Ireland - Amal Women Association: Invitation to Tender

Description

The Amal Women’s Association invites tenders for research in the following area;
Muslim women’s experience of pre and post natal care in Ireland;
“A Mother is Born Too”
This research, funded by the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission will explore Muslim women’s experience of maternity care in Ireland from a human rights perspective and identifying barriers to access, making recommendations to improve outcomes for mothers, babies and their families.
Context and Background
Who are the Amal Women’s Association?
The Amal Women's Association is a Muslim women-led volunteer based and run organisation; we provide on a voluntary basis frontline services to Muslim women and women with a connection to the Muslim community nationwide. Amal is uniquely placed to understand the specific needs of Muslim women, and to link them to relevant specialist services. We have access to a community of women who are motivated to help and support one another. We connect and work closely with women and community organisations nationally.
We provide direct support to Muslim women in the community, addressing immediate needs including housing, health and mental health; family and school support and support for women affected by Gender Based Violence. We assist women in accessing mainstream services, and provide advocacy and accompaniment as necessary. We run courses in different areas including English classes, Driver theory test, and arts programmes.
We do this to build women's confidence and increase their capacity to participate fully in society. We provide a weekly forum for women to meet and chat, and work together. Other activities include youth camps; outreach to refugees; culturally appropriate advocacy and sign posting.
Background to the research
We know from statistics gathered from CSO that the age profile of the Muslim community in Ireland is lower than national average and that many Muslim women have babies in Ireland every year. We also know anecdotally many hijab wearing Muslim women are present for medical appointments at maternity hospitals everyday but very few are present in pre and post-natal opt-in services like physiotherapy, ante-natal classes, breastfeeding support spaces, baby massage, mother and baby groups etc. We also don’t know how women experience maternity care in general but we know they largely don’t access additional supportive services and groups.
Its widely accepted that early months for motherhood are vital for the healthy formation of attachment. And early years key to establishment of strong and stable families. A significant proportion, (though by no means all) Muslim mothers and mums to be are migrants. As a consequence, they often have fewer support networks that indigenous women. In terms of outcomes we also know that Muslim families are over-represented later on in child protection services. Are own experience in Amal is that some women are very socially isolated and in turn become very dependent on their partners. Exploratory conversations health visitors indicate that on visits to women’s homes, they often meet Muslim women they deem to be isolated or at risk but are unable to find an appropriate service to link women to. Conversations with local health workers indicate services are struggling to attract and support Muslim women despite their assessment that there is a high level of need in the community.
Our women report various reasons for low participation including mistrust, bias and racism or discomfort in mainstream surroundings. But we need to know more in order to realise the rights of Muslim women to appropriate healthcare and early family supports.
Carrying out the Research
The two main target subjects for the research are Muslim women who have had children in Ireland within the last 5 years and maternal health, (pre and post-natal) service providers, including community midwives, public health nurses and community workers and others.
To assist you in your role, Amal will make a community liaison person available as an aid to the research and to assist a deep reach into the community. The community liaison person will help identify research participants, assist with cultural mediation, supporting participants and assisting with some research processes.
The tender requirements are as follows:

Description of proposed approach, methodology, actions and timeframe.
Plan for stakeholder engagement.
Personnel involved – details including a short CV of all persons involved outlining qualifications and experience
Detailed per day costs and any associated costs – including VAT if applicable

Essential Criteria for selection of successful tender

Knowledge and experience of work with marginalised communities and representative organisations.
Intercultural competencies.
Expertise in research projects with marginalised communities
Excellent report writing, written and presentation skills.
Good analysis of power in area of research and/or health service provision.

Desirable Criteria for selection of successful tender

Expertise in research with Muslim women.
Knowledge and expertise in research in the area of health.
Knowledge and expertise particularly in areas of pre and post-natal health care and/or expertise in marginalised groups access to health services.

The successful tender should commit to an examination of best practice internationally. Amal can assist in this regard linking the successful candidate with a network of Muslim women’s organisations across Europe and further afield.
Indicative Project Timeline

January 2020 – recruitment of researcher.
February to July – Research phase

First 2 weeks, meeting between researcher and Amal Research advisory group to agree workplan.

First Draft Research Due July 15th
Final draft due July 30th
August - Design and printing etc of research
Early September – Research Launch

Project Finance;
The budget for the tender will not exceed € 8000. Costs associated with focus group participation, design and printing of the research etc will be covered by Amal seperately.
Closing date for the tender
Please forward a written proposal marked “Maternal Health Research Proposal” no later than 31st of January 2020 to amal.hope@outlook.ie or alternatively by post to Amal Women’s Association, C/O The Islamic Foundation of Ireland, 168 South Circular Road, Dublin 8.
Applications from researchers from a minority ethnic or religious backgrounds are particularly welcome.
For information or enquiries please contact Niera at +353 899 77 1845

Opportunity closing date

31 January 2020

Value of contract

to be confirmed