Technical Consultant

Job description

Name: Technical Consultant Department & Location: MOMENTUM Safe Surgery in Family Planning and Obstetric Project (MSSFPO), Burundi Dates: As soon as possible Contract Duration: 30 days Reports to: (position) MSSFPO Project Director Purpose: To provide technical services to support project start-up in Burundi. MOMENTUM Safe Surgery in Family Planning and Obstetrics seeks to sustainably support the strengthening of surgical safety within maternal health (MH) and voluntary family planning (FP) programs by promoting evidence-based approaches and testing new innovations. The project recognizes that barriers at different levels—individuals and communities; facilities; health systems and institutions; and evidence generation and sharing—greatly impact the availability, access, affordability, and acceptability of surgical care in USAID MCH/FP priority countries. The project’s global consortium is led by EngenderHealth and activities are implemented with a wide range of global, regional, and local partner organizations. The project is active in nine countries in sub-Saharan Africa, as well as India. In Burundi, the project will support programming to accelerate responses to persistent unmet needs related to fistula and surgical obstetric care. These challenges persist despite the commitment and past investment from both the Mission and the government. The USAID Burundi Mission has prioritized interventions in: Maternal Newborn and Child Health (MNCH), to improve the quality of cesarean surgery, peripartum hysterectomy, Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (CEmONC) Services, infection prevention and control (IPC) and treatment and prevention of obstetric fistula; and Family Planning (FP), to increase demand and improve the quality of the service delivery with a focus on long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) method and build the capacity of CHWs in injectable contraceptive service delivery (Sayana Press), support and strengthen postpartum family planning, and the integration of FP in other health services like vaccination, antenatal care, and malaria. While specific activities will be determined in consultation with the USAID Mission and through the consultant activities and collaborative work planning process described below, illustrative activities include: Capacity-building of surgical teams in safe surgical obstetric care, FP methods, and fistula care Strengthening of safe surgical ecosystem building blocks including safe blood and oxygen, IPC, and necessary equipment, supplies, and commodities. Supporting community-based social and behavior change (SBC) for fistula prevention, maternal health care-seeking and referral, and FP awareness; including applying digital technologies. Strengthening health management information systems (HMIS) to support quality collection, reporting, and availability across the technical areas; and Strengthening the capacity of central, provincial, and district management teams. These activities will be implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Health (MOH) and its regional/prefecture counterparts, other USAID-supported projects, and local institutions. Geographic Coverage: The project will work in Rutana, Makamba, and Cankuzo provinces, and potentially in Rumonge and Bururi provinces. The final geographic coverage will be confirmed and defined during the development of the work plan. RESPONSIBILITIES As part of the start-up of the project in Burundi, EngenderHealth is seeking a consultant/team of consultants to support a Rapid Assessment and Context Mapping in Burundi. The process will engage a broad range of stakeholders in the rapid co-creation of locally owned strategies that inform the work plan for an anticipated 20-month project investment in Burundi. The consultant will be responsible for the following tasks: Conducting in-country rapid assessment applying project tools, including key informant interviews, context mapping, and document review to support the identification of supported facilities and ensure the selection of priority interventions that complement ongoing investments (See Appendix for additional details. Develop a report summarizing the findings of the rapid assessment Reviewing presentation and other materials to support the use of the findings, developed by the global project team Supporting the co-creation workshop, anticipated for October 2024, as a facilitator and presenter Contributing to the drafting of the project’s work plan Shortlisting/identifying potential local organizations to support the implementation of the work plan Supporting the Finance and Administration start-up consultant as required *Approved costs for meals, travel, and incidentals will be reimbursed as per EngenderHealth travel policy. DELIVERABLES The consultant is responsible for the following deliverables in alignment with the responsibilities above: Rapid assessment conducted using project interview guides and contacts grids developed in collaboration with the project global team and USAID Mission, including collection of any required approvals to conduct interviews. Collection of locally available documents, references, and data sources gathered from province-level contacts and other in-country sources. [These will complement the documents gathered by the project’s/MSSFPO global team and may include existing programs, surveys, and research reports; assessments, evaluations, and existing data from USAID projects; routine data sources including census and HMIS/DHIS2; and guidelines, policies, strategies, and other framework documents issued by the government.] Summary of findings from mapping, KIIs, and documents gathered synthesized into a report with a) high-level answers to the questions noted above; b) key recommended activities within the priority technical areas; c) recommended focus geographic areas; and d) any activities outside the current scope of work that are identified as urgent priorities by key contacts Edits provided to PowerPoint presentation and other summary materials created by project global team to aid participants at the co-creation workshop in utilizing the findings from the desk review, mapping, and key informant interviews Presentations provided at the co-creation workshop, including sharing the results of the mapping/key informant interviews Co-facilitation of co-creation workshop, if requested by project global team Contribution to narrative draft sections of work plan as requested Shortlist of potential local organizations with past experience of supporting similar work LEVEL OF EFFORT AND TIMELINE The estimated level of effort is up to 30 days during the period of September 1, 2024 through October 31, 2024. APPENDIX: RAPID ASSESSMENT AND CONTEXT MAPPING DETAILS The start-up phase in Burundi will comprise a in-country rapid assessment, enabling us to develop a nuanced understanding of the current context in safe surgical obstetric care, LARCs and PMs, and the elimination of female genital fistula. The in-country assessment will be complemented by a desk review conducted by the project’s global team. Through the rapid assessment, consisting of key informant interviews, mapping of ongoing and planned interventions in relevant technical areas, and review of project reports and other documents in-country, we will examine the current status of and gaps related to: Barriers and enablers for providers that inhibit or enhance the indicated, appropriate provision of CD. Staffing and service delivery capacity at health facilities tasked with providing comprehensive emergency obstetric and newborn care (CEmONC) Referral systems for emergency and surgical obstetric care Fistula care capacity: Development, adoption, and widespread implementation of guidelines for catheterization to prevent and treat fistula Numbers and skills of fistula surgeons, Routine services for simple fistula repairs Integration of fistula screening and referral within community health systems and postpartum/postnatal care Linkages between fistula care and essential related services, including voluntary FP and GBV services Financing of comprehensive care for fistula clients Social and behavioral change (SBC) interventions that address the gender and other social norms underlying fistula vulnerability and associated stigma, and other determinants of adverse maternal health outcomes in an integrated manner Gaps and absorptive capacity related to infrastructure, equipment & supplies, human resources, funding, and skill building in the public and private sectors for surgical obstetric and fistula care. For example, availability of surgical instruments, IPC equipment, anesthesia machines, supplies for safe blood and oxygen, and other materials in select medical training institutes and health facilities. FP service delivery capacity Identify current gaps is FP service delivery, particularly with respect to LARCs and PM’s and PPFP Assessment of FP service integration within other services such as nutrition, PNC, immunization, fistula repair Identify gaps in counseling tool and commodity availaity at facility and community level Identify gaps in and potential interventions to increase community awareness and demand for FP services among youth, men and women of reproductive age. As part of the rapid assessment, the cross-cutting issues will be explored: What are priority geographic areas where other bilateral and multilateral partners are working, where the project can provide complementary, non-duplicative support? What evidence-based, effective interventions have or have not been sustained after the end of previous projects focusing on fistula, FP and comprehensive emergency obstetric and newborn care (CEmONC)? How are policy, program design, and funding decisions made and resources mobilized for fistula, FP and CEmONC? How do these processes differ at the national and regional levels? What quality improvement guidelines or frameworks are available to strengthen surgical obstetric care and fistula prevention and care? What do varied stakeholders see as opportunities to a) strengthen commitments and mobilize resources for fistula, FP and CEmONC and b) increase demand for this care? What are the current processes for developing, disseminating, and ensuring adoption and monitoring of evidence-based guidelines within fistula, FP and CEmONC at the national and regional level? What data are available to national and regional decision makers to guide planning, provision, and improvement of fistula, FP and CEmONC interventions and services; and what are the gaps that actors at each level perceive in the availability, quality, and use of data for decision making? What is the engagement of CSO/CBO/FBO actors in the design or implementation of policies, guidelines, and programming approaches within fistula, FP and CEmONC interventions? What rehabilitation, reintegration and economic empowerment programs are available for survivors of fistula? Through the rapid assessment/mapping/document review processes, we will compile the key interventions, priorities, relevant program documents, and timelines of relevant current projects and initiatives acting in areas relevant to fistula and CEmONC. Learning from the rapid assessment and mapping will enable an efficient co-creation process by clearly articulating priority areas of need, focus geographic areas, and the essential partners and collaborations required to address them. Disclaimer The above statements describe the general nature and level of work being performed by the person(s) assigned to this job. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. All personnel may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities as needed and assigned. 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EngenderHealth is committed to safeguarding all people, particularly children, vulnerable adults, and beneficiaries of assistance from any harm that may be caused due to contact with EngenderHealth. This includes harm arising from the conduct of staff, associates, and partners; and the design and implementation of programs and activities. EngenderHealth (EH) envisions a gender-equal world where all people achieve their sexual and reproductive health and rights. We believe this is essential for ensuring all people can attain their full potential. To realize this vision, we implement high-quality, gender-equitable programs that advance sexual and reproductive health and rights.