International consultant to provide technical support to the national health authority on development and implementation of child development guidelines for its improvement, Kyiv, Ukraine

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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,

Ukraine has made certain efforts healthcare for mothers and newborn during last decade as part of prioritization of child health and wellbeing and implementation of state programme on improvement early child development.

UNICEF will support the Government at national and subnational levels in providing technical support to address system gaps in evidence generation, framework development in ECD area, demand creation among parents and capacity building of health professionals including GP, nurses and frontline workers, strengthening education/in-service component, conducting needs assessment analysis of the ECD. These interventions will contribute to the Government of Ukraine efforts to develop Concept, Action Plan, Developmental Pediatrics Guide, including clinical protocol and algorithm of refer in accordance with the National Plan of Developmental Pediatric Strengthening and complement ongoing UNICEF activities in this area.

How can you make a difference?

Provide technical support to the Ministry of Health (MoH) and its respective divisions, including sub-national level and conflict-affected areas on improvement of national and subnational health policies and ECD services for mothers and children under 5 based on evidence-based approach.

Scope of work:

1) Provide technical support in quality assurance of implemented integrated programmes on early child development services for children from 0 to 5 through the evidence generation, mapping of resources and advocacy among the stakeholders and local communities.

2) Provide technical support in the development of the concept of the early childhood national development program in health

3) Facilitate the mapping of the ECD services and facilities in coordination with other international and national partners (i.e., Academia, NGOs, WHO).

4) Contribute to gather and assess data on early child development, including number of child development delay, to support the improvement of the quality of the early child identification in rural and urban areas.

5) Provide support to communication work contributing to awareness-raising among parents and other groups.

6) support equipping Ministry of Health specialists and other relevant stakeholders with the standards on services among relevant staff of local and national governments, standards on infant and childcare among frontline workers including early child identification and intervention in line with the approved work plan.

7) Provide technical support to academia in developing the educational modules on early child development in accordance with the international standards.

8) Facilitate coordination with the involved stakeholders, including the governmental counterparts at the national and local levels, international partners (i.e., WHO), UNICEF RO and academia and conducting monitoring field trips (or remotely), to ensure timely and efficient implementation of the project to strengthen early child development programme, including the national guide implementation.

Deliverable: Effective coordination mechanism with national stakeholders is established.

• The list of potential members identified (MoH, national and local health authorities, research specialist, healthcare experts, public health specialists, and community representative) developed.
• List of NTWG endorsed by MoH
• The National Technical Working group conducts the kickoff meeting.
• Functions and roles of the members of the national technical working group ensured by protocol of the meeting.
• A schedule of monthly meetings has been developed and agreed.
• A draft work plan for the implementation of developmental pediatrics and early child identification and intervention (ECI) has been developed.

• Nomination letters for working group members were developed and sent to partner organizations.

  Deadline: 30 September 2021 (5 w/days)

Deliverable: Support for needs assessments in early childhood development.

• Consultation meetings on the organization of needs assessment visits in selected regions with national experts were held (LoP, agenda, minutes).
• The needs assessment tool has been adapted with national and international partners.
• Letters on upcoming visits sent to selected oblasts.
• A schedule for the needs assessment has been developed and sent to partners.
• Training for the assessment team conducted.
• Field work in offline format (if the epidemiological situation allows) or online with tabulation of data was carried out.
• The draft report was reviewed and sent to the NTWG.
• At least 5 online / offline meetings with partners to discuss the report were held.
• The draft work plan for the implementation of developmental pediatrics and ECI has been finalized.
• Letters on the establish an intersectoral technical group for cooperation in the field of early childhood development (ECD) were sent to the relevant ministries

Deadline: 30 September 2021 (5 w/days)

Deliverable: Facilitation of capacity building for healthcare providers on Early Childhood Development.

• Provide inputs to the ToR for international trainers on ECD and Development Pediatrics.
• At least 2 training courses on Early Childhood Development and Development Pediatrics is conducted with international trainers (LoP, agenda).
• A monthly meeting of the National Technical Working Group on ECD is conducted (minutes of the meeting).
• To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have

Deadline: 31 October 2021 (10 w/days)

Deliverable: Effective coordination mechanism with national stakeholders is ensured

• The ToR for national ECD experts (national expert on preparing education modules, national expert on preparing algorithms, SOPs, national expert on developing competencies and skills, national expert on e-health) developed.
• The concept of implementation of developmental pediatrics and ECI in Ukraine endorsed by Government.
• Action Plan on developmental pediatrics and ECI 2021-2026 гг.
• A monthly meeting of the National Technical Working Group on ECD is conducted (minutes of the meeting).

Deadline: 30 November 2021 (15 w/days)

Deliverable: Support MoH and local authorities on National ECD Guide

• Consultation meeting with small group #1 regarding to skills and competency development conducted (at least 5 consultation).
• Consultation meeting with small group #2 regarding to development of national ECD guidelines, algorithms and SOP conducted (at least 5 consultation)
• Consultation meeting with small group #3 regarding to development of ECD education modules and ECD materials for parents conducted (at least 5 consultations).
• Monthly meeting of the National Technical Working Group on ECD is conducted (minutes of the meeting).

Deadline: 31 December 2021 (10 w/days)

Deliverable: Conducting training course on ECD

• Facilitation of a meeting to adapt early childhood development training modules.
• The national ToT training on ECD Developmental pediatrics is conducted in addition to 2 training courses on ECD and Development Pediatrics for health workers with international trainers (LoP, agenda).
• Education and Information materials for healthcare workers are reviewed; schedule of delivery is developed (list of participants, agenda).
• The schedule of subnational trainings has been developed and endorsed by national partner.
• At least 5 trainings on ECD Developmental pediatrics is conducted for health workers with national trainers (LoP, agenda).
• Monthly meeting of the National Technical Working Group on ECD is conducted (minutes of the meeting).

Deadline: 31 January 2022 (15 w/days)

Deliverable: Conducting desk review of the Draft National ECD Guide

• Comments from members of the NTWG collected, addressed and cleared.
• National meeting on ECD Guide validation conducted (LoP, agenda).
• Final comments integrated and sent to NTWG.
• The draft national guidance has been sent to the state expert center for comments.
• The draft national guidelines have been sent to the Association of Pediatricians of Ukraine for comments.

Deadline: 28 February 2022 (10 w/days)

Deliverable: Conducting desk review of Draft National ECD Educational Module for students of medical universities and colleges

• Updating National ECD Educational Module for students of medical universities and colleges.
• Training for testing of ECD education modules conducted (LoP, agenda, report).
• ECD education modules approved by quality assurance committee of medical university.
• ECD education modules integrated into the university curriculum.

Deadline: 31 March 2022 (10 w/days)

Deliverable: Supporting MoH and local authorities on e-health strengthening

• Consultation meeting with small group #4 regarding to development of ECD indicators on national and subnational level conducted (at least 5 consultations).
• All relevant reporting forms were revised jointly with national experts (report with practical recommendations).
• Proposals for improving the reporting forms were sent to the MoH.
• Monthly meeting of the National Technical Working Group on ECD is conducted (minutes of the meeting)

Deadline: 30 April 2022 (10 w/days)

Deliverable: Monitoring & Reporting

• Monitoring of medical universities & colleges integration of updated immunization modules into curriculum.
• Monitoring (field visits, if feasible) of the healthcare workers counselling on ECD is conducted.
• Providing technical support to the review of materials for parents and other audiences (number of materials reviewed), supporting monitoring & evaluation of the effectiveness of the outreach activities.
• National Guide on ECD including clinical guide, SOP, job description, indicators, report forms revised with the comments of the experts is presented to the Government with the suggested action plan.
• Developing final report. Final report is submitted

Deadline: 30 June 2022 (15 w/days)

Education: Master`s or equivalent degree in Maternity and child health, Public Health, Epidemiology, Health Systems, Biostatistics, Biotechnology or related field.

Professional experience: At least eight years of experience in scientific/research including planning and conduct of population research related to mother and child health care.

Language: English - Advanced [C1]; Russian - Advanced [C1]; Ukrainian - is an advantage

Skills and competencies:

• Experience of working in Ukraine or other countries of ECAR in UNICEF or other UN agencies
• Ability to write quality reports on epidemiology or other related health fields
• Highly developed communication skills
• Ability to work in an international and multi-cultural environment.
• Ability to work independently and respond to feedback in a timely and professional manner
• Excellent analytical and organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to contribute to a team

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

Click here to learn more about UNICEF’s values and competencies.

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:

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

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.

Please fill in the form properly and indicate your daily fee, travel lump sum, and total fee to complete the assignment.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse, and on any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.