Consultant - Review and Adaptation of the ASRH&R Curricula at Save The Children

Job type: Temporary

Background
Save the Children (SC) Nigeria is implementing Reaching and Empowering Adolescents to make informed Choices for their Health (REACH) in Gombe, Katsina and Zamfara states in Northern Nigeria. The three year project specifically targets states with some of the worst indicators for adolescents, especially girls, and will focus on rural and hard to reach communities where rates of early marriage, early childbearing, low educational attainment and discriminatory social and gender norms significantly affect the ability of adolescent girls and boys to make decisions and access services to protect and improve their sexual and reproductive health (SRH).

REACH project aims to improve access to high quality, gender-responsive and adolescent-friendly SRH services for unmarried and married adolescent girls and boys; increase the decision-making of married and unmarried girls about their SRH and rights; and improve the integration of civil society contributions and evidence-based best practices in ASRHR policy design and implementation at local and state levels.

REACH will also contribute to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3 (ensure universal access to ASRH services, including FP information and education, and integration of RH into national strategies and programmes); and SDG 5 (achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls), by:

• Improving access to high quality, gender-sensitive and adolescent-friendly SRH services for unmarried and married adolescent girls and boys; 
• Increasing the decision-making of married and unmarried adolescent girls about their own SRHR; and
• Improving the integration of civil society contributions and evidence-based best practices in ASRHR policy design and implementation at local and state levels.

One major step towards the advancement of project activities is to incorporate gender-responsive approaches into existing FMOH training manuals, guidelines, standards of practice/protocols and job aids on adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights (ASRH&R) to ensure inclusiveness.

Overview of Assigned Tasks
The Consultant will adapt existing ASRH&R curricula of FMOH, WHO and others from relevant agencies involved in adolescent health and youth-friendly services interventions; and lead the training of health workers and services providers including PPMVs and CSOs on ASRH&R in Gombe, Katsina and Zamfara states. The training categories include the training of trainers (TOT) and step-downs on reducing Provider bias, FP, general ASRH counseling, sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), youth-friendly health services provision, contraceptive logistics management system (CLMS), supportive supervisory skills etc.

The consultancy is in two (2) segments:

Review and adaptation of existing ASRH&R Curricula
The consultant will be responsible for the followings:

• A desk review of all existing ASRHR curricula, guidelines for ASRH services provision and job aids
• Adapt the relevant curricula into training modules and notes
• Disaggregate training modules/contents for Health workers (N/midwives, CHEWs), safe space facilitators and PPMVs.
• Develop prototype supportive supervisory schedules to be adapted by the different cadres of health workers and community-based ASRH services providers.

Plan and facilitate the conduct of central TOT on ASRH&R for selected Health workers, PPMVs, SMOH and CSO staff members
The consultant will:

• Develop selection criteria for participants, training agenda and modules/contents
• Develop the schedule for the step-down trainings
• Lead TOT training on ASRHR for the selected participants from the three project states
• Lead the development of supportive supervisory schedule for the TOT participants

Consultancy Deliverables:

• Draft gender-responsive ASRHR curriculum with modules and training notes
• End of TOT training report
• Comprehensive end-of-consultancy report
• Duration of Consultancy: 20 non-consecutive days

Key Skills and Experience

• Advanced Degree in Public Health, Nursing or Health Sciences Research. 
• Familiarity with ASRH, including family planning, antenatal care, and safe delivery services including SGBV.
• At least 5 years previous experience in curriculum development and training of various categories of health workers
• Strong facilitating skills including excellent analytical and report writing skills.
• Good spoken and written English language; Hausa language will be an added advantage
• The Consultant reports to REACH project director SCI Nigeria, but will work primarily with the ASRH Advisor; the Gender and MEAL Advisors will be providing appropriate thematic guidance.