial proposal shall specify a total lump sum amount, and payment terms around specific and measurable (qualitative and quantitative) deliverables (i.e. whether payments fall in installments or upon completion of the entire contract). Payments are based upon output, i.e. upon delivery of the services specified in the TOR. In order to assist the requesting unit in the comparison of financial proposals, the financial proposal will include a breakdown of this lump sum amount (including travel, per diems, and number of anticipated working days).
Financial Milestone
Deliverable | Percentage payment |
First draft report with UNODC team and committee members for their review and feedback and accordingly organize meeting with stakeholders to address their inputs / feedback in the final report following a power point presentation. Develop and share a six pages study brief notes extracting the key finding from final study report in consultation with UNODC team. | 50% of contracted amount |
Submit the final study report (50-60 pages) to UNODC including six-page study brief notes accommodating all feedback and suggestions made by UNIDC team and committee members formed by government counterparts. | 50% of contracted amount |
DOCUMENTS TO BE INCLUDED WHEN SUBMITTING THE PROPOSALS
Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications:
Proposal
- Duly accomplished Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability using the template provided by UNDP;
- Personal CV, indicating all past experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate and at least three (3) professional references;
- Technical Proposal must include the timeline, methodology and plan of action;
- Financial Proposal: Financial Proposal has to be submitted through a standard interest and availability template which can be downloaded from the link below: