Project Title: Strengthen Diagnostics Services in Liberia

Implementing Agent: Riders for Health Liberia

Donor: United State Center for Disease Control and Prevention (US-CDC)

Date: June 17, 2024

• Background and Context

Riders for Health Liberia specimen transport was set up in 2015 as part of Ebola response initiatives, to transport Ebola specimens, at the end of Ebola it was transitioned to carry priority specimens under the IDSR platform. Riders for Health Liberia’s (RFHL) dedicated Specimen Transport System operates across all 15 counties of Liberia for which at inception in 2015 it utilized 70 couriers which were reduced to 60 then 55 over the years to the current 50 couriers to transport DSR specimens from health facilities to the testing laboratory. From Sept 2019- Aug 2020 it covered 302 sites and utilized 60 couriers Aug 2020- Sept 2022- 394 sites & 60 couriers; Sept 2022- Aug 2023 – 344 and 55 couriers and Sept 2023 to August 2024- 310 sites and 50 couriers. The couriers are professionally trained in the safe handling and transportation of biological specimens. They currently pick up specimens from a network of 310 sites (Health facilities) and deliver them to the testing centers around the country, mainly to the National Public Health Reference Laboratory (NPHRL) in Margibi for IDSR specimens and 28 GeneXpert sites for TB & HIV diagnostics.

An end-of-5-year project period (2019-2024) evaluation on sample transportation plays a vital role in assessing the performance and impact of a transportation system. By focusing on key components such as objectives, methodology, data collection, performance indicators, impact assessment, recommendations, and reporting/dissemination strategies, stakeholders can gain valuable insights to enhance transportation services effectively

Title of Assignment: “End of 5 years project period evaluation”

Brief Description of the Assignment: The consultant will conduct a 5-year end of project evaluation for a USCDC-funded project “Strengthening the Diagnostic Transport Network in Liberia through Strengthening a Coordinated National Diagnostic Network across the 15 counties of Liberia.”

Place of assignment: The Consultant will work closely with the Riders for Health headquarter, Oldest Congo Town, back Road, and visit the fifteen counties where Riders for Health operates.

Tentative date of commencement: (July 20, 2024)

Deadline for Application: July 1, 2024, not later than 17:00 GMT and must be marked “Expression of Interest for Riders for Health – Consultancy Service for the End 5 Years Project Period Evaluation.

Application Process

Interested and qualified candidates/groups should submit their application(s)/profile their interest in providing the above-described services to info@ridersintl.org and copy egray@ridersintl.org. Interested eligible consultants shall provide information on their qualifications and experience demonstrating their ability to undertake this assignment (documents, references, to similar services and assignment, availability, etc.), in addition to their CV.

1. Sample Transport Project Objectives

Riders for Health would like to engage a consultant to conduct an “end of 5 years project period evaluation”.The 5year specimen transport project called “Strengthening the Diagnostic Transport Network in Liberia through Strengthening a coordinated national diagnostic network across the 15 counties of Liberia”

The objective of the evaluation is to carry out a systematic objective assessment of the Riders Sample Transport system to determine its efficiency, effectiveness, relevancy, and sustainability.

Specific objective:

• To assess the effectiveness of the project
• To measure the project efficiency
• To measure the impact of the project
• To measure the project coherence and relevancy to the Liberia Health care delivery system
• Make recommendations on project sector scalability, including utilizing expertise to expand to other sector areas, geographical coverage, etc
• Make recommendations on project sustainability for Liberia’s long-term diagnostic network success.

• Scope of Work

Riders for Health wishes to hire a consultant to conduct an end-of-line evaluation of its 5-year project titled “Strengthening the Diagnostic Transport Network in Liberia through Strengthening a coordinated national diagnostic network across the 15 counties of Liberia”. The duration of the work shall be twenty-five (25) working days to deliver a full evaluation feedback and report. Specifically, the consultant will be required to do the following:

• Prepare tools for the Evaluation (i.e. questionnaires) and design the methodology to be used. The consultant should perform the following activities:
• Conduct a five-year sample transport data quality audit of the Riders system in Liberia by going through the Riders operations databases being held by Riders for Health Liberia for specimen transport that is specimen collection data, kilometers data, etc.
• Prepare tools for the Evaluation to include the methodology to be used.
• With the assistance of the M&E team call the target stakeholders, including CHTs to prepare a schedule
• Travel to the counties to meet targeted stakeholders, that is Key Informants (HQ MoH staff & NPHIL, County Health Teams, Laboratory Technicians, and Couriers for data collection for 20 days
• Carry out qualitative and quantitative data collection sorting and analysis
• Compile the Evaluation report and make a presentation

• Sample Transport Project Deliverable:

Planning and Preparation

• Development of a comprehensive questionnaire and agreed methodology with Senior Riders managers- July 2024

Data collection cleaning and spot check

• Develop a digital data collection method and quality control system for the evaluation

Data Analysis:

• Prepare evaluation draft report: Highlight data quality with emphasis on areas of improvement- August 1, 2024

Submit final Evaluation Report”

• Riders for Health Liberia
• CDC and Partners- MoH/NPHIL, August 30, 2024
• Develop PowerPoint Presentation:
• Key content or section of the Evaluation Report in Summaries.

1. Budget and Terms of Payment:

Interested candidate(s) are encouraged to submit a detailed budget for the engagement in the field including professional fees, stationery, and questionnaire preparation for the exercise. A 10% withholding tax shall be deducted from the consultancy fee. Riders for Health shall provide technical support during the period of conducting the evaluation activities in the field.

The following will be the terms of payment:

70% to be paid at the start of the consultancy

30% upon completion and submission of final report

• Institutional Arrangements
• The consultant will report directly to the M&E Manager of Riders for Health. Riders for Health will provide all relevant background documents necessary for the assignment. Riders for Health shall be responsible for the coordination of meetings and other activities under the consultancy. The Consultant will comply with all reporting deadlines. Riders for Health will coordinate payments.
• Required Competencies
• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in a field relevant to the assignment, for example in Monitoring & Evaluation, Development studies, international relations, or other relevant public administration or social science subject.
• Proven experience in working around Database Management
• Proven experience in working with Real-time data collection
• Proven experience in data analysis and strong interpretation of charts and graphs
• Strong analytical writing and communication skills.
• Ability to devote full time towards meeting the assignment deadlines

Signed The Management

Riders for Health, Liberia