MSI Ghana invites qualified, experienced, and values-driven consulting firms, research institutions, universities, and individual consultants to submit proposals to undertake this consultancy.

Background

MSI Ghana established the Public Sector Strengthening (PSS) Programme in 2018 to strengthen the capacity of the Ghana Health Service (GHS) to deliver high-quality, client-centred Family Planning (FP) and Comprehensive Abortion Care (CAC) services. The programme supports GHS staff providers through competency-based training, mentoring, supportive supervision, quality assurance, and systems strengthening to improve access to quality SRH services, particularly for underserved populations.

The programme is currently implemented through four Capacity Building Teams (CBTs) across the Ashanti, Bono, Ahafo, and North East Regions. Working closely with Regional and District Health Directorates, the teams build provider competencies, strengthen facility quality improvement systems, support routine monitoring, and promote the sustainable delivery of quality FP and CAC services within public health facilities.

A key feature of the PSS Programme is its phased transition model, through which facilities move from Direct Support to Indirect Support and eventually to Withdrawal once they demonstrate the capacity to sustain quality services independently. This approach is intended to strengthen local ownership while ensuring that programme gains are maintained over time.

As the programme continues to mature, MSI Ghana seeks to generate evidence to inform future programming, strengthen sustainability, and contribute to national learning on public sector approaches to improving access to SRH services.

This Terms of Reference covers two complementary evaluations, described in Sections 5 and 6 below, which MSI Ghana is commissioning together as a single, integrated consultancy. Each evaluation is also available as a standalone Terms of Reference for consultants who wish to bid for only one. Consultants applying under this composite ToR should demonstrate the capacity and methodology to deliver both evaluations to the same standard as a dedicated single-evaluation bid, and will submit one technical proposal and one financial proposal covering both.

Purpose of the Consultancy

MSI Ghana seeks to engage a qualified consultant or consulting team to conduct two complementary evaluations under the Public Sector Strengthening (PSS) Programme, covering:

• The effects of integrating Family Planning services into the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) on service utilization and access (“Evaluation Component 1”).

• The sustainability of the Public Sector Strengthening (PSS) Programme following the transition of supported facilities from direct support to indirect support and withdrawal

• (“Evaluation Component 2”).

• The evaluations are intended to generate evidence on the effectiveness and sustainability of key programme interventions, inform programme improvement, strengthen public sector engagement, and support future strategic and policy decisions.

• The consultant is expected to provide practical, evidence-based recommendations to strengthen programme implementation and contribute to improved access to quality Family Planning services within Ghana's public health sector.

Consultancy Objectives

The overall objective of the consultancy is to generate high-quality evidence that will inform programme learning, policy dialogue, and strategic decision-making.

The specific objectives are to:

• Assess the effects of integrating Family Planning services into the National Health Insurance Scheme on service utilization and access.

• Evaluate the sustainability of programme outcomes following the transition of supported facilities.

• Identify factors that enable or constrain programme effectiveness and sustainability.

• Provide practical recommendations to strengthen future Public Sector Strengthening interventions.

• Evaluation Component 1: Impact of Family Planning Integration into the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS)

Background

The Government of Ghana's decision to include Family Planning services under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) represents an important milestone in improving equitable access to reproductive health services. By reducing financial barriers, the policy is expected to increase access to contraceptive services, improve contraceptive uptake, and contribute to better reproductive health outcomes.

As a key partner supporting Family Planning service delivery within the public sector, MSI Ghana seeks to evaluate the early effects of this policy on service utilization, access, and implementation.

Evaluation Objective

To assess the sustainability of programme outcomes following the transition of supported facilities from direct support to indirect support and withdrawal.

Key Evaluation Questions

The evaluation should address, but not necessarily be limited to, the following questions:

1. Are the GHS supervisory function able to continue the quality of care and competency supervision during the transition phase using MSI tools to ensure sustainability?

2. Are there any changes in service quality, service provision and client satisfaction during the direct, indirect and withdrawal stages of MSIG’s PSS support?

3. How does the transition from direct to indirect and withdrawal stages impact the effectiveness and efficiency of services provided by these facilities.

4. What are the long-term effects of MSIG support withdrawal on the capacity and competency of GHS staff and the impact on their ability to continue providing quality care?

5. Are the GHS staff reporting data using the standard documentations after transitioned into the indirect/withdrawal stages. programming?

Scope

This component will cover facilities that have transitioned from Direct Support to Indirect Support or Withdrawal within the four PSS regions. MSI Ghana will provide the consultant, at inception, with a list of transitioned facilities, their transition dates, and relevant routine monitoring data to inform the sampling strategy. The consultant should propose a sampling approach that captures variation in time since transition (e.g., recently withdrawn vs. longer-withdrawn facilities) to help distinguish short-term from durable sustainability.

Scope of Work

The consultant will be responsible for planning, coordinating, and implementing both evaluations and producing high-quality reports that address the objectives outlined in this Terms of Reference.

Specifically, the consultant will be expected to:

• Review relevant programme documents and other background materials for both evaluations, including available routine data (e.g., DHIMS2) and MSIG's monitoring data on transitioned facilities.

• Participate in an inception meeting with MSI Ghana to agree on the scope, methodology, workplan, and deliverables for both evaluations.

• Develop a single inception report covering both evaluations, including the proposed methodology, sampling strategy, workplan, and data collection tools for each.

• Obtain ethical approval from the Ghana Health Service Ethics Review Committee and any other required approvals, for both evaluations, before commencement of fieldwork.

• Recruit, train, and supervise qualified field personnel, where applicable, with sufficient capacity to deliver both evaluations concurrently.

• Pilot and refine data collection tools for both evaluations.

• Conduct quantitative and qualitative data collection for both evaluations in accordance with the approved methodology.

• Ensure appropriate quality assurance measures throughout data collection and management.

• Analyse quantitative and qualitative data for each evaluation using appropriate analytical methods.

• Prepare and submit separate draft evaluation reports for each component for review by MSI Ghana.

• Revise the reports based on feedback received.

• Present the findings and recommendations from both evaluations to MSI Ghana and relevant stakeholders through a joint validation workshop.

• Submit final reports for both components and all agreed deliverables.

• The consultant is expected to work closely with MSI Ghana throughout the assignment to ensure that both evaluations meet the required technical and quality standards.

Methodology

• The consultant is expected to propose a robust and practical methodology for each evaluation that addresses the objectives and evaluation questions outlined in this ToR.

• While the consultant has flexibility in designing each study, the proposal should demonstrate, for each component:

• An appropriate study design, including a clear statement of whether and how the design for Component 1 supports causal or contribution claims (see Section 5).

• A clear sampling strategy and sample size justification, including the geographic scope described in Sections 5 and 6.

• Appropriate quantitative and qualitative data collection methods.

• Measures to ensure data quality and integrity.

• A clear approach to data analysis and interpretation.

• Consideration of ethical issues, including informed consent and confidentiality.

• A mixed-methods approach is encouraged for both evaluations to enable triangulation of findings.

• The proposal should also explain how the team will manage the two evaluations concurrently — for example, through dedicated evaluation leads for each component — without compromising the quality of either.

• The proposed methodology should generate credible, actionable evidence that supports programme improvement and informs future policy and programming.

Deliverables and Timeline

The consultant will be expected to produce the following deliverables.

All reports shall be submitted electronically in Microsoft Word and PDF formats. Data files should be submitted in their original format together with any supporting documentation required for interpretation.

The consultancy is expected to be completed within approximately 7 months from the date of contract signing, allowing realistic time for GHS-ERC ethical review and for both evaluations to be conducted concurrently. The consultant shall submit a detailed implementation schedule as part of the technical proposal. An indicative timeline is presented below.

The timeline may be adjusted by mutual agreement between MSI Ghana and the successful consultant.

Consultant Qualifications

MSI Ghana invites proposals from qualified consulting firms, research institutions, universities, or individual consultants with demonstrated expertise in public health research and programme evaluation.

The successful consultant should possess the following qualifications:

• A postgraduate degree (Master's or higher) in Public Health, Epidemiology, Statistics, Demography, Social Sciences, Health Economics, Monitoring and Evaluation, or a related field.

• At least five (5) years of demonstrated experience conducting quantitative, qualitative, or mixed-methods research and programme evaluations.

• Proven experience in Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), Family Planning, health financing, health systems strengthening, or related public health programmes.

• Demonstrated experience in research design, data collection, statistical analysis, and report writing.

• Experience working with the Ghana Health Service, National Health Insurance Authority, development partners, or international non-governmental organizations will be an added advantage.

• Strong analytical, communication, and presentation skills.

Given the combined scope of this engagement, MSI Ghana strongly encourages applications from a team of at least four qualified personnel: a Team Leader, a dedicated Evaluation Lead for each component, and a Data/Research Analyst supporting both. A lone individual consultant is unlikely to have sufficient capacity to deliver both evaluations concurrently to the required standard; applicants proposing a smaller team should clearly justify how quality will be maintained across both evaluations within the timeline. Where a consulting firm submits a proposal, the firm should demonstrate relevant organizational experience and identify a qualified Team Leader who will serve as the primary point of contact for the assignment.

Reporting Arrangements

• The consultant will report to the Director of Programmes and work closely with the Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning (MERL) team throughout the assignment.

• MSI Ghana will designate a focal person to coordinate the consultancy, facilitate access to relevant documentation and stakeholders, and provide technical feedback on all deliverables.

• The consultant will provide regular progress updates and participate in review meetings as required.

Ethical Considerations

The consultant shall conduct the assignment in accordance with internationally accepted research ethics and the ethical requirements of the Ghana Health Service and MSI Reproductive Choices.

The consultant will be responsible for obtaining all required ethical approvals for both evaluations before commencing fieldwork. Given that Ghana Health Service Ethics Review Committee (GHS-ERC) approval can take up to 8-10 weeks, consultants are strongly encouraged to submit ethics applications as early as possible, in parallel with inception activities, rather than after the inception report is approved.

All study participants shall provide informed consent, and the consultant shall ensure confidentiality, privacy, and secure management of all data collected during the assignment.

Consultants (whether firms or individuals) shall disclose, as part of the technical proposal, any current or prior engagement with the Ghana Health Service, MSI Ghana, or MSI Reproductive Choices that could reasonably present a conflict of interest in undertaking either evaluation. MSI Ghana reserves the right to request further information or decline a proposal on conflict-of-interest grounds.

Code of Conduct and Safeguarding

The successful consultant and all personnel engaged under this assignment shall comply with MSI Reproductive Choices' Code of Conduct and Safeguarding Policy throughout the duration of the consultancy.

The consultant shall ensure that all team members:

• Conduct themselves professionally and with integrity at all times.

• Respect the dignity, rights, privacy, and confidentiality of all research participants.

• Comply with all safeguarding requirements relating to children, adolescents, and vulnerable adults.

• Prevent and report any form of sexual exploitation, abuse, harassment, discrimination, or other misconduct encountered during the assignment.

• Immediately report any safeguarding concerns through MSI Ghana's designated reporting mechanisms.

• Complete any mandatory safeguarding or Code of Conduct requirements requested by MSI Ghana before commencing fieldwork.

Failure to comply with MSI Ghana's Code of Conduct or Safeguarding Policy may result in termination of the consultancy contract.

Payment Schedule

The financial proposal should include all costs associated with the assignment for both evaluations, including professional fees, personnel, travel, accommodation, logistics, data collection, data analysis, report production, and applicable taxes. MSI Ghana has not set a fixed budget ceiling for this consultancy; the financial proposal will be assessed for reasonableness and value for money as part of the evaluation (see Section 15).

Payments will be linked to the satisfactory completion and acceptance of agreed deliverables, as follows:

Submission of Proposals

This Terms of Reference is for consultants proposing to undertake both evaluations as a single, integrated engagement. Consultants wishing to bid for only one evaluation should instead apply under the relevant standalone Terms of Reference for that evaluation.

Interested consultants should submit the following:

Technical Proposal

The technical proposal should include:

• A cover letter expressing interest in the assignment.

• A clear understanding of the Terms of Reference.

• A proposed methodology and workplan covering both evaluations, including how the team will manage them concurrently.

• Team composition and CVs of key personnel.

• Evidence of experience conducting similar assignments.

• At least two references from comparable assignments completed within the last five years.

• A conflict-of-interest disclosure, where applicable (see Section 12).

The technical proposal, excluding CVs and annexes, should not exceed 20 pages, reflecting the combined scope of both evaluations.

Financial Proposal

The financial proposal should provide a detailed budget covering all costs associated with both evaluations. As noted in Section 14, no fixed budget ceiling has been set; proposals will be assessed on reasonableness and value for money.

Technical and financial proposals should be submitted as separate documents.

Proposal Evaluation Criteria

Proposals will be evaluated using the following criteria:

Only proposals that meet the minimum technical requirements will proceed to the financial evaluation.

Submission Details

Interested consultants should submit their proposals electronically no later than: Submission Deadline: August 14, 2026

• Submission Email: ghanaprocurement@mariestopes.org.gh

Email Subject Line

The email subject should read:

Proposal for Consultancy to Conduct Two Evaluations under the Public Sector Strengthening (PSS) Programme

Late submissions may not be considered.

Confidentiality and Ownership of Outputs

All reports, datasets, tools, and other materials produced under this consultancy shall become the property of MSI Ghana.

The consultant shall treat all information obtained during the assignment as confidential and shall not publish or disclose any information without the prior written consent of MSI Ghana.

Disclaimer

MSI Ghana reserves the right to accept or reject any proposal, cancel the procurement process at any stage, or decide not to award the consultancy without incurring any liability to applicants.