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International Consultancy for Introduction of the Confidential Enquiry into Perinatal Deaths in Turkmenistan (Neonatologist)

Ashkhabad

  • Organization: UNICEF - United Nations Children’s Fund
  • Location: Ashkhabad
  • Grade: Consultancy - International Consultant - Internationally recruited Contractors Agreement
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Early Childhood Development
  • Closing Date: Closed

Ministry of Health and Medical Industry of Turkmenistan committed to take action to accelerate progress on newborn, child, adolescent and maternal health and wellbeing through implementation of the State Health Program and the National Strategy and Action Plan on Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health in Turkmenistan for 2015-2019. Ministerial Decree No 166 “On the Improvement of Perinatal Care” (6 June 2014) introduced the Model for regionalization of the obstetrics/maternity services. Confidential enquiries into perinatal deaths are a special form of WHO audit conducted via peer review. A confidential enquiry is a participatory, multidisciplinary ‘no blame’ approach which is specifically aims to determine the real causes of death; determine factors that lead to the death, analyze if management was according to standards and propose solutions to prevent deaths in future. The main principles of the approach are to ensure anonymous case presentation, confidentiality of discussions and application of evidence-based medicine in subsequent case management. In relation to the above, there is a need for an International technical support to provide training of national experts on the application of the audit methodology and developing package of documents needed for audit introduction in the country. UNICEF, WHO and UNFPA COs and MOHMI of Turkmenistan agreed on joint implementation of the confidential enquiry into perinatal deaths in Turkmenistan to improve quality of perinatal care and reduce infant mortality. Based on above mentioned, the UNICEF CO in Turkmenistan are seeking an international consultant – neonatologist, who are able to facilitate the team of national experts’ in implementation of Confidential enquiries into perinatal deaths (CEPD) in Turkmenistan for 2017-2018 and produce a strategic plan and implementation roadmap.

If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world's leading children's rights organization would like to hear from you.

For 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children's survival, protection and development. The world's largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments.

UNICEF Turkmenistan Country Office

Statement of Work and Terms of Reference

International Consultancy for Introduction of the Confidential Enquiry into Perinatal Deaths in Turkmenistan

 

Neonatologist

 

1.      Program information:

 


Outcome 1: By end-2020, all children, including children with developmental difficulties, have access to quality health services to ensure child survival, health and better developmental outcomes

Output 1.2: By end-2019, the health system regularly assesses implementation of adopted protocols on neonatal care, home visiting, infection control and BFHI principles to ensure quality of care
 

 

UNICEF is mandated by the United Nations General Assembly to advocate for the protection of children's rights, to help meet their basic needs and to expand their opportunities to reach their full potential. Guided by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, UNICEF strives to establish children's rights as international standards of behavior towards children.

 

2.      BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT

Mother and Child Health has always been one of the top priorities of the Government of Turkmenistan. Ministry of Health and Medical Industry of Turkmenistan committed to take action to accelerate progress on newborn, child, adolescent and maternal health and wellbeing through implementation of the State Health Program and the National Strategy and Action Plan on Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health in Turkmenistan for 2015-2019. Ministerial Decree No 166 "On the Improvement of Perinatal Care" (6 June 2014) introduced the Model for regionalization of the obstetrics/maternity services.

 

To drive change for children, UNICEF can use opportunities to transform strong political will and commitment of the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry of Turkmenistan into improved quality of mother and child health care with technological innovations and implementation of the confidential enquiry into perinatal deaths.

 

The joint agreement of WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA and MOHMI will be made based on the successful experience on introduction WHO and UNICEF tools on quality improvement of the mother and child health care such as confidential maternal mortality audit and BABIES to improve the quality of care and monitor the implementation of effective lifesaving technologies into routine practice of maternities, child hospitals and PHC facilities.

 

Confidential enquiries into perinatal deaths are a special form of WHO audit conducted via peer review. A confidential enquiry is a participatory, multidisciplinary 'no blame' approach which is specifically aims to determine the real causes of death; determine factors that lead to the death, analyze if management was according to standards and propose solutions to prevent deaths in future.

The main principles of the approach are to ensure anonymous case presentation, confidentiality of discussions and application of evidence-based medicine in subsequent case management.

In relation to the above, there is a need for an International technical support to provide training of national experts on the application of the audit methodology and developing package of documents needed for audit introduction in the country.     

 

UNICEF, WHO and UNFPA COs and MOHMI of Turkmenistan agreed on joint implementation of the confidential enquiry into perinatal deaths in Turkmenistan to improve quality of perinatal care and reduce infant mortality.

 

Based on above mentioned, the UNICEF CO in Turkmenistan are seeking an international consultant – neonatologist, who are able to facilitate the team of national experts' in implementation of Confidential enquiries into perinatal deaths (CEPD) in Turkmenistan for 2017-2018 and produce a strategic plan and implementation roadmap.

 

3.      OBJECTIVES

 

 

The objective of the assignment is to provide technical assistance to for the technical assistance to Ministry of Health of Turkmenistan and National Enquiry Committee in introduction confidential enquiry into perinatal deaths in Turkmenistan to improve quality of perinatal care and reduce infant mortality with conducting the case review sessions and drafting of the audit reports and recommendations.

 

4.      SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES TO BE COMPLETED TO ACHIEVE THE OBJECTIVES

To achieve the objective of the assignment in introduction the confidential enquiry into perinatal deaths in Turkmenistan with conducting the case review sessions and drafting of the audit reports and recommendations, the work plan for implementation the planned activities is to be finalized and approved by MOHMI and WHO/UNICEF/UNFPA COs for 2016-2017 which will include:

 
1.Strengthening institutional capacity for implementation of Confidential Enquiry into Perinatal Deaths (CEPD) in Turkmenistan
2.Develop the methodological instructions and description of CEPD audit tools on Russian languages
3.Assist national team of experts in development and endorsement of the CEPD audit standards, classifications and tools based on experience from countries of the CEE/CIS Region.
4.Facilitate technical workshop to train multi-disciplinary health specialists of pilot facilities on audit methodology and agreed on audit composition of the experts' panel, case sampling for review (2017)
5.To conduct and facilitate the technical workshop on Confidential Enquiry into Perinatal Deaths (CEPD) to agree on methodology, standards and develop tools for case review and audit for health specialists (obstetricians, neonatologist, patologoanatomist, patomorhpologist) (2017).
6.Online technical assistance of National Enquiry Committee on conducting first review sessions
7.Online technical assistance of CEPD National Enquiry Committee on development of first year draft audit report and recommendations   
8.To facilitate and conduct the national workshop on CEMD, CEPD and NMCR progress implementation in 2018.
9.Development and presentation of the strategy document using stakeholder inputs, analysis of the National Enquiry Committee on CEPD for 2017-2018.

 

 

5.      DELIVERY DATES AND DETAILS AS TO HOW THE WORK MUST BE DELIVERED

 

The tentative timeline and estimated completion date for the project is discussed and agreed by UNICEF and UNFPA COs and MoHMI for 2017-2018.

 

As the main outcome of the assignment the Institutional capacities of the National Enquiry Committee and MoHMI to implement Confidential enquiries into perinatal deaths will be strengthened in terms of development of full package of audit materials, training of national and regional experts on audit methodology and first audit report development.

 


Deliverables
 
Dates
 

The methodological instructions and description of CEPD audit tools on Russian languages were developed and used by national team of experts in May 2016 at the initial WS.
 
April 2017
 

The technical workshop for training multi-disciplinary health specialists of pilot facilities on audit methodology and agreed on audit composition of the experts' panel, case sampling for review (2016)
 
May 2017
 

The national team of experts is assisted in the development of the CEPD audit standards, classifications and tools based on experience from countries of the CEE/CIS Region. The documents would be endorsed by end of the 2017
 
July 2017
 

The technical workshop (or Study Tour) on Confidential Enquiry into Perinatal Deaths (CEPD) facilitated. The methodology, standards and tools for case review and audit for health specialists (obstetricians, neonatologist, patologoanatomist, patomorhpologist) are developed and agreed. 
 
November 2017
 

Provided technical assistance to the National Enquiry Committee on conducting first review sessions
 
January 2018
 

The CEPD National Enquiry Committee is supported in the process of development of first year draft audit report and recommendations    
 
March 2018
 

The national workshop on CEMD, CEPD and NMCR progress implementation is facilitated and conducted.
 
May 2018
 

The strategy document with stakeholder inputs, analysis of the National Enquiry Committee on CEPD for 2017-2018 is developed and presented to high level MOHSD officials.
 
May 2017- 2018
 

 

Note: Half of the overall implementation and rollout is expected to be completed by the mid of 2018.

 

 

6.      DUTY STATION

 

Ashgabat, Mary, Turkmenistan (2 (10 days) in country visit), 25 days (out of country work)

7.      SUPERVISOR
•The consultant will be supervised and report to Health and Nutrition Specialist of UNICEF Turkmenistan Country Office with debriefing and consultation with UNICEF Turkmenistan Deputy Representative and Representative.
•The consultant will work in close co-operation with involved consultant on Obstetric care and Pathology anatomist as a team member and national co-facilitators from MoHMI and MCH center staff as well multi-disciplinary health specialists of pilot facilities.
•The implementation of this project will be supervised by the UNICEF Health and Nutrition Specialist under the guidance of the Deputy Representative and Representative of the UNICEF CO in Turkmenistan.

 

8.      Qualifications or specialized knowledge/experience required

 
•Advanced degree in public health, child and maternal health;
•Knowledge of WHO course "Effective Perinatal Care', experience in practical implementation of technologies at institution level (Certificate at request).
•Excellent knowledge and substantive experience in skills in performing a confidential audit "Confidential enquiries into perinatal deaths "and quality assessment of perinatal care at the facility;
•Practical experience on having undertaken similar assignments
•Strong analytical, communication skills, including experience in preparation of reports, analytical references
•Fluency in Russian language is a significant advantage
•Positive references/recommendations from previous client

 

 

9.      Basis for fee and Payment Schedule:

 

The basis for fee is to be paid in average rates P-3 level for 35 days in total from April 2017 till May of 2018.   UNICEF will only make milestone payment based on achievement of specific deliverables as listed on the table above. Also note that UNICEF does not make advance payment and UNICEF is exempted from paying VAT and any other form of taxes.

 

UNICEF reserves the right to withhold all or a portion of payment if performance is unsatisfactory, if work/outputs is incomplete, not delivered or for failure to meet deadlines (fees reduced due to late submission: 20 days - 10%; 1 month-20%; 2 months-50%; more 2 months – payment withhold). All materials developed will remain the copyright of UNICEF and that UNICEF will be free to adapt and modify them in the future. This ToR is an integral part of the contract (SSA) signed with the consultant.

 

 

 


Deliverables
 
Percent
 

The methodological instructions and description of CEPD audit tools on Russian languages were developed and used by national team of experts at the initial WS.

The technical workshop for training multi-disciplinary health specialists of pilot facilities on audit methodology and agreed on audit composition of the experts' panel, case sampling for review (2017)
 
 

 

 

 

30 %
 

The national team of experts is assisted in the development and endorsement of the CEPD audit standards, classifications and tools based on experience from countries of the CEE/CIS Region.

The technical workshop on Confidential Enquiry into Perinatal Deaths (CEPD) facilitated. The methodology, standards and tools for case review and audit for health specialists (obstetricians, neonatologist, patologoanatomist, patomorhpologist) are developed and agreed.     (2017).
 
40 %
 

The technical assistance to the   National Enquiry Committee on   conducting first review sessions   provided online.

The CEPD National Enquiry Committee is supported in the process of development of first year draft audit report and recommendations.

The strategy document with stakeholder inputs, analysis of the National Enquiry Committee on CEPD for 2017-2018 is developed and presented to high level MOHSD officials.
 
 

30%
 

 

 

10. UNICEF General Terms and Conditions

 

UNICEF's general terms and conditions will apply to the contract awarded to the vendor. Please note that, in the evaluation of the technical merits of each proposal, UNICEF will take into consideration any proposed amendments to the UNICEF General Terms and Conditions. Proposed amendments to the UNICEF general terms and conditions may negatively affect the evaluation of the technical merits of the proposal. 

 

All submissions should be electronic.

UNICEF reserves the right to withhold all or a portion of payment if performance is unsatisfactory, if work/outputs is incomplete and not provided timely as indicated in the individual work plan of Contractor. This ToR is an integral part of the contract (PO) signed with the consultant.

 

UNICEF retains the right to patent and intellectual rights, as well as copyright and other similar intellectual property rights for any discoveries, inventions, products or works arising specifically from the implementation of the project in cooperation with UNICEF. The right to reproduce or use materials shall be transferred with a written approval of UNICEF based on the consideration of each separate case. Consultants should always refer to UNICEF Turkmenistan support in developing the materials when publishing the results of the research conducted while in Turkmenistan in academic journals, books and websites.

 

11. Procedures and logistics:

Whenever the consultant will be required to travel within Turkmenistan UNICEF will cover all travel expenses. UNICEF does not provide or arrange health insurance coverage for contractors.

 

Appendix A: Expression of Interest Form

Support for organization of early learning, development and multi-disciplinary services in Turkmenistan

Please fill-in page 1 of the form in its entirety and submit it to us electronically or via fax.


     
 

 

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Alternate contact                                                                       

Please respond to the questions below in a narrative not exceeding 2 pages.
1.Provide information, which will enable us to determine whether you have relevant experience. Information should include:
•a description of your technical competencies, and the number of years of experience in social protection;
•reports commissioned by UN agencies or comparable organizations that you conducted, or participated in as a member of a team.
1.Provide any additional experience that may be critical to the success of the proposed technical assistance, including but limited to:
•affiliation to universities or professional bodies in one or more sample countries
•any other information that you deem relevant that would give you an advantage over other competing for the same consultancy
1.Confirm the following; that
•you have no on-going litigation with the UN;
•are not currently removed/invalidated or suspended by the United Nations or UN system organizations.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Competencies of Successful Candidate

 

To view our competency framework, please click here.

Please indicate your ability, availability and daily/monthly rate (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference above (including travel and daily subsistence allowance, if applicable).  Applications submitted without a daily/monthly rate will not be considered.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organisation.

This vacancy is now closed.