MNCH Consultant to Support Introduction of “Care for the Newborns at Home”, Health Section, Islamabad (Only For Pakistan Nationals)

The Consultant is being hired to adapt the training materials of care for the newborn at home and share final report at the end of the assignment. It will help build capacity of community health workers on care for the newborn at home and help raise awareness of mothers and community members. The results of the intervention can be used to advocate to scale up in other districts and provinces.

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Purpose of the Assignment:

Background:

The Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey 2012–2013, shows that one in every 14 Pakistani child dies in the first year of life, while one in every 11 does not survive to his or her fifth birthday due to preventable diseases like diarrhoea, pneumonia and diseases related to water, sanitation and hygiene. Infant and under-five mortality rates in the past five years have been on average 74 and 89 deaths per 1,000 live births, respectively. Neonatal mortality has been stagnant at around 55 deaths per 1,000 live births for the last 20 years. The overall pace of progress for maternal, newborn and child health (MNCH) and family planning indicators has been sluggish with unacceptably low outcomes. More than a third of deaths of children under five continue to occur due to preventable and treatable illnesses. These deaths can be prevented with various low cost and effective interventions that focus on improving primary healthcare and behaviour change through community awareness.

Over the past two years UNICEF, with support of Johnson & Johnson, has been working to improve maternal new-born and child outcomes in the district Rajanpur Province Punjab. The project has begun to result in community empowerment and behavioral change which has contributed to achieving an overall improvement in immunization coverage, child health and nutrition, birth preparedness, maternal and new born health, and hygiene & sanitation in the targeted Union Councils (UCs). Additional funds have been received in 2017 to continue the support in reaching out through the community outreach planned through PHC for home settings.

Objectives to hire a consultant:

• Local adaptation of the existing WHO/UNICEF internationally available standard training materials on “Care for the Newborns at Home”. Package is accessible at;

http://www.who.int/maternal_child_adolescent/documents/caring-for-the-newborn-at-home/en/

Increased capacity of community health workers to deliver quality services for pregnant women and newborns at community level (including care for the newborns at home).

Output:   

1. To develop community health workers competence in communication skills and building good relationship with the family when making a home visit.
2. To develop community health workers competence in counselling the family on the importance of antenatal care, planning for birth in a health facility, home care for pregnant women and appropriate new-born care practices immediately after birth.
3. To develop community health worker’s competence in assessing breast feeding, danger signs and weight in a new born, deciding to refer or provide care at home depending on the results of the assessment and advising families on optimal care practices for the new-born.
4. To develop community health workers competence in assisting families to provide extra care for small (low birth weight) baby including home based KMC after discharge from the hospital along with regular follow-up in liaison with a health facility.

Expected Outcome:

Consultant is being hired to adapt the training materials of care for the newborn at home and share final report at the end of the assignment. It will help build capacity of community health workers on care for the newborn at home and help raise awareness of mothers and community members. The results of the intervention can be used to advocate to scale up in other districts and provinces.

As the project is being implemented through Lady Health Workers program, its scalability in the province and sustainability shouldn’t be a major issue.

Task to be performed:

1. Desk review and adapt the manual and training materials on care for newborn at home in consultation with Department of Health and key stakeholders.

 Deliverable(s) 1: Desk review done, manual and training material on care for newborn at home adapted to local context and shared with UNICEF focal points.

Work Schedule: Week # 1 & 2

TERMS OF PAYMENT: (no more than 30% advance/Final payment no less than 10%) 15%

2. Translation of the adapted manual and training material on care for the newborn at home in local language (URDU).

D2: Manual and training materials translated in Urdu language and shared with UNICEF for approval.

Work Schedule: Week # 3 & 4

TERMS OF PAYMENT: 25%

3. Conduct Provincial stakeholders’ consultation /District consultation and   planning meeting for finalization of training materials.

D3: Provincial and district planning and review meetings conducted with DoH and final manual and training material shared with UNICEF and DoH.

Work Schedule: Week # 5 & 6

TERMS OF PAYMENT: 10%

4. Provincial trainings of trainers  (20 Provincial master trainers, 20 district trainers and 1478 Lady Health Workers, 57 Lady Health Supervisors, 64 Community Midwives & 15 CHWs trained on home based care)

D4: Provincial ToTs on adapted training materials and manuals conducted with DoH and LHW program focal persons and community health workers.

Work Schedule: Week # 7 & 8

TERMS OF PAYMENT: 20%

5. Trickle down trainings for district Bahawalnagar.

D5: Trickle down trainings in district Bahawalnagar conducted with community health workers.

Work Schedule: Week # 9 &10

TERMS OF PAYMENT: 20%

6. Final report submission on format approved by UNICEF.

D6: Final report shared with UNICEF (three hard copies and one soft copy)

Work Schedule: Week # 11 &12

TERMS OF PAYMENT: 10%

Total cost of consultancy PKR 1,296,135 (Funding source: SC170066)

(The travel cost (cost for travel, terminals, DSA) will be reimbursed as per actual basis in accordance with UNICEF rules and regulations).

TERMS OF PAYMENT: 100%

Qualifications & Education of Successful Candidate:

1. Qualifications or Specialized Knowledge/Experience Required (Indicate skills and qualifications requirement):

• Advanced university degree in public health;
• Relevant Maternal Newborn Child Health (MNCH) experience of at least 10 years.
• Experience of translating English materials in Urdu 
• Experience of conducting trainings 
• Strong relevant analytical, oral and written communication skills
• Understanding of UNICEF mandate and activities
• Effective facilitator with proven ability to engage and train a group of individuals.
• Demonstrated ability to work in multi-cultural environment.
• Knowledge and understanding of the manual on Care of the Newborns at home would be an added asset.

Competencies of Successful Candidate

To view our competency framework, please click here. 

PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCIES:

• Knowledge and understanding of work, standards and practices of UN and other Government/Humanitarian Organizations.
• Planning and Organizing.

 FUNCTIONAL COMPETENCIES

• Previous experience of adapting manuals and materials.
• Previous experience of conducting trainings

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.

NOTE:

HEC Attested degrees are a pre-requisite for employment at UNICEF. During the recruitment process candidates may be required to present HEC attested degrees.

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 organization.