Request for Expression of Interest: RAI3E Sub-package 3.2. Call for proposals to assess availability and quality of malaria commodities in the private sector, monitor substandard and falsified medicines, and design a social marketing strategy to promote provision and access to malaria commodities in the GMS

Deadline: 27 October 2020

The Regional Artemisinin-resistance Initiative (RAI) Regional Steering Committee (RSC) is inviting proposals from relevant organizations to carry out assessments availability and quality of malaria commodities in the private sector and monitoring of oral Artemisinin-based Monotherapies (oAMTs) and substandard or falsified medicines in the GMS through studies in GMS countries (Cambodia, Laos PDR, Myanmar, Thailand and Viet Nam). In addition, the RSC is also inviting proposals for the design and implementation of a social marketing strategy aimed at promoting provision and access to malaria commodities in the GMS. In detail:

Activity A) Assessing availability and quality of malaria commodities in the private sector and monitoring of oral Artemisinin-based Monotherapies (oAMTs) and substandard or falsified medicines

Budget cap: Estimated budget for activity A is of 250.000 USD

Expected activities include:

• Assessment providing a picture of the market for malaria case management commodities in the private sector. This assessment must aim at collecting data, with a methodological ensuring quality and harmonized sources of information on commodities found in private sector outlets to assess their origin and regulatory status, and/or facilitate identification/detection of substandard or falsified medicines, as well as the monitoring presence of oral Artemisinin-based Monotherapies (oAMTs) in the mentioned outlets.

Expected deliverables include:

• Assessment reports, ideally for each of the five GMS countries including findings on the outlet surveys, lab testing and supply chain studies. The comprehensive reports should be completed with summary presentations.

Activity B) Designing and implementing a social marketing strategy targeting private providers to promote provision of and access to quality ACT/RDTs

Budget cap: Estimated budget for activity B is of 200.000 USD

Expected activities include:

• The design and implementation of a social marketing strategy aiming at mapping private sector outlets and engaging with them.

Expected deliverables include:

• A documented increase in the proportion of drug/ACTs sold at private providers that are of adequate quality;
• A documented increase in the number of outlets reporting to the NMCPS data on patients tested and treated for malaria, type of antimalarials used, cases notifications etc;
• Social marketing strategy targeting private sector malaria outlets and service delivery points in GMS countries.
• Final report per country on activities implementation, evaluation, and lessons learned, as well as recommendations.

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Candidate organizations/entities/consortiums have the opportunity to specify whether they intend to implement both activities (A and B) or only one (A or B). For each activity, applications should specify geographical coverage.

Total estimated funding for sub-package 3.2. is 450,000 USD; of which 250,000 USD for activity A; and 200,000 USD for activity B. Funds will be awarded for the period 2021-2022.

Additional information on this call for proposals and on how to apply can be found in the Terms of Reference available here.

Interested applicants should submit a proposal by October 27th, 2020 COB to our application inbox at: [email protected] and cc: [email protected]