International Consultant Essential Newborn Care, Solomon Islands

UNICEF Pacific is seeking consultancy services to provide technical assistance to the Solomon Islands Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) in reviewing the newborn care program status, developing a costed multi-year action plan for newborn care, reviewing health worker training modules and conducting a training of trainers. Interested candidates may refer to the advert for more details.

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, quality care 

Background:

The Solomon Islands is a double chain archipelago of more than 900 islands with a landmass of 28,400km2 and over 1.3 million km2 of Territorial Ocean. The country is considered as a fragile and least developing country (UN LDC status), with total population of 599,419[1] and annual birth cohort to be around 19,000 infants. There are nine provinces plus one city council in the country. With the vast expanse of territories inhabited by relatively small and widely dispersed populations, Solomon Islands shows unique characteristics in terms of supply chain management challenges.

Solomon Islands continues to make progress in reducing child mortality. Under-five mortality rate reported as 24 per 1000 live births[2], with 43% of child mortality occurring at the neonatal period. Addressing the causes of neonatal mortality will have a greater impact on reducing child mortality overall. Coverage of skilled birth attendance is high, at 90% in 2016, and most women receive more than 4 antenatal care visits with varying degree of quality.  Early Essential Newborn Care (EENC) was introduced in 2015 and being implemented, scope and coverage of the EENC implementation remains limited. At the recently concluded regional biennial newborn care meeting in Vietnam, a number of areas needing strengthening in newborn care for the Solomon Islands were identified, for which the MHMS is requesting technical support.

To support the MHMS in reaching its newborn care targets and reducing child mortality, the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) of the Solomon Islands through its newborn care program, seeks technical assistance in reviewing the newborn care program and developing a costed multi-year action plan for the next five years.

How can you make a difference?

The overall purpose of the assignment is to provide technical assistance to the Solomon Islands Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) in reviewing the newborn care program status, developing a costed multi-year action plan for newborn care, reviewing health worker training modules and conducting a training of trainers.

The deliverables should be able to answer the following 3 questions:

1. What is the current status of ENC implementation in Solomon Islands?
2. What needs to be done differently to implementation and scale up ENC nationwide?
3. How much will be the cost for scaling up ENC nationwide?

The deliverables from this consultancy should guide the MHMS and provide the pathway towards its goal of improving newborn health and reducing mortality ultimately helping it achieve the SDG target on newborn and Under 5yr mortality. Action plan will be implemented by MHMS Newborn programme with technical assistance from UNICEF and WHO. The current lack of comprehensive newborn situation review and action plan has hampered a more focused newborn care program implementation.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Qualifications

University (preferably advanced) degree is required in medicine, public health, international/global health, newborn health, maternal and child health, pediatrics or any other relevant field.

Experience

• At least 7 years of experience, at the national and international levels, on newborn care program design and implementation, maternal and child health, pediatrics with strong program management skills 
• Familiarity with the development and implementation of early newborn action plan (ENAP), and designing newborn care training package.
• Experience working in the Pacific and in low resource settings will be an advantage
• Proven ability to conceptualize, innovate, plan and execute ideas.
• Good writing and communication skills.
• Computer skills, including strong quantitative analysis and reporting tools.

Languages

• Fluency in written and spoken English required.

Competencies

• Solid analytical, negotiating, communication and advocacy skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a multi-cultural environment and establish harmonious and effective working relationships, both within and outside the work place.
• Versatility, judgment and maturity.

Interested candidates that wish to apply for this consultancy must submit the following to be considered: 

(i) a cover letter including: a narrative explaining why they are qualified for this consultancy; dates of availability; financial offer (fees and subsistence allowance)

(ii) a technical proposal explaining how they are planning to conduct the situation analysis;

(iii) a CV or UN Personal History Form (P-11);

(iv) scan of highest degree.

A copy of the details advert is attached:  Solomon Island_ TOR-Newborn Action Plan Consultant (Advert).docx

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.