Job Vacancy at UNICEF – International Consultant: Appreciative Inquiry for Improving Quality Health Care

Job no: 537926

Position type: Consultancy

Location: Sierra Leone Division/Equivalent: Dakar (WCAR), Senegal

School/Unit: Sierra Leone

Department/Office: Freetown, Sierra Leone

Categories: Health, Consultancy

UNICEF works in some of the world's toughest places, to reach the world's most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, Survival!

Please visit UNICEF Sierra Leone website here: www.unicef.org/sierraleone

How can you make a difference?

Background

Despite significant investment in health sector over the past several decades, Sierra Leone continues to have some of the worst health indicators in the world, with the third highest maternal mortality ratio in the world at 1,120 deaths per 100,000 live births, and high neonatal, infant, and under five mortality rates at 31, 81, and 109 deaths per 1,000 live births, respectively (WHO 2019; UNICEF 2020).

Purpose and objectives

The purpose of the consultancy is to support MoHS in introducing the application of AI approach as organizational and community transformation tools to strengthen management practices, staff motivation, and accountability among health planners/managers and service providers as well as community ownership and engagement and social accountability, and thereby improving quality of care.

The specific objectives of the assignment are to:

• Lead the development of AI initiative for quality of care in 16 hospitals with SCBUs and facilitate its implementation along with other technical resource persons
• Integrate AI approach into the local level planning (LLP) and Periphery Health Unit (PHU) business planning processes for MNCAH+N services in two selected districts and facilitate its implementation along with other technical resource persons
• Lead the development of AI initiative for community engagement and facilitate its implementation as part of LLP and PHU business planning processes in the two selected districts

Activities, Tasks, Outputs and Deliverables

Under the overall guidance of Chief, Health and Nutrition, and working closely with Health Specialist (maternal and newborn health) and Health Specialist (Policy and Planning), the international consultant has the following tasks and responsibilities and more: Lead AI initiative for quality of care in 16 hospitals with SCBUs

Lead application of AI approach in the LLP, PHU business planning and community engagement processes for MNCAH+N services in 2 districts.

Facilitate evidence generation

Deliverables:

• Inception Report
• AI engagement strategy document, implementation plan (including AI based motivational and skill development capacity building plan), monitoring and evaluation (M&E) plan with indicators for two selected districts

• Workshop report with action plans and training manual and report for the first 6 hospitals
• Workshop report with action plans and training manual and report for the second 5 hospitals

Timeframe

Estimated number of working days required for this assignment is 190 days over a period of 18 months

UNICEF recourse in case of unsatisfactory performance: Payment will only be made for work satisfactorily completed and accepted by UNICEF.

Conditions of Work

• The consultant will be working remotely with three missions to Sierra Leone, including visits to districts.
• For Sierra Leone, the consultant must secure medical insurance (inclusive of medical evacuation) prior to assuming his/her duties with UNICEF (proof of insurance with med-evac clause is required).All travel will be reimbursed at economy class rates.

Please see attached detailed ToR with full deliverables and payment schedules including other important information ToR_AI consultant Serra Leone final _VA.pdf

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have...

Master degree in Sociology, Public Health, Social Sciences, and any other related field.

• Have certificate on Coach Training and Appreciative approach
• Worked as a Coach in Appreciative Inquiry (AI) for at least 5 years.
• At least 5 years professional experiences in conducting workshop using AI approach in heath sector especially on maternal, neonatal and child health, including in international settings.
• Public Health/Medical related academic qualification as an asset

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

Click here to learn more about UNICEF's values and competencies.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks:

Consultants and Individual contractors are responsible for paying any taxes derived from the earnings received from UNICEF.

Application to include financial proposal that will detail your daily/monthly rate (in Leones) to undertake the terms of reference.

Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed satisfactory deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant.

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered "staff members" under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF's policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.

Application close: Feb 21 2021 Greenwich Standard Time

How to Apply

Qualified and interested individuals should click on the button below to apply.