Annex B - - Terms of Reference RFPS/LRPS-2021-9168249-Needs Analysis and Optimization Plans-Iccs

Annex B - - Terms of Reference RFPS/LRPS-2021-9168249-Needs Analysis and Optimization Plans-ICCs

Needs Analysis for five Integrated Community Centers and Development of 5 Optimization Plans for Providing Specialized Services -Bacau county and Brasov municipality-

Purpose Carry out a needs analysis for five Integrated Community Centres (ICC’s) and develop 5 optimization plans for the provision of specialized services Location Bacau county and Brasov Municipality Duration 100 calendar days (working days in the period between 20 July 2021 – 15 February 2022) Start date 20 July 2021 Reporting to Local Implementation Specialist Source of funding OR – Local Fundraising & Norway Grants Date 29/06/2021

Background and Rationale “Making social inclusion real – breaking the cycle of exclusion for the most vulnerable children in Romania” is a SEE-Norway Grants 2014-2021 funded project, awarded to UNICEF as Promoter, in partnership with county and local authorities in Brasov and Bacau. The project aims to advance the social inclusion and equitable distribution of opportunities for the most vulnerable children in Romania, in particular children living in poverty in urban and rural areas, Roma children and children with disabilities (CWD), building on prior experience gathered through the implementation of a pilot programme modelling the Minimum Package of Services (MPS) between 2014 -2019 in Bacau. At the same time, it aims to harness and complement the work of UNICEF for promoting Quality Inclusive Education (QIE), in other on-going programmes implemented in Bacau - with focus on facilitating the transition of students from lower secondary to upper secondary and on early childhood education and care (ECEC).

The MPS launched the concept of preventive and responsive integrated social services – health, education and social protection – delivered at community level, directly to children and their families, through teams of trained local professionals consisting of: social worker, community nurse, school counselor and mediator. The outreach work towards the most vulnerable families was, thus, conducted in a coordinated manner, using a unified methodology relying on the classic case management approach used in social assistance services countrywide, while encouraging the cooperation between key stakeholders at local levels (Local Consultative Structures) and strengthening cross sectoral work. This was possible through

1 the usage of Aurora1, a dedicated online application and a digital platform launched by UNICEF, used by the Bacau community teams for data collection, registering household details, information on children and families, based on which vulnerabilities could be identified and service plans designed, facilitating prompt interventions.2

The present project started in June 2021 and will have to be implemented on a period of 31 months. The project suggests a further development of the initial model and it aims to improve the availability of a continuum of services, from prenatal period until 18 for children and their families, enhancing the accessibility to specialized services to which the MPS team can refer all children and their families in need of more specialized assistance and care. The integrated services should be provided in five (5) Integrated Community Centers (ICCs): one in Brasov and other four (4) in Bacau County.

The ICCs represent in fact a working methodology which is based on a comprehensive family assessment – in this case, ensured by the local professionals providing MPS, including initial, comprehensive evaluation of every household member – and on joint case planning and case management which requires the coordination between the MPS team and professionals providing specialized services. Ideally, ICCs ensure a co-location for basic/MPS and specialized services, the latter including possibly services such as: - psychological counselling, - speech therapy, kinesiotherapy, - occupational therapy, - referral services and preventative services, etc. of which some may be delivered also online/virtually. Of utmost importance is the fact that ICCs should be ensuring a single point of entry for all beneficiaries, meaning that wherever a family first interacts with the social services system (ideally should be the MPS), family members can be connected to a broad range of services, avoiding duplication and providing a ‘joined up’ response.

The 5 ICCs to be tested within the current project are established in three urban locations – Bacau, Moinesti (Bacau County) and Brasov town, and two rural ones – Colonesti and Corbasca (Bacau County). The innovative aspect of the current model consists of the fact that the design of the ICCs implies development and ensuring services provision not only for the members of the municipality hosting the ICC, but also to beneficiaries referred by the MPS teams from affiliated communities: − ICC Corbasca, with 6 affiliated communes: Horgesti, Pancesti, Buhoci, Vultureni, Ungureni. − ICC Colonesti, with 5 affiliated communes: Lipova, Motoseni, Dealu Morii, Stanisesti, Rachitoasa. − ICC Moinesti, with 8 affiliated communes: Scorteni, Ardeoani, Magiresti, Beresti Tazlau, Poduri, Zemes, Solont, Dofteana, Darmanesti. − ICC Bacau and Brasov will serve beneficiaries from the hosting municipalities. In this context, the design of the ICCs, respectively defining and developing a certain list of specialized services to be delivered, is going to be determined by the needs of the beneficiaries in the hosting

1 https://atta.systems/our-work/aurora/ https://www.auroraproject.ro/#/login

2https://www.unicef.org/romania/ro/documents/experien%C8%9Ba-proiectului-model-pachetul-minim-de- servicii-%C3%AEn-bac%C4%83u; https://www.unicef.org/romania/ro/rapoarte/evaluarea-pachetul-minim-de-servicii

2 municipality, but as well the affiliated/catchment area (surrounding localities from which children and families can be referred in line with agreements between communities and services). Pending therefore on criteria linked to relevance, but also considering effectiveness and efficiency, the design of ICCs is expected to vary from one location to another.3

Objectives and results To secure the most appropriate design for setting up and provision of specialized services for each of the five (5) ICC, a needs analysis must be undertaken, one for every area, including host municipality and affiliated communes and communities.

The process should provide comprehensive information on the needs for services for all children and their families and caregivers, with special focus children affected by material deprivations, poverty, violence, lack of access to social assistance, health, and education, etc. Relevant data about children may be available through Aurora, but only for some of the communes, as many of the affiliated municipalities are new in this project and have thus not previously been working with this tool. Regarding availability and access of needed services, social, medical and education (including the private or not for profit type), a new mapping and assessment is required in order to provide relevant input for the design and functioning of the ICCs.

The local community teams will be available for consultation and assistance with data collection, however, there are limitations as to which extent they can provide insight of broader nature, required by the task. In addition, county level institutions and county coordinators will respond to queries, provide data and participate in the discussions, as part of the research.

Expected results include: − Needs analyses for the five (5) ICCs, one for each of the communities and comprising also the referral/surrounding municipalities performed − 5 Plans for optimisation of specialized services developed based on the needs analysis for each ICC.

Proposed methodology As regards the five (5) needs analysis, these should be based on a common methodology, developed by the contractor/team of consultants. The applicant is required to propose a methodology and research instruments within the application package. The methodology should be considering the following aspects: − grounded in data generated by Aurora where available as well as the triangulation with other available administrative data4 considering the estimated target group for every area. − based also on desk review of various reports, including studies, research, and evaluations: − built also on qualitative information gathered through study (e.g., focus groups, in-depth interviews, etc.) with key informants such as Local Consultative Structure members, MPS team members, local and county authorities, central authorities), but as well with children and adolescents, covering the entire geographical areas.

4 Possible sources of info: NARPDCA, DGASPCs, DAS/SPAS, National Institute of Public Health, National Institute of Statistics, Institute for Mother and Child, National College of Social Workers, National Order of Medical Assistants etc. and also NGOs and private services providers, etc.

− wherever available data, the analysis must fully consider, and articulate disparities related to gender, disability, income, geographic location (urban/ rural perspectives) and ethnicity. − consider maps of services realised prior the current project – and respective methodologies, where available. − comprise multi-dimensional and integrated approach (where possible), considering services in all areas such as social assistance, child protection, health, education, etc. − include analysis with regards to the current gap between needs and available and accessible services and make recommendation for (local) strategies for filling-in those gaps (ie. through the ICCs development, but other possible strategies as well), − organizing the validation process of the final report with the Community Consultative Structures of respective mayoralties and beneficiaries (especially children), adjusted based on County Coordinators’ review.

As regards the 5 plans for optimization of specialized services developed based on the needs assessment for each ICC, the contractor/team of consultants is asked to propose a specific methodology which should take into account the following: − opportunity for developing digital/virtual services (such as E-Health5 or M-Health6 services for example), − connections (including common use of tools and methodologies) with other initiatives and projects implemented in Brasov and/or Bacau, − include a proposal for a system for recording and planning the activity in the ICCs (suggesting workforce scheduling, service scheduling, ways to prioritize service delivery in the limited venue of the ICC), − and comprise proposal of methods and tools for optimizing case management at ICC level.

Deliverables and time frame The contractor will further define the methodology, conduct existing data analysis, field research and finalization of all products between 15/07/2021 and 15/02/2022. An intermediary (draft) report, covering partially the requests covered in section “Objectives and results” should be provided for comments for review by 15 September 2021, with the final, revised versions by: a) 15th November 2021 for the 5 needs analysis and b) 15 February for the 5 optimization plans. All deliverables will be produced in Romanian. An overall Executive Summary of 5 pages and a power point presentation should be produced by the final deadline, including key findings and recommendations. The Executive Summary and PPT should be provided in both Romanian and English language.

Qualifications for the members of the contractor/team of consultants − Solid experience in conducting research, (at least 10 years) in social assistance, child protection, public health, social policy field.

5 E-health is the usage of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in the health domain, to administer treatment of patients, research, health education and the monitoring of public health (WHO, 2003) 6 https://www.who.int/goe/publications/goe_mhealth_web.pdf.

− Solid experience (at least 10 years) in planning and organizing the provision of social/medical services − Having successfully undertaken similarly complex assignments (provide samples in both Romanian and English). − Ideally, the contractor/team of consultants should consist of a mix of backgrounds – social policy, social assistance, medical & public health, nursing, community development, experience in working with minority groups. − Proven ability to work in respect of strict deadlines. − Proven ability to work harmoniously with different public institutions and to incorporate different viewpoints, including from the community level, vulnerable persons as well as children. − Proven ability in designing interventions for local levels, in the social or health field. − English and Romanian proficiency in reading, speaking, and writing.

General conditions Within UNICEF, the contractor will report to the Local Implementation Specialist and will work in close collaboration with the Child Protection Officer. All products will be shared and consulted upon with UNICEFs extended team of specialists.

Travel to all 5 sites and surrounding areas is considered obligatory. The financial proposal should therefore include travelling costs for the research team.

As it is expected to collaborate closely with county and local authorities, UNICEF will facilitate all the initial contacts with relevant stakeholders.