Implementation of transport vouchers to improve access to chronic care in Belize

Description

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), in coordination with the Ministry of Health and Wellness (MOHW) of Belize, is seeking a consulting firm to execute the field implementation of a Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT). The study aims to evaluate the impact of transport vouchers on the utilization of routine health services among patients with chronic conditions in the districts of Cayo, Stann Creek, and Toledo.

1. Operationalization and ethical compliance
The firm will be responsible for translating the IDB’s study design into local field operations:

- Standard Operating Procedures: Developing workflows, training materials, and data flow protocols to operationalize the RCT in the Belizean context.

- Regulatory Compliance: Completing the Institutional Review Board (IRB) process and managing informed consent and enrollment for a target sample of 1,500–2,000 patients.

2. Sample validation and CHW strengthening
A key component of the consultancy is the integration of the project within existing health structures:

- Field Validation: Verifying patient eligibility, residency, and contact information based on the Belize Health Information System (BHIS) sampling frame.

- Referral System: Co-developing and implementing a strategy to strengthen the Community Health Worker (CHW) referral system, ensuring alignment between CHWs, district health offices, and facilities.

3. Voucher administration and monitoring
The firm will establish secure and auditable mechanisms for the financial intervention:

- Delivery Channel: Managing voucher issuance at health facilities with cash-out services at participating credit unions. This includes contracting partners and training staff on verification procedures.

- Data and Oversight: Conducting targeted primary data collection on implementation performance and maintaining rigorous field-level reconciliation against BHIS records.

- Beneficiary Support: Operating a support mechanism to handle participant inquiries and monitor compliance with conditionality requirements.

Note: Interested companies must review the requirements in the BEO Bidders Portal.