National Consultant to provide support for to the SMOH DHSS,UNICEF Sudan Country Office

Under the guidance and supervision of the Health Specialist, the consultant will be responsible for the development, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the Decentralized Health Systems Strengthening (DHSS) to increase coverage of child and maternal health interventions, particularly for underserved populations.

Background

 The Decentralized Health Systems Strengthening DHSS is a systematic outcome-based approach to equitable programming and monitoring that strengthens the health system, complementing and building on existing efforts. The DHSS aims to increase coverage of child and maternal health interventions, particularly for underserved populations. And to strengthen systems at locality level in terms of building capacity of local health teams to plan, implement and monitor high impact interventions.

 In North Darfur, under-5 mortality rate is as high as 90 deaths per 1000 live births compared to the national average of 68 per 1000 live births. The infant mortality of 69 deaths per 1000 live births is one of the highest and is continuing to rise (MICS 2014). The Maternal Mortality Ratio in the state was 177 per 100,000 in 2010. Factors contributing to this high rate include: only 22.8 % of births are assisted by skilled birth attendants, and comprehensive emergency obstetric care coverage is only 23 per cent as per the SMoH 2016 statistics report. Annual immunization coverage 2016 in North Darfur shows that while Penta 3 coverage reached 95% across the state, only 76% and 41% of the under one children received first and second dose of measles vaccine, respectively.  As a result of poor immunization coverage and population movement, re-emergence of vaccine preventable diphtheria, measles and whooping cough was reported in number of localities.

 Neonatal causes and preventable or easily treated diseases remain the main killers of North Darfur children. The national data show that the main causes of neonatal mortality include: prematurity 40%, birth asphyxia 28%, neonatal sepsis 20% and congenital anomalies 13% (SHHS 2010), this picture is also the similar in North Darfur.

According to MICS 2014 in North Darfur, 37.2% of children under-five were reported to have diarrhea during the last two weeks, in addition, utilization of LLITNs stands at 30% despite high coverage, signifying poor awareness among community. Inequity further compounds these dire statistics with urban areas recording better indicators compared to rural.

 The DHSS adds a great value in analyzing problems and identifying effective and feasible solutions with participation of all concerned stakeholders. Evidence based, equity focused intervention package include  immunization, and Vit A supplementation, expanded antenatal care, use of insecticide treated net, adoption of adequate water, sanitation and hygiene practices, care for low birth and sepsis in new-born infants and oral rehydration therapy and zinc for diarrhea.

UNICEF and the Ministry of health have recognized the importance of strengthening health systems at locality level, and are committed to adopt and maximize the implementation of high impact interventions with full engagement of locality health team members, national and international partners.

Under the guidance of the agreed annual work plans, the Ministry of Health, UNICEF and WHO signed a declaration in North Darfur State  to work mutually and collaboratively to support the implementation of health plans prepared by the locality health teams. There is a need to hire a national consultant to oversee the roll out of the DHSS implementation in North Darfur.

 Objective

 To guide and provide technical support to SMoH and locality health team members to plan, implement and monitor high impact preventive, promotive and curative interventions to improve maternal, neonatal and child health situation in North Darfur State using routine immunization as entry point.

 The specific objectives are

 Support health staff in the SMoH and in 18 localities to assess the bottleneck reducing the delivery of routine immunization services as well as other high impact services

• Analyze the bottlenecks to identify the root causes faced at locality level, formulate interventions to address these causes, develop the required micro plans & budgets
• Implement, supervise and monitor plans for selected high impact interventions (with routine immunization as entry point)
• Provide technical guidance for strengthening linkages between health team’s at localities, relevant departments at the SMoH and key partners to ensure harmonized and efficient implementation
• Participate in joint field monitoring visits to implementation sites and ensure adequate documentation of planned activities
• Work with the statistics department of the SMoH to collect and analyze relevant data and disseminate reports to SMoH and UNICEF concerned units (Health, Nutrition and WASH, PMNE)
• Facilitate quarterly review / monitoring sessions with localities to track progress, assess achievements, challenges and adjust plans
• Prepare progress reports (issued from quarterly monitoring sessions) as a contribution to the internal reporting process (mid-year report, annual report, donors reports)
• Document best practices and lessons learned from implementation and share with relevant localities / partners (during monitoring sessions).

 Expected Deliverables for the reporting period

Expected background and Experience

    * Advanced university degree in Medicine, Public Health or any related technical field.

• Minimum 5 years of progressively responsible professional work experience at the national and/ or field levels in DHSS programme management.
• Fluency in English and Arabic.
• Culturally sensitive with good communication and coordination skills.
• Good writing and documentation skills.

• Computer skills, including internet navigation and various office applications i.e. Excel and Word.

   

  General Conditions

   

• The consultant will be responsible to bring all necessary laptop and computer accessories. She/he will not be able to connect directly to the UNICEF internet system, but will be given access to shared computers as needed. She/he will be supported in terms of paper and basic office supplies.

• She/he should get signed travel authorization and security clearance prior to the commencement of the journey to travel to the field through UNICEF Khartoum or zonal offices.
• The consultant will not be allowed to travel without a signed travel authorization prior to the commencement of the journey to the duty station
• Under the consultancy agreements, a month is defined as 21 working days, and fees are prorated accordingly.  Consultants are not paid for weekends or public holidays.
• The consultant will receive DSA when traveling overnight outside Elfasher based on authorised TA.
• Consultants are not entitled to payment of overtime.  All remuneration must be within the contract agreement.
• The Consultant will not have supervisory responsibilities or authority on UNICEF budget.
• No contract may commence unless the contract is signed by both UNICEF and the consultant.
• Consultant will be required to sign the Health statement for consultants/ individual contractor prior to taking up the assignment, and to document that she/ He has appropriate health insurance.
• The Form 'Designation, change or revocation of beneficiary' must be completed by the consultant upon arrival, at the HR Section.