Terms of Reference: Consultancy for the Development of a Multisectoral Collaboration and Accountability Framework for NTD Control in Rwanda. ____________________________________________________________________

1.Introduction

The Rwanda NGOs Forum on HIV/AIDS and Health Promotion (RNGOF-HP) is a national network of 139 Non-Governmental Organizations working to improve health outcomes and promote the wellbeing of populations most affected by health inequities in Rwanda. The Forum plays a key role in coordinating civil society engagement, strengthening the capacity of member organizations, generating evidence through research and assessments, and advocating for inclusive, people-centered policies and programs that address priority public health challenges.

RNGOF-HP has a strong track record of supporting national efforts to prevent and control Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), particularly among high-risk and vulnerable populations including women and girls, school-aged children, farmers, fishermen, refugees, and underserved rural communities. Through collaboration with government institutions, development partners, and community structures, the Forum contributes to community engagement, social and behavior change interventions, and multisectoral dialogue that address the underlying determinants of NTD transmission, including water, sanitation, hygiene, and environmental factors.

In line with Rwanda’s commitment to eliminating NTDs as public health problems, and recognizing the central role of multisectoral collaboration and accountability in sustaining progress, RNGOF-HP seeks to engage a qualified consultant to support the development of a Multisectoral Collaboration and Accountability Framework for NTD control in Rwanda. This framework will strengthen coordination between health and non-health sectors, clarify roles and responsibilities, and support harmonized planning and implementation to advance national NTD elimination priorities.

2. Background

Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) remain a major public health and development challenge, disproportionately affecting poor and marginalized populations and reinforcing cycles of poverty, inequality, and social exclusion. These diseases are closely linked to structural determinants such as inadequate water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), unsafe environmental conditions, limited access to health and social services, and livelihoods that increase exposure to infection. Recognizing this complexity, the World Health Organization (WHO) NTD Roadmap 2021–2030 calls for the elimination of NTDs as public health problems through accelerated programmatic action, strengthened cross-cutting and intersectoral approaches, and transformed operating models that promote country ownership, coordination, and accountability.

Rwanda has made notable progress in reducing the burden of priority NTDs, particularly Schistosomiasis (SCH) and Soil-Transmitted Helminthiasis (STH), through preventive chemotherapy, enhanced surveillance, and community-based interventions. Building on these achievements, the country has adopted the SCH/STH Interruption of Transmission (IoT) Plan, which shifts the national response from morbidity control toward sustained transmission interruption. The IoT approach emphasizes integrated interventions including improved WASH services, environmental management, behavior change, intensified surveillance, and community engagement—interventions that extend beyond the mandate of the health sector alone.

Effective implementation of SCH/STH IoT and broader NTD elimination efforts requires coordinated action across multiple non-health sectors whose policies and programs directly influence NTD transmission dynamics. Key actors include ministries and institutions responsible for education, water and sanitation, agriculture, infrastructure, environment, local government, and social protection, alongside district authorities and community structures. In Rwanda, entities such as MINEDUC, MININFRA, MINAGRI, WASAC, environmental agencies, and decentralized local governments play critical roles in shaping the environmental and behavioral conditions necessary to sustain NTD control and elimination gains.

Despite this recognized interdependence, coordination and accountability mechanisms linking the health sector with non-health sectors remain fragmented or insufficiently defined. Existing platforms often lack clear roles, shared indicators, accountability pathways, and systematic mechanisms for joint planning, financing, monitoring, and reporting. These gaps limit the effectiveness, efficiency, and sustainability of multisectoral investments and pose a risk to the long-term success of SCH/STH IoT and other NTD elimination initiatives.

In line with Rwanda’s National Strategy for Transformation (NST2), Health Sector Strategic Plan V (HSSP V), the National NTD Strategic Plan, and global commitments under the WHO NTD Roadmap 2021–2030, there is a critical need to strengthen multisectoral collaboration and accountability for NTD control and elimination. This requires a comprehensive analysis of existing interventions within and beyond the health sector, assessment of current coordination and accountability arrangements, and identification of opportunities to optimize multisectoral engagement.

The development of a costed Multisectoral Collaboration and Accountability Framework for NTD control in Rwanda will provide a structured and practical roadmap to guide coordination across sectors, clarify roles and responsibilities at national and subnational levels, strengthen accountability mechanisms, and support effective resource mobilization and harmonized implementation. The framework will serve as a key reference for policy makers, planners, and partners, ensuring that multisectoral actions are systematically aligned, adequately financed, and collectively accountable in advancing Rwanda’s goal of sustainable NTD elimination.

3. Objective of the Consultancy

A. Overall Objective

The overall objective of this consultancy is to develop a costed Multisectoral Collaboration and Accountability Framework for Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) control and elimination in Rwanda that strengthens coordination, clarifies roles and responsibilities, and enhances accountability across health and non-health sectors in support of national priorities, including the SCH/STH Interruption of Transmission (IoT) Plan.

B. Specific objectives

The specific objectives of this plan are as follows:

1. To conduct a comprehensive situation analysis of existing NTD-related interventions, investments, and coordination mechanisms within and beyond the health sector at national and subnational levels, identifying gaps, challenges, and opportunities for strengthened multisectoral collaboration and accountability.
2. To identify and document priority multisectoral interventions across health, WASH, education, agriculture, environment, infrastructure, local government, and social protection sectors that contribute to NTD control and elimination, with particular emphasis on sustaining SCH/STH IoT gains.
3. To facilitate inclusive, high-level consultations with policymakers and key stakeholders from health and non-health sectors to validate priorities, define roles and responsibilities, and inform the design of a practical multisectoral collaboration and accountability framework.
4. To develop a costed Multisectoral Collaboration and Accountability Framework that clearly outlines governance arrangements, coordination mechanisms, accountability pathways, and implementation modalities for NTD control and elimination in Rwanda.
    
5. To support dissemination and uptake of the framework among national and subnational stakeholders, ensuring integration into sectoral plans, coordination platforms, and implementation processes.

4. Scope of Work

The consultant will be responsible for undertaking the following tasks and delivering the outputs outlined below. The scope of work builds directly on existing national and global NTD policies, Rwanda’s SCH/STH Interruption of Transmission (IoT) Plan, and ongoing multisectoral initiatives.

• Output 1: Situation Analysis of Multisectoral NTD Interventions and Coordination Mechanisms

Deliverable:
A comprehensive report analyzing existing NTD-related interventions, investments, coordination structures, and accountability mechanisms within and beyond the health sector at national and subnational levels.

Activities:

1. Conduct a desk review of relevant national, regional, and global policy and strategy documents guiding NTD control and elimination, including but not limited to:

• Rwanda Vision 2050
• National Strategy for Transformation (NST2)
• Health Sector Strategic Plan V (HSSP V)
• National NTD Strategic Plan
• Reports from NTD programme reviews
• WHO General Programme of Work (GPW 14)
• Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
• WHO NTD Roadmap 2021–2030
• WHO Global Strategy on WASH to Combat NTDs

2. Review available reports and documentation on the implementation of NTD interventions within and beyond the health sector, identifying achievements, gaps, challenges, and lessons learned relevant to multisectoral collaboration and accountability.

3. Analyze existing investments and financing streams for NTD control and elimination across health and non-health sectors.

4. Assess existing coordination platforms and mechanisms for NTD control and elimination at national and subnational levels, including their structure, functionality, effectiveness, and accountability arrangements, and identify key gaps and bottlenecks.

.5 Review the draft Joint WASH–NTD Roadmap and WASH Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Framework to assess alignment with multisectoral coordination and accountability expectations

6. Assess staffing capacity, institutional arrangements, and roles within relevant sectors that influence coordination, collaboration, and accountability for NTD control and elimination.

Output 2: Costed Package of Existing and Priority Multisectoral NTD Interventions

Deliverable:
A report presenting a costed five-year package of existing and priority multisectoral interventions for NTD control and elimination within and beyond the health sector.

Activities:

1. Facilitate a multisectoral technical workshop to identify and validate existing and priority NTD interventions across health and non-health sectors, with emphasis on interventions that sustain SCH/STH IoT gains

2. Develop a five-year costing of the identified interventions, including assumptions, costing methodology, and indicativeresource requirements across sectors.

Output 3: High-Level Consultative Meeting to Inform Framework Development

Deliverable:
A report documenting outcomes of a high-level consultative meeting with policymakers and key stakeholders from health and non-health sectors.

Activities:

• Facilitate a high-level consultative meeting with policymakers and senior representatives from relevant sectors to:\
• Validate findings from the situation analysis and costing exerciseAgree on multisectoral priorities for NTD control and elimination
• Provide strategic guidance on governance, coordination, and accountability arrangements to be reflected in the framework

Output 4: Multisectoral Collaboration and Accountability Framework for NTD Control and Elimination

Deliverable:
An endorsed Multisectoral Collaboration and Accountability Framework for NTD control and elimination in Rwanda.

Activities:

1. Conduct key informant interviews with representatives from relevant ministries, government institutions, academia, private sector, civil society organizations, faith-based organizations, development partners, and representatives of communities affected by NTDs to inform framework development.

2. Facilitate a multisectoral technical workshop to develop the Multisectoral Collaboration and Accountability Framework, building on evidence from the situation analysis, costing, and consultations.

3. Coordinate a structured review of the draft framework by relevant stakeholders, including government institutions, academia, private sector, civil society organizations, faith-based organizations, local and international NGOs, partners, and representatives of populations affected by NTDs.

4. Finalize the Multisectoral Collaboration and Accountability Framework by incorporating stakeholder feedback and ensuring alignment with national NTD priorities and sectoral plans across health and non-health sectors.

Output 5: Dissemination of the Multisectoral Collaboration and Accountability Framework

Deliverable:
A dissemination report documenting national and subnational dissemination of the approved Multisectoral Collaboration and Accountability Framework.

Activities:

1. Support national and subnational dissemination of the approved framework to relevant stakeholders across health and non-health sectors to promote ownership, integration into planning and budgeting processes, and effective implementation.

5. Timelines

Assignment Start date: 9th January 2026

Assignment End date: 28 Feb 2026

6. Required Qualifications and Experience

Academic Qualifications

• At least a Master’s degree in Public Health, Epidemiology, Health Economics, Health Policy, Development Studies, or a related field.
• A PhD in a relevant field will be considered an added advantage.

Professional Experience

• Demonstrated knowledge of WHO and international policies and strategies related to NTD control and elimination, including the WHO NTD Roadmap 2021–2030.
• A minimum of 5 -8 years of progressively responsible professional experience working on NTD programs or related public health initiatives at national, regional, or global levels.
• Proven experience in developing strategic frameworks, multisectoral coordination mechanisms, or investment and costing documents, preferably within the health or development sector.
• Documented experience in writing high-quality technical reports, policy documents, and strategic frameworks.
• Experience working with government institutions, development partners, and civil society organizations in Africa; experience in Rwanda or similar contexts is a strong asset.
   

Technical Skills and Competencies

• Strong analytical skills with the ability to synthesize complex technical and policy information into practical, actionable frameworks.
• Demonstrated experience in multisectoral collaboration, stakeholder engagement, and facilitation of high-level technical and policy discussions.
• Sound knowledge of public health systems, health governance, and cross-sectoral approaches, including WASH and environmental health.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with a proven ability to produce clear, concise, and well-structured technical documents.
• Strong interpersonal and negotiation skills, with the ability to work effectively with diverse stakeholders across sectors and levels.

Language Requirements

• Fluency in English (reading, writing, and speaking) is required.
• Working knowledge of French is an added advantage.

7. Consultancy Duration & Location

• The consultant will be based in his place of residence with travel to Rwanda.

8.  Logistics & Budget

The budget covers:

The consultancy budget will cover professional consultancy fees only, inclusive of all time, effort, and expertise required to deliver the agreed outputs under this Terms of Reference. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Desk review and analytical work
• Stakeholder consultations
• Facilitation of agreed technical discussions and workshops
• Development of technical reports and the Multisectoral Collaboration and Accountability Framework
• Coordination, communication, and reporting related to the assignment

No additional costs beyond professional consultancy fees will be covered under this assignment.

9. Application Process

Interested candidates should submit the following:

• Letter of Expression of Interest, clearly indicating suitability for the assignment.
• Technical Proposal, outlining the proposed methodology, work plan, and timeline for delivering the assignment.
• Financial Proposal, indicating the proposed professional consultancy fee (lump sum).
• Updated Curriculum Vitae (CV) highlighting relevant experience (maximum 5 pages).
• Copies of relevant supporting documents, including evidence of similar past assignments (e.g. reports, frameworks, or strategic documents).
• At least two (2) professional references from current or previous client organizations demonstrating experience in delivering similar assignments.

10.How to apply/ submit your application

• Documents will be submitted to Rwanda NGOs Forum via email: rwandangoforumrw@gmail.com not later than 5th Jan 2026 at 5:00 PM CAT. 

• Writing the Subject: “Application: Multisectoral Collaboration and Accountability Framework for NTD Control and Elimination in Rwanda””
• After submission, the applications will be reviewed. Due to an expected high volume of application, only selected consultant/consultancy firm will be informed.

Approved on 12th Dec 2025 

BY: 

KABANYANA Nooliet

Executive Director

Rwanda NGOs Forum on HIV/AIDS and Health Promotion

(RNGOF on HIV/AIDS & HP)