Assessment of Assistive Technology (AT) needs for children w...

TERMS OF REFERENCE 

Assessment of Assistive Technology (AT) needs for children with and without disabilities in the West Bank.

Call for contracting a National Organization or Service provider 

Project: (Access Action- EducAtion in emergenCies emergencies (EiE) for Children with and without disabilitiEs in West Bank and Gaza)

The deadline to receive offers is Thursday, 31 July 2025 at 3:00 pm. Offers shall be sent to [email protected]  

Services shall begin in early August for about a month as per the below

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

Handicap International is running its projects under the new name of Humanity & Inclusion (HI). Outraged by the injustice faced by people with disabilities and by vulnerable populations, we aspire to a world of solidarity and inclusion, enriched by our differences, where everyone can live in dignity. HI is an international, independent and impartial non-profit organisation that intervenes in situations of poverty and exclusion, conflict and disaster. Working alongside persons with disabilities and vulnerable populations, HI takes action and takes notice, to meet their basic needs, improve their living conditions and promote respect for their dignity and fundamental rights.

HI in Occupied Palestinian Territory (oPt):

Since 1996, HI has implemented various actions with local partners in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. In a territory beset by chronic crises, political instability, and a declining economic and social situation since the second Intifada in 2000, HI aims to respond to the needs of persons with disabilities and most vulnerable groups and to make structural improvements to their lives. 

Context:

In the West Bank, road closures and military incursions impacted HI's activities, but adapted intervention modalities in collaboration with local partners were applied, maintaining activities across core sectors such as Inclusive Education, Physical and Functional Rehabilitation, Disaster Preparedness and Risk Reduction, and IHA. HI's enduring presence in oPt, ongoing engagement with key stakeholders, and support for vulnerable Palestinians have earned a high level of acceptance within local communities. Under the “Access Action” project aims to respond to the needs of children with and without disabilities aged 6-14 to access safe and quality inclusive education especially during on-set emergencies in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt). The project was built based on the Education Rapid Needs Assessment (RNA) findings that highlight the significant education and protection needs of children with and without disabilities.

Access Action Rational:

1. Continuity of learning, emphasizing access to education (i.e. ensuring physical access to schools and Child Friendly Spaces (CFSs)) and quality learning (i.e. ensuring learning in schools and CFSs).

2. Protection (mainly child protection), to promote safe, protective and gender responsive learning environments by mainstreaming protection into continuity of learning activities.

3. Advocacy centered around institutional advocacy and policy influence on the right to education, as well as advocacy related to violations of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and Human Rights Law (HRL) inside and outside of oPt.

In the context of the ACCESS Action and within the activities of the project, that aim to ensure access to children with disabilities, HI is going to provide assistive technology for identified children with disabilities. Assistive Technologies (AT) cover different range of products focusing on mobility, sensory, and learning. These products are critical to ensure access of identified children with disabilities in public and UNRWA schools in the West Bank to services and promote their participation in their communities. The main targeted areas of the project are Tulkaram, Jenin, Sawyeh, Beita and Odala. Therefore, HI is seeking service provider to conduct a specialized assessment to assess the needs of assistive technology for the targeted children with disabilities. 

1. DESCRIPTION OF THE REQUIRED SERVICE PROVISION:

   1. The service provider will conduct individualized technical assessments for children with disabilities in their locations (in coordination with schools’ staff, Tamer Institute for Community Education’s team and HI staff) for 70 identified children in south Nablus, Jenin and Tulkaram through their multidisciplinary team. The locations are as follows: Asswayeh, Beita and Odala (South Nablus), Jenin City, and Tulkaram City.

      2- Identify the needs of the children for Assistive technologies-AT (Low and high tech) based on their specific impairments, learning and environmental needs.

     3- Consolidate the needs of the children in one database/ report detailing the technical specification of each prescribed assistive product in line with WHO standards.

    4- Develop training and follow up plan for the children, caregivers and teachers on how to use, clean and repair the assistive products.

      5- Submit regular progress reports weekly, including data on beneficiaries, complete assessments, photos of activities (only with prior informed consent of beneficiaries and/or their guardians) and challenges encountered. 

     6- Prioritize list of assistive technologies of children with disabilities. 

• - The procurement and purchase of the assistive technologies list will be managed by HI logistics and procurement team/ no financial offer is required from service provider.

• - HI ‘s finance and logistics departments will take the responsibility of payment and imbursement of services to the service provider based on validated deliverables and approved documentation.

• The procurement and purchase of the assistive technologies list will be managed by HI logistics and procurement team/ no financial offer is required from service provider.

• HI ‘s finance and logistics departments will take the responsibility of payment and imbursement of services to the service provider based on validated deliverables and approved documentation.

2. DELIVERABLES

The service provider shall produce and submit and update the following documents at end of mission:

1. List of all children’s assessments include detailed findings on disability type, functional limitations, learning and environmental needs, and recommended assistive technology.

2. Consolidated AT Needs Database/Report (Excel or Access format) compiling all prescribed assistive devices with technical specification and prioritization based on the urgency of the child’s need (high, medium, low priority).

3. A training plan and follow-up visit schedule for beneficiaries and their families upon need. 

4. Daily/weekly progress report with photos. 

5. Timeframe:

   The service provider shall conduct this activity between 1st to 30th August 2025 according to the schedule in the attahced ToR.

6. SERVICE PROVIDER PROFILE:

   A- A community-based rehabilitation program (CBR) or Rehabilitation Center/hospital; with ongoing activities or access in Tulkaram, Jenin and South Nablus to visit targeted children. 

   B- Extensive experience in rehabilitation and social work fields with proven experience in Assistive Technology service provision. 

   C- Technical teams with the relevant qualifications (occupational therapist, physiotherapist, special educator, audiologist or speech therapist)

   D- Locally registered entity that is able to produce tax invoices and a valid deduction at source certificate / or a locally registered organization with a valid tax exemption letter

5. APPLICATION PROCEDURES

Interested applicants should provide detailed narrative technical and financial offers by 31/7/2025 no later than 3:00 pm, that include the following:

- The suggested methodology of service provision with the proposed tools for data collection/assessment, and an itemized financial breakdown in Shekels (NIS) / and should be excluding VAT. 

-Provide an example or sample of previous work related to the provision of Assistive Technology (AT) in the context of the West Bank.

-A copy of the local registration of the company and valid deduction at source certificate or a valid tax exemption letter

-Technical and financial offers must be signed and stamped. 

Applications should be addressed to the following e-mail:  [email protected] with the subject line: “Assistive Technology ToR” 

Applications sent after the above deadline (31 July 2025) by 3:00 pm will not be considered

6. PAYMENT

   -Payment shall be made in full upon completion of the services above and the submission and validation of the final report 

   -Please note that the last payment is conditional on the validation of the final report and not on the sending of the final report. By validation, we mean validation of the quality and under no circumstances of the appreciation of the project evaluated.

If you have related experience and interested please CLICK HERE  to check the tender document