Country: India
Closing date: 21 Feb 2018
LOCATION: New Delhi, with field visits to States and districts as required. A minimum of five (05) field visits will be required during the consultancy period.
DURATION OF CONSULTANCY: 3 months (Full-time consultancy)
CLOSING DATE: 21 February 2018
Quality of maternal and newborn health care service provision is key to optimal health outcomes and reduction of maternal and newborn mortality. Quality maternal and newborn health is a human right, as well as a pre-condition and a determinant of newborn, child and adolescent health, assuring sustainable development.
Among the key factors/inputs that impact the quality of maternal and newborn care service provision is the availability of functional water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities and practices including and especially handwashing at key service outlets for maternal and newborn service delivery including antenatal, intrapartum, post-partum and newborn care units. Maternal and new born infections/sepsis are among the most important causes of maternal and newborn mortality. Sepsis is directly responsible for 11% of maternal deaths in India (SRS 2001-2003) and 15% of newborn mortality. Poor WASH infrastructure as well as lack of adherence to WASH principles by providers as well as clients leads to high infections rates. GoI MOHFW and MDWS have instituted guidelines and initiatives to improve WASH in health facilities including the Kayakalp, Swachh Bharat Guidelines for WASH in health facilities and the recently launched Swachh Swast Sarvatra (SSS) initiative. Quality of care and standardization of labour rooms is also a key intervention towards improving maternal and new born services at referral units and improving maternal and new born survival. The model labour room initiative supported by UNICEF at 107 high priority districts aims to provide support to strengthening standardization of labour rooms at first referral units.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has launched “LaQshya’ initiative, which is intended to improve the Quality of Care in Labour Rooms & Maternity Wards, Operation Theatres in Government Medical Colleges, District Hospitals, Sub- District Hospitals and other high case – load health facilities. The initiative also aims to certify and incentivise the facilities which comply to the targets. This will help in motivating the service providers too, for achieving the quality standards in labour rooms, assess and submit their requirements in the Annual Programme Implementation Plans (PIPs) and many of these would be budgeted under the health system strengthening section of the NHM. LaQshya programme provides the opportunity and platform for integration and in long term transition of model labour room initiative supported by UNICEF as part of the mainstream government reporting mechanism. Assuring improvement in WASH functionality of labour room and post-natal wards is among the major goals of the LaQshya integrated quality improvement initiative. LaQshya presents a major programmatic opportunity to improve WASH in health care facilities functioning at high delivery points across the country in a short time frame. LaQshya implementation framework is within 2018-19 coinciding with UNICEF two year RWP of support to MoHFW. UNICEF WASH in health care facilities support should be further aligned and integrated with MoHFW initiatives including LaQshya for enhanced results and eventual integration into the health system ensuring sustainability of results achieved.
In view of the expanded scope of activities the RCH section intends to support on WASH and strengthening of model labour rooms, a consultant is required to support the implementation of ongoing and new WASH initiatives including identifying and linking UNICEF WASH in health facilities support to relevant Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Maternal Health Division national and state initiatives with focus on strengthening WASH component of the program in the UNICEF supported high priority districts.
Provide technical and program support to the implementation of the UNICEF India CO RCH Section strengthening WASH in health facilities activities as well as support to strengthening model labour rooms at district hospitals and community health centres and ensure linkage, streamlining and integration of UNICEF support with similar national and state initiatives including LaQshya.
The specific objectives of the consultancy are to assist implementation and strengthening WASH compliance at health facilities with focus on high priority districts of the country including:
4.MAJOR TASKS/DELIVERABLES:
The following periodic and end consultancy deliverables are expected on each of the three objectives of the consultancy:
Deliverable :
a. Support improvement of WASH functionality at 1105 delivery points at 107 high priority districts through timely implementation of quarterly WASH supportive supervision and strengthening
Deliverable:
b. Support strengthening of model labour rooms at district hospitals and community health centres across 107 high priority districts.
Deliverable:
c. Monthly report on support provided to coordinate WASH initiative with MoHFW Maternal health division overall WASH support
a. Monthly progress report on support provided to linking and streamlining of UNICEF WASH in health facilities support to MoHFW initiative
The consultant will report to the Health Specialist, UNICEF ICO RCH Section and work in close coordination with Maternal Health Division, MOHFW
Three months from start date of the consultancy
Essential:
Medical Doctor (MBBS/ BDS) with PG degree in OBGYN/ Public Health or Community Medicine with minimum 4-5 years’ experience of working in the Health Sector, preferably in Maternal Health.
Desirable:
Training and expertise on Sanitary Engineering.
Experience:
Experience at national and the state level in supporting quality assurance of maternal health program implementation and activities such as skills upgradation of MNH staff, development of guidelines and technical documents, supportive supervision of MNH services at state level and operationalization of facilities is desirable.
Required Competencies:
Please submit your online application before COB 21 February 2018.
HOW TO APPLY:Your online application should contain fourseparate attachments:
Without the financial proposal template your application will be consideredincomplete.
iv) Links to Work Samples – work samples can include relevant reports; publications; chapters in books and related evidence of work (You can either share a file with the links to your work samples or you can upload the documents) (to be uploaded under other supporting documents).
It is critical to submit work samples as you will observe from the advertisement that marks have been assigned to this criteria for arriving at the most suitable candidate
The selection will be on the basis of technical evaluation & financial offer in the ratio of 80:20. The criteria for technical evaluation will be as follows:
1. Cover Letter – explaining the motivation for applying and also explaining how the qualifications and skill-set of the candidate are suitable for this position (8 Min Marks/ 10 Max Marks)
2. Relevant educational qualifications of the candidate (8 Min/ 10 Max)
3. Relevant work experience (16 Min/20Max)
4. Work Samples (8 Min/ 10 Max) – Including Reports of Previous Projects Accomplished; Published Articles; Chapters in Publications; Training manuals produced; other relevant publications
Candidates will be shortlisted for the interview on the basis of the review of sub-criteria 1, 2, 3 and 4 as listed above. The candidates who score overall40 marks and above against criteria (1 through 4) as well as meet the minimum cut-off in each of the above 4 sub-criteria will be shortlisted for an interview.
5. Interview (24 Min/30 Max)
Total technical score – 80. Minimum overall qualifying score is 64. Only those candidates who meet the overall qualifying marks of 64 as well as score the minimum cut-off in each of the above sub-criteria including the interview will be considered technically responsive and their financials will be opened.
For any clarifications, please contact:
UNICEF
Supply & Procurement Section
73, Lodi Estate, New Delhi 110003
Telephone # +91-11-24606516 (Direct)
Fax # +91-11-24391410; Email: barora@unicef.org
How to apply:
UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organization. To apply, click on the following link http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/?job=510894