Re-advertisement: International consultancy to provide technical support to the national health authority (TABIB) on assessment of current neonatal care in Azerbaijan and development and imp

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For every child, care

Azerbaijan has made certain efforts to strengthen perinatal care for mothers and newborn during last decade as part of prioritization of maternal and child health (MCH) and implementation of state programme on improvement of MCH. Perinatal care concept was developed envisaging regionalization of services and organization of care at three levels with establishment of relevant referral system for risky pregnancies and newborns, including preterm born. 7 perinatal centres were established across the country providing access to tertiary level care at regional level. Investments were made into renovation of infrastructure of maternity wards and perinatal centres, as well as capacity building of relevant healthcare workers. Since 2015 Azerbaijan has shifted to new definition of live birth, now allowing babies from 22 weeks of gestation and 500 gr of weight to expect appropriate resuscitation and care if they have any signs of life, while in the past they were treated just as late miscarriage and provided any care only if survived for 7 days themselves. All the efforts and reforms in perinatal care are accompanied with significant improvement in maternal and neonatal mortality rates. According to UN IGME data neonatal mortality has fallen from 33.5 in 2000 to 10.9 per 1,000 live births in 2019. Maternal mortality has fallen from 47 per 100,000 live births in 2000 to 26 in 2017. However, these figures are still high compared to the country income level and other development indicators. While physical infrastructure is relatively adequate, healthcare workers have limited capacities in managing preterm babies and arrange appropriate referral and transportation in emergency cases. Most of facilities do not provide care according to clinical protocols and the latter are not available for all cases and conditions. Lack of adequately trained professionals at regional and districts levels creates further obstacles in accessing relevant care close to residence and as transportation remains challenging critical cases may die before referral or on the way to Baku. Considering ongoing healthcare reforms and introduction of social health insurance, government is interested in improvement of organization of care in the most adequate and cost-effective way and ensuring quality care availability at regional and district levels. Therefore, national healthcare authority has requested support from UNICEF in comprehensive assessment of current organization of perinatal-neonatal services, including infrastructures, human resources and training gaps, supplies and inventory, transportation and emergency care organization, and development of road map and action plan for improvement of neonatal care in Azerbaijan.

How can you make a difference?

Purpose of Activity/Assignment:

Provide technical support on assessment of current neonatal care and development of strategies for its improvement in Azerbaijan.

Scope of Work:

• Conduct comprehensive assessment of current situation of neonatal care (perinatal and neonatal services) in Azerbaijan (with in-country visit and field trips to neonatal service providers across country) and identify key areas for improvement, including:
  • Identify organizational bottlenecks of neonatal care at all levels, including service management, provision of care and relevant procedures, emergency care, referral system and transportation, etc.
  • Assess supply of human resources in neonatal care, their skills and knowledge and develop specific recommendations/plan related to revision of training mechanisms and curriculum for relevant doctors and nurses, to be embedded into medical education system
  • Identify equipment and supply gaps in neonatal care and develop required inventory lists (with specifications) for different levels and types of care, related supply chains and training gaps and needs for healthcare providers
• Develop/revise job descriptions, skills mix and required competencies for various types of personnel (neonatologist, neonatal nurse, etc.) working in neonatal service
• Based on above assessments, develop a strategic road map for improvement of quality of neonatal services as part of overall health systems reform and take into the consideration of other MCH services organization and delivery mechanism

• Guide and provide necessary technical support to TABIB and State Agency on Mandatory Health Insurance at the initial stage of implementation of improvement plan in neonatal care and maternity hospitals in Azerbaijan

  Tasks/Milestone:

  Deliverables/Outputs:

Timeline:

Comprehensive assessment of current situation of neonatal care (perinatal and neonatal services) in Azerbaijan (with in-country visit and field trips to neonatal service providers across country) and identify key areas for improvement

Inception report with desk review of current situation, assessment tools and methodology

In-country visit with travel to district visits for assessment of neonatal care including human resource capacity and supplies

Assessment report on organization of Neonatal care and existing gaps

1-30 September 2021, including 12 days in-country

(As part of comprehensive assessment) Assessment of existing human resources for neonatal care, their skills and knowledge and development of specific recommendations/plan related to revision of training mechanisms and curriculum for relevant doctors and nurses, to be embedded into medical education system

Human resources and skills assessment using relevant methodology and tools

Recommendations document on improvement of training and curriculums for doctors and nurses (as an annex to assessment report or separate document)

Conduction of equipment and inventory assessment (as part of comprehensive assessment of neonatal care) and development of required equipment and supply lists and recommendations for related supply chain management, maintenance and trainings for personnel

Required equipment and supply lists for different types/levels of care

Recommendations document for TABIB on supply chain, provision and maintenance; and related training needs for personnel (to be able to use and administer this equipment and supplies) (as an annex to assessment report or separate document)

Development of comprehensive road map for improvement of organization and quality of neonatal care in Azerbaijan

Road map and action plan documents (draft)

1-31 October, including 10-12 days in-country

In-country visit for finalization of Assessment and workshop to finalize road map and action plan for improvement of neonatal care

Guidance during implementation of improvement plan, including provision of consultations to government health authority through correspondence and zoom/skype-calls

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

• An advanced university degree in public health, medicine (child health, neonatology), healthcare management or other relevant area.
• Extensive experience in neonatal care organization, management and improvement of quality of neonatal care and personnel professional development.

• Expertise in assessment of quality of care and experience in similar assessments and development of improvement plans in other countries with similar context.

  For every Child, you demonstrate…

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

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

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

Interested candidates should submit the following documents:

- Completed profile in UNICEF's e-Recruitment system. Upload copy of academic credentials;

- detailed technical and financial proposal.

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.