International Consultant to Assist in Building Capacity

Background

To help bridge the knowledge gap on noma and improve early detection, diagnosis and management of cases at primary care level, the AFRO Oral Health programme set up the Regional Noma Control Programme (RNCP) in 2001. The overall goal of the RNCP is “Sustainable elimination of noma as a public health problem in the African Region”.

Since 2013, ten noma priority countries[1] have received technical support from AFRO with funding from Hilfsaktion Noma e.V, a German NGO. Each priority country has implemented the National Noma Control Programme (NNCP) under three-year national action plans that were developed using the “Step by Step guide to preparing a three-year national plan of action for the prevention and control of noma” (AFRO, 2013). The guide provided guidance on how to develop the national plans based on specific objectives, including a performance framework.

In 2018, an external evaluation was conducted to review the implementation of the RNCP and NNCPs from 2013 to 2017. While some progress had been made, the evaluation concluded that the RNCP should further encourage stakeholders to rebuild/develop the impact framework of the RNCP (high-level goals, strategic objectives, indicators); strengthen the reporting and M&E systems; improve the project management skills of national noma focal points; and enhance inter/multisectoral collaboration at different levels.

AFRO has just updated the Step by Step guide to assist noma priority countries in developing new five-year noma action plans to ensure more focused action and visibility in both intervention strategies and programme results. Based on all the above, the AFRO Oral Health programme has planned a training workshop for Oral Health focal points at Ministry of Health and WHO country offices to introduce the updated Step by Step guide and enable them to develop, implement and M&E national noma action plan. The International Consultant will be the facilitator for the workshop.

Objectives, Tasks and Key Deliverables

General Objective:

To improve implementation of RNCP and NNCP in a more efficient and harmonized way

Specific Objectives

• To introduce the updated Step by Step guide for preparing a national plan of action for noma prevention and control including the specific objectives and results framework participants.
• To train the Oral Health focal points in the noma priority countries to improve their programme management skills.

Tasks for the International Consultant

The Consultant will work under the guidance of UCN Director and, under the coordination and supervision of NCD Programme Coordinator. Specific tasks include:

• Finalize the M&E system for the RNCP implementation (including a logframe, M&E Plan, Activity sheet and Indicator Tracking Sheet)
• Finalize financial management and budgeting templates for the NNCP
• Finalize the reporting template for activity and quarterly reports
• Develop the timetable of the online training
• Develop training materials on the updated Step by Step Guide
• Support to organize online training with NNCP teams in nine noma priority countries on the usage of the updated guide in English and French
• Provide effective support provided to the NCD team in AFRO as well as to Member States

Key Deliverables

The International Consultant is required to submit a satisfactory Consultancy Report containing the final versions of the protocol, guide, frameworks, and presentation materials by end of consultancy period UCN/NCD.

Time Frame

The assignment will take four (4) working days a week during 12 weeks from December 1^st, 2020.

Qualifications and skills

• University degree in Sciences, Public Heath, Dentistry or related fields. A Master degree in public health or related fields is an asset.
• At least seven (7) years of work experience in developing results-based monitoring and evaluation guidelines, tools and templates for humanitarian and development context is required.
  
• Solid understanding of the evaluation management principles.
• Experience setting up M&E Systems including WHO ones.
• Experience and Knowledge in Noma Prevention and Control.
  Language
• Fluency in English and French.

Place of Assignment

The Consultant will work at the place of her/his convenience and communicate with the AFRO Oral Health programme by phone/email on a regular basis.

Budget

Total USD$17,800

• Salary: USD$16,800 (P3: US$350, 4 times per week12 weeks)
• Communications (Internet, video conferencing): USD$1,000