Background

A newborn infant (an infant between birth and one month of age) dies every two minutes in the Western Pacific Region. Some 230 000 newborns die each year, representing more than half of all deaths in children under five.

In response to the challenge of continued high rates of newborn mortality, the WHO Western Pacific Regional Office (WPRO) has developed an Action Plan Towards Healthy Newborns in the Western Pacific Region (2014–2020) [1] [2]. The Regional Action Plan outlines an approach for implementing and scaling up an Early Essential Newborn Care (EENC) Package of interventions by improving the quality and reach of key newborn services and demand for these services. EENC is a package of interventions delivered to the mother and newborn during childbirth until the first days after birth. EENC interventions are simple and low cost and have been demonstrated to be effective in preventing newborn deaths from the most common causes. EENC interventions are delivered during delivery and the period immediately after delivery. In addition, EENC promotes the cessation of outdated, harmful or ineffective practices that are still widespread.

Implementation of EENC has focused in 8 countries with the highest rates of newborn mortality (Cambodia, Lao PDR, Mongolia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Solomon Islands, Vietnam) and the highest number of newborn deaths (China). These countries are all signatories to the WHO Regional Action Plan for Healthy Newborn Infants and committed to taking action. WHO WPRO is supporting improved quality and reach of EENC by improving routine health systems. Implementation and systems improvements for EENC (using EENC coaching and health facility strengthening approach) are underway in all 8 priority countries – in these countries emphasis on beginning EENC with Caesarean section and introduction of Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) is needed. At the same time, countries have requested support in use of practical programme approaches to assess and strengthen primary health care (PHC) services for women and children, linked and integrated with EENC. At the regional level a number of activities are now required to support EENC and PHC programming in the Region, including finalization of regional tools and methods; mentoring of staff in the use of new methods; and documentation of progress through data analysis and development of papers for publication in peer reviewed journals.

This consultancy assignment will provide technical support and advice on policy options to senior Ministry of Health (MOH) persons and staff, development partners and WHO country representatives and staff for the development and implementation of strategies that deliver EENC and PHC services more effectively. It will focus on mechanisms to improve the quality of care provided including strengthened policies, planning and coordination, human resources, service delivery, monitoring and evaluation, better using data for decision making and tracking progress and development of community-based initiatives to improve home care and care seeking practices of women and families. It will provide technical support and facilitation for local staff in the testing and use of new methods; and to develop and finalize EENC and PHC tools and methods for country use. It will emphasize documenting 5-year progress of EENC implementation by conducting data analysis and writing peer review journal articles for publication as a journal series. In addition, support will be provided for key Regional monitoring and review activities including the third EENC Independent Review Group Meeting and the third Regional EENC Biennial Progress Meeting. Finally, it will provide advice to the regional coordinator and WHO representatives on strategic steps toward improving its effectiveness toward country support. All activities will build on those already conducted in countries in 2017 and the first half of 2018, which has seen all countries continue to make progress.

Purpose of the Consultancy

The Consultant works with the Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health (MCA) Unit of the WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific and country Team Leaders/WHO Representatives in priority countries (Cambodia, China, the Lao PDR, Mongolia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Viet Nam) on Early Essential Newborn Care (EENC) and development of approaches to improve the quality of primary health care (PHC) services for women and children linking and integrating with EENC.

a) Provide policy and technical advice toward developing overall programme tactics and help establish guidelines that ensure country level efficient implementation. Working closely with National Governments, advise on strategically improving the implementation and evaluation of projects and  initiatives across the various WHO programmes that are related to EENC and primary health care for women and children and advise on integrating these efforts to ensure maximize efficiency and address cross-cutting issues.

b) Provide technical advice to build country capacity on improving quality of EENC and PHC through reviews, assessments, coaching, policy development and strategic planning and national, subnational and facility levels.

c)   Finalize regional tools including EENC Module 5 Emergency Obstetric Care (EmOC); caesarean section guidance; and continue development of Primary Health Care Quality Improvement Guides (PHCQIGs): Module 1:  Preventing unplanned pregnancies; Module 2:  Antenatal care; Module 3:  Care for infants and young children.

d)  Finalize, develop and write papers for peer reviewed journals on EENC implementation (WASH in 8 priority countries; breastfeeding practices with EENC introduction; management of preterm babies in 8 countries; regional review of progress with EENC;).

e) Provide technical advice on compliance to related international treaties and legislation. Back stop the regional coordinator in strategic initiation of cross-sectoral work with health officials.

f)   Facilitate testing of Primary Health Care Quality Improvement Guides (PHCQIGs) in Cambodia, Viet Nam, Lao, Philippines and China. Mentor local staff in the approach.

g)     Liaise with senior MOH staff, WHO-representatives and development partners to review assessment  and mission findings, to institutionalize the EENC plan including incorporation of the tools noted above, to secure funding and provide technical assistance to these groups as needed.

h) Provide technical support to meeting planning, implementation and reporting. This will include planning, organization and facilitation of the third EENC Independent Review Group Meeting, the third biennial EENC Regional Progress Meeting and all documentation and reporting from these reviews.

Planned timelines (subject to confirmation)
Start date:             10 July 2018
 End date:               31 December 2019
Number of work days per month:    15 working days

Methods to carry out the activity

The Consultant will coach and mentor local staff in KMC for preterm and low birth weight infants and introduction of EENC with Caesarean section where needed and in the use of new Primary Health Care Quality Improvement guidelines for care of infants and young children, preventing unplanned pregnancies and assessing the quality of antenatal care; continue support for monitoring and evaluation of EENC, tracking progress, identifying problems and addressing them; finalize EENC/PHC one-year plans, liaise with partners and MOH staff to fund plans; advocate for on-going support for EENC. Regional support will include:  development of regional EENC and PHC supporting materials, preparing papers on EENC for an EENC series and writing proposals as needed, planning, developing and facilitating the EENC Independent Review Group Meeting and biennial EENC Regional Progress Meeting; advising the regional office on effective strategies to accelerate progress on EENC and PHC for women and children.

Outputs

1. Monthly accomplishment reports submitted at the end of the month
2. Mission reports for travels to countries in the region to provide technical support (as requested by countries)

Technical supervision

The selected Consultant will work on the supervision of the Coordinator of the Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health Unit of WHO WPRO

Required profile of the consultant

Education

Essential:

(a) Medical degree (doctor, nurse, midwifery)

(b) Public health or other relevant master or doctorate level degree.

Experience

Essential:

(a) At least 15 years’ experience in developing country settings;

(b) At least 5 years’ practical experience supporting country and health facility level planning, implementation, scale up, monitoring and evaluation of newborn health programmes.

Desirable:

Extensive working experience in the Western Pacific Region, including experience in the eight priority countries:  Cambodia, China, Lao PDR, Mongolia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Solomon Islands, Viet Nam

Skills/technical skills and knowledge

1. Expertise in the gathering, analysis and use of epidemiological data – particularly in the area of maternal, child and newborn health
2. High level technical skill in core areas such as programme planning, management, monitoring  and evaluation
3. Experience in planning and facilitation of meetings and workshops; writing and development of tools, methods and guidelines; and be able to liaise with senior country staff in discussions about programme financing, policy and advocacy.

Language requirements

English language – expert level required for reading, writing and speaking

Competencies
a)            Communicating in a credible and effective way
b)            Producing results
c)            Ensuring effective use of resources
d)            Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond
e)            Moving forward in a changing environment

Place of assignment

Off-site support will be provided. Coordination will be carried out by email and teleconferences.

The Consultant is required to travel.

Medical Clearance

The selected Consultant will be expected to provide a medical certificate of fitness for work.

Travel

The Consultant will be required to travel to the Regional Office and countries in the Region as needed. All travel arrangements will be made by WHO. WHO shall shoulder cost of travel from the place of domicile of the individual to the place of assignment (most direct economy fare). While on mission under the terms of the consultancy, the Consultant will receive subsistence allowance. It is the Consultant’s responsibility to fulfill visa requirements and ask for visa support letters(s) if needed.

Travels to the following countries are planned for the remainder of 2018 (subject to confirmation):

Viet Nam – September
Mongolia – October
Cambodia – November
Viet Nam – November

Travels for the period from January to December 2019 will be contingent on country requests and technical needs from priority countries.

The usual duration of visits to countries is one week (exclusive of travel time).

Interested individuals should submit the following documents to the Supply Officer at [email protected] by 25 June 2018. Kindly use Tender Notice No, 72645 as subject to all submission.

1. Expression of interest (cover letter) that includes proposed consultancy fee (per day) and availability
2. WHO personal history form or CV

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.