WASH/IPC SSNB Operational Guidance Consultancy via ReliefWeb

Project/Consultancy:

Develop WASH/IPC Guidance for Small and Sick Newborn Wards

BACKGROUND

Momentum Country and Global Leadership (MCGL) is a five-year global project funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to provide targeted maternal, newborn and child health, family planning and reproductive health (MNCH/FP/RH) technical and capacity development assistance (TCDA) to countries to facilitate their journey to sustainable development. The project aims to provide national governments, USAID missions and their implementing partners with technical, strategic, and capacity strengthening support to institutionalize evidence-based IPC/WASH strategies that improve the quality and efficiency of healthcare services.

To ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages (Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG 3)), focus is needed on improving care for every newborn, mother and child, while ensuring that there is a conducive environment, with adequate water, sanitation, hygiene facilities, waste management, energy supply, medical supplies and equipment for routine care and management of complications (WHO, 2020). This entails having easily assessable contextualised guidelines that healthcare workers and management teams can easily access and reference on, to operationalize the recommended standards specifically targeting inpatient care for Small and Sick Newborns (SSNBs) and Quality of Care (QOC) programs.

MCGL will collaborate with WHO, UNICEF, USAID, NEST 360 among other health networks to conduct a literature review and develop the first SSNB WASH & IPC operational guidance that will set parameters for basic minimum requirements to ensure adequate WASH and IPC measures in level II and level III inpatient SSNB care facilities. This guideline will align to the existing quality of care standards for SSNB, further expanding to integrate within the relevant 10 components of the WHO UNICEF model of care. It will entail defining the minimum requirements for IPC/WASH in SSNB and standardizing indicators that can be integrated to health monitoring programs and assessment tools. This robust content will contribute to the preservice and post service curriculums for healthcare workers working in SSNB leading to continuous professional development and certification. This will be a timely and additional resource that will contribute to the reduction of infections and increase of quality of care in newborn units and MCH programs.

This activity will link with ongoing global and country initiatives to ensure Small and sick newborns are cared for in a safe, secure, well-maintained, organized physical environment that is appropriately designed to provide kangaroo mother care while preventing healthcare associated infections and harnessing quality of care. Further, it will reinforce the past and ongoing efforts to integrate the relevant IPC and WASH standards to the ongoing Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent, Elderly health and Nutrition (RMNCAEH+N) programs and quality of care initiatives.

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

The term of this consultancy is from February 15, 2023 – April 30, 2024. Changes may occur related to the implementation process of the project, and the start date is dependent on when the consultant passes a required background check.

OVERVIEW OF CONSULTANCY AND SPECIFIC TASKS

The consultant’s term will include remote engagements as described below. This will include participating in face to face/physical stakeholders’ consultations and joining MCGL meetings for progress updates.

The consultant will: Participate in the formation and steering of the technical working group constituting of WHO, UNICEF, USAID, NEST 360, MCGL country offices, health networks and other relevant partners, including orienting the members on group’s terms of reference; conduct a literature review and present findings to the project and the steering committee. Further, in collaboration with the technical working group, they will develop the SSNB WASH & IPC operational guidance that will set parameters for basic minimum requirements to ensure adequate WASH and IPC measures in level II and level III inpatient SSNB care facilities. The consultant is responsible for bringing their own IT equipment.

BUDGET/LEVEL OF EFFORT

The supplier should propose a budget for the full scope of work in USD.

1. Engagement planning meetings with the relevant stakeholders-3 days.
2. Establish a Technical Working Group (TWG) -3 days.
3. Conduct a literature review-7 days.
4. Consolidate the findings and finalize consolidated report– 3 days.
5. 30-60-minute presentation on findings-1 day.
6. Develop IPC/WASH guidelines for small and sick newborn wards and outline the dissemination strategy-15 days.
   1. This includes working with WHO and UNICEF teams to develop the Global norms including a 2 pager IPC/WASH SOP to be integrated to the global norms or as an addendum
7. Organise for one virtual public webinar through the SSNB Community of Practice platform to introduce the guidance document and highlight voices from LMICs to share implementation experiences- 2 days.
8. Organise a 1-day virtual adaptation/validation workshop-1 day.
9. Prepare and submit final activity report-2 days.

DELIVERABLE SCHEDULE

1. Conduct the literature review: February 28, 2024
2. 30–60-minute Presentation on the findings from the desk review: March 8, 2024
3. Establish a Technical Working Group (TWG) to spearhead the activity: February 28, 2024
4. Minutes of engagement meetings with the TWG and relevant stakeholders: March 29, 2024
5. Development of the Operational guidance: April 15, 2023
6. Orient two countries/health networks to the guidance document, pilot the document and support efforts to contextualize and formerly adopt the global guidance: April 19, 2023
7. Host 1 day adaptation workshop: April 30, 2024

The payment schedule will be based on Save the Children USA terms of payment that will be reflected in the contract. SCUS pays out on receipt of invoice on NET30 days.

CONSULTANT PROFILE

The consultant should possess the following educational and professional qualifications for the execution of this scope of work:

• Advanced degree in medicine, public/Global health, or other medical field
• Experience in designing, implementing, Newborn and Child Health programs.
• Knowledge of implementing IPC/WASH programs and HAI surveillance in healthcare facilities
• Familiarity with key Global IPC/WASH stakeholders and the relevant policies
• Experience in designing, implementing, and analyzing research activities.
• Experience leading the development of and writing technical reports.
• Strong communication, analytical and writing skills.
• Fluency in written and spoken English.

How to apply

Interested candidates should submit a cover letter, CV, budget/daily rate quote to iotsuka@savechildren.org by January 12th, 2024.