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Individual / Institutional Consultancy (Maldivian National)- Tto update ante-natal Care Package

Male

  • Organization: UNICEF - United Nations Children’s Fund
  • Location: Male
  • Grade: Consultancy - Consultant - Contractors Agreement
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Public Health and Health Service
    • Democratic Governance
    • External Relations, Partnerships and Resource mobilization
    • Malaria, Tuberculosis and other infectious diseases
  • Closing Date: Closed

UNICEF Maldives is seeking a National Consultant to update ante-natal Care Package.

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TOR/2020/37 - National Consultancy to update ante-natal Care Package

Purpose of assignment & Background:

Maldives has made significant progress in key maternal and child health indicators. Maternal mortality is estimated to have decreased from 67 to 53 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births between 2010 and 2017 (Trends in maternal mortality, WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, WB Group, 2019). Antenatal Care (ANC) is nearly universal in the Maldives at 99%, and, as of 2016/17, the vast majority, 89.4%, was conducted by a specialised doctor. Still, the proportion of pregnant women receiving at least four ANC visits in the Maldives decreased from 85% in 2009 to 82% in 2016/17, and the country did not achieve its own target of > 95% coverage of quality ANC by 2018 (DHS, 2016/2017). Further, Obstetricians note that high-risk pregnancies are increasing, with cases of gestational diabetes and high blood pressure that have subsequent implications such as pre-term deliveries. These findings reveal that more work needs to be done improve the quality of Anti-natal Care.

An important element in continuum of care is effective, quality provision of ANC/ PNC. It provides a platform for important health-care functions, preparation for birth and healthy behaviours such as breastfeeding, early postnatal care, and planning for birth spacing. Since 2005, an ANC information package forms the basis of the current ANC services delivered at health facilities in the Maldives. Given the emerging issues, there is a need to review and update the ANC package, in order to strengthen the overall delivery of ANC services provided to pregnant women.

In this regard, in collaboration with Health Protection Agency, Ministry of Health, UNICEF is seeking a national consultant to support to review and harmonize the existing ANC programme content with the latest WHO- UNICEF guidelines and recommendations regarding the positive pregnancy experiences and current best practices, whilst promoting the importance of early nutrition, stimulation and care via the first 1000 days of life.

Purpose of the Assignment:

The purpose of the assignment is to improve the quality of antenatal care programme for a positive pregnancy, and a healthy new-born that survives and thrives.

The specific objectives of the consultancy are to:

  1. To review and update current ANC content delivered to pregnant women
  2. To harmonise the new version of Antenatal care information package with recommendations on positive pregnancy experience adopted to country context, as well as integrate the pregnancy related components of the first 1000 days strategy

Duty station: The consultant will be based in the Male', and travel for decentralized consultations may be required (depending on the epidemiological situation related to the COVID-19 pandemic).

Supervisor: Under the direct supervision of the head of Population Division, Health Protection Agency, with remote supervision from UNICEF Programme Specialist for Health & Nutrition.

Major tasks of the Assignment:

The consultant will work with the Health Protection Agency, in close collaboration with UNICEF, and undertake the following tasks:

  1. Desk review of all available documents on ANC and RH programme, including the existing ANC/PNC package. Review and reference to latest guidelines and evidence-based recommendations on positive pregnancy and other global ANC packages and guidance material.
  2. Consultations with key stakeholders to identify relevance, effectiveness as well as gaps in current ANC package content and issues related to delivery of current ANC package, and the ANC/PNC record card.
  3. Based on the above, identify current gaps and areas for updating ANC package, and card. Integrate latest recommendations and evidence-based approaches on positive pregnancy experience
  4. Develop a report with gaps as well as recommendations for the updated ANC/PNC package, with a proposed outline of the ANC/PNC content (with objectives and summaries for each topic).
  5. Integrate the pregnancy related and breastfeeding components the first 1000 days of life social behaviour strategy key messages into the content. Propose updates to the ANC/PNC card
  6. Adopt/Draft standards for quality ANC service delivery
  7. Conduct stakeholder meeting / workshop, to consult and seek feedback on the proposed ANC/PNC package, quality standards and the ANC/PNC card. Seek input from MoH, HPA, technical teams as well as UNICEF, WHO and UNFPA. Address and apply the feedback and comments
  8. Propose indicators, (with definitions) and draft monitoring tools and a monitoring framework and take them through consultation process and reviews
  9. Pre-test the new ANC package content in two health facilities. Review and update based on feedback
  10. Present the new ANC package and card to RMNCH committee and technical team, and seek final input and endorsement
  11. Finalize the new ANC information package, the updated ANC/PNC card, standards of Quality ANC and monitoring framework.

Estimated duration of contract: The proposed consultancy will be for a period of three months (approx. 55 working days spread out) between September 2020 - December 2020.

Official travel involved: Possibility of travel to two islands, for consultation, based on the need (and if situation allows).

Deliverables:

  • Inception report

(with desk review and consultation findings, as well as gaps and recommendations)

Outline of Proposed Content outline (Dhivehi and English)

  • Stakeholder consultation
  1. Present outline, session objective and summary content (English)
  2. meeting held and facilitated (organisations, presentations)
  3. feedback sought applied
  • ANC updated package / booklet draft (Dhivehi)

Pre-tested booklet

Updated ANC/ PNC card

  • Final ANC updated package / booklet (Dhivehi) & ANC PNC card
  1. All comments from agencies, stakeholders incorporated, revisions from pre-testing,
  2. Final documents, with a brief report

Note: UNICEF will only make milestone payments based on achievement of specific deliverables as listed. All payments will be subjected to acceptance of deliverable by UNICEF. 

UNICEF does not make advance payment & UNICEF is exempted from paying VAT and other forms of taxes. Locals will be paid in local currency.

UNICEF Maldives pays economy ticket, on lowest fare from the most direct route (on reimbursement basis).

Qualifications or specialized knowledge and/or experience required:

  • An Obstetrician or Midwife with experience and knowledge of public health policies. A master's degree in medicine, public health, nursing or related area.
  • Professional technical level work experience in providing ANC/PNC or obstetrician services in hospitals in or Public Health. Relevant experience in related areas can be considered in lieu of the specialised clinical work.
  • Familiarity with health promotion, demand creation and community participation strategies. Past experience in reproductive, maternal, new-born, and child health and nutrition promotion desired.
  • Past experience conducting assessments, stakeholder consultations and analysis an asset.
  • Excellent skills in developing information booklets in Dhivehi and English. Professional level written and spoken Dhivehi and good writing skills in English.
  • Excellent interpersonal and demonstrated good level of communication skills. Proven ability to work in teams.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

View our competency framework at

http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

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 be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Deadline for Applications: 22 September 2020, 06:00pm (Maldives Time)

Application Link:

https://secure.dc7.pageuppeople.com/apply/671/gateway/Default.aspx?c=apply&sJobIDs=534329&SourceTypeID=796&sLanguage=en-us

Remarks:

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.

This vacancy is now closed.
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