TERMS OF
REFERENCE
Consultancy services of neonatologist (team coordinator) to organize capacity building activities of Uzbekistan neonatal care, within the EU funded project “Improvement of Mother and Child Health Services in Uzbekistan, phase II”
Background:
UNICEF in collaboration with Ministry of Health and financial support from the European Union (EU) is implementing an MCH Project “Improvement of Mother and Child Health Services in Uzbekistan” phase II. One of the components of the project aims at upgrading the technical skills of health care providers especially on improving the quality of care.
Overall Objective of the Phase II of the project is to support Uzbekistan in meeting the targets of the Millennium Development Goals numbers 4 and 5, with a focus on improving the quality of Mother and Child Health care. Project’s Specific Objective is to support the Ministry of Health to increase the quality of mother and child health services and to increase the capacity of families to make informed choices about health and nutrition.
Despite the reduction in infant mortality, children in Uzbekistan still die from preventable diseases. The major causes of infant mortality in Uzbekistan are perinatal conditions (38% of newborn die due to hypoxia and birth asphyxia), and most of them are preventable or can be managed by applying evidence based technologies and appropriate use of live saving equipment.
The project is supporting capacity development of health care professionals from different level of maternities on newborn survival package (Effective Perinatal Care, Neonatal Resuscitation and Essential New-born Care, Breast Feeding, Use of Neonatal Equipment and BABIES). Overall 240 health professionals enhanced their capacities on neonatal resuscitation and 620 on use of neonatal equipment. Monitoring, supportive supervision visits and meetings with health care providers and managers helped to identify gaps in providing healthcare for new-borns. One of the problem to be addressed is improvement of management of respiratory disorders and respiratory support of infants.
National team of trainers have limited capacity to train neonatologist on new evidence based respiratory support technologies. In order to ensure capacity building of the national team of trainers and to provide support in sustainable implementation of new knowledge and skills there is need to hire a team of international experts on neonatal care. The team will consist of two neonatologist and one nurse. The current TOR is for the neonatologist (team coordinator).
Purpose:
The purpose of the consultancy is to conduct a set of activities focused on improving the capacity of a national team of trainers and providing support in sustainable implementation of new knowledge and skills on management of respiratory disorders and respiratory support of new born.
Tasks and duties:
1. To coordinate the team of international trainers;
2. To develop 10 days training programme and prepare all training materials on respiratory disorders and respiratory support of new-born;
3. With a team of international consultants (neonatologist and nurse), to conduct 10 days training on respiratory disorders and respiratory support for team of health workers from neonatal care departments;
4. To conduct follow up/clinical support visits to selected maternities in Tashkent city and in selected regions to provide technical support in implementation of new knowledge and skills into practice and provide practical recommendations on future improvement of quality of service for newborns with respiratory disorders;
5. To conduct monitoring visits to selected maternities in Tashkent city and regions to assess situation related to the implementation of new knowledge and skills into practice, identify lessons learned and barriers and developing recommendation on future improvement of quality of service for newborns;
6. To present results of monitoring visit at national round table;
7. To prepare consultancy report with recommendations;
8. To perform other tasks within reason required by MoH and UNICEF supervisor.
The timeline for the contract:
• The first visit to Uzbekistan.
ü 3 working days for preparation to training (work from home)
ü 10 working days for training (in country)
• The second visit to Uzbekistan
ü 12 working days for follow up visit (in country)
ü 2 working days for mission report (work from home)
• The third visit to Uzbekistan
ü 10 working days for monitoring visit (in country)
ü 2 working days to round table preparation and facilitation (in country)
ü 2 working days for mission report (work from home)
• The total number of working days is 41. The contract is envisage to start in December, 2014 and ending in July 2015.
Contract supervision
The specialist will work under direct supervision of Chief of Health section and in close collaboration with UNICEF Health Officer and Neonatal Resuscitation and Effective Newborn care course directors.
Duty station and official travels
Official travels will be to Tashkent and selected regions of Uzbekistan and will be paid as per UNICEF’s financial regulations.
Qualifications/or specialized knowledge/experience required:
· Advance University Degree in Health and/or Public Health with postgraduate degree in neonatology.
· Solid analytical, result based planning and report writing skills.
· At least 15 years of progressive professional experiences in the field of newborn healthcare.
· Good knowledge of UNICEF and WHO recommended tools and methodologies in field of newborn health and new born survival packages
· Proven knowledge of newborn respiratory disorders and respiratory support.
· Proven knowledge on the use of live saving neonatal equipment.
· Proven experience in conducting trainings/workshops.
· Good communication skills in Russian and English.
Medical clearance
Consultant is expected to work from home and in the office. The applicants (individual or institutional) shall be required to submit a statement of good health prior to commencement of work and to take full responsibility for the accuracy of that statement, including confirmation that they have been fully informed regarding inoculations required for the country or countries to which travel is authorized.
Insurance
Consultants are fully responsible for arranging, at their own expense, such life, health and other forms of insurance covering the period of their services on behalf of UNICEF as they consider appropriate. Consultants are not eligible to participate in the life or health insurance schemes available to United Nations staff members.
How to apply:
If you have experience of working in a similar capacity and want to make an active and lasting contribution to build a better world for children and match the profile outlined, submit a cover letter, detailed curriculum vitae in English, a duly completed, signed and scanned United Nations Personal History and expected fee for the consultancy service to the following email: by COB 3 November 2014
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