Consultancy- Research on Comprehensive SRHR Curriculum in KRI (INT9760)

RESEARCH ON COMPREHENSIVE SRHR CURRICULUM IN KRI

 

Project: Masarouna/ Our pathway

Country: Iraq – Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI)

Preferred typology of the consultancy: in person

Background 

Oxfam is an international confederation counting 22 organizations working together with partners and local communities in more than 90 countries.

Oxfam has been working in Iraq since the 1990s with both an expanding and contracting presence. At present, Oxfam works through eight offices across the country.

Oxfam in Iraq’s strategy is shaped around 3 key pillars 1) Humanitarian response 2) Governance and 3) Equality. Within each of these pillars, intervention covers the following sectors: Emergency Food Security and Vulnerable Livelihoods, Water and Sanitation and Hygiene, Gender and Protection, Emergency lifesaving support, and Local Humanitarian Leadership.

In this framework, Oxfam in Iraq is implementing the Masarouna/Our pathway project aiming at supporting young people’s advocacy to achieve their Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR).

 

Masarouna program 

In a context where securing Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights is challenging, the Masarouna  program will mobilize the power of young people (YP), for collective action to support their fight for greater freedom of choice and respect for their SRHR.

The program is implemented in six countries/territories of the MENA region. Masarouna identifies two main interlinked pathways to achieve the desired change. Pathway one is focused on the direct influencing of decision-makers and society to address inadequate legislation and harmful traditional social and cultural norms through strengthened youth engagement. Pathway two is focused on strengthening civil society, reclaiming civic space, and the formation of new partnerships and alliances.

In the specific context of Iraq, young people face a series of challenges that limit their full enjoyment of SRHR: lack of evidence-based information about SRHR, limited access to information, lack of YP-friendly SRHR services, discrimination.

The Masarouna project in Iraq supports YP in the access to their SRHR, with a specific geographical focus on the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Through increased knowledge and the building of alliances and solidarity, Masarouna in Iraq will equip young individuals with the tools and knowledge to demand their SRHR and to create a supportive environment to enjoy these rights.

In 2022 Masarouna team in Iraq led the development of the SRHR Influencing Strategy aimed at galvanising support from policymakers, influencers, religious leaders, young people, parents, and community leaders to achieve sustainable policy change and accountability that advances SRHR and gender equality in KRI. The strategy was developed though a young people led two-day stakeholders’ workshop that was contextualised to the needs of this assignment in Iraq and KRI. The workshop resulted in developing and drafting an Inflecting Strategy covering the next 3 years. The strategy included six primary objectives of which one of them focuses on age and culture appropriate, and evidence-based SRHR education for young people.

Objectives of the research:

The proposed research aims at reviewing and analyzing the needs, challenges and opportunities to developing a Comprehensive Reproductive Health Education curriculum in Kurdistan. Furthermore, the research should aim to uncover if and how effective SRHR education can lead to more public acceptance and awareness of SRHR topics specifically among YP. The research will cover a large focus group including school teachers and school management, health specialists, policymakers, young people, and members of the general public.

As such the preliminary research question reads:

“How can effective and Comprehensive SRHR Education (Both in schools and elsewhere) lead to more knowledge and social acceptance of SRHR topics in Kurdistan?

The research sub-objectives should include, but not limited to, the following:

• What is the need for a comprehensive SRHR curriculum in Kurdistan? This should be analyzed with a focus on the curriculum’s ability to support young’s people access to their SRHR.
• What are the challenges and opportunities affecting the development and adaptation of a comprehensive Reproductive Health Education curriculum? This should follow a multifaceted analysis including legal, social, religious, etc.
• How can a comprehensive Reproductive Health Education curriculum contribute to shifting values, acceptance, and beliefs around SRHR in Kurdistan? This should include analysis at both community levels and the decision-maker’s level.

Note: Consultants are encouraged to suggest more research sub-questions as they are suitable and can contribute to the scope of the research.

Scope of the Research:

In order to answer the research question(s) effectively, the proposed research will include an initial desk review. The desk review should provide an overview of the currently available SRHR curriculums in Kurdistan, to understand the current status of reproductive health education. Based on the desk review the final research questions may be reformulated. After the research inception phase, a round of primary data collection is expected. The data collection will be conducted amongst a wide group of relevant stakeholders, to ensure the research covers a wide range of viewpoints. During the inception phase, the consultant will be required to provide a comprehensive analysis of a wide range of stakeholders who will be included in the data collection process, in addition to the methodology and data collection tools. The data collection tool should be designed to ensure an in-depth, comprehensive, and representative data analysis.

The data collected will be gathered in a research report that covers both an overview of currently available RHECs in Kurdistan, as well as an answer to the formulated research questions.

 Methodology

The methodology will include:

A literature review (desk review). The consultant will propose the scope and depth of such review as background to the research, considering the subject matter of the research while considering the restrictions in the timeframe (see hereafter).  The consultant is encouraged to redefine the research questions based on the preliminary findings of the desk review.

Preliminary mapping of the key stakeholders who will be part of the data collection process. This will include relevant schoolteachers and school management, health specialists, policymakers, Young People, and members of the general public. (This will be supported by Masarouna Iraq team)

Primary data collection – both quantitative and qualitative. The consultant is encouraged to propose specific research methods, explaining how these will inform the research.

Other methods upon needs.

The consultant is invited to propose a methodological offer matching the expected objectives and scope of the research.

Deliverables

1. Literature review: Draft and final literature review.
2. Mapping exercise of the existing forms of reproductive health education in Kurdistan
3. Final research outline based on the preliminary findings sourced from the literature review.
4. Preliminary mapping of key stakeholders who will be part of the data collection process
5. Tools for data collection: Draft and final primary data collection tools.
6. Data: Primary data collection; to be completed no later than end of September.
7. Analysis: Draft and final analysis included in a research report.
8. Final report: Draft and final report; to be completed no later than the beginning of November.
9. Final presentation of the findings and recommendations of the research with selected audience to be confirmed in light of the results of the research in the presence of a targeted audience

 

The documents will be presented in both Kurdish and English. And all original collected data should be shared with Oxfam team with information on the people who participated in the data collection and contact information.

Ethical requirements, safeguarding and confidentiality

Do no harm. The consultant will adopt a gender-sensitive approach, inclusive of all participants, culturally sensitive and participatory, they will ensure the application of the “do no harm” principle.

SRHR is considered a sensitive topic in the region; the consultant should respect the privacy and confidentiality of stakeholders participating in the data collection process.

The consultant shall respect the Oxfam code of conduct and the guidance regarding safe programming.

Lastly, the service Provider shall not use or disclose to any person during or at any time after service provider’s engagement by Oxfam any information relating to Oxfam’s business and operations or any other matters which may come to Service Provider’s knowledge whilst providing the Services and which may reasonably be regarded as confidential (Confidential Information).

Supervision and management 

The Masarouna Project Manager and the Oxfam Gender Justice Program Manager will provide technical and practical supervision to the consultant/ consultant team.

Timeframe

August – November 2023

The research will be launched as soon as possible from the time of contracting the selected consultant and not later than early September 2023 and must be completed no later than end of November 2023 in the last version of the deliverables, approved and validated by Oxfam.

All data collection itself must be completed by the end of September, while analysis, report writing, and review/validation can happen in October and November. The final package is due to Oxfam in the first week of October, to allow time for feedback.

The indicative working days for this consultancy are between 35 to 40 working days or as many as the consultant recommends. The expected number of working days should be reflected in the work plan and budget.

Budget

The consultant budget should include, but is not limited to, all projected costs for the assignment among them:

1. The rates per day per individual in the teams with indicative LOE.
2. The costs of translation of materials for the training (if needed).
3. Per cost category (e.g. daily fees, equipment)
4. Per Phase/Deliverables.

The consultant will be responsible to cover the following costs:

1. Transportation & accommodation for the consultant to travel to the country (Iraq) (if not in- country).
2. Transportation & accommodation for the consultant and participants while in the country.
3. The venue, meals, and other needs for the implementation of the programme.

 

Identifying and Selection of the Participants 

The identification of the participants will be done by Oxfam Masarouna Team in a stage prior to the trainings. A list with the participants details will be provided to the consultant/ consultant team.

Competences and qualifications  of the consultant – whether an individual, team, or firm, should demonstrate the following minimum requirements:

• Educational background: educational background in gender or feminist studies, social or political sciences, or similar, relevant fields;
• Overall expertise and experience, demonstrated through lists of similar assignments, projects or activities, lists of publications, samples of reports,
  • Solid experience in research in a relevant field;
  • Direct experience of research and/or programming work in the Middle East, preferably in Iraq or in a similar context;
  • Demonstrated capacity in both quantitative and qualitative research
• Other skills and commitments:
  • Fluency in English, Kurdish and Arabic;
  • Ability to travel to KRI;
  • Familiarity with Oxfam’s mission; adherence to the organizational code of conduct and safe programming principles.