Institutional Contractor: Mapping of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Lesotho

1. Background

As part of GAVI 5.0 Immunization strategy, there is an intentional focus on new approaches and partner diversification to deliver on GAVI 5.0 equity goal, including national partners such as Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), non-governmental organizations (NGO), advocacy organizations, professional and community associations, faith-based organizations (FBO), community-based organizations (CBO) and academia – which can support the Governments across a wide spectrum of immunization activities. Hence GAVI considers CSOs to encompass the full range of formal and informal, non-governmental and not-for-profit organizations that represent the interests, expertise, and values of communities. GAVI also encourages that technical assistance, as part of the Targeted Country Assistance (TCA) window of support, is provided by a range of institutions, leveraging the comparative advantage partners bring to the table to advance both country and GAVI Alliance goals for immunization equity. To identify relevant local partners with the capacity to engage in immunization activities, a mapping of available CSOs should be done to support the process.

As part of TCA 2022-2025 planning process, countries should map existing CSOs to assess their relevance for immunization program engagement. UNICEF has extensive experience in working with CSOs in various fields, hence leveraging its extensive experience in working with CSOs in various fields, UNICEF is leading in the CSO mapping exercise on behalf of the Ministry of Health and partners. UNICEF is there for looking for an institution to map existing CSOs countrywide to determine, among others, their capacities on immunization components, including reaching the most vulnerable, areas of potential support, geographical locations, their structure and ongoing programs being implemented by them that could be integrated with immunization work.

2. Objective

The objective of this consultancy is to map existing CSOs working, or with potential to work, in child health and immunization field in Lesotho. The exercise will use inputs from various sources, including the review of current databases, literatures, key informant interviews in collaboration with UNICEF where relevant. The CSOs mapping will determine, among others, the geographical location of each entity, the number of such entities working in health, their capacities in immunization areas, including reaching the most vulnerable, areas of potential support, their structure and ongoing programs being implemented by them. The information collected from the mapping will inform the development of the CSOs database for health especially the immunization programme.