Sep 27, 2021, 8:07:05 AM

Call for Expression of Interest SRHR, HIV and Nutrition Support in Bhamo District, Kachin State

CEF/MMR/2021/002

1 Timeline Posted Jan 29, 2021 Clarification Request Deadline Feb 4, 2021 Application Deadline Feb 7, 2021 Notification of Results Feb 14, 2021 Start Date Mar 1, 2021 End Date Feb 28, 2022

2 Locations A Myanmar a Kachin State

3 Sector(s) and area(s) of specialization A Health a HIV/AIDS B Nutrition a Infant and young child feeding b Malnutrition prevention and treatment c Micronutrients

4 Issuing Agency UNICEF

5 Project Background Myanmar still has one of the highest mortality rates for children under the age of five in the ASEAN region. According to the Myanmar Demographic and Health Survey (MDHS-2015-2016), the mortality rate for under-fives was 50 deaths per 1,000 live births, most of them died within the first month of life. Many children in Myanmar struggle to access adequate nutrition, only 16 per cent of young children received a minimum acceptable. The rate of stunting among children under 5 has dropped but remains nearly one out of four children in Kachin are stunted (Ref: Myanmar Micronutrient Food Consumption Survey; MMFCS-2017-2018). Maternal undernutrition poses serious risks for both mother and child, including low birth weight for the newborn child and susceptibility to disease. Geographical disparities across states, region and townships are high as well as urban and rural differences. Nearly half (45%) of pregnant women in Kachin suffered anemia while national average is 40% and one in three (33%) of children 6-59 months in Kachin are anemic (Ref: MMFCS-2017-2018). Moreover, Kachin is one of the few states/regions that has a very high HIV prevalence in Myanmar. According to HSS data (2016), the HIV prevalence among pregnant women who came for ANC in Bhamo District was 1.5% which was well above the benchmark (1%). Due to ongoing conflict within the Kachin State, over 40,985 people are internally displaced (IDP) in Bhamo District who are dependent on camp clinics or Laiza Public Hospital for health care. However, these camp clinics do not offer testing, care and treatment services for people living with HIV. Therefore, the HIV positive pregnant mothers who are identified have very limited access to ART. Only those resided in camps located near the hospitals can easily seek out for ART, while those resided far away have constraints in accessing services. The COVID-19 pandemic has posed further challenges for vulnerable populations including, but not limited to, lost labor opportunities and income, incurred expenses and more expensive nutritionally adequate diets. Due to the impact of COVID-19 in the socio economic and health care, increased malnutrition caseload is anticipated, especially among already vulnerable persons with limited access to basic services.

6 Expected Results The partnership aims to respond to immediate nutritional needs in IDP camps of Bhamo District, Kachin State for a period of 12 months. The package will include Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) activities of COVID-19 on Health and Nutrition, micronutrient supplementation to pregnant and lactating women and children under five, strengthen community mobilization for screening of children under five for malnutrition, and referral for treatment if requires, IYCF counselling and messaging on prevention and access to services including health education on health, nutrition and hygiene promotion. With this partnership, it can provide HIV related services like HIV testing in all IDP camps, travel support for ART referral services in camps that are not easily accessible to treatment centers, and follow-up care for all pregnant women living with HIV and their exposed children from both Government Controlled Areas (GCA) and Non-Government Controlled Areas (NGCA) of Bhamo District. Moreover, this partnership can also increase the SRHR knowledge and HIV knowledge among adolescents in IDP camps.

7 Indicative Budget -

8 Other Information Project locations (Community level) -Bhamo District, Kachin State Sectors and areas of specialization- Nutrition - IYCF, malnutrition prevention and treatment, micronutrients HIV- HIV counselling & testing, referral support for receiving the treatment and early infant diagnosis

9 Selection Criteria Name Description Weight

Partners are expected to explain their experience in working with UN organizations Experience working with UN and knowledge and understanding of UN-specific processes. N/A

Partners are expected to explain their local experience in Kachin, local community and geographic context and access to beneficiaries. In addition to that, the working Local experience and presence experience with IDP camps are needed. N/A

Partners are expected to provide relevant information of their sector of expertise justified with experience of past years of projects executed, experienced staff involved in the project implementation, consistency in proposal and technical Sector expertise and experience know-how. N/A

Partners are expected to provide rationale and justification, their contribution and Relevance of proposal to achieving expected results comparative advantage. N/A

Partners are expected to provide proposed budget (including contribution by CSO), Clarity of activities and expected results activities and expected results, and innovative approaches. N/A 10 Concept Note Template Download the document here

11 For more information on this partnership opportunity, and to apply, please visit UN Partner Portal