Individual Consultancy: Individual contract to coordinate the development and rollout of a breastfeeding counselling accreditation course

UNICEF is a UN organization mandated by the UN General Assembly to advocate for the protection of children’s rights, to help meet their basic needs and to expand their opportunities to reach their full potential. In Lao PDR, UNICEF is working with its partners to support the Government to realize children’s rights on survival, development, protection and participation.

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, support

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UNICEF in Vientiane, Lao PDR is looking for an Individual contract to coordinate the development and rollout of a breastfeeding counselling accreditation course. The duration of this assignment is 3.5 months, starting from 15^th December 2021 until 30^th March 2022. The Consultant will be based in Vientiane (Nutrition Centre or other location).

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

The consultant shall work closely with the Ministry of Health, specifically Center of Nutrition, to coordinate and assist the launch and implementation of the Breastfeeding Advisor (BFA) course including follow up to ensure that documentation and curriculum approval meet requirements and are properly handled in MOH systems; coordinate with selected trainers to ensure that assigned curriculum is finalized and validated prior to the teaching schedule; co-facilitate final trainer module preparation meeting and provide and support reference resources for course writing as needed; support in the recruitment and selection of target trainees based on the trainee criterion; coordinate with the selected hospitals for skill practice and facilitation of the final hospital practice plan; assist in the completion of the written exam and the practical exam – the Objective, Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE); as well as support any related BFA meeting as required.

More specifically, in consultation with the UNICEF Nutrition Team, the consultant team shall:

• Finalize course syllabus and create a teaching schedule including specific trainer assignments.
• Collect all teaching modules from the trainer, including teaching directions, and compile them into a teaching handbook. 
• As needed, support CN and trainers by identifying technical references and learning resources such as training videos, references for medical best practice etc.
• Provide brief update of progress to date and next steps at weekly coordination meeting with the CN Training Unit.
• Work with the Nutrition Centre team to support and follow up on each lecture to ensure that it is delivered on a regular basis.
• Lead design of the 3 OSCE for course in Lao language based on WHO recommended competency assessments.
• In collaboration with CN and course trainers, finalize guideline for  Part 3 of the course (hospital practice) to ensure there is a clear plan for monitoring and coaching clinical practice, documentation of learner progress and experience targets, and a guideline for weekly reviews and grading of assignments. 
• Conduct the Objective, Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) exam with support of CN and trainers at the end of each course part(section) and prepare report of learners’ results.
• Work with the Nutrition Center team to monitor and facilitate hospital practice (course part 3)
• Convene meeting for course completion with CN to review learner results.
• Prepare biweekly report on the BFA course’s progress, including the successful/barrier/next step for the biweekly course coordination meeting led by CN Training Unit
• Prepare final report for the BFA course.

The work should be undertaken in close consultation with the UNICEF Lao PDR Nutrition team and the Health and Nutrition team in Save the Children International Lao PDR office as well as the Centre for Nutrition.

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

• Medical doctor or similar qualification
• At least 10 years clinical experience supporting lactation
• Proven experience with clinical lactation support in the wider Lao health system
• Minimum 5 years proven experience as a medical trainer including experience with key relevant adult education and assessment techniques
• Familiar with global best practice in lactation and clinical care
• Excellent understanding of key OBGY/Pediatric/BF/EENC services and practices in Lao PDR
• In-depth understanding and knowledge of the government internal process and administrative procedures related to the launching the course training
• Strong interpersonal communication, persuasion, and training skills.
• Good organization skills including advocacy and dialoging skills with the government officials at decision making levels.
• Strong Lao language skills
• Excellent written and spoken English, an advantage

Submission of applications:

Interested candidates are kindly requested to apply and upload the following documents:

• Letter of Interest (cover letter)
• CV or Resume
• Performance evaluation reports or references of similar consultancy assignments (if available)
• Financial proposal: All-inclusive lump-sum cost including travel and accommodation cost for this assignment as per work assignment.

The deadline for applications is 8-Dec-2021

Assessment Criteria:

For evaluation and selection method, the Cumulative Analysis Method (weight combined score method) shall be used for this recruitment:

a) Technical Qualification (max. 100 points) weight 70 %

• Degree/ Education in ……… (20 points)
  • Medical doctor or similar qualification
  • Strong interpersonal communication, persuasion, and training skill
• Knowledge of …….. (20 points)
  • Familiar with global best practice in lactation and clinical care
  • Excellent understanding of key OBGY/Pediatric/BF/EENC services and practices in Lao PDR
  • In-depth understanding and knowledge of the government internal process and administrative procedures related to the launching the course training
  • Strong Lao language skills
  • Excellent written and spoken English, an advantage
• Experience in…….. (40 points)
  • at least 10 years clinical experience supporting lactation
  • Proven experience with clinical lactation support in the wider Lao health system
  • Minimum 5 years proven experience as a medical trainer including experience with key relevant adult education and assessment techniques
• Quality of past work (e.g. understanding, methodology) (20 points)
  • Assessment of previous work including good organization skills including advocacy and dialoging skills with the government officials at decision making levels
  • Reference checks

b) Financial Proposal (max. 100 points) weight 30 %

• The maximum number of points shall be allotted to the lowest Financial Proposal that is opened /evaluated and compared among those technical qualified candidates who have attained a minimum 70 points score in the technical evaluation.
• Other Financial Proposals will receive points in inverse proportion to the lowest price.
• The Contract shall be awarded to candidate obtaining the highest combined technical and financial scores, subject to the satisfactory result of the verification interview.
• Please note that all applicants should provide medical insurance covering medical evacuation for the whole duration of the assignment as part of the financial proposal submission.

Please find the TOR here:  TOR support BF counselling course FINAL for VA.pdf

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.

View our competency framework at here

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:

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.