International Consultant - Comprehensive Competency Training on Nutrition (CCTN) and Monitoring Approach; Dhaka, Not for Bangladeshi

The Government of Bangladesh (GoB) has included rollout of CCTN training in the new National Nutrition Service (NNS) operational plan (2017-22) and has plan to cover all remaining districts by 2020 largely with their own resources. Specifically, 18 districts in the 2019-2020 fiscal year. Therefore, is an urgent need to revise the current package based on the implementation experience, assessment and evaluations. UNICEF Nutrition Section is seeking to recruit a nutrition expert to lead overall development of CCTN training and mentoring package.

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Purpose of Activity/Assignment:

To address under nutrition systematically and at scale, the Government of Bangladesh (GoB) launched the National Nutrition Service (NNS), comprising of a set of child and maternal nutrition interventions focused on the critical window of opportunity of 1000 days. Efforts have been made to mainstream nutrition within the existing health and family planning service delivery systems all over the country. However, poor management and planning at districts/ sub-district levels and inadequate technical capacity and skills of health workers to provide nutrition services and counselling were identified as two critical bottlenecks in the effective implementation of NNS.

To address these, the “Accelerating implementation of NNS (AINSS)” project was conceived with an objective to strengthen system for evidence-based planning at districts and sub-district levels and enhance skills and capacity of health workers to deliver nutrition at the facility level. At present, UNICEF is supporting the Government to implement the project in 43 districts out of 64 districts.

The implementation includes two approaches: first, provision of dedicated nutrition professional, District Nutrition Support Officer (DNSO), at the district to empower and transform districts capacity in planning, implementation and monitoring and reporting of the nutrition services. The second part of the project is Competency Based Training (CBT) and mentoring of health managers and service providers, which has a more focus on building the skills of the health service providers for efficient and effective nutrition service delivery.  Also known as Dipshikha in Bangla, is an innovative way to improve the knowledge as well as skills and competencies of managers, supervisors and service providers to deliver nutrition interventions. Unlike conventional training, CBT focuses more on building the skills of the health service providers through practical demonstration and hands on practice. The current 3-day training module includes infant, and young child feeding practices, adolescent and woman’s nutrition; and growth monitoring and promotion. The training is also supplemented with mentoring to ensure adequate retention of the knowledge and skills.  The managers and first line supervisors, who receive additional 2 days on supportive supervision, mentoring and monitoring. The uniqueness of the CBT is the component of post-training supportive supervision, mentoring and monitoring. Thus, the capacity building of the service providers is not only restricted to the training sessions but are extended to their workplace through on-site technical support by their respective supervisors. Each health facility is visited every quarter for supportive supervision.

This is one of the key projects supported by the Nutrition Section. An independent evaluation done by icddr,b found great improvement in knowledge of health workers after receiving the training but also highlighted the need to further improve the skills and application of the knowledge, i.e. quality of  IYCF counselling, through refresher and effective mentoring, which needs attention. There has also been concern that the maternal nutrition component has been weak.  Thus, the current training package (both module 1 and 2) and mentoring approach needs to be refined. Furthermore, the Government has also decided, as part of a new refresher module, also introduce new nutrition themes that was not part of the existing modules. The Government now is calling the package Comprehensive Competency Training on Nutrition (CCTN).

The CBT has been implemented in 26 districts between 2017 and 2018 and recently the Government rolled out the package in additional 6 districts in the past six months.  

The Government has included rollout of CCTN training in the new NNS operational plan (2017-22) and has plan to cover all remaining districts by 2020 largely with their own resources. Specifically, 18 districts in the 2019-2020 fiscal year. Therefore, is an urgent need to revise the current package based on the implementation experience, assessment and evaluations. UNICEF Nutrition Section is seeking to recruit a nutrition expert to lead overall development of CCTN training and mentoring package.

Description of assignment:

• Based on implementation experience, assessments and evaluation findings, work with nutrition stakeholders and CCTN team to refine the existing training package (Module 1 and Module 2 under Competency Based Training). The consultant with lead a team comprising with CCTN team (IPHN, NIPSOM, ICMH) and also ME specialist, maternal nutrition consultant and other professionals as deemed necessary.
• Develop case studies to be used for mentoring of health workers during supportive supervision and through peer discussions.
• Review and refine promotional tools to be used by health workers focusing on key messages
• Conduct assessment of the current masters and district trainers’ capacity used for rolling out the CBT modules.
• Refine Job Descriptions and conduct national resource pool training.
• Supervise training of district trainers on new CCTN modules.
• Develop new refresher module (3) to reinforce module 1 and new topics identified by CCTN team, pretest and finalize it and conduct masters training.

A National consultant will be attached to support the lead consultant and will serve as day to day counterpart and provide support to the consultant.

Deliverables:

• Report on review of existing CBT modules (Module 1 and 2), including areas for improvement
• Revised Module 1 & 2
• National validation workshop for new modules
• Consultation to develop module 3  
• Master training and training of district trainers for revised module 1 and 2
• Field observation of the training Module 1 & 2
• Tested case studies for mentoring and supportive supervision tools
• Simple Job aids and promotional tools for health workers
• Tested Module 3 drafted
• Master trainer Training for Module 3
• Field observation of the training Module 3
• National workshop to finalize all 3 modules and mentoring and supportive supervision tools
• Consultancy report with recommendations and key activities for next 3 months

The consultant will develop a detailed workplan upon on boarding.

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

• Advanced University degree in relevant field, public health, nutrition
• Experience developing training courses, curriculum, modules and manuals using participatory and skills-based training methodologies for managers, supervisors and frontline workers.
• Proven experience of developing nutrition training for community health workers and volunteers
• 10-15 years’ work experience in public health and nutrition in developing country settings.
• Fluent in English (oral and written)

• Work experience in Bangladesh an added value

For every Child, you demonstrate…

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.

Remarks:

• Duration: 90 working days over the period of 9 months
• Duty Station: Dhaka, remote and field travel. At list one and half months in the country
• Professional Fees: US$ 500.00 per day as lumpsum including local travel costs
• Travel & DSA Cost: Will be provided at actual cost as per UNICEF policy
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.