Introduction:

Handicap International Federation- Humanity & Inclusion (HI) is an independent and impartial international aid and development organization working in situations of poverty and exclusion, conflict and disaster. Working alongside people with disabilities and vulnerable groups, it takes action and provides testimony in order to meet their basic needs, improve their living conditions and promote respect for their dignity and their fundamental rights. Handicap International is a non-profit organization with no religious or political affiliation. It operates as a federation made up of a network of associations which provide human and financial resources, manage projects and implement its actions and campaigns. Handicap International is present in Bangladesh since 1997.

HI is a global actor recognized for its expertise on disability inclusion in the health sector. HI follows WHO (The World Health Organization) recommendations for multidisciplinary care for children with SAM and MAM, including a clinical component and a stimulation component. Handicap International reinforces the stimulation aspect by proposing individual stimulation therapy sessions done by rehabilitation professionals (physiotherapists or occupational therapists. Handicap International Federation-Humanity & Inclusion has been developed model for Stimulation Therapy for malnourished children. This intervention is complementary alongside essential nutritional and medical care and psychosocial support to give children and their families the best chance of survival, greater resilience, and improved future quality of life. Stimulation Therapy for malnourished children aged 6 months to 59 months is designed to stimulate the psychomotor, sensorial, communicational, and cognitive development of the child through tailor made individual care. ST-MC also aims to pass on these stimulation skills to the mothers or relatives of the children in order to improve their recovery, strengthen the relationship, and to prevent and/or limit the harmful effects in the short and long term

Background

As per UNHCR population factsheet as of September2024, 1,003,394 individual and 203,572 families of Rohingya refugees have settled in the refugee camps of Ukhiya and Teknaf Upazilas of the Cox’s Bazar district in Bangladesh fleeing violence and persecutions in Myanmar’s Rakhine State. Around 44% of the adult refugee population,4% are older persons and 52% children including 51% are female and 49% are male of the total refugee population1 There is no widely accepted number on disability prevalence among Rohingya refugees, neither at individual nor household level. Disability prevalence at the household level in the refugee camps ranges from 3%–14% depending on assessments conducted2. Initial finding according to a recent disability survey done by REACH (in collaboration of HI and CBM, December 2020) revealed that around 30% household is having at least one person with any one type of disability as per the Washington Group of Questionnaire3.

In 2023 Standardized Expanded Nutrition Survey (SENS) shows that the combined acute malnutrition prevalence (cGAM) by weight-for-height Z-score (WHZ) and/or low MUAC and/or edema is the most relevant indicator for caseload planning for nutrition treatment programs. Combined GAM showed an overall prevalence of 16.1%. Prevalence of Acute Malnutrition by WHZ, MUAC, and Combined Criteria among Children 6-59 months (Who have <-2SD) in Cox’s Bazar Rohingya Camps (2023) has fell between 13.7% in 2021 to 15.1%, in 2023.

In 2023 the mean prevalence of malnutrition among children under five in the camps was estimated at 2 percent for Severely Acutely Malnourished children (SAM) and 13.1 percent for Moderately Acutely Malnourished children (MAM).4 Another survey showed that close to 12% of children under five in Ukhiya & Teknaf Upazilas are considered malnourished5 The Sector assesses that almost 65,500 SAM and MAM refugee children along with Pregnant and Lactating Women (PLW) in the camps are in need of urgent nutrition services.

In addition, with treatment of malnourishment, Stimulation Therapy for malnourished children from 6 months to 5 years old (ST-MC) is implementing as a complement to essential nutritional and medical care to give them the best chance of survival, better resilience and improve their future quality of life. Stimulation Therapy is a direct and effective response to prevent and reduce developmental delays and impairments and to re-invigorate the child/parent relationship in low- and middle-income countries, even for families who are displaced or living in complex situations such as camps. Therefore, HI Bangladesh program has planned and implementing ST-MC in refugee camps under the GFFO and BPRM project.

As of January 2025, a total of 1030 children have benefitted from Stimulation Therapy intervention under the GFFO project. Pre and post intervention data have been gather, using the HI ST-MC assessment tool (previous version), as the staff has not been trained on the use of the MDAT tool yet.

Objectives of the Study

HI aims to conduct this study to see the effectiveness (focus on technicality6) and relevance of the intervention, as well as to identify the main changes (positive and negative) at the level of the rehabilitation professionals and caregivers.. The findings of the study will allow guiding HI & nutrition sector to shape up future intervention, planning & collaboration.

The specific objectives of the Study

• To assess how rehabilitation professionals are implementing the stimulation therapy intervention and to what extend their clinical practice aligns with the defined protocol and expected clinical skills
• To document how the therapy stimulation responds to the demands and needs of the population and matches with PT professional development
• To analyse what have been the significant changes in terms of clinical practice of the rehabilitation professionals, following the training and intervention
• To analyse what have been the significant changes perceived by the caregiver’s, following the intervention and what have been the triggers and facilitators for them to engage in integrating stimulation in their daily practice.

For details, please see the Terms of Reference

How to Apply:

Application process

• To apply, interested applicants must send an email containing:
• Cover letter and CV (maximum 4 pages) with references
• TIN Copy, NID copy
• If the applicant is a company, they must also provide the following documents:
• Company profile(s)
• Documentation of legal status- copy of updated Trade license , BIN, TIN
• Last TAX Submission Copy (Mandatory for Both Individual and Firm)
• Bank Solvency Certificate (optional for both individuals and companies)
• Insurance certificate (optional for both individuals and companies)
• Applicants must include a technical and financial proposal (maximum 15 pages) that outlines proposed methodologies and schedule.
• Applicants must provide documents demonstrating their experience in health system strengthening, inclusion of person with disabilities and other diverse group, SRH-FP.
• Applicants must provide documents of project evaluation for different NGO or INGO.
• The financial proposal should cover all costs of the evaluation, including consultant fees, field operations costs, accommodation, per diem, air tickets, transportation to collect data, food, and other related costs.
• Quoted price should include VAT and TAX following government rules. If any amount is excluding VAT and TAX, it should be shown with a necessary breakdown.
• Payment conditions should be clearly mentioned in the financial offer.
• Bank details, including the name of the account, bank name, branch, swift code, etc., must be provided.
• Financial Proposals must be submitted in BDT.
• Interested consultants who meet the requirements should submit a proposal as per the vacancy timeline

Applications that do not include the above may be considered administratively non-compliant and will not be evaluated further

Online Bid Submission addresses:

Send a digital file in the form of an email* sent to the dedicated email address: log.cox@bangladesh.hi.org with the tender reference of in the subject).

“Evaluation on Stimulation Therapy Services for Malnourished Children under 5 years old (ST-MC) PD-UKHI-01556”

*If the file is too big to fit into 1 email (limit 15MB per email), the bidder should split the submission into multiple emails. Please include numbering also in the subject.

Bid Submission Deadline – 29th April 2025

HI is committed to protecting children and vulnerable adults from harm. All consultants will be expected to comply with the child Protection and other Policies. Applicants for this position will be assessed regarding their suitability to work with children and vulnerable adults.

Disclaimer: Supplier/Vendor have to declare conflict of interest if any one/more of the member involved with this procurement have personal or business relation them.

Humanity & Inclusion encourages qualified Consultants with disabilities or chronic illness and women to apply. HI commits to providing equal opportunities to all qualified applicants, regardless of nationality, gender, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including people with disabilities.

For details, please see the Terms of Reference