Integrated Community Case Management of Childhood Illness (iCCM) Desk Review Consultant at Management Sciences For Health - MSH

Ref. No.: R219

Background

• The US President’s Malaria Initiative for States (PMI-S) project is a five-year USAID flagship malaria project managed by Management Sciences for Health (MSH) with consortium partners Thinkwell, Banyan Global and the Nigeria Interfaith Action Association (NIFAA).
• The project supports the Government of Nigeria through its agencies at the federal, state, local government areas (LGA) and community levels to reduce under-five and maternal mortality by delivering quality services for the prevention and management of malaria and its complications.
• PMI-S is an indefinite delivery indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract with several task orders. MSH began implementing PMI-S Task Order (TO) 03 on January 10, 2020 in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Ebonyi and Oyo States.
• The objectives of TO 03 are to: (i) Improve the quality of and access to comprehensive malaria case management services, including iCCM; (ii) improve data quality, interpretation and use; (iii) improve drug-based prevention and treatment approaches (mainly intermittent preventive treatment of malaria in pregnancy); and (iv) strengthen existing health systems and improve State Malaria Elimination Program (SMEP) management.

Overview of Consultancy:

• Nigeria adopted the integrated community case management (iCCM) strategy in 2012, aimed at expanding access to life-saving interventions to under-five children.
• The focus is to contribute to improving access to quality healthcare services to children under-five in the target communities. ICCM is an equity-focused strategy that provides timely treatment for malaria, pneumonia and diarrhoea at the community level for populations with limited access to facility-based health care providers. This strategy is delivered by community-level health providers who are trained, regularly supervised, and have access to uninterrupted supplies of commodities.
• However, in Nigeria, iCCM currently depends heavily on donor support, compromising its sustainability. PMI-S plans to support Ebonyi State to implement iCCM using a sustainable approach as part of efforts to improve access to quality health services for children at the community level.
• PMI-S will adopt relevant national guidelines and protocols as well as leveraging on lessons learned from iCCM projects implemented in Nigeria. In view of the above, PMI-S seeks the services of a consultant who will conduct an assessment of iCCM interventions implemented in Nigeria, to help understand best practices, challenges, opportunities and lessons learned to inform the project on planning its support for iCCM in states, specifically in Ebonyi.  
• In addition, the consultant will conduct key Informant interviews with SMOH, SPHCDA and LGA Officials, WDCs and community leaders to identify underserved LGAs and communities that will benefit from iCCM interventions.

Specific Tasks
The Consultant is expected to carry out the following:

• Task 1: Conduct a desk review of iCCM interventions implemented in Nigeria, to identify strategies, best practices, challenges, opportunities and lessons learned.
• Task 2: Conduct an additional state-specific desk review of iCCM implementation in Ebonyi state to identify strategies, best practices, challenges, opportunities and lessons learned and how these are aligned with general findings across Nigeria.
• Task 3: Gather relevant data on the distribution of the malaria burden (by geography and age groups) and access to health facility-based malaria services in Ebonyi State and information on previous iCCM interventions to inform and guide the selection of LGAs /communities where iCCM may be implemented in Ebonyi state.
• Task 4: Conduct key Informant interviews with Key SMOH officers, (Director of Public Health, Director of Pharmaceutical Services, SMEP Manager, and IMCI focal person), Executive Secretary SPHCDA, LGA health managers (PHC Coordinators, LGA malaria and IMCI focal persons), WDC officials and community leaders to identify underserved LGAs and communities that will benefit from iCCM interventions.
• Task 5: Make recommendations on sustainable iCCM approaches in Nigeria and Ebonyi state based on the findings of the assessment.

Deliverables:

• Submission of the protocol / guide for the desk review and key informant interviews (KIIs) for approval by PMI-S.
• A comprehensive report of the desk review of iCCM implementation in Nigeria to identify strategies, best practices, challenges, opportunities and lessons learned including the Ebonyi State specific iCCM assessment report.
• A report of the KIIs showing the communities/LGAS that would benefit most from the iCCM intervention for bigger impact on malaria burden.
• A  list of relevant management/coordination structures or contacts/stakeholders in Ebonyi that can support iCCM implementation in Ebonyi PowerPoint presentation of key activities and findings

Qualifications

• A postgraduate degree in Public Health or related field.
• Experience working with the Federal Ministry of Health and or State Ministries of Health.
• Familiarity with the Nigeria health system and National iCCM guidelines.
• Must have a minimum of 5 years’ experience with ICCM implementation in Nigeria. Experience with iCCM implementation in Ebonyi state will be an added advantage.
• Previous experience in carrying out similar assignments in Nigeria.