Technical support to Implement Newborn Health Activities

• Program Title: MOMENTUM Country and Global Leadership Project
• Subject of Service Contract: Technical support to implement newborn health activities
• Location of focus: Côte d’Ivoire
• Duration of assignmen: 2 months (approximate), with possibility of renewal – starting ASAP-September 30, 2022

Background and context

MOMENTUM Country and Global Leadership (MCGL) is a five-year USAID funded global award that works with country governments and local non-governmental organizations to provide targeted technical and capacity development assistance (TCDA).

MCGL builds upon existing evidence and best practices and catalyzes innovations that enable government-led partnerships to deliver high-quality, evidence-based interventions that accelerate reductions in maternal, newborn, and child mortality and morbidity at scale. The project also contributes to global technical leadership, learning, and USAID’s policy dialogue to achieve global maternal, newborn, and child health, voluntary family planning, and reproductive health (MNCH/FP/RH) goals by supporting globally endorsed initiatives, strategies, frameworks, guidelines, and action plans.

Through MCGL, Save the Children is recruiting a consultant to provide TCDA to support the implementation of newborn health activities under MCGL Côte d’Ivoire.

DESCRIPTION OF WORK

The consultant will work with the MCGL team in-country and with remote support from the MCGL HQ Newborn team to provide TCDA to the Save the Children-led newborn health activities in Côte d’Ivoire.

Technical responsibilities

• Work closely with Save the Children US (SCUS) MCGL newborn team to provide strategic, technical support to Save the Children International (SCI)/MCGL Côte d’Ivoire staff implementing newborn health components of the USAID-funded MCGL project to ensure the correct and timely implementation of activities, and ensure the project aligns with global standards and evidence.
• Provide remote support to SCI/MCGL Côte d’Ivoire newborn staff to review all program documents and update them in a timely fashion to support immediate implementation needs as determined by approved work plans and timelines.
• Provide weekly mentoring support and build capacity of SCI/MCGL Côte d’Ivoire newborn staff as required and ensure global evidence-based inputs are incorporated into planned activities.
• Provide in-country short-term technical assistance (STTA) in close coordination and collaboration with SCI/MCGL Côte d’Ivoire newborn staff and MCGL Jhpiego counterparts. During STTA, support SCI/MCGL Côte d’Ivoire newborn staff to:
  • Review the current work plan and determine gaps and opportunities to incorporate and strengthen newborn elements
  • Support work planning for the upcoming program year
  • Interact with national and sub-national officials to determine Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) scale up needs and make recommendations for implementation by MCGL
  • If circumstances allow, support training for MCGL trained mentors on select Helping Babies Survive modules, prioritizing Helping Babies Breath (HBB) and Essential Care for Every Baby (ECEB).
• Join MCGL HQ and country MNH team calls and support SCI/MCGL Côte d’Ivoire newborn staff to provide updates on progress, potential challenges and proposing mitigating measures.
• Join MCGL SCUS and SCI/MCGL Côte d’Ivoire team calls and maintain regular and open communication regarding progress and proactively advising of potential challenges and proposing mitigating measures.
• Support SCI/MCGL Côte d’Ivoire newborn staff to track all SC-led activities as outlined in the work plan.

Documentation, reporting, research and learning

• Provide brief bi-monthly reports on work accomplished, including challenges and recommendations for mitigation in agreed upon simple format.
• Provide detailed report from STTA visit, including a presentation to SCI/MCGL Côte d’Ivoire newborn staff, MCGL Côte d’Ivoire team, and USAID (if required) prior to departing from country.

KEY DELIVERABLES

The following deliverables will be expected and will require SCI and SCUS approval and sign off:

1. Detailed workplan for technical assistance developed in close collaboration with MCGL HQ newborn team, SCI/MCGL Côte d’Ivoire newborn staff, and Jhpiego MCGL colleagues.
2. Brief bi-monthly reports.
3. Detailed STTA visit report, including presentation slides.

PROPOSED TIMELINES

The amount of time allocated for this assignment is approximately 2 months, commencing as soon as possible and running through the end of the program year (September 30, 2022), with possibility of extension based on performance and funding availability.

Tasks/Deliverables and Timeframe:

1. Detailed workplan: Within 10 days of signing contract
2. Bimonthly report: Bimonthly/first report within 2 weeks of signing contract
3. STTA slide deck and presentations completed: During STTA in-country
4. STTA report: First draft within 2 weeks after returning from country TA visit

*Timeframe and deliverable due dates may shift depending on start date and country context. MCGL will work with the consultant to elaborate more exact timelines.

**Intermediate check-ins with MCGL will be required throughout the process.

INFORMATION FOR CONSULTANT

Qualifications and experience required

Essential:

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in working in pediatric/neonatology clinical areas, including experience conducting Helping Babies Survive or similar newborn health training for level I and II facility staff
• Advanced degree, with a minimum of a Master’s degree in pediatrics/neonatology and public health or a related field
• Experience working effectively with government bodies and professional organizations preferred including experience in newborn health program implementation for ministries of health, international non-profit organizations and/or multilateral agencies
• Fluency in both French and English (written and spoken)
• Excellent interpersonal skills, integrity, sound judgment, and communication skills
• Passion and commitment to meeting agreed deadlines
• Ability to produce high quality work under tight timeframes
• Excellent writing skills with strong experience in writing technical and programmatic reports
• Reliable, trustworthy and committed team player**.**

Desirable:

• Experience working on USG-funded programs
• Experience in program management

ADMINISTRATIVE AND LOGISTICAL SUPPORT

The duration of the assignment is approximately 2 months through September 30, 2022. The Consultant will report to Neena Khadka, Lead Newborn Advisor, SCUS and Newborn Health Focal Point, MCGL HQ and will work closely with the MCGL HQ newborn health management team – MCGL/Washington DC.

TOTAL COMPENSATION

Payment will be tied to completion and approval of deliverables, as above. Applicants should propose a budget in US dollars for the specific tasks and associated deliverables outlined above. SC will issue payments based on consultant submission of time worked and achievement of deliverables, to be approved by Neena Khadka. Save the Children will cover the costs of the consultant’s STTA visit in accordance with Save the Children and donor rules and regulations.