Consultant (individual) -Reproductive, Maternal, and Child Health; Primary Health Care; Early Essential Newborn Care

1. BACKGROUND

A newborn infant (an infant between birth and one month of age) dies every two minutes in the Western Pacific Region. Some 230 000 newborn infants die each year, representing more than half of all deaths in children under five. Newborn deaths are concentrated in the first three days of life and are often preventable. Simple low cost practices are available to save at least 50 000 newborn lives each year, but are not reaching the babies that need them.

In response to the challenge of continued high rates of newborn mortality, the WHO Western Pacific Regional Office (WPRO) has developed an Action Plan Towards Healthy Newborns in the Western Pacific Region (2014–2020) [1] [2]. The Regional Action Plan outlines an approach for implementing and scaling up an Early Essential Newborn Care (EENC) Package of interventions by improving the quality and reach of key newborn services and demand for these services. EENC is a package of interventions delivered to the mother and newborn between delivery and the first three days after birth.

Implementation of EENC has focused in eight countries with the highest rates of newborn mortality (Cambodia, Lao PDR, Mongolia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Solomon Islands, Viet Nam) and the highest number of newborn deaths (China). These countries are all signatories to the WHO Regional Action Plan for Healthy Newborn Infants and committed to taking action. WHO/WPRO is supporting improved quality and reach of EENC by improving routine health systems. Implementation and systems improvements for EENC (using EENC coaching and health facility strengthening approach) are underway in all eight priority countries – in these countries emphasis on beginning EENC with Caesarean section and introduction of Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) is needed. At the same time, countries have requested support in use of practical programme approaches to assess and strengthen primary health care (PHC) services for women and children, linked and integrated with EENC. At the regional level a number of activities are now required to support EENC and PHC programming in the Region, including finalization of regional tools and methods; mentoring of staff in the use of new methods; and documentation of progress through data analysis and development of reports and papers for publication in peer reviewed journals.

1. PURPOSE/SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE OF THE ACTIVITY

Under the supervision of the Coordinator of the Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health (MCA) Unit of the WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific (WHO/WPRO), and in collaboration with WHO/WPRO MCA staff and MCA teams in WHO Country Offices in the eight priority countries (Cambodia, China, the Lao PDR, Mongolia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Viet Nam, Solomon Islands), the Consultant will perform the following functions:

1.  Provide technical support in scaling up Early Essential Newborn Care (EENC) Module 3 “Introducing and sustaining EENC in hospitals: routine childbirth and newborn care”, Module 4 “Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC)”, and Caesarean section guide in the priority countries;
 

2.  Provide technical support in improving, testing and finalizing draft regional tools including EENC Module 5   “Emergency Obstetric Care (EmOC)” and Caesarean section guidance; and Primary Health Care Quality         Improvement Guides (PHCQIGs):  Module 1:  Preventing unplanned pregnancies; Module 2:  Antenatal care;      Module 3:  Care for infants and young children;

3. Provide technical support to conceptualize implementation research, and to support data collection, quality control activities, data analysis and paper writing for peer reviewed journals on EENC, and PHCQIG module implementation in the Region and priority countries;

4.  Liaise with WHO country office staff, Ministry of Health staff and development partners to review assessments and mission findings, to institutionalize the EENC and PHCQIG plans including incorporation of the tools noted above;

5.  Provide support in developing technical documents required for the Member States Consultation on the Renewal of the Action Plan for Healthy Newborn Infants in the Western Pacific Region (tentatively planned; the consultation will take place if the renewal of the Action Plan will be an agenda item in the 70th Meeting of the Regional Committee for the Western Pacific);

6.  Provide support in conducting EENC annual implementation review assessments and analysis in the eight priority countries in the Region and support the subsequent independent review group meeting in November 2019; and

7.  Perform other tasks as may be required.

3.  METHODS TO CARRY OUT THE ACTIVITY

Output 1:  Under the direct supervision of the Coordinator, MCA Unit, and and in collaboration with WHO/WPRO MCA staff and MCA teams in WHO Country Offices in the eight priority countries, support the             development and finalization of regional tools on EENC (Emergency Obstetric Care and Caesarean section guidance) and PHCQIGs (Modules 1, 2 and 3), and institutionalization of EmOC, C-section guidelines, EENC and PHCQIG plans incorporating the tools.

Deliverable 1.1:  In-country technical support for priority countries to apply the regional tools in their local context

Deliverable 1.2:  Technical reports identifying gaps and recommending ways forward to improve the application of the regional tools in the countries visited

Deliverable 1.3:  Technical inputs during the drafting, testing and finalization of the regional tools for publication

Output 2:  Support in the scaling up of KMC through clinical coaching in countries and in the assessment of the quality of KMC practices in the priority countries using Early Essential Newborn Care (EENC) Module 4;

Output 2.1: Inputs from the assessments to identify strengths and weaknesses to be provided to the country office and Ministry of Health counterparts for future improvements

Output 2.2: Inputs to KMC related reports or manuscripts for peer-reviewed journals

Output 3:  Support to implementation research, data collection, quality control activities, and data analysis

Deliverable 3.1:  Inputs in preparation of technical reports and manuscripts for peer reviewed journals, including preparation of the Regional Action Plan (in case approved in the Regional Committee)

Output 4:   Support the technical work related to meetings, consultations, advocacy activities and information products related to RMNCAH

Deliverable 4.1:  Technical documents for meetings, and technical inputs in advocacy activities and information         products

Output 5:  Provision of technical support to related activities that may be pertinent to the terms of reference

Deliverable 5.1:  Monthly accomplishment reports

1. QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

    

   EDUCATION

   Essential:

                   University degree in health science (i.e., medicine, nursing, midwifery) from a recognized university

   Desired:
                   Postgraduate degree in Public Health or other relevant masters or doctorate level degree

    

   EXPERIENCE

   Essential:
           Minimum five years of national and international work experience in public health;
   Desired:
           Three years relevant work experience in reproductive, maternal, newborn, child or adolescent health;        Experience and familiarity with Early Essential Newborn Care and quality assessment methodologies.

    

5.   TECHNICAL SKILLS & KNOWLEDGE

• Expertise in the gathering, analysis and use of epidemiological data – particularly in the areas of reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health
• Experience in planning and facilitation of meetings and workshops; writing and development of tools, methods and guidelines
• Ability to synthesize knowledge and effectively express ideas in writing
• Ability to coordinate with external partners, as well as work harmoniously as a member of a team, adapt to diverse education and cultural background and maintain a high standard of personal conduct
• Computer literacy (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.) and use of data analysis software

6.   LANGUAGES

• Written and spoken fluency in English is essential.  Working knowledge of other UN languages is an advantage

7.   COMPETENCIES

1. Communicating in a credible and effective way
2. Producing results
3. Ensuring the effective use of resources
4. Building and promoting partnerships across the Organization and beyond
5. Moving forward in a changing environment

8.   ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Place of assignment:   Duty station is in Manila, Philippines

Planned timelines (subject to confirmation)

Start date:  4 April 2019

End date:    31 December 2019

Medical clearance
The selected Consultant will be expected to provide a medical certificate of fitness for work.

Travel

The Consultant is expected to travel to countries in the Region as needed, on the request of counterparts from WHO Country Offices and Ministries of Health. All travel arrangements will be made by WHO. While on mission outside the duty station under the terms of the consultancy, the Consultant will receive subsistence allowance. WHO will not be responsible for tickets purchased by the Consultant without prior authorization of WHO.

Remuneration and payment schedule

        The Consultant will be paid a professional fee of USD 7000 per month (or a daily rate of USD 350).

9.   APPLICATIONS

Qualified and interested specialists should submit their CV {for individual contractors} or Company Profile {for institutional applications} and Expression of Interest {cover letter} to the Supply Officer through WP RO UNGM at < wproungm@who.int > by 22 Feb 2019. 

The cover letter should outline how their experience and qualifications make them a suitable candidate for this position and should include their proposed daily consultancy fee and availability.

Please use Tender Notice No. WPRO/2019-01/DNH_MCA/TN82838 /mom as subject to all submission.  Only successful candidates will be contacted.