Overview
Immunisation is one of the most cost-effective public health interventions, saving individuals and communities from vaccine-preventable diseases and preventing over 4 million deaths annually. However, millions of children are still left behind without vaccination. According to the latest WHO/UNICEF Estimates of National Immunisation Coverage (WUENIC), there are still about 20.5 million children missing lifesaving vaccines globally with 14.3 million that have not received any vaccines (zero-dose children). In Africa, several countries face challenges in reaching their vaccination coverage targets and addressing the burden of zero-dose children. In Nigeria, about 2.3 million children do not receive DTP1 annually. In the DRC, 753,000 zero-dose children were identified in 2022, with DTP1 coverage at 81%. In Cameroon, DTP1 coverage went from 76% in 2021 to 75% in 2022, leading to an increase in zero-dose children. Lesotho has about 4,000 zero-dose children.
CMS is leading the implementation of the DSI projects in Cameroon, DRC, Lesotho, and Nigeria. The DSI project is being strategically implemented by country implementing partners sub-contracted by CMS in these countries to address immunisation coverage gaps, zero-dose burden, and equity issues in these countries. The DSI project aims to leverage cash and non-cash incentives, to improve immunisation coverage and timeliness, reduce the burden of zero-dose children, and improve caregiver’s knowledge and attitude in poor and vulnerable populations. The project will run from 2023 to 2025.
Request for Proposals
CMS is seeking external evaluator (s) to carry out MEL process monitoring and rigorous evaluations, which may include cluster randomised control trial (CRT) and control before and after (CBA) studies. Countries that would be covered under the scope of this evaluation include Nigeria, Cameroon, DRC, and Lesotho. The purpose of this assignment is for the external evaluator (s) to:
1. Determine relevance, coherence, efficiency, effectiveness, impact, and sustainability of the demand-side incentives programme in increasing immunisation coverage, reducing zero- dose burden, improving the timeliness of vaccination among children aged 0 to 23 months, and enhancing the immunisation knowledge and attitude of caregivers with children aged 0 to 23 months.
2. Assess the extent to which gender-consideration and equity was mainstreamed in the implementation of the demand-side incentives programme.
3. Understand the implementation process and successes or challenges.
4. Identify lessons learned about what worked and did not work about the demand-side incentives programme as a stand-alone programme but also with respect to multi-sectoral convergence, including unexpected outcomes (positive and negative).
5. Find out practices for further replication or more in-depth evaluation that could support the attainment of targets related to future Gavi strategies and the Immunisation Agenda 2030.
6. Formulate key recommendations on how to improve the implementation processes and performance of demand-side incentives programmes.
7. Develop a comprehensive Theory of Change (ToC) for an incentive strategy in Gavi-supported countries that is aligned with both GAVI high-level strategy and WHO’s Immunisation Agenda 2030 to leave no one behind.
Links to RFP Documents
Please visit the document library to download the RFP Documents