Qualitative Review of Mortality Estimation and Surveillance in Humanitarian Settings

Timeframe: October 2024 – February 2025. Level of Effort: 25 Days with possibility of extension. Location: Remote

I. Background

Accurately estimating mortality in humanitarian crises is essential for understanding the scale of a crisis, guiding resource allocation, and informing timely interventions in order to save lives and prevent suffering. The Mortality Estimation Initiative focuses on operationalizing mortality estimation and surveillance in humanitarian settings. Our work will ensure that humanitarian responses are better informed and more effective through timely and relevant capture and use of critical excess mortality estimations.

The initiative vision is for:

• Field-driven primary data collection methods for mortality estimation to be routinely used by health actors to inform, adapt and improve their humanitarian (health) programming
• Humanitarian public health actors to be confident and well supported to integrate mortality estimation into their work in a standardized way through the development of straight forward tools and training suitable for humanitarian settings
• The NGO home to sustainably drive the initiative vision, where methods, tools, training can live and be rolled out from

In the foundational year, the initiative will undertake the following:

Literature review to provide a comprehensive overview of mortality estimation methods used in humanitarian crises, offering insights into which methods are most effective and appropriate under various conditions.

Qualitative Review will use key informant interviews and/or focus group discussions. The review will focus on understanding barriers and challenges to mortality estimation from organizations working in humanitarian settings and initiatives with mortality estimation components or experience with large interagency trainings or technical support units or rosters. White paper will combine findings from qualitative review and literature review into easily digestible key themes alongside suggested solutions for the initiative to address. The paper will be externally facing, communicating the initiative findings to the wider humanitarian community.

Road Map will take the key themes from the White Paper and outline the strategy for the future of the initiative, based on solutions presented in the White Paper. The Road Map will be a purely strategic document, detailing key milestones and tangible actions needed to achieve the initiative vision.

Toolkit outline presenting available mortality estimation methodology for various humanitarian contexts beginning with a decision-making algorithm for users to follow. Post year 1, the initiative will create a training package for the roll out of the toolkit.

It is important for the consultant to understand the linkages to the above workstreams, however, these Terms of Reference relate to the Qualitative Review only.

II. Objectives for qualitative review

• Understand operational challenges, barriers and existing capacities for mortality estimation from key organizations (NGOs/CSOs) working in humanitarian settings, ensuring a mix of regional AND international, national and local actors.
• Explore key issues for past and present initiatives with existing mortality estimation components e.g. SMART and IPC, health cluster
• Collate lessons learned and recommendations from large humanitarian interagency trainings (including ToT) and technical support units or rosters
• Understand perspectives of donors for mortality estimation in humanitarian settings.
• Gather guidance and recommendations from key subject matter and academic experts for the future of the mortality estimation initiative

III. Methodology

• Using a qualitative process based in focus group discussions (FGDs) and key informant interviews (KIIs) that engage key humanitarian and mortality estimation stakeholders, develop a report with key findings, gaps and recommendations for a comprehensive lesson mapping of mortality estimation and surveillance in humanitarian settings.
• Develop key informant interviews (KII) guide/focus group discussion (FGD) for consultations which may include a questionnaire.
• Utilize consultant’s and Save’s network to undertake purposive sampling to engage local actors to participate in the KII or FGDs.
• Prepare and undertake KIIs and FGDs using standardized questionnaires/structures according to the distinct categories and topics to explore.
• Collate and analyse gathered data from the above
• Participate in regular consultation and supervisory meetings with the Lead Advisor and others as relevant throughout the process.
• Coordinate with relevant task teams in initiative governance structure and individual consultants working on literature review and subsequently white paper and road map.

IV. Consultancy Deliverables (Total LOE: 25 days)

Phase 1: Inception

• Deliverable : 1. Detailed workplan, including timeline, milestone, etc. 2. Identify, agree and contact (with the support of Save the Children) stakeholders for consultation 3. Develop key informant interview and FGD guides 4. Conduct and analyze consultative interviews with key informants 5. Thematic analysis
• Timeline and Estimate LOE: October – December 2024

Phase 2: Write Up and Reviews

• Deliverable: 1. Documentation of consultation findings 2. Write up of key themes 3. First draft of report (max 20 pages) 4. Integrate feedback from core team and TAG members 5. Final draft of report for Steering Committee sign-off 6. Final revisions and collaboration on graphic design of the report
• Timeline: January – February 2025

Phase 3: Dissemination

• Deliverable: 1. Develop PPT presentation of process, key findings and recommendations 2. Presentation to wider TAG/OAG members
• Timeline: February 2025

V. Qualifications needed

Essential

• Academic and/or technical background in health, public health and/or field epidemiology
• Significant experience leading humanitarian health programming for NGOs, UN agencies in humanitarian settings
• Significant experience in qualitative research, developing KII and FGD guides, leading interviews, collecting qualitative data and collating into a thematic analysis
• Knowledge of humanitarian response architecture and experience in engaging with key humanitarian agencies, NGOs and coordination mechanisms
• Excellent English oral and written skills- other language skills highly desirable
• Proven track record of producing high quality research papers, ideally in mortality estimation and surveillance space
• Excellent English oral and written skills and ability to communicate findings to variety of audiences
• Skills in using online platforms for consultations
• Ability to plan for and meet deadlines

Desirable

• Experience in designing and implementing mortality surveillance systems and/or surveys