Service contract for endline population-based representative survey on menstrual dignity and discrimination

I. GENERAL FRAMEWORK OF REFERENCE 

1.1 Background

Fòs Feminista is an intersectional feminist organization centred around the sexual and reproductive rights and needs of women, girls, and gender-diverse people. Led and governed by the Global South, Fòs Feminista works as an alliance of organizations in 40+ countries worldwide to advance sexual and reproductive health, rights, and justice. Fòs Feminista is both the connective tissue that links these diverse partners in an alliance and an active participant in the broader ecosystem of actors working on sexual and reproductive health, rights, and justice (SRHRJ). Fòs Feminista orchestrates transnational and transregional action by connecting partners throughout the SRHRJ ecosystem, amplifying innovative partner-led solutions to SRHRJ issues, and catalysing funding and political will for an intersectional feminist agenda on SRHRJ.

We recognize that the ability of women, girls, and gender-diverse people to make free and informed choices about their sexual and reproductive lives, including to access safe and legal abortion, is central to their life plans and to achieving gender and reproductive justice. Together with partners in the Alliance, we provide access to sexual and reproductive health care and services, including contraception, abortion, and care for victims of gender-based violence, and we reach young people with comprehensive sexuality education. We are at the forefront of advocating for sexual and reproductive health, rights, and justice from an intersectional lens in national, regional, and global spaces, coordinating with our partners to ensure that diverse experiences, priorities, and voices of the Global South are represented in these spaces. We also strengthen intersectional feminist movements and organizations by creating and holding space for partners to participate in an international community built on feminist values of sharing power, diversity, mutual learning, and solidarity and to access resources to strengthen their work.

Fòs Feminista is leading the Sang pour Sang consortium project to challenge the structural drivers of menstrual discrimination in nine countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean so that women, girls, and gender-diverse individuals have the information, services, products, infrastructure, and supporting environment to exercise their right to menstruate with dignity.

Sang pour Sang is a consortium project of four international organisations. The project is funded by AFD (Agence Française de Développement) and has a duration of three years.

II. SCOPE OF WORK

2.1 Objective & Role of the Consultancy

The main objective of this consultancy is to design, conduct, and analyse the results of an endline population-based representative survey to measure changes from baseline in the structural factors of menstrual discrimination experienced by menstruators in the nine Sang pour Sang project countries: Benin, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Dominican Republic, Guinea, Haiti, Nigeria, Pakistan, and the Philippines.

The endline population-based survey will replicate the baseline survey of menstruators methodology as closely as possible to ensure comparability of results over time, including consistency in the sampling approach, survey instrument, indicator definitions and calculations, data collection procedures, and analytical methods. Any necessary methodological changes will be agreed upon with Fòs Feminista, documented, and assessed during a pilot phase to assess their potential implications for comparability.

The consultant will ensure a representative sample of the target population of menstruators in each country that is comparable to the baseline sample. In addition, the consultant will include a targeted sample of approximately 450 systematically excluded menstruators, approximately 50 per country, using selection criteria and survey approaches consistent with the baseline to ensure inclusivity.

To maximize comparability with the baseline population-based survey of menstruators, the consultant will use the same or similar local survey partners and fieldwork networks where feasible. This will support the consultant in maintaining survey implementation procedures that are as consistent as possible with the baseline population-based survey.

Required Endline Indicators

The primary outcome of interest for the endline population-based survey is the prevalence of menstrual discrimination among menstruators. This outcome will be measured as the percentage of surveyed menstruators who report experiencing at least one restriction on regular activities during their last menstrual period and/or being teased about their menstrual period in the previous six months.

The endline survey must also measure a set of key secondary outcomes aligned with core components of the Sang pour Sang project’s logical framework.

The following indicators are required to measure the priority primary and secondary outcomes:

Primary Outcome Indicator:

Domain: Menstrual Health and Dignity Impacts

• % of menstruators who report menstrual discrimination
• % of menstruators whose participation in regular daily activities was restricted by their last period
• Factors that facilitated or prevented participation in regular activities during menstruation
• % of menstruators who experienced teasing related to menstruation in the last six months
• % who experienced teasing from men and boys

Key Secondary Outcome Indicators

Domain: Knowledge and Awareness:

• % of menstruators who are aware of more than 1 type of menstrual product
  
  

Domain: Product Use and Preference

• % of menstruators using purposely-made menstrual products from local social and solidarity enterprises (SSEs)
  
  

Domain: Access to Menstrual Products

• % of menstruators who report that their preferred menstrual product is available and affordable
• $US in monthly cost per menstruator using menstrual products

The endline survey must also measure the following supplementary indicators on important project domains and compare results against baseline:

Domain: Knowledge and Awareness:

• % of menstruators with correct knowledge of the fertile period during the ovulatory cycle
• % of menstruators who know how often to change menstrual products
• % of individuals with knowledge of menopause

Domain: Menstrual Attitudes

• % of menstruators who believe menstruation is dirty or impure
• % of menstruators who think menstruation should be discussed openly with everyone
• % of menstruators who believe that women are inferior to men because they menstruate
• % of menstruators who feel proud to menstruate

Domain: Supportive Environment and Behaviors

• % of menstruators who believe that others in their community think that menstruation is dirty or impure
• % of menstruators who feel confident that they have the skills to manage their menstruation
• % of menstruators who would feel comfortable seeking help for menstrual problems from a health-care provider
• % of menstruators who report that they were able to reduce their menstrual (abdominal/back/cramping) pain when they needed to during their last menstrual period.
• % of menstruators who have someone they feel comfortable asking for support (advice, resources, emotional support) regarding menstruation

Domain: WASH

• % of menstruators who had a space that was clean, private, and where they feel safe to change their menstrual materials during their last menstrual period
• % of menstruators who have consistent access to water for washing during menstruation
• % of menstruators who have hygienic options for disposal of used menstrual products

Domain: Access to Menstrual Products

• % of menstruators who experienced barriers in having their need for menstrual products/materials met
• % of menstruators that used menstrual products during their last period, by type
• % of menstruators who are satisfied with their current method of management of their menstruation
• Qualitative reasoning for why menstruators are satisfied/dissatisfied with their current method of management of their menstruation
• Menstruators’ preference for menstrual materials by reusability/disposability
• % of menstruators who are open to using insertable menstrual materials
• % of menstruators who regularly experience difficulty managing their period due to a lack of adequate underwear
• % of menstruators who reported having enough menstrual materials during their last menstrual period
• % of menstruators who would use a different type of product if they could afford it
• % of menstruators who decide how much they pay for their menstrual products
• % of menstruators who are open to paying extra for menstrual products by factor

All results must be disaggregated by country and age group, along with other factors relevant to the local context. An intersectional feminist lens is expected to be applied to all processes and deliverables.

2.2 Consultancy Deliverables

In collaboration with the project consortium members, particularly the Business Intelligence, Evaluation & Research Cluster of Fòs Feminista, the contracted consultant will complete the following deliverables:

- Inception report. The consultant will submit a brief inception report by December 15, 2026, outlining the proposed methodology for the endline survey, including the sampling strategy (with confirmation that replicating the baseline sample size provides adequate statistical power to detect meaningful change in the primary outcome, including at the country level), data collection approach, baseline-endline statistical comparison plan (including the approach to weighting and significance testing), and intersectional feminist analysis. The report will also include a work plan specifying key activities, timelines, and level of effort. The inception report will be subject to review and approval by Fòs Feminista.

- Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval. Prior to the start of any data collection, the consultant must develop ethics procedures to protect respondents and obtain all required ethical approvals for the research. Documentation of IRB approval will be submitted to Fòs Feminista before December 31, 2026.

- Documentation of methodological adjustments, pilot results, and finalized survey instruments. The consultant will document any proposed changes from the baseline methodology, including the rationale for each change and its potential implications for baseline-endline comparability. Proposed adjustments to the survey methods and instruments will be pretested with key informants and then pilot tested with a separate sample of menstruators in selected project countries to assess validity, appropriateness, and consistency with baseline measures. The deliverable will summarize the pilot methodology and findings, document any resulting revisions, and include the finalized survey instruments. This deliverable will be submitted by March 31, 2027.

- Cleaned datasets and indicator calculations. By June 30, 2027, the consultant will submit complete, cleaned, deidentified, translated, and merged respondent-level datasets covering all nine countries, with all data provided in English. In addition to these respondent-level datasets, the consultant will provide the calculated result for each survey indicator, both overall and by country, based on the underlying respondent data. A codebook and calculation guide will document all indicator definitions, formulas, numerators, denominators, weighting procedures, derived variables, and the specific respondent-level variables used to calculate each indicator, together with any other information needed to reproduce each reported result.

- Baseline-endline comparative findings report. By July 31, 2027, the consultant will submit one finalized report containing comparative analysis between endline and baseline data on respondents and the survey indicators. The report should describe the methodology and any limitations affecting comparability; assess the demographics of the surveyed menstruators at endline and how they compare to baseline; present changes in key indicators overall and by relevant subgroups; and include an intersectional feminist analysis of differences in findings across populations experiencing overlapping forms of discrimination and exclusion. This report should focus on providing an overall analysis of findings across all nine survey countries, followed by a brief analysis of main findings by country.

All deliverables will be reviewed by Fòs Feminista and, as appropriate, relevant consortium partners. Deliverables should consistently apply an intersectional feminist lens and examine differences for people situated at the intersection of discriminatory power structures. Any translation or back translations needed to produce deliverables in English will be conducted by the consultant and their local networks.

2.3 Consultant Profile

The ideal consultant has:

• Prior involvement in the design and implementation of the baseline population-based representative survey, with demonstrated capacity to replicate its methodology, instruments, sampling approach, and field procedures to ensure comparability between baseline and endline results.
• Fluent verbal and written communication skills in both English and French, with demonstrated ability to test and administer surveys in the local languages of Benin, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Dominican Republic, Guinea, Haiti, Nigeria, Pakistan, and the Philippines.
• Specialized expertise in population-based representative survey development, testing, and administration in the Global South, with a preference for survey experience in the 9 countries of the project.
• Extensive background in designing and implementing rigorous assessments of sexual and reproductive health, rights, and justice, with the expertise to assess menstrual discrimination with an intersectional feminist lens.
• Demonstrated ability to incorporate ethical considerations and protections, as well as local adaptations of deliverables for each country.
• Strong knowledge of the sexual and reproductive health, rights, and justice landscape in Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean, with a particular focus on menstrual health and dignity.
• Ability to collaborate effectively in multicultural settings across multiple time zones and using remote digital formats.
• Ability to adapt to challenges and opportunities as they arise.
• Familiarity with Agence Française de Développement requirements or reporting is a plus.

III. INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENT

3.1 Project Duration

All deliverables related to the endline survey shall be completed by July 31, 2027.

3.2 Work Location

This consultancy will be conducted remotely, with the ability to apply the representative survey in Benin, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Dominican Republic, Guinea, Haiti, Nigeria, Pakistan, and the Philippines. The contracted consultant must be willing to adjust to different time zones.

3.3 Reporting

The consultancy will report to Fòs Feminista's Business Intelligence, Evaluation, and Research Unit.

IV. APPLICATION PROCESS

For consideration, please submit a résumé or portfolio that demonstrates expertise in representative survey development, implementation, and analysis, as well as a proposal for the consultancy. The proposal must include the proposed methodology and approach, anticipated level of effort and timelines for deliverables, and a financial offer in US dollars, which includes rates plus all taxes and liens that this type of consultancy requires. All application materials shall be submitted in English.

We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those candidates selected for interviews will be contacted.

V. SAFEGUARDING COMMITMENTS 

Fòs Feminista is committed to ensuring that the health, rights, and wellbeing of all children, young people, and vulnerable populations who work and engage with Fòs Feminista's Team Members and Associated Persons are respected and protected in their interactions with them, so it requires all its Team Members and Associated Persons to share this commitment.

The successful consultant must:

• Sign and adhere to Fòs Feminista's International Safeguarding Policy and Safeguarding Code of Conduct, including the minimum operating standards for protection from sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA).

VI. EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER STATEMENT 

Fòs Feminista provides equal opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to age, race, color, disability, national origin, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital and partnership status, genetic information, veteran status, or any other protected category under federal, state, and local law.