Training Specialist (Maternal, Newborn, Child Health)

Contract

This is a UNV National Specialist contract. This kind of contract is known as National UN Volunteer. It is normally only for nationals. More about UNV National Specialist contracts.

With over 10,000 staff members, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) works in over 190 countries and territories to protect the rights of every child. UNICEF is one of the longest-serving international organizations in Myanmar, with almost 70 years of service in the country, working to improve the lives of children and their families.

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programmes, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential without discrimination, bias or favouritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — will give all children the opportunity to fulfil their potential and lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child while supporting nations' equitable development. More information on what we do in Myanmar is available here.

Under the guidance of the Chief of Health & Nutrition Section and direct supervision of the Health Specialist (MNCH), the national UN Volunteer will carry out the tasks mentioned below.

The overall objective of the UNV Training Specialist (Maternal, Newborn, Child Health) is to support the planning, implementation, monitoring, reporting of UNICEF’s supported MNCH related training.

Main tasks and responsibilities

1. Support to development of training plan • Closely coordinate with UNICEF’s MNCH team and developmental partners to develop/update the MNCH’s annual training plan to reflect evolving contexts and meet emerging needs of health care providers while ensuring achievement of targets.
   • Review WHO’s latest recommendations in delivering quality MNCH care and adapted those recommendations as feasible in current context in consultation with WHO and UNICEF. • Participate in a series of webinar being organized by WHO and UNICEF on MNCH to keep the knowledge and information up to date • Update existing training packages on IMNCI, Essential Care for Every Baby (ECEB), Essential Care for Small Baby (ECSB), Newborn Resuscitation (HBB), community-based training pack-ages- CCM and Community-based Newborn Care (CBNBC) etc as necessary • Assist MNCH team in planning cross-sectoral training like MHPSS, disability assessment, inter-personal communication (IPC) etc. • Being aware of evolving technology and apply different innovative method in delivering high quality training

2. Support to implementation of training • Communicate with UNICEF’s field offices and implementation partners to register in-time for the training sessions. • Build capacity of field-based health staff and implementing partners’ staff to co-facilitate the trainings. • Arrange logistic for training venue/virtual platform and training packages for participants. • Delivery high quality training with pre/post assessment to measure training effectiveness. • Support to sustain a close working partnership with all stakeholders through active and regular sharing of information and knowledge on evolving epidemiological shifts and health burdens and their prevention and treatment options and build capacity of stakeholders.

3. Monitor and analyse training coverage, its effectiveness for corrective action • Provide post-training follow up and mentoring support to implementing partners and health care providers as necessary to apply their learning in their daily practices. • Review and update monitoring checklist for different level of cadres eg. PHC providers, health volunteers to measure their skills and performances. • Use simple tools like Excel, Access, ODK or Kobo-collect tools for data collection, analysis, and monitoring dashboard (Power BI or similar)

4. Contribute in preparing report • Prepare documentation/ report of the training and performance’s monitoring for sharing with donors and partners. • Identify, capture, synthesize, and share lessons learned for knowledge development and to build the capacity of stakeholders. • Contribute to donor’s report, mid-term/annual progress report etc. as necessary from perspective of capacity building of health care providers and its effectiveness in MNCH service delivery

☒ Accountability ☒ Adaptability and Flexibility ☒ Building Trust ☒ Commitment and Motivation ☒ Commitment to Continuous Learning ☒ Communication ☒ Creativity ☒ Empowering Others ☒ Ethics and Values ☒ Integrity ☒ Judgement and Decision-making ☒ Knowledge Sharing ☒ Planning and Organizing ☒ Professionalism ☒ Respect for Diversity ☒ Self-Management ☒ Technological Awareness ☒ Working in Teams

Master’s Degree or 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

Myanmar is a Southeast Asian nation of more than 100 ethnic groups, bordering India, Bangladesh, China, Laos and Thailand. It has a population of over 54 million living across fourteen States and Regions and one Union Territory, the capital Naypyitaw, where all central government departments are located. About 70% of the population lives in rural areas, and the main economy of Myanmar is agriculture. Myanmar is a subtropical and tropical country with three distinct seasons: Summer (from March to June), Rainy (from July to October) and Winter (from November to February).

Most of the population in Myanmar practices Theravada Buddhism. There are also religious minorities, including Christians, Muslims, and Hindus. Burmese is the country's official and most widely spoken language. However, many ethnic communities speak their own languages and dialects.

Myanmar has a complex political history, including British colonial rule and decades of military dictatorship. In 2011, a process of political liberalization and democratic transition began. However, in February 2021, the military staged a coup, taking control of the country again, leading to significant political unrest and protests. Following the takeover, the security situation in the country worsened. Since 30 March 2021, a family restriction has been in place, and eligible family members of international staff members have been evacuated. Civilians, especially governmental staff, joined the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM). Consequently, the provision of almost all public services is affected, especially banking and health care systems. In addition, as numerous anti-coup groups are shifting focus from peaceful demonstrations to armed revolution, Myanmar's security situation is volatile and unpredictable. Acts of violence by both parties of the conflict can occur anywhere, anytime, and a further deterioration of the security situation is possible.

Almost half of the country’s population is estimated to live in poverty. Humanitarian needs have worsened, and the number of internally displaced people has risen to 1.6 million out of a total population of 56 million, as of September 2023. Following 10/27 armed conflicts led by three brother’s alliance, armed conflicts speedily spread out across the country with rapid increase in internally dis-placed people to 2.2 million as of January 2024 with highest burden in northwest. Despite the country’s dire humanitarian situation, the de facto authorities are limiting the movement of essential goods and humanitarian access throughout many parts of the country.