Technical assistance to UNICEF for assessment of capacity development effectiveness for general practitioners and family doctors on early detection and intervention for children with disabil

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

North Macedonia is small country on the Balkan Peninsula, in transition from a socialist society to democratic and market-oriented economy since its independence in 1991. The country has committed to integration into the EU, but has on the way faced numerous challenges. The enabling environment for system changes remains weak and although policies and legislation exist which guarantee the right of all children to health and protection, in practice, many interventions (including disability) remain small-scale and inadequate and are often ineffective. In addition, there is a general lack of adequate tools and mechanisms to gather, monitor and analyze data, and to assess the reasons for exclusion.

With only 30% visible to the system and receiving social assistance[1], children with disabilities (CWD) face numerous barriers to inclusion. Early detection and intervention services are limited in scope and coverage, and stigma is still widespread1. With only two pilot commissions established by UNICEF in collaboration with Ministry of Labour and Social Policy in 2019 that use ICF, the medical model is still predominantly used for assessment and protocols are not in line with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

To address this, important progress has been achieved in capacity development of health professionals working at primary health care (PHC) level (home visiting/patronage nurses, general practitioners and family medicine specialists), with the key objective to improve their knowledge and skills on early detection, intervention and support for children with disabilities and their families. Capacity development of general practitioners and family medicine specialists was launched in 2017, in addition to piloting Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (M-Chat) and International Classification of Functionality (ICF) in 10 family doctors’ practices, to cover health professionals at PHC level and address the issue of unnecessary referrals to higher levels of health care, saving families from unnecessary financial hardship and burden on the health system, allowing for early detection and intervention for suspect cases and creating enabling environment for CWD by connecting health, education and social sector.

Having in place these trainings for almost 4 years and 30% of the workforce covered, UNICEF is aimed at assessing their relevance, effectiveness and the overall effect on the everyday work of trained practitioners. Based on the findings and identified bottlenecks in implementation, innovative solutions will be explored and proposed, through active engagement of children, families and practitioners. Findings of the assessment will go through a broad consultative process, to allow for evidence-based policies. This, in turn, will allow to initiate and advocate for the required system changes.

[1] UNICEF Situation Report, 2019

How can you make a difference?

The purpose of this assignment is three-fold: i) to provide data on the relevance and effectiveness of training on early detection and intervention for CWD and their overall effects on the daily work of general practitioners and family doctors; ii) to provide policy recommendations stemming from the assessment; and iii) to contribute to raising awareness of both policy and decision makers within health and non-health sectors and general population on benefits of today’s action for the future health and well-being of CWD.

To this end, the consultant(s) will be engaged to perform the following: i) analysis of available methodologies and adaptation of methodology for assessment of trainings effectiveness; ii) analysis of pre- and post- training forms and other related documents; iii) conduct interviews and/or focus group discussions with key informants that have attended the trainings and iv) develop technical report with recommendations relevant to the training package and policy brief from the findings.

The findings of the study will be used to understand the effect of the trainings on early detection and intervention for CWD and ICF and provide recommendations to help UNICEF and Ministry of Health in long-term planning on how to mainstream capacity development for primary healthcare professionals, as well as to design an advocacy tool to put CWD wellbeing high on the Government agenda.

The assessment will be conducted by a national entity and/or consultant(s), with technical support from UNICEF CO. The national entity/consultant will be responsible to develop a detailed methodology in close collaboration with UNICEF, serve as a resource person/unit for data collection and analysis, prepare the draft report and final reports.

Methodology and Technical Approach

The technical proposal submitted by the national entity/consultant should include a proposed methodology for conducting the assessment. The methodology should employ mixed method research, combining quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis techniques, including, but not limited to: desk review of available data, reports and other documents and secondary data analysis through survey, structured questionnaire, and semi-structured interviews.

The target groups are practitioners from health, education, social and other relevant services.

The methodology must comply with UNICEF Procedure for ethical standards in research, evaluation, data collection and analysis[1]. The proposed assessment methodology and report should include a section identifying anticipated or actual ethical issues as well as measures and methods to address or mitigate these issues, for example: collecting data directly from stakeholders, protecting anonymity and confidentiality of individual information sources, etc.

[1] http://www.unicef.org/supply/files/ATTACHMENT_IV-UNICEF_Procedure_for_Ethical_Standards.PDF

Key processes

The national entity/consultant is expected to apply the following processes:

• Develop a detailed implementation plan, including, but not limited to, assessment design, variables definition (both variables needed to measure change in knowledge and practice of GPs and family doctors after trainings and “disturbance” random variables), implementation timeline and ethical protocol (in compliance with the UNICEF Procedure for ethical standards in research, evaluation, data collection and analysis);
• Design data collection and analysis tools: The national consultant will develop data collection and analysis tools, needed to analyze available and collect additional data (pre- and post-test questionnaires, reports from trainings, interviews with key informants);
• Report: In coordination with UNICEF, prepare draft narrative report, outlining the entire work process and produced deliverables. After incorporation of all comments, prepare and submit to UNICEF a final narrative report, with special emphasis to identified constraints and proposals and recommendations for the future.

Major deliverables:

1: By the mid November 2020, submit for UNICEF review and approval an inception report outlining key findings from a revision of existing documents, as well as a detailed methodological approach and timeline of activities;

2: By the mid-December 2020, submit for UNICEF review and approval draft report;

3: By the end of January 2021, submit for UNICEF review and approval, a final narrative report, including recommendations for improvement of trainings.

Estimated duration of contract and estimated cost: Four months. Based on financial proposals submitted and to be negotiated with the potential applicants.

Official Travel involved, if any: N/A. All required meetings will be arranged on-line.

Payment schedule: The payments will be made in two instalments upon successful completion of (1) Output 1 and (2) Output 3 and upon submission of invoices.

Contract Supervisor: UNICEF Health and Nutrition Officer, in close cooperation and guidance by Deputy Representative and Representative

Qualification or Specialized Knowledge/Experience Required:

• Expertise (advanced degree/s) in public health and/or social sciences, or other related field; and minimum 10 years of experience in the area of measuring training effectiveness, use of metrics to assess trainings;
• At least 5 years experience in data collection and data analysis;
• Experience in carrying out large scale studies and assessments.
• Excellent analytical and report writing skills;
• Expertise on gender equality and child rights will be considered an asset;
• Proficiency in English.

Required documentation

Individuals interested in the consultancy should upload the following documentation:

Technical Proposal that shall include brief (max. 4 page) methodology and approach on how the assignment will be carried, including a detailed timeline of proposed activities (all applicants);

CV and Motivation letter;

Financial proposal stating the gross amount in Macedonian Denar.

The technical proposal and Financial proposal should be submitted in two separate files.

Please note that UNICEF will consider only full applications submitted within the deadline in the way described above.

Selection Criteria:

All proposals will be assessed first on their technical merit and subsequently on their financial proposal. The proposal with the best overall value (composed of technical merit and financial proposal) will be recommended for approval.

Evaluation criteria:

- Quality of technical proposal - 65 points - Financial proposal - 35

*) Only proposals which receive a minimum of 45 points for the quality of the technical proposal will be considered further for the financial proposal.

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.

View our competency framework at

http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

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.