International Consultant to support integration of the Behavior Change Communication for health into the curriculum for preservice health workers with special focus to routine immunization a

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.

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For every child, protect

Background As part of the routine immunization and COVID-19 vaccination promotion, UNICEF Uzbekistan supported the Committee for sanitary-epidemiological wellbeing and the public health and the Center for the development of medical education in the integration of the training module on Interpersonal communication (IPC) for immunization into the training workplan for the pre-service health worker training.

Center for the development of medical education in the integration is planning to scale up the initiative and introduce Communication for health (health communication/health promotion) as separate 40 hours long subject into the national training curriculum for pre-service training of health workers. The curriculum content is expected to comprise of the Behavior Change Communication (BCC) including content on IPC for immunization.

The potential topics to be considered for the BCC for health content, with practical examples for health workers, are the followings: - understanding theories and models of behaviour change; - the role of health professional in supporting behaviour change and adoption of healthy practices; - IPC, including techniques and approaches, motivational interviewing; - health promotion and health education: knowledge of media effects and audiences, use of media, communication models - design of communication messages, campaigns, social mobilization/community engagement to support healthy practices adoption etc.

The final list of topics to be integrated to the BCC curriculum will be defined in consultation with UNICEF and national partners. Technically support this process, UNICEF is looking for an international expert to assist the Center for the development of medical education in the development of the BCC content for the 40 hours curriculum, including IPC for immunization in line with international standards and best practices.

Scope of Work: Under the overall guidance of the Communication Chief and daily collaboration with the Social and Behavior Change officers, the international consultant will:

- Inception phase o Conduct a mapping of current curricula, content, approaches. Identify gaps and entry points o Conduct key informant interview, discussions with UNICEF and national stakeholders. o Propose content (outline of topics, learning, objectives and competencies) of the BCC for health, including IPC for immunization content for pre-service training curricula, along with recommendations on how the training would be provided. o Facilitate a consultative meeting (if needed) to validate the proposed content and flow and agree on next steps.

- Content development phase o Develop the draft content of the BCC for health, including IPC for immunization training content (syllabus; curricula content; instructions for facilitators; support materials; resource materials). o Facilitate a consultative meeting (if needed) to present/validate the content. o Finalize and submit the final content and materials.

- Training, coaching and support phase o Provide training for master trainers of the Center for the development of medical education on the BCC for health training content. o Provide coaching/support to master trainers and national partners as required (5 days) to implement the training. Develop a methodology and tool(s) for monitoring of training outcomes.

The developed materials and guidance to be used further for adaptation of the materials for in-service with involvement of relevant partners.

Performance indicators for evaluation of results: The performance of work will be evaluated based on the following indicators: • Completion of tasks specified in ToR. • Compliance with the established deadlines for submission of deliverables. • Quality of deliverables. • Demonstration of high standards of work.

Contractual modalities: • Location: The consultant will be mainly home-based, with two travels to Uzbekistan (1) at inception phase for conduction of interviews and consultations (5 days), and (2) for conducting training for master trainers (5 days). • Payment: UNICEF will issue a contract in USD. The payment will be made in USD by bank transfer following the acceptance of the deliverable by the supervisor. • Reporting: The consultants will be supervised by and will report to the chief of communication with daily collaboration with SBC officer.

Work Assignments Overview - Deliverables/Outputs - Timeline

I. Inception phase

Work Assignments and Timeline:

1. Conduct a mapping of current curricula, content, approaches. Identify gaps and entry points. Conduct key informant interview, discussions with UNICEF and national stakeholders - July 2023, 15 working days

2. Propose content (outline of topics, learning, objectives and competencies) of the BCC for health, including IPC for immunization content for pre-service training curricula, along with recommendations on how the training would be provided - July 2023, 10 working days

3. Facilitate a consultative meeting (if needed) to validate the proposed content and flow and agree on next steps - August 2023, 2 working days.

Deliverables/Outputs

Inception report with identified gaps, entry points and 40 hours BCC syllabus.

II. Content development phase

Work Assignments and Timeline:

1. Develop the draft content of the BCC for health, including IPC for immunization training content (syllabus; curricula content; instructions for facilitators; support materials; resource materials) - August-September 2023, 20 working days

2. Facilitate a consultative meeting (if needed) to present/validate the content -September 2023, 2 working days.

3. Finalize and submit the final content and materials - October 2023, 5 working days.

Deliverables/Outputs

Draft content of 40-hour BCC syllabus is shared with national partners for endorsement.

III. Training, coaching and support phase

Work Assignments and Timeline:

1. Provide training for master trainers of the Center for the development of medical education on the BCC for health training content - 5 working days.

2. Provide coaching/support to master trainers and national partners as required (5 days) to implement the training - October-December 2023, 3 working days per month for three months.

3. Develop a methodology and tool(s) for monitoring of training outcomes - October 2023, 5 working days.

Deliverables/Outputs

1. Training report

2. Report on coaching provided to the master trainers

3. Methodology and tools for monitoring the training outcomes

Total number of working days: 73

Final rate shall follow the “best value for money” principle, i.e., achieving the desired outcome at the lowest possible fee. Consultants will be asked to stipulate all-inclusive fees, including lump sum travel and subsistence costs, as applicable.

Payment of professional fees will be based on 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.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• Advanced university degree (post-graduation, Masters or PhD) in social studies, public health, health communication/promotion, social and behaviour change or another relevant field.
• Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in development, adaptation and integration of the BCC for health training module into the training curricula of medical institutions.
• Excellent writing skills.
• Work experience with UN agencies/UNICEF is an asset.
• Work experience in the Central Asia or in Uzbekistan is an asset.
• Fluency in English is required.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

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

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment.

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. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.