National Consultancy - developing technical resources and tools for Mother Support Groups (MSGs), Colombo, Sri Lanka (Sri Lankan Nationals only)

Consultant Programme & Policy

Overview

Develop technical resources and tools to strengthen Mother Support Groups

You have:

• Master's in Community Health Science, Public Health, Medical Science, Social Sciences or a related field
• At least 8 years of professional experience in technical resource, guidelines and tool development in health and nutrition
• Strong familiarity with the socio-cultural context of Sri Lanka and extensive experiences in the development sector
• Strong familiarity and work experience with health promotion networks in Sri Lanka, preferably with the Mother Support Group network
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English and Sinhala/Tamil
• Strong conceptual, synthesis and strategic thinking skills
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to deliver results on time

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, How can you make a difference?

Back ground :

Mother Support Groups (MSGs) are a powerful initiative in improving health and nutritional status in communities through community empowerment and mobilization. Initially established in 2002 in Sri Lanka, there are proven evidence where MSGs have shown both direct and indirect impacts during recent past. Currently, there is a network of over 5,300 functioning MSGs covering all parts of the country. In the context of current socio-economic crisis of the country, strengthening and mobilizing these groups would be critical as a sustainable implementation mechanism of different national level initiatives and community-led actions.

Guideline on Mother Support Group Activities (2018)

Review of the functioning and impact of Mother Support Groups in Northern and Eastern Provinces of Sri Lanka (2015)

Under this intervention, the Family Health Bureau, Health Promotion Bureau, Estate and Urban Health Unit and UNICEF Sri Lanka aim to “Strengthen and Mobilize Mother Support Groups (MSGs) during current context to improve and sustain health and nutrition status of communities, especially among pregnant & lactating mothers and children under age five”. Under this overall aim, interventions will be rolled out focusing the below objectives. Upon the selection of the service provider, detailed activity level information will be provided.

• Strengthening the MSG networks and establishing new MSGs as appropriate to improve preparedness and response of communities for the crisis, especially among pregnant & lactating mothers and children under age five.

• Strengthening the communities to maintain proper nutritional status during current crisis; and promoting nutritious food choices through locally available food items for communities, especially among pregnant & lactating mothers and children under age five.

• Mobilizing the communities to ensure proper maternal and child health during current crisis; supporting the communities in early identification of danger signs, complications and acting fast in the most appropriate

manner; and facilitating access to maternal and child health services of communities in the midst of the crisis, especially among pregnant & lactating mothers and children under age five.

• Improving the financial management knowledge and practices of the MSG members, pregnant and lactating mothers to improve and sustain nutrition and health status.

Service provider is expected to obtain inputs and consensus on all technical matters from relevant technical focal point of MoH during the implementation process of the assignment (E.g. Maternal and Child Health and Nutrition – FHB, General Nutrition – ND, Mobilization of Mother Support Groups – HPB, Financial Management to improve health and nutrition status – E&UH Unit).

Purpose of Activity/Assignment:

Under the overall guidance of the Health Promotion Bureau, Family Health Bureau, Estate and Urban Health Unit and UNICEF Sri Lanka, development of technical resources and tools to strengthen and mobilize Mother Support Groups (MSGs) during the current context, specially focusing pregnant and lactating mothers, and children under the age 5

Description of assignment:

1. Strengthening the MSG networks and establishing new MSGs as appropriate to improve preparedness and response of communities for the crisis, especially among pregnant & lactating mothers and children under age five.

1.1 It is aimed to introduce the intervention to CCPs, HEOs, MOMCHs from the national level by the previously mentioned institutions. Trained CCPs, HEOs and MOMCHs are expected to introduce the intervention to the MOHs, SPHMs, PHNSs as the second step. As the third step, trained MOHs and SPHMs are expected to introduce this to the PHMS, other MOH staff and MSG leaders. Service provider is expected to develop a training presentation, and reader friendly booklet to clearly outline the intervention, activities, and action steps.

1.2 As a part of the intervention, it is encouraged to form new MSGs as appropriate in relevant communities. Based on the available guidelines, Service Provider is expected to list down some of the key considerations and steps for forming Mother Support Groups. This will be included as a part of the booklet mentioned under 1.1.

1.3 MSG members are expected to understand the current health and nutrition status of their area and bottlenecks faced by their communities (e.g. food security, access to services) with PHM, especially focusing pregnant & lactating mothers and children under age five in each area. Service provider is expected to develop simple template and facilitation guideline that can be used by the PHM/ MSG leaders with the MSG members to discuss and list down current status and bottlenecks in their community. This will be included as a part of the booklet mentioned under 1.1.

1.4 MSG members are expected to develop an action plan for their area based on the findings in 1.2, especially focusing pregnant & lactating mothers and children under age five. Service provider is expected to develop simple activity plan template and facilitation guideline that can be used by the PHM/ MSG leaders with the MSG members to develop a well-defined plan for their respective areas. This will be included as a part of the booklet mentioned under 1.1.

1.5 Progress monitoring is aimed to carry out at different stages. i.e. MOH to monitor during the monthly conferences; RDHSs, CCPs, HEOs, MOMCHs to monitor by arranging quarterly meetings with the MOHs and SPHMs in the respective districts; PDHSs to monitor by arranging quarterly meetings with the RDHSs, CCPs, HEOs, MOMCHs; HPB, FHB, E&UH and UNICEF to monitor through quarterly meetings. Service provider is expected to develop the monitoring framework and tools to capture the progress in these different stages. These will be included as a part of the booklet mentioned under 1.1.

1.6 WhatsApp platforms and Mobile Application developed by the HPB are aimed to use for monitoring the progress of MSGs. Service provider is expected to develop guidance for this, and it will be included as a part of the booklet mentioned under 1.1.

2. Strengthening the communities to maintain proper nutritional status during current crisis; and promoting nutritious food choices through locally available food items for communities, especially among pregnant & lactating mothers and children under age five.

2.1 Members of MSGs are encouraged to carry out community-based interventions to increase the accessibility and affordability of food items (e.g. Community Kitchens, Bulk Purchasing, etc.). Service provider is expected to list down and explain these kinds of possible approaches that can be rolled out by MSG members together with other community members and actors. This will be included as a part of the booklet mentioned under 1.1.

3. Mobilizing communities to ensure proper maternal and child health during current crisis; supporting the communities in early identification of danger signs, complications and acting fast in the most appropriate manner; and facilitating access to maternal and child health services of communities in the midst of the crisis, especially among pregnant & lactating mothers and children under age five.

3.1 Members of MSGs are encouraged to identify vulnerable families, follow up with them to understand their level of adherence to health guidelines and access to health services; and support them to sustain their health and nutrition status. By this kind of follow up and community support mechanism, MSGs are expected to support the activities of the Public Health Staff. Service provider is expected to develop a guide for MSG members on identifying the vulnerable families, how/what and when they should follow ups and different approaches that they can use to help these families. This will be included as a part of the booklet mentioned under 1.1.

3.2 Members of MSGs are encouraged to facilitate transport arrangements and other support for the vulnerable families to regularly access health services (e.g. maternal and child clinics and field weighing posts, hospitals) through community solutions (e.g. arrange common transportation, support costs etc.). By this kind community support mechanisms, MSGs are expected to support the activities of the Public Health Staff. Service provider is expected to develop a guide for MSG members on identifying the families who find it difficult to access health services due to transport difficulties, and arranging different community based approaches that they use to improve access. This will be included as a part of the booklet mentioned under the 1.1.

4. Improving the financial management knowledge and practices of the MSG members, pregnant and lactating mothers to improve and sustain nutrition and health status.

4.1 Training resources have been already developed for this thematic area. Together with the Estate and Urban Health Unit, service provider is expected to develop a summary by extracting key information from the already developed training manual; develop follow up session guides & tools for PHMs (for three follow up sessions); and monitoring tools to understand the effectiveness of the intervention, aligning to the identified implementation modality. These will be included as a part of the booklet mentioned under the 1.1.

• Above areas are listed based on the existing outline of the intervention. Service provider is expected to undertake additional areas, that can be arisen based on the changing contexts and programmatic requirements.

• Content should be developed in English initially. Revisions are to be conducted based on the feedback received from the FHB, HPB, E&UH and UNICEF. Service provider is expected to translate documents to Sinhala and Tamil languages and proofread, by coordinating with the translators arranged by UNICEF. Also, Service provider is

1 http://www.unevaluation.org/document/detail/100

2 http://www.unevaluation.org/document/detail/102

expected to guide the illustration designer/graphic designers arranged by UNICEF; and make the print ready versions of the documents with relevant translations & illustrations.

• Weekly updates and touch base meetings – The service provider should share at least weekly updates of activities taken place to UNICEF and other partners. Touch base meetings can be organized as required to discuss any issues/concerns to ensure progress is in line with the expected requirements and timeline.

• The service provider should adhere to the agreed work schedule and deliver according to the accepted quality standards.

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

Minimum Qualifications required:

Masters - Community Health Science, Public Health, Medical Science, Social Sciences or a related field

Knowledge/Experience and skills:

At least eight years of professional experience in undertaking technical resource, guidelines and tool development in health and nutrition, preferably related to community health.

Strong familiarity with the socio-cultural context of Sri Lanka and extensive experiences in the development sector.

Strong familiarity and work experience related to the health promotion networks in Sri Lanka, preferably with the Mother Support Group network

Advocacy and social engagement skills necessary for dealing with technical experts and partners

Excellent written and oral communication skills in English and Sinhala/Tamil are required.

Previous work experience and strong relationship with the MoH & its institutions, and UN

Strong conceptual, synthesis and strategic thinking skills.

Strong organisational skills, with the ability to deliver results on time.

Duration - 109 days

Expected start date : 15 November 2022.

How to apply:

Qualified candidates are requested to submit a resume and other relevant documents

Please complete your profile in UNICEF's e-Recruitment system. https://www.unicef.org/about/employ/index_consultancy_assignments.html

Please indicate your ability, availability and fee/rate (in LKR) to undertake the terms of reference above. (Indicate an all-inclusive fee (including lump sum travel, IT accessories, Internet and subsistence costs, as applicable) to undertake the tasks in the Terms of reference. Office 365 license will be provided by UNICEF, as applicable)

Applications submitted without a fee/rate will not be considered

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.

If you think this position might be for you, please take the time to review our Country Office Mutual Agreements before you apply.

If you believe you can team member that can uphold these everyday, then we look forward to receiving and reviewing your application.

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Potential interview questions

Added 3 years ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: unicef.org