Consultants at Save the Children Nigeria

Background

• In collaboration with the Nigeria AFRINEST study investigators and SMOH/SPHCDA in Ebonyi and Kogi States, USAID’s Maternal and Child Survival Program (MCSP) will support Kogi and Ebonyi States to introduce and expand full treatment for Possible Severe Bacterial Infection (PSBI) at Primary Health Care centers where referral is not possible. This involves both supply and demand side activities.
• The demand creation activity recommended by the World Health Organization is early postnatal care (PNC) home visits by trained community health workers (CHWs). 
• However, it is widely recognized that while home visits by dedicated CHWs under research conditions results in very high coverage, implementation of home visits by CHWs with multiple responsibilities under routine service delivery conditions only reach about a quarter of their target. 
• This means programs seeking to implement full treatment for PSBI should, in addition to home visits, seek alternate approaches to demand creation.
• MCSP is seeking to use a mixture of Social Behavior Change and Communication (SBCC) strategies including home visits by CORPs and other community workers, to improve recognition of danger signs and early care-seeking by caregivers of young infants.
• In order to prepare for the development of the strategy for the SBCC component of the PSBI intervention, MCSP is seeking the services of a Nigerian national consultant to carry out some preparatory activities.

Job Purpose

• The purpose of this consultancy is to collect detailed information and make all necessary contacts that will help prepare and inform the PSBI SBCC materials and approach for both states.

Tasks

• Collect, review, and evaluate (MCSP to provide the evaluation form) all print, mass media and digital materials that can be found (e.g., print-based materials such as job aids including counseling cards, posters, brochures, and mass media such as radio jingles, and digital-based materials such as SMS scripts) related to newborn health/ postnatal care for young infants (0-59 days)/ caring for a sick young infant/ care-seeking for a sick young infant/ care-seeking for PSBI. The materials do not need to be specific to Nigeria. If possible, collect hard copies of materials.
• Through key informant interviews, conduct a landscape analysis with relevant organizations and stakeholders working at the state-level in Ebonyi and Kogi including Johns Hopkins University Center for Communication Programs (JHUCCP)/ Health Communication Capacity Collaborative (HC3) and staff from the state Ministry of Health and the state Primary Health Care Development Agency. The landscape analysis report (template will be provided) will include:
  • List of all organizations working on newborn health interventions/ improving care-seeking for PSBI in Nigeria (in particular in the two focal states). List any areas for potential collaboration.
  • List SBCC activities in relation of the existing newborn health interventions and the communication channels and media being used. Consultant to find out what the existing plans and activities are in relation to the issue. Identify the activities and note the gatekeepers - the individuals or organizations responsible - for each activity. Note the main channels and formats used by these organizations. Create a list the activities (e.g., interpersonal communication, community mobilization, mass media) and key messages as well as the intended audience.
  • List of existing media channels in each state. Describe the sizes and types of the audience that they reach.
  • List of the obstacles and opportunities involved in local communication efforts and SBC activities in relation to newborn health. What has worked and what has not?
  • Collect reports or other documentation that describe the care-seeking behaviors by caregivers of young infants in Nigeria - in particular Kogi and Ebonyi states.
• Based on the landscape analysis findings, with remote and in-person (possible) support from MCSP HQ, conduct a small amount of formative research in Kogi and Ebonyi state to identify existing household, community support, service utilization, and service delivery practices and factors affecting optimal behaviors and use of services (barriers and motivating factors); define priority behavioral and social support outcomes, barriers, and target audiences for demand creation for PSBI services. MCSP will provide the research design and protocol (e.g., individual interviews, group interviews/ discussions, observations) and instruments to be used.
• Work with MCSP staff to analyze the data from the formative research and develop presentation of findings
• In collaboration with MCSP staff in-country and headquarters team, design and co-facilitate a 1-2 day workshop with key stakeholders to finalize the PSBI SBCC approach.
• Write workshop report.

Debliverables
At the end of the assignment, the consultant will write and share a report including the following information:

• Compendium of all related SBCC materials in relation to newborn health/ postnatal care for young infants (0-59 days)/ caring for a sick young infant/ care seeking for a sick young infant).
• Evaluation form listing all related SBCC materials reviewed.
• Landscape analysis report that will include information on the strategies and activities implemented by HC3 and other possible stakeholders in the area of care seeking for newborns and recommendations for possible collaboration.
• Formative research and data collection forms and draft presentation of findings.
• Draft workshop agenda
• Report from the PSBI SBCC approach workshop that includes audience segments, and objectives; suggested channels, messages, tools and activities, list of SBCC materials to be developed or adopted/adapted and use by the program for improving care-seeking for PSBI, roles and responsibilities of each partner, how the partners will work together; and a timeline for implementing the SBCC approach. A report template will be provided.

Duration:

• The estimated time for this consultancy is 20 days between August 24th to September 30th.

Reporting Lines:

• The consultant will report to the MCSP Nigeria Senior Newborn Health Advisor with a dotted line to the Nutrition Social and Behavior Change Communication Advisor based in Washington, DC.
• The consultant is expected to schedule and hold frequent virtual and in-person meetings with MCSP counterpart in DC during the period of the consultancy.

Qualifications

• Candidates for this Consultancy position should hold at least a master's degree in public health or social or behavioral sciences, with specific training in behavior change, community mobilization
• At least 5 years of experience in designing and implementing SBCC strategies for reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health (RMNCH) programming.
• Writing skills
• Qualitative research design, data collection and data analysis skills (desired)
• Presentation and meeting facilitation skills (desired)

go to method of application »

Background Save the Children with funding from GSK is currently building the capacity of fronline health workers (doctors, nurses/midwives and CHEWs) to deliver quality MNCH services through the health workers capcity building (HCB) project. The project aligns with the National Strategic Health development plan (2010 – 2016),  the Integrated Management of Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Strategy (IMNCH) 2013, and IMCI and ICCM guidelines and implementation strategies.

One of the training being delivered on this project is the On-the-job training (OJT) in Intergted Management of Common Childhod Illnesess (IMCI). Till date, the project has trained 515 health workers (doctors, nurses/midwives and CHEWs) in Kaduna state on IMCI using this approach. The trained HWs were selected from health facilities in hard to reach and underserved communities from 12  LGAs of Kaduna state.

The training methodology consisted of an intial visit to the selected health facilities by the trainer(s) to conduct a training needs assessment (TNA) on HWs involved in the case management of children presenting with any of the common childhood illnesses (Malaria, Pneumonia, Diarrhea and Measles). This was for the purpose of identifying gaps in the knowledge and skills of the HWs in the management of any of the aforementioned illnesess. The findings from the TNA were thereafter shared with the health workers and thereafter a training plan was developed in consultation with the HWs.

The trainer then visits the health facilities 3-5 times over a period of time to coach, mentor and train the HWs using the national IMCI guidelines and other relevant job aids. Importantly both the TNA and the actual training were conducted in the health facilities whilst the HWs were attending to patients. Within 6 weeks of completing the training, follow up visits were conducted to the health facilities to monitor the activities of the HWs as well as assess their performance. During the follow-up visits, trainer(s) got feedback from the HWs on their experience(s) since concluding the OJT.

The project which is now in the 3rd year is aiming to train an additional 442 HWs in IMCI using the OJT approach.  To this end, the project is seeking a consultant(s) who will undertake this consultancy. Details of this consultancy are as highlighted below.

Objectives of the Consultancy

• To enhance the skills of  front line health workers in tackling common childhood illnesses at the facility level using the IMCI guidelines 
• To strengthen follow up visits and mentoring to reinforce learning and address skill gap.

Purpose

• The purpose of this consultancy is to train health workers from selected health facilities in Kaduna state on the Integrated Management of Common Childhood Illneses using an on-the job training approach.
• This will involve the conduct a training needs assessment on the health workers in identified facilities.
• Based on the findings of the TNA conduct an on the job training for the health workers using the IMCI guidelines.

Specific Tasks

• Initial assessment of health workers ability to properly manage a child with childhood illnesses – malaria, pneumonia, diarrhea. This will be by onsite observation of health workers in the child welfare clinics using a skills checklist.
• After the clinic session, the consultant will review the skills checklist findings with the health workers and agree on the findings.
• The consultant using the IMCI chart booklet, trains the health workers on how to appropriately assess, classify and treat a child presenting in the facility with malaria, diarrhea and pneumonia. Also the health workers will be trained on how to counsel the caregivers on appropriate home management for the illnesses and when to return.
• The consultant will pay four (4) visits to the same health facility to ensure the health workers in these facilities have been properly trained on the necessary.
• Skills required to properly manage a child presenting with  malaria, pneumonia, diarrhoea and be able to check for malnutrition and initiate treatment, give vaccines that are due or missed
• Consultant then leaves behind a chart booklet for the use of the health workers
• Consultant will also conduct a follow up visit (within six weeks of training completion) to assess the knowledge and skills change amongst the health workers in that facility
• During the follow up visit, the consultant will observe the health workers again using the skills checklist and feedback provided on the pre training and post training skills assessment result.
• During the conduct of the OJT, a training quality checklist will be applied by Save the Children MNCH Advisors who pay visits to the facilities where health workers are undergoing the OJT training to monitor the quality of the training conducted. Training reports are at the end of the satisfactory training then developed by the consultants and shared with SCI office.

Expected output
By the end of the assignment the trained health workers:

• Will be able demonstrate how to effectively assess, classify and treat cases of common child hood illnesses
• Will demonstrate and educate mothers on disease prevention and home care practices to promote early detection and treatment of common childhood illnesses within communities.

The consultant will submit the following:

• Inception report detailing the facility visit plan, checklist that will be used and how the findings from the facility visits will be analyzed.
• Final Consultancy report. Report should include timing of the training, venue, return demonstration, Names of participants at each training phase. Feedback from trainee; pictures taken during training sessions(at least 3 pictures for each training).
• Monthly report of activities.
• Challenges/success during the training including recommendations for future trainings.

Requirements

• MBBS Degree or trained nurse/midwife.
• Minimum of 10 years experience in Public Health programming
• Familiarity with national guidelines on Intergrated Management of Common Childhood Illnesses.
• Experienced trainer or facilitator of at least 10 years.
• Previous experience delivering similar training either for state governments or development partners.
• Good report writing skills.
• Preferably based in Kaduna State.