Baseline Assessment in Identifying Key Priorities for Reduction of Stigma and Discrimination for Vulnerable groups within the provision of Health Care Services

1. Background

The Lesotho Council of NGO’s was established in May 1990 as an umbrella body for Lesotho non-governmental organizations. LCN was established with the objective to provide supportive services to the NGO community in Lesotho through networking, leadership, information dissemination, capacity building, coordination, advocacy and lobbying, and representation when dealing with the international community and government. The Council’s mission is to stimulate, promote and build capacity within Lesotho NGO’s so that they become capable, democratic, transparent, skilled, empowered, and sustainable organizations, better able to respond to the needs of their stakeholders and the voiceless and marginalized groups. LCN has at least 120 civil society organizations in its membership, clustered into six (6) sectoral commissions to facilitate coordination and management of the NGO activities.

LCN is the Principal Recipient (PR) for Civil Society and Private Sector for Round 8 grant, for implementing HIV and AIDS prevention interventions within civil society and private sector One component within the Rd 8 grant is to address issues related to stigma and discrimination. Evidence continues to show that as long as stigma and discrimination are high, efforts to curb the escalating spread of HIV and AIDS will not be successful. Where stigma and discrimination are high there is a high likelihood that people will not freely access the services meant to mitigate the impact of the pandemic.

LCN is seeking services of a qualified consultant to undertake a baseline study on stigma and discrimination in health services in Lesotho. This study is intended to investigate instances of discrimination for vulnerable groups within the health sector. In Lesotho, the vulnerable groups are defined as women and children, sexual minorities, prison inmates, youth, commercial sex workers and herd boys.

2. Goal and objectives

The study is aimed at providing a baseline assessment on stigma and discrimination within health care services and recommend key priorities for reduction of stigma and discrimination. Specifically, the study is aimed to achieving the following:

• Identify the forms and patterns of stigma and discrimination against vulnerable groups within health centres
• Establish whether there is a link between stigma and discrimination and vulnerability
• Identify key priorities for stigma and discrimination reduction
• Compile advocacy messages and strategies for vulnerable groups on stigma and discrimination at health centers

3. Tasks and responsibilities

As outlined above, the consultant is expected to undertake a comprehensive situational analysis on stigma and discrimination within health care centres. A sample representative of the geographical and ecological regions of Lesotho will be expected. The following minimum standards will are expected:

• three hospitals and six health centres in Maseru District, representing all the regions of Maseru
• A minimum of one hospital and three health centres in each district

4. Expected Output

• An inception report within a week of commencement of the assignment
• A report outlining instances of stigma and discrimination in the health centres and outline of key priorities for reduction of stigma and discrimination for vulnerable groups within the provision of Health Care Services.
• A report outlining the strategy for curbing stigma and discrimination at the facility level and community level.
• Extraction of advocacy messages against stigma and reduction.

5. Documentation and timeframe

• The consultant will have access to information and documents, at the LCN disposal, that may enable development of a comprehensive report.
• The foregoing assignment is expected to be completed in a mission of 30-days, including briefings, preparations, visits, data collection and submission of the first draft.
• The Consultant shall report to the Executive Director of LCN, and shall work in close collaboration with the Grants Management Unit for execution of this assignment.

6. Qualifications and experience

He/she must have:

• A MSC/Degree in a relevant area. For instance social sciences, with demonstrated focus on community development and HIV and AIDS
• A minimum of 5 years experience in similar assignments
• Proven working and training experience in working with civil society organizations, and community development.

4. Requirements

Interested consultants are requested to submit the technical and financial proposals that clearly outline the methodology and work plan for the activity. The deadline for submission of proposals is the 26th February 2011