Request for Proposal 2025 0848 for a Vector control training in Kenya

1. Introduction

The NLRC and IFRC localization project runs from July 2023 to 2026, Within this program, NLRC sees a need to build the capacities of African national societies in their emergency responses. National societies are often the first to respond in emergencies. Investment in National Societies is very much in line with the localization agenda and the longer term, this will result in lower costs at intermediate (international) levels. NLRC also supports RVO in the DRRS program, amongst their responsibilities is a component of training. Vector control has been identified as a knowledge gap amongst many first responders.

2. Context and background

The Red Cross is the largest humanitarian movement worldwide with national associations in 191 countries. The Red Cross provides international assistance worldwide, mainly through the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). Every year Africa is affected by dozens of various disasters across the continent. With a rapidly growing population and increasing impact of climate change, the disaster impact in Africa will likely increase in the coming decades.

Vector-borne diseases account for more than 17% of all infectious diseases, causing more than 700.000 deaths annually. Vector-borne diseases in Africa are influenced significantly by climate change leading to several emerging trends:

1. Shift in Geographic Range: Climate change alters temperature and precipitation patterns, influencing the habitats of disease-carrying vectors like mosquitoes. This has led to the expansion of these vectors into new areas, increasing the geographical spread of diseases such as malaria, and dengue fever.
2. Increased Incidence: Warmer temperatures can shorten the incubation period for pathogens within vectors, accelerate their reproduction rates, and decrease the time between blood meals. These factors collectively contribute to increased transmission rates in many parts of Africa.
3. Altered Disease Dynamics: Changes in climate can disrupt natural cycles of disease transmission. For instance, droughts followed by heavy rainfall can create ideal breeding conditions for mosquitoes, leading to sudden outbreaks of diseases like malaria and dengue.
4. Impact on Vulnerable Populations: Climate change disproportionately affects vulnerable populations such as those living in poverty or lacking access to healthcare.
5. Challenges for Control Programs: Climate variability complicates the effectiveness of disease control programs. Traditional strategies for vector control, such as insecticide-treated nets and indoor residual spraying, may become less effective if the behavior or distribution of vectors change due to climate shifts.

To mitigate these impacts, there is a growing need for adaptive strategies that consider climate change. This includes community education on disease prevention, and research and roll out of new vector control.

The Red Cross can play an important role in vector control as part of its broader efforts to prevent the spread of diseases, particularly those transmitted by mosquitoes and other vectors, such as malaria, dengue, and Zika virus. The Red Cross contributes to vector control through prevention education, resource distribution, environmental management, emergency response, and partnerships with other organizations.

The latest estimates by the World Health Organization (WHO) show that in Africa, an estimated 233 million cases of malaria occur each year, resulting in approximately 1 million deaths. More than 90 per cent of these are in children under five. Official statistics show that currently, the African region bears the heaviest malaria burden, with 94 per cent of cases and 95 per cent of deaths globally, representing 233 million malaria cases and 580,000 deaths

On a global level Vector control officially falls under the responsibility of the WASH Cluster. It is therefore crucial WASH actors and DRRS experts have good working knowledge of vector control and the tools currently available. It was therefore decided to have two of the same, 4-day trainings in Nairobi, the first will be for Red Cross staff. The second, but the same training will be for UNICEF, DRRS roster members and experts working in the WASH sector.

3. Purpose, Objectives and deliverables

The consultant will be tasked to develop relevant training modules and related material and facilitate one four-day training. The training has the objective of introducing WASH and Health Staff of the Red Cross and the Eastern African WASH sector to key principles of vector control to enable them to design or implement the rights steps to design a vector control program based on risk and health data.

This training will need to cover the following subjects:

• Diseases covered will include: Malaria (vivax and falciparum), Dengue, Chikungunya, Lymphatic Filariasis, Schistosomiasis, African Trypanosomiasis, Haemorrhagic Fevers (including Yellow Fever, Japanese Encephalitis, Hantavirus, and African haemorrhagic fever) and cholera. The main focus will be on the most common diseases such as Dengue and Malaria.
• The four common Vector control strategies (including prevention strategies); biological, chemical, environmental, and mechanical and their applications in humanitarian/emergency and more developmental settings.
• Introduction to Insecticide resistance, WHO WHOPES, and other important aspects of setting up a vector control program.
• Safety, safe handling, environmental risk and safe disposal of common material and possible chemicals used in vector control

Additionally, the consultant will guide participants to further reading material, references and self-studies on the above training. The trainings are expected to be given by the consultant and to take place around April/May in Nairobi for an estimated 20-25 max participants. Participants might be a mix of people with both a WASH and Health background. The training will be for the Red Cross, but pending the RedCross will open the training to at least 6 UNICEF and or DRRS roster members to participate.

4. Profile of the desired Service Provider/Company

The following requirements are requested from the consultant;

• More than 5 years work experience in vector control in the humanitarian sector in an emergency context.
• Proven experience in developing training material and facilitating training related to the humanitarian sector and vector control.
• Relevant Vector control work experience in Africa
• Familiar with code of conduct and humanitarian principles
• Academic background.

5. Planning

Currently, the four-day training is foreseen to be organized in April/May 2025. The training is planned to be given in consultation with the IFRC the NLRC and UNICEF, in Nairobi Kenya. We expect the consultant to complete and share the training modules and related materials at least one week before the training takes place. Additionally, we expect the consultant to facilitate the training at the later-to-be-determined training dates. If this date needs to be adjusted, the consultant will be informed timely with at least 6 weeks in advance.

6.Climate and Environmental Impact

• The NLRC has recently signed an environmental charter. As we work towards ensuring that all our operations coincide with this new agreement we must also demand that any collaborations we have with external parties also fall within the parameters of this charter.
• Any additional requirements for the service provider to try to adhere to (e.g. working remotely, not flying large teams to the field, proof of company’s own environmental commitments)

7. Responsibilities and lines of communication

This assignment will be coordinated by Jan Heeger (WASH program advisor), with support from Joey de Hamer (Program Manager Prevention) and the IFRC (Peter Mamburi). They will be the main point of contact towards the consultant and will coordinate the planning of the training (incl. practicalities, e.g. accommodation, etc.) together with the consultant. The IFRC with the support of the Kenya Red Cross will host and facilitate practicalities such as the training venue and accommodation arrangements for the Red Cross training participants.

8. Bid requirements and Analysis Criteria

Bidders are requested to submit both a financial proposal, example of previous work (if appropriate) and technical proposal that best complies with the text laid out in this document. The winning bid will be the one deemed the most economically advantageous (quality of technical proposal and previous work vs. value of financial proposal).

How to apply

1. Prices: Consultants fee in EUR per day ALL IN, including amongst others, the subsistence allowances, health insurances and social taxes, number of days required to provide the service excl. VAT.

   Reimbursable expenditures such as hotel expenses, communication costs, local transport, visa and other relevant costs which may occur during the execution of the consultancy may be stated separately as an estimate.

2. Validity: date to be indicated in sellers proposal .

3. Form: please submit your offer covering the narrative and methodology proposal and your commercial quotation.

4. Vendor Registration: NLRC is now engaging in screening and registering all service providers and vendors to whom it contracts. Please complete the Vendor Registration Form and provide all supporting documentation that is referenced.

5. If part of the Terms of Reference requires vendor to travel outside of their domicile country, they will need to sign the Commitment Note for Non-NLRC staff prior to departure. A template is shared as part of the tender documentation for your acknowledgement.

6. Offer: to be send per email to: logistics@redcross.nlwith the title RFP 2025 0848_Offer_<Your company name>

7. Deadline for submission: Monday 3rd of March 2025 18:00 Amsterdam Time.

8. Find all referenced documents to complete in the following folder: RFP 2025 0848 _Vector Control Training