Request for Applications (RFA) – SHARE Ghana Mentoring Study

1. FHI 360

FHI 360 is a nonprofit human development organization dedicated to improving lives in lasting ways by advancing integrated, locally driven solutions. Our staff includes experts in health, education, nutrition, environment, economic development, civil society, gender equality, youth, research and technology — creating a unique mix of capabilities to address today’s interrelated development challenges. FHI 360 works in more than 50 countries.

2. SHARE Project Overview

The Sexual Health and Reproductive Education (SHARE) project is a five-year project carried out by a consortium of partners with the aim of improving sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR) among young people in Ghana, Mozambique, and Uganda. Funded by the Global Affairs Canada, SHARE is led by Right to Play International (RTP), in collaboration with WaterAid (WA) and the Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE). FHI 360 serves as a key technical partner for the project.

3. Research Overview

Background

Early adolescence presents an opportunity to reach young people to support positive youth development and strengthening their ability to make informed decisions about their health and well-being. Although group-based mentoring programs are a popular intervention strategy to support positive youth development, evidence on SRH-focused mentoring programs for early adolescents is limited.

To respond to this gap, RTP is leading the implementation of a novel, hybrid approach to a group-based mentoring program designed to promote healthy social and emotional development, equitable gender norms, and access to age-appropriate information on sexual and reproductive health. The program will be delivered to early adolescents ages 10-14 years attending upper primary and junior high schools in four areas in Ghana’s Upper East Region. Taking place over the course of the 2024-2025 academic year, the mentoring program will be delivered in 30 sessions, with half of the sessions led by teachers and taking place in schools, and the other half of sessions led by community-based mentors and taking place concurrently in the community.

Research

This research, led by FHI 360, will explore the acceptability and feasibility of this novel hybrid approach from the perspectives of student mentees, their parents, and program implementers. We will also gather data at multiple time points over the school year from student mentees on outcomes related to the intervention, to examine the program’s potential to change young adolescents’ knowledge and attitudes around priority outcomes for positive SRH and developmental outcomes.

The aim of this study is to assess the feasibility and acceptability of the hybrid, group-based mentorship program with school-based and community-based components for in-school youth ages 10-14 years.

The study will meet this aim through its three objectives:

1. To examine intervention acceptability on the part of student mentees and their parents, program mentors, program staff, and other key stakeholders.
2. To determine feasibility of implementing the intervention in terms implementation fidelity and costs.
3. To document changes in self-reported measures of knowledge and attitudes on key domains targeted by the program from pre-intervention to post-intervention among student mentees.

This mixed methods, single-group (intervention only), longitudinal study will follow youth enrolled in a group-based mentoring program over the course of one academic year. We will collect and analyze data from the following sources:

• Structured, face-to-face interviews with student mentees and mentors/teachers responsible for leading the mentor groups using questionnaires that include closed and open-ended questions administered at four time points: Baseline (pre/early-intervention), and at the ends of academic terms 1, 2, and 3.
• Structured, face-to-face interviews with parents of student mentees that include closed and open-ended questions administered at baseline then again at endline (end of the third academic term).
• Focus group discussions with separate groups of parents and mentors at the conclusion of term 3. Focus group discussions will be guided by findings from the quantitative analyses and delve deeper into issues identified on program acceptability, feasibility, and potential adaptations to the program.
• In-depth interviews with program-level, district-level, and other relevant key informants at the end of term 3 to explore the internal and external contexts in which the program is carried out and potential for sustainability.
• Analysis of program monitoring data, de-identified and extracted by program staff, to document implementation and fidelity of implementation to design, implementation challenges, and any adaptations made during the program.
• Cost data from project budgets and financial reports specific to the mentoring program.

Study populations include:

• Student mentees (both girls and boys) ages 10 to 14 years enrolled in the SHARE project mentoring program for in-school youth
• Parents or guardians of student mentees who are enrolled in the SHARE project mentoring program and are participating in the research
• Teachers and community-based mentors who are engaged to lead mentoring groups as part of the SHARE project mentoring program for in-school youth
• Key informants, the full list of which is yet to be determined, but will include program implementers, and district/regional/national stakeholders relevant to implementation.

A timeline of study activities is included as Section 5 below.

Summary of sampled schools and estimated sample size by study population.

• District: Builsa North Municipal
  • Sampled Schools:
    • Primary (gr. 5-6): 3
    • JHS (gr. 1-2): 3
  • Estimated Sample Sizes:
    • Student Mentees*: Boys: 90; Girls: 90
    • Parents (1 parent per enrolled student): Up to 180
    • Program Teachers/Mentors: 24
• District: Kasena-Nankana**
  • Sampled Schools:
    • Primary (gr. 5-6): 3
    • JHS (gr. 1-2): 3
  • Estimated Sample Sizes:
    • Students Mentees*: Boys: 90; Girls; 90
    • Parents (1 parent per enrolled student): Up to 180
    • Program Teachers/Mentors: 24
• District: Bongo District
  • Sampled Schools:
    • Primary (gr. 5-6): 3
    • JHS (gr. 1-2): 3
  • Estimated Sample Sizes:
    • Students Mentees*: Boys: 90; Girls; 90
    • Parents (1 parent per enrolled student): Up to 180
    • Program Teachers/Mentors: 24
• Total:
  • Sampled Schools:
    • Primary (gr. 5-6): 9
    • JHS (gr. 1-2): 9
  • Estimated Sample Sizes:
    • Students: Boys: 270; Girls: 270
    • Parents (1 parent per enrolled student): Up to 540
    • Program Teachers/Mentors: 72

* Each school has one girls’ group of 15 girls and one boys’ group of 15 boys for a total of 30 adolescents in each school taking part in mentoring groups.

** Includes Kasena-Nankana Municipality and Kasena-Nankana West District.

4. Purpose of Consultancy

FHI 360 is seeking to engage an independent, Ghana-based research organization, academic institution, or consultancy firm to work closely with FHI 360 and RTP and to implement the study in Ghana. FHI 360 will supply a study protocol, and related tools, including informed consent forms, questionnaires, IDI guides, and FGD guides. The Research Organization, in close collaboration with FHI 360 researchers and RTP program staff, will plan and carry out data collection activities associated with the study. The Research Organization will coordinate activities in preparation for study implementation, collect data, support data analyses and interpretation in close collaboration with FHI 360, and contribute to final results dissemination in Ghana.

5. Proposed Scope of Work

Specific responsibilities and tasks for the Research Organization will include:

Study Preparation (September 2024)

• Recruit, hire, and manage data collectors and supervisors according to a staffing plan that will be approved by FHI 360.
• Obtain required permissions from study sites to collect data.
• Liaise with the research ethics review committees in Ghana, as needed.
• Ensure all data collectors, supervisors, and other Research Organization personnel who will take part in this research will have completed and obtained certification of completion for a research ethics training curriculum prior to the beginning of data collectors’ training.
• In accordance with guidance provided by FHI 360, plan the logistics required for data collector training to be co-led by the Research Organization and FHI 360 staff on study procedures, data collection, and data management. Each training is expected to be 5 consecutive business days in length, and to include a field test of data collection instruments. Training materials will be jointly developed between the Research Organization and FHI 360 staff.
• Participate in finalizing data collection tools and informed consent forms, including reviewing and improving translations.
• Plan all required logistics to collect data in accordance with the study protocol.

Data collection (October 2024-July 2025)

• Prior to and throughout data collection for all evaluation components, ensure that relevant authorities and stakeholders are informed about the study as appropriate.
• Perform all coordination and logistical tasks related to the planning, scheduling, and relationship-building necessary for successful completion of all data collection activities.
• Manage data collection and ensure day-to-day technical and logistical aspects of data collection (including participant incentives) in accordance with procedures described in the protocol and in consultation with the Project Leader. The Research Organization is responsible for developing a detailed schedule for each data collection component in advance.
• Conduct the following data collection activities:
  • October 2024: Baseline data collection with a structured questionnaire with 12 groups of approximately 15 mentees each in Builsa North Municipal, Kasena-Nankana (Kasena-Nankana Municipality and Kasena-Nankana West District), and Bongo District for approximately.
    • 540 student mentees enrolled in the SHARE mentoring program
    • Up to 540 parents of student mentees enrolled in the SHARE mentoring program
    • 72 mentors carrying out the SHARE mentoring program
  • January 2025: Re-contact and conduct follow-up interviews with a structured questionnaire at the end of Term 1 with approximately.
    • 540 student mentees enrolled in the SHARE mentoring program
    • 72 mentors carrying out the SHARE mentoring program
  • May 2025: Re-contact and conduct follow-up interviews with a structured questionnaire at the end of Term 2 with approximately.
    • 540 student mentees enrolled in the SHARE mentoring program
    • 72 mentors carrying out the SHARE mentoring program
  • July 2025: Re-contact and conduct follow-up interviews with a structured questionnaire at the end of Term 3 with approximately.
    • 540 student mentees enrolled in the SHARE mentoring program
    • Up to 540 parents of student mentees enrolled in the SHARE mentoring program
    • 72 mentors carrying out the SHARE mentoring program
  • August 2025: Qualitative data collection including
    • Recruit approximately 48 mentors carrying out mentorship activities for the SHARE project and conduct approximately 4 FGDs
    • Recruit approximately 80 parents of student mentees and conduct approximately 8 FGDs
    • Recruit up to 20 key informants and conduct IDIs
• Data collectors will obtain informed consent prior to enrolling study participants. For student mentees, we will obtain both parental permission and adolescent assent for mentees.
• In addition to obtaining consent and collecting data, data collectors will be required to provide participant compensation (estimated at 80 GHS to each participant for each interview), and securely transfer data as soon as possible after completing an interview, per agreed upon standard operating procedures (SOPs).
• Supervisors will supervise data collection activities and ensure all actions adhere to the approved study protocol and SOPs.
• The Research Organization will communicate regularly with FHI 360 on progress of fieldwork and submit short reports summarizing key aspects of data collection activities (such as response rates, any challenges and corrective actions, and general observations) after completion of each data collection activity.

Data (during and immediately following each round of data collection)

• Produce complete and accurate databases of responses from mentee and mentor questionnaires
• Arrange for digital audio recording of IDIs and FGDs and manage transcription of interviews, with translation into English, as necessary. Check all transcripts for completeness and accuracy and submit to FHI 360 on an ongoing basis. When possible, it is expected that data collectors will transcribe recorded interviews themselves. The use of external translators may be proposed but is not desirable.
• Promptly respond to data queries from FHI 360
• Review data analyses and provide input into interpretation
• Provide input to finalize project report, as necessary
• Plan and lead district dissemination activities involving communities
• Take part in national-level results dissemination

Duration and Location

The total duration of the work is expected to be approximately 18 months, from August 2024 through December 2025. Data collector trainings should take place in a central location, logistically and financially feasible for the Research Organizations and data collectors, prior to each round of data collection: October 2024, January 2025, May 2025, July-August 2025. Structured questionnaires, IDIs, and FGDs will take place at or near where the mentoring groups meet, and potentially at locations deemed to be convenient to participants.

Summary of data collection activities and timing.

• Baseline questionnaires
  • Approximate Timing: October 2024
  • Sample sizes:
    • Mentee questionnaire: 540
    • Parent questionnaire: Up to 540
    • Mentor questionnaire: 72
  • Logistical considerations:
    • Mentee questionnaire: 36 groups of approx. 15 mentees/group (3 Primary and 3 JHS groups per District, 1 boys’ group and 1 girls’ group per school)
    • Parent questionnaire: 36 groups of approx. 15 mentees/group (3 Primary and 3 JHS groups per District, 1 boys’ group and 1 girls’ group per school)
    • Mentor questionnaire: 72 mentors for 36 groups, 2 mentors per group (1 teacher and 1 community-based mentor)
• Follow up questionnaires, end of Term 1
  • Approximate Timing: January 2025
  • Sample sizes:
    • Mentee questionnaire: 540
    • Mentor questionnaire: 72
  • Logistical considerations:
    • Mentee questionnaire: Follow up interview #1 with all enrolled student mentees
    • Mentor questionnaire: Follow up interview #1 with all enrolled mentors
• Follow-up questionnaires, end of Term 2
  • Approximate Timing: May 2025
  • Sample sizes:
    • Mentee questionnaire: 540
    • Mentor questionnaire: 72
  • Logistical considerations:
    • Mentee questionnaire: Follow up interview #2 with all enrolled student mentees
    • Mentor questionnaire: Follow up interview #2 with all enrolled mentors
• Follow-up questionnaires, end of Term 3
  • Approximate Timing: July 2025
  • Sample sizes:
    • Mentee questionnaire: 540
    • Parent questionnaire: Up to 540
    • Mentor questionnaire: 72
  • Logistical considerations:
    • Mentee questionnaire: Endline interviews with all enrolled student mentees
    • Parent questionnaire: Endline interview with all enrolled parents
    • Mentor questionnaire: Endline interviews with all enrolled mentors
• FGDs and IDIs
  • Approximate Timing: August 2025
  • Sample size:
    • Mentor FGDs: 47
    • Parent FGDs: 48-80
    • Key informant IDIs: Up to 20
  • Logistical considerations:
    • Mentor FGDs: 1 FGD of 6-8 mentors per stratum (girls Primary, girls JR High, boys Primary, boys JR High)
    • Parent FGDs: 8 FGDs with 6-10 parents; geographic distribution to be determined
    • Key informant IDIs: district and national stakeholders

Qualifications:

Applicant organizations should have substantial experience in public health intervention research, with demonstrable expertise in both quantitative and qualitative research methods. Experience conducting interviews with adolescents, minors in particular, is strongly desired. Topical experience in sexual and reproductive health is also desirable.

Evaluation Criteria: Proposals will be evaluated in accordance with the following criteria:

• Technical approach: 30%
• Management and staffing: 20%
• Experience, past performance/references: 20%
• Cost/budget proposal 30%

Disclaimers and Protection Clauses

1. FHI 360 may cancel solicitation and not award.
2. FHI 360 may reject any or all responses received.
3. Issuance of solicitation does not constitute award commitment by FHI 360.
4. FHI 360 reserves the right to disqualify any offer based on offeror failure to follow solicitation instructions.
5. FHI 360 will not compensate offerors for response to solicitation.
6. FHI 360 reserves the right to issue award based on initial evaluation of offers without further discussion.
7. FHI 360 may choose to award only part of the activities in the solicitation, or issue multiple awards based on the solicitation activities.
8. FHI 360 reserves the right to waive minor proposal deficiencies that can be corrected prior to award determination to promote competition.
9. FHI 360 will be contacting offerors to confirm contact person, address and that bid was submitted for this solicitation.

Application Submission

We invite interested candidates to submit the following application documents:

1. A cover letter (1 page).
2. A summary (max. 2 pages) of directly relevant prior expertise and experience, highlighting those aspects that are particularly relevant to the present assignment, including experience with:
   1. Carrying out research with adolescents and youth study participants, including minors
   2. Electronic data collection using pre-programmed computer tablets and data collection software
   3. Qualitative interviewing and FGD moderation
3. A staffing plan, to include organizational/agency key personnel staff.
4. CV or résumé (5 pages maximum each) for proposed key personnel
5. A draft workplan, based on information provided within the request for applications Sections 5 and 6, and proposed timeline for completing required tasks.
6. A proposed budget*
   1. Include proposed labor costs, expenses, and other direct costs. Note that the Research Organization will be responsible for providing all equipment necessary to the successful implementation of the study, including recorders for qualitative interviews, computer tablets or smartphones for use in electronic data capture for the structured questionnaires, any computers necessary for data entry and management, including transcription of interviews (and software such as Microsoft Word).
      1. Daily rates for proposed personnel and number of days each will contribute to the project; or monthly rates, number of months, and % time staff will contribute to the project
      2. All direct costs related to training, travel and data collection/management
      3. Indirect costs/overhead rate
   2. A budget justification for proposed costs elements

*note, this contract will be administered as a cost-reimbursement contract, which will require the Research Organization to accurately track and report the time spent on the study by all staff (through timesheets or similar mechanism), as well as all expenditures associated with the study.

All questions or clarifications regarding these Terms of Reference must be in writing and submitted to Lisa Dulli (ldulli@fhi360.org) and Alexis Sullivan (asullivan@fhi360.org) no later than 28th of August 2024. Questions and requests for clarification, and responses thereto, will be circulated to parties who have indicated interest in the opportunity.

Proposals must be submitted no later than 3rd of September 2024 to Lisa Dulli (ldulli@fhi360.org), Scientist FHI 360, and Alexis Sullivan (asullivan@fhi360.org), Research Associate FHI 360.