GBLCAREERS

If you are committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world’s leading children’s rights organization would like to hear from you.

For 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children’s survival, protection and development. The world’s largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments.

Purpose of the Assignment:

To provide technical support to the Ghana Health Service (GHS) to conduct coaching, mentoring and supervision of national, regional and district level Mother-Baby Friendly Health Facility Initiative (MBFHI) coaches and facility quality improvement (QI) teams in four targeted districts in the Upper East Region of Ghana

I. Background:

Nearly 2.6 million stillbirths and neonatal deaths still occur annually around the time of birth[1], the world over, especially in low and middle-income countries and in Ghana, out of 1,000 live births, as many as 29 newborns die within the first 28 days of life. According to the Ghana Demographic and Health Survey report in 2014, the Upper East Region of Ghana, recorded slightly lower neonatal mortality rates of 24 per 1,000 live births[2]. Investing and improving quality of care around the time of birth and the first week of life can result in significant reductions in neonatal and maternal mortality. To meet the Every Newborn targets of 10 or less still births and neonatal deaths in every country by 2035, will require an accelerated scale-up of interventions that can reduce the majority of deaths during the intrapartum period. The targets of the National Newborn Strategy and Action Plan launched in 2014, are to increase the proportion of deliveries conducted by trained and skilled birth attendants from 68% in 2011 to 82% in 2018; increase the proportion of babies receiving the first postnatal visit within 48 hours from 56% in 2011[3] to 90% in 2018; increase early initiation of breastfeeding from 46% in 2011 to 80% in 2018; and increase exclusive breastfeeding at 6 months from 46% in 2011 to 85% in 2018.

UNICEF has partnered with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) to support three countries (Bangladesh, Ghana and Tanzania) to implement a maternal and newborn care and breastfeeding quality improvement (QI) initiative known in Ghana as the Mother – Baby Friendly Health Facility Initiative, in line with the National newborn strategy and the global Every Mother Every Newborn – EMEN and WHO quality of care standards and criteria over a period of four years (2015-2018). A baseline survey was conducted by the Navrongo Health Research Center to assess quality of maternal and newborn care including breastfeeding counselling in four districts in the Upper East Region. The assessment covered three broad quality standards of care and these are clinical standards to assess quality of care delivered; human rights standards to ensure dignified and respectful care for mothers and newborns; and standards that are cross-cutting to assess the presence of an enabling physical environment and governance structures to ensure provision of quality care. Findings from the assessment revealed that there were quality of care gaps. For example, only 16% of women received pre-discharge counselling on breastfeeding, 26% of women delayed in initiating breastfeeding and only 8% of health staff were observed to comply with the ‘five hygiene moments’. Despite the fact that GHS had national quality of care and infection prevention control guidelines, the assessment observed the need to adapt and implement the global quality of care standards and criteria. With support from UNICEF and other development partners, the MBFHI guide and tools were drafted in September 2016 and finalized in December 2016. Following the development of the MBFHI guide and tools, 64 national/regional/district coaches and 160 facility QI team members were trained to facilitate effective implementation of quality improvement processes for maternal and newborn care including breastfeeding.

In order to support the implementation of the MBFHI QI model at national and subnational levels, UNICEF is supporting the GHS by engaging the services of a national consultant to provide technical support for conducting coaching, mentoring and supervision of MBFHI coaches and facility QI teams to effectively implement the MBFHI QI standards and guidelines for improved maternal, newborn and breastfeeding outcomes.

II. Justification of consultancy:

Access to timely, effective and quality health care is the basic human right of every newborn, every child and every mother. Improving quality of care has therefore been highly prioritized by the GHS and the Ministry of Health (MoH). This consultancy in addition to providing technical support to GHS to coach, mentor and supervise MBFHI coaches and QI teams, will also facilitate effective coordination and communication between national and subnational levels for effective implementation of the programme.

III. Objective of the consultancy:

The main objective of the consultancy is to provide technical support to GHS to conduct coaching, mentoring and supervision of MBFHI coaches and facility QI teams to effectively implement the MBFHI QI standards and guidelines in line with the Every Mother Every Newborn (EMEN) and WHO quality standards and criteria for improved maternal, newborn and breastfeeding outcomes.

Assignment Tasks:

• Work with the Upper East Regional MBFHI coordinator/MBFHI steering committee on a quarterly basis to support, coach and mentor district/facility QI teams in targeted health facilities in Bawku municipal, Bolgatanga municipal, Kassena-Nankana and Bongo districts, to conduct monthly QI self-assessments using the MBFHI guide, standards and tools.
• Work with the Regional MBFHI steering committee/Regional MBFHI coordinator/District MBFHI coaches to support the facility QI teams to develop and implement quarterly MBFHI/QI action plans through quarterly coaching and mentoring visits.
• Support the Regional and district MBFHI steering committee to conduct quarterly reviews of the implementation of the MBFHI/QI model at district and regional levels.
• Participate in the monthly regional MBFHI steering committee meetings on a quarterly basis and provide technical guidance and updates on the progress of MBFHI QI implementation
• Conduct joint supervision of District and Facility MBFHI/QI teams quarterly with GHS-ICD/FHD and RHMT
• Have at least one meeting per month with the Regional Health Director to report on progress of work and seek guidance and support on the effective and timely implementation of activities
• List of 24 MBFHI facilities by district

BONGO

KASSENA-NANKANA WEST

BAWKU MUNICIPAL

BOLGA MUNICIPAL

1. Soe health center

7.Paga health center

13.Urban East health center

17.Bolga health center

2.Vea health center

8.Martyrs of Uganda health center

14.Urban West health center

18.Zuarungu health center

3.Dua health center

9.Chiana health center

15.Bugri Corner health center

19.Sherigu health center

4.Zorkor health center

10.Kayoro health center

16.Mognori health center

20.Sumbrungu health center

5.Anafobisi health center

11.KNE health center

21.Plaza health center

6.Namoo health center

12.Nakolo health center

HOSPITALS

22.Bongo District hospital

N/A

23.Bawku Presbyterian Hospital

24.Upper East Regional Hospital

Expected Deliverables

One report submitted quarterly to include the following activities:

• Quality improvement actions taken following support to facility QI teams, district coaches and regional MBFHI coordinator
• QI monthly coaching & supervision visits
• Regional MBFHI steering committee meetings
• Regional MBFHI review meetings
• Quarterly action plans of QI teams and implementation status (as annex)

Payment schedule

Deliverables

Payment schedule (%)

i. First quarter reports on technical support and coaching visits, recommendations steering committee meetings and review meetings

20%

ii. Second quarter reports , coaching visits, recommendations, steering committee meetings and review meetings

25%

iii. Third quarter reports, coaching visits, recommendations, steering committee meetings and review meetings

25%

iv. Supervision reports

30%

v. Total

100%

Qualifications of Successful Candidate

Education

• Advance university degree in public health, or related field;

Years of relevant experience

• Prior work experience as a senior management staff in the area of quality improvement in clinical care in the Ghana Health Service for at least 2 years is desirable;
• Eight years or more of experience in quality improvement in the field of MNCH;

Competencies of Successful Candidate

• Excellent leadership, team building, supervisory and coaching skills
• Knowledge of Ghana’s MNCH and breastfeeding situation, the National Newborn Strategy and Action Plan (2014 -2018) and the Mother Baby Friendly Health Facility Initiative guide, standards and tools.
• Analytical, conceptual ability; skills in communication and documenting;
• Demonstrated ability to work with various stakeholders;
• Problem-solving skills, assertiveness and strong initiative

Fluency in English- communication, report writing with critical analysis

To view our competency framework, please click here.

Please indicate your ability, availability and daily rate (in Ghana Cedis) to undertake the terms of reference above. Also indicate travel and daily subsistence allowance, if applicable). Applications submitted without a daily will not be considered. In addition, a two pages write up on your approach to carry out this assignment is required to review your application. Please highlight in your resume, the specific achievements you made in your service to the Ghana Health Service.

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 organisation.