International Consultancy for documentation of KMC in Cameroon

Contract

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UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, a chance in life!

The West and Central Africa region (WCAR) has made significant progress for children and adolescents over the past decades. Despite the progress, children in this region still have the lowest chance of survival than anywhere in the world with under-5 mortality rate being 91 per 1,000 live births in 2020. Over the last 30 years, the top four causes of child mortality remain the same, however their ranking and relative importance have changed. Neonatal disorders, the third top killer in 1990, have become by far the number 1 killer of children in WCAR even with a rapid regional work in improving the coverage of skilled birth attendants and facility-based deliveries. The large majority of newborn deaths are due to complications related to preterm birth, intrapartum events such as birth asphyxia, or infections such as sepsis. While effective coverage of essential health and nutrition interventions and practices remains low in many countries in WCAR, it is vital to target the time around birth to ensure every newborn baby including small and sick newborns receive proven quality high impact interventions.

Kangaroo mother care (KMC) is recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) as the standard of care for clinically stable low-birthweight infants (less than 2000 grammes). There is evidence that KMC contributes to 40% reduction in neonatal mortality compared to conventional neonatal care. Despite strong evidence and potential for major impact, KMC scale-up remains low.

Cameroon, one of the countries in the WCA Region, has also shown significant progress by reducing the under-five mortality to 72 per 1,000 live births in 2020. However, Neonatal mortality has remains stagnant, 36 to 26 per 1000 live births between 2000 and 2020. The main direct leading causes of neonatal deaths are largely from three preventable conditions; These are preterm birth (34%), asphyxia or difficulties to breath at birth (26%) and neonatal infections (24%).

UNICEF Cameroon supported the Ministry of health in developing a first-generation national operational plan for newborn health 2016-2018 and newborn treatment guide in 2017. The operational plan defined five (5) priority interventions which address the main causes of newborn’s death to be implemented and rapidly scaled up. The interventions include: (i) basic essential newborn care, (ii) care of the preterm and low birth weight babies, (iii) kangaroo mother care, (iv) newborn resuscitation, (v) adequate treatment of newborn infections. The country has successfully moved forward and KMC has been implemented in East region (5 district hospitals, one regional referral hospital, one integrated health facility and community levels) and at regional (referral) hospitals in 5 regions.

To learn more about UNICEF Cameroon, use the below

link https://unicef.sharepoint.com/sites/CMR/SitePages/AboutUs.aspx.

How can you make a difference?

Purpose of Assignment:

The objective of the Consultancy is to document the implementation of Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) in Cameroon to develop a model of implementation and scale-up of KMC in Cameroon and the West and Central Africa Region (WCARO)

The following activities are:

• Collect information and data from relevant sources and partners on KMC implementation the context of newborn health to complete the draft desk review – Homebased
• Travel to regional office to get regional orientation and develop guidance for advocacy tools through story boards, local videography and photography, scaling-up framework including costing and financing- Senegal
• Conduct Cameroon field mission in country at CO and Field Office in selected KMC regions, health facilities and communities
• Develop cases studies with recommendations on scale-up of KMC including costing and financing- Cameroon
• Present preliminary results internally UNICEF and health authorities at MoH- Cameroon
• Development of a regional guidance on implementation and scale-up of KMC including costing and financing- Homebased
• Development of advocacy toolkits including photobook and videos - Homebased

The excepted results/ deliverables****:

• Develop detailed work plan and Chronogram shared
• Compiled information on KMC implementation in the context of newborn health available
• Story boards
• for KMC, videographs and photographs guidance produced
• Case study of the KMC implementation in Cameroon including recommendations for scale-up available including costing and financing
• PPT and Compiled information on KMC implementation
• Draft Preliminary videogram and photographs presented
• Regional guide or manual on the effective implementation and scaling up strategy of KMC available
• Advocacy toolkits Photobook,
• Short videos available

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have

• An Advanced University Degree (Masters) in one or more of the following areas: International/ Global Health, Public Health, or other social science relevant fields.
• Minimum of five years of progressively responsible for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health, Essential Newborn Care, Care for Small and Sick Newborn including KMC or other relevant work experience is required.

• Experience in community Health and health System strengthening will be an asset

• Experience working in the UN system agency or organization is an asset.

• Familiarity with emergency response is an asset.

• Fluency in English and French the language of the duty station /deployment is required.

Administrative issues and conditions

1. Payment of professional fees will be based on the submission of agreed deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant.

2. The Consultant will be required to complete UNICEF's standard online courses related to Ethics, Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse and Security, and …. related training prior to taking up the assignment and/or travel.

3. The Consultant will be required to sign a Health Statement prior to taking up the assignment, and to document that he/she has appropriate health insurance, including Medical Evacuation.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA).

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks:

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. The candidate may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid).