National Individual Consultancy for technical assistance to the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry to support of early identification and intervention programme introduction and strengt

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Application deadline 2 years ago: Friday 10 Sep 2021 at 18:55 UTC

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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, health and thriving

Early detection and intervention can prevent death or disability and enable children to reach their full potential. With UNICEF advocacy efforts Turkmenistan demonstrates strong political will in improving mother and child health and establishing early detection and early intervention services.

Since 2007 country has made significant progress in establishment of the early identification of developmental delays and early intervention (EI) among children of 0-42 months. Strong pollical will helped in establishing solid policy niche. Currently, all ECD activities in the country are regulated by the cross-sectorial National ECD strategy and Action Plan for 2020-2025 and the National Healthy Mother- Healthy Child – Healthy Future Strategy for 2021-2025.

UNICEF plays a key role in supporting Government efforts in introduction of ECD and EI services. The MoHMI and the Ministry of Education are taking lead in establishing early intervention services in the country.

Upon Ministry of Health request UNICEF facilitated development of the Human Resource Development Roadmap in 2014 in developing the health care professionals’ potential in delivering developmental care to the population and the S******tandards for provision of the early intervention services to be applied nation-wide.

To the date every district has opened ECD center reporting to the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry (MOHMI). In line with the action plan for 2016-2020 on introduction of developmental pediatrics and early intervention, the MoHMI initiated development of the services in ECD demonstration areas. With initiated intensive capacity building, operationalization of the developed standards and building a system of referrals within health system, 14% of the districts of country provide early identification of developmental delays among children of 0-42 months at primary health care level.

To enable capacity building process the Ministry of Health has established 2 National level entities, ECD Department under the Scientific-clinical MCH Hospital and ECD Center under State Medical University, to provide EI services and with a potential to serve as a National training hub. UNICEF supported capacity development of the ECD Department and the ECD Center staff, as a core group of qualified professionals on developmental pediatrics and early intervention and trained them in the Guide on Monitoring of Child Development (GMCD tool). There are three licensed National GMCD trainers and pool of regional trainer from Dashoguz, Mary and Lebap region. Paper-based GMCD tool has been used by home visitors and ECD Centres specialists in three velayats and Ashgabat since 2013. With UNICEF support MOHMI has adapted an electronic GMCD package in Turkmen language, which is used at Android Tablets by home visitors in ECD demonstration areas and ECD specialists. In 2019 the Ministry of Health accepted GMCD tool as a standard universal tool for monitoring of the young child development.

Understanding an urgent need in sacling-up and providing comprehensive support to children with developmental delays, difficulties, and/or disabilities and their families during the critical early years nation-wide, the assignment will support the Ministry of Health in increasing the coverage with early intervention services in Dashoguz, Mary and Lebap regions and supporting the introduction of early identification of the early identification and intervention services in Ahal and Balkan regions.

How can you make a difference?

Purpose of Assignment:

Support the MOHMI in establishing early intervention services at all selected ECD facilities and support introduction of the GMCD package to further increase the effectiveness and efficiency of ensuring timely identification and appropriate care for children with developmental difficulties.

Scope of Work/ Work Assignments:

  1. Coordinate, mobilize and strengthen support provided by ECD focal points in Dashoguz, Lebap and Mary velayats to support the ECD centers operation in selected areas.
  2. Initiate support and develop a network of the ECD focal pints in Ahal and Balkan velayats.

  3. Coordinate and monitor effectiveness of the capacity building of primary health care workers of ECD Demonstration regions to ensure adequate early detection and effective early interventions.

  4. Work closely with a team of Ankara University and UNICEF IT consultant to support implementation of GMCD App programme.
  5. Support implementation of ECD parenting programmes through Radio, TV and social media channels with national TV and Women’s Union.

  6. Prepare communication and information materials for ECD programme advocacy to promote awareness, establish partnership/alliances and promote increased investments in ECD programmes and projects.

  7. Support implementation of the M&E framework to measure effectiveness of provided services that enables children in need fully benefit from this system and achieve the maximum developmental potential.

  8. Participate in monitoring and evaluation of ECD programme interventions.
  9. Collect and analyze reporting data on number of detected children and support provided to families as well as other relevant social norm/behaviour data in relation to relevant aspects of parenting and care
  10. In coordination with UNICEF and stakeholders support consolidation of the collected data from end-users to regional, velayat and national level facilities.

  11. Promote exchange of experiences between specialists of ECD demonstrations areas.

  12. Prepare monthly reports on implementation of ECD programme in demonstration facilities, including information on progress, bottlenecks and recommendations on improvement.

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

  • An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in *A first University Degree in a relevant field combined with 2 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree.
  • A minimum of [insert years] of relevant professional experience in
  • Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset.
  • Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

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.

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are...

[insert competencies]

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.

Added 2 years ago - Updated 2 years ago - Source: unicef.org