Consultant- The Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance and Response – Somalia

Consultant- The Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance and Response – Somalia

1. Area of expertise:

The Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance and Response (MPDSR) related efforts in Somalia.

 

2. Purpose of consultancy

The purpose of this consultancy is to conduct a situational assessment of the Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance and Response (MPDSR) related efforts in Somalia. The main objective is to identify strengths and weaknesses in the current system, identify opportunities and advise for improvement.

3. Background 

According to the recently published Trends in Maternal Mortality report spanning from 2000 to 2020, Somalia is one of the countries with the highest proportion of deaths among women of reproductive age resulting from maternal causes, standing at 28%. Additionally, it has the fourth-highest lifetime risk of maternal mortality for a 15-year-old girl, with a ratio of 1 in 25, and the maternal mortality ratio (MMR) is estimated to be 621 per 100,000 live births. To decrease maternal and neonatal deaths, accurate information regarding the prevalence and causes of such deaths is crucial. Currently, the available information regarding the magnitude and attributes of maternal and neonatal deaths in Somalia is inadequate, and the health information system and other reporting systems have failed to capture the extent of maternal deaths and their causes.

 

In 2017, UNFPA Somalia supported the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) in the development and implementation of the Maternal Death Surveillance and Response (MDSR) in six targeted Hospital  (Banadir, Daynile, Martini, SOS, SHANGANI, and WARDI (Hamar Jajab)). Unfortunately, the perinatal component was not included in the reporting at that time, and COVID-19 impeded the work of MDSR committees at the national and facility levels. As a result, only one national committee and six facility-level MDSR committees have been established, and reporting varies significantly between facilities. There have also been challenges in receiving data and integrating MDSR into DHIS. Implementing MDSR has been difficult due to insufficient capacity among health workers at the different levels of the system, the availability of data and timely reporting, and a lack of coordination between the implementing partners (committees, health facilities, and FMoH).

 

To address these challenges, the WHO Country Office plans to support the FMoH in reviewing the existing MDSR-related efforts and developing a national rollout plan. The perinatal component will be integrated. However, before implementation, a situational assessment is required to identify strengths and weaknesses, gaps, and opportunities in the current system, and make recommendations for improvement and expansion. For this task, an international consultant will be hired to conduct a situational assessment and provide recommendations for the rollout/implementation of MPDSR in Somalia.

4. Deliverables

Output 1: conduct a situational assessment of the Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance and Response (MPDSR) related efforts in Somalia

Deliverables:

1. Review relevant documents, including current MPDSR toolsand guidelines, reports, and data
2. Conduct interviews with key stakeholders, including MDSR committee members, health facility staff, and community representatives
3. Conduct site visits to health facilitiesand communities, if/when feasible, to assess the MDSR system in action
4. Analyze MDSR data to assess its quality and completeness
5. Identify gaps and challenges in the MDSR system and put in place a mechanism for improvementand integration of the perinatal deaths surveillance component
6. Create an inception report detailing the methodology to be used, and a work plan for the assessment
7. Prepare a report outlining the findings and recommendations of the assessment
8. Develop final report incorporating feedback from WHO and FMoH

Skills and Qualifications

Educational Qualifications:

o   Essential: Advanced degree in public health, epidemiology, or a related field.

 

Experience

Essential:

• At least 7 to 10 years of experience working in Maternal & Public Health;
• Demonstrated experience in conducting situational assessments and evaluations of health systems, particularly in the area of maternal and child health;
• Documented relevant experience in MPDSR policies and guidelines, and systems.

Skills/Knowledge:

• Strong report-writing and presentation skills (in English);
• Strong analytical skills and experience in surveillance systems andanalysis;
• Excellent communication and time-management capacity.

 

Languages and level required (Basic/Intermediate/Expert):

• Excellent knowledge of English

 

6. Location

Onsite site: The consultant will be working remotely, with some travel to Somalia and Kenya (tentatively one week in each country), to meet with partners and finalize the MPDSR assessment.

 

7. Travel

The consultant will be working remotely, with some travel to Somalia and Kenya (tentatively one week in each country), to meet with partners and finalize the MPDSR assessment.

8. Remuneration and budget (travel costs are excluded):
9. Remuneration: Level B ( High end of range)– USD 9980 ( Monthly)
10. Expected duration of contract (Maximum contract duration is 11 months per calendar year): 3 months.

How to apply

 Additional information:

• The purpose of this vacancy is to develop a list of qualified candidates for inclusion in this advertised roster. All applicants will be notified in writing of the outcome of their application (whether successful or unsuccessful) upon conclusion of the selection process. Successful candidates will be placed on the roster and subsequently may be selected for consultancy assignments falling in this area of work or for similar requirements/tasks/deliverables. Inclusion in the Roster does not guarantee selection to a consultant contract. There is no commitment on either side.
• This vacancy notice may be used to identify candidates for other similar consultancies at the same level.
• Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.

• Interested candidates are strongly encouraged to apply on-line.   For assessment of your application, please ensure that your profile on Stellis is updated; all experience records are entered with elaboration on tasks performed at the time.  Kindly note that CV/PHFs inserted via LinkedIn are not accessible. 

• A written test may be used as a form of screening.
• If your candidature is retained for interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.
• For information on WHO’s operations please visit: http://www.who.int.
• WHO is committed to workforce diversity.
• WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.
• Applications from women and from nationals of non and underrepresented Member States are particularly encouraged.

• WHO prides itself on a workforce that adheres to the highest ethical and professional standards and that is committed to putthe WHO Values Charter into practice.

• WHO has zero tolerance towards sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct (i.e., discrimination, abuse of authority and harassment). All members of the WHO workforce have a role to play in promoting a safe and respectful workplace and should report to WHO any actual or suspected cases of SEA, sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct. To ensure that individuals with a substantiated history of SEA, sexual harassment or other types of abusive conduct are not hired by the Organization, WHO will conduct a background verification of final candidates.
• Consultants shall perform the work as independent contractors in a personal capacity, and not as a representative of any entity or authority. The execution of the work under a consultant contract does not create an employer/employee relationship between WHO and the Consultant.
• WHO shall have no responsibility whatsoever for any taxes, duties, social security contributions or other contributions payable by the Consultant. The Consultant shall be solely responsible for withholding and paying any taxes, duties, social security contributions and any other contributions which are applicable to the Consultant in in each location/jurisdiction in which the work hereunder is performed, and the Consultant shall not be entitled to any reimbursement thereof by WHO.

Closing Date: : Jun 27, 2023

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