Terms of Reference for Development of Maternal Infant, Young Child, and Adolescent Nutrition (MIYCAN Guideline) And Training Package – Somalia

Federal Ministry of Health and Human Services

Terms of Reference

Development of Maternal Infant, Young Child, and Adolescent Nutrition

(MIYCAN Guideline) AND Training Package

Introduction

Nutrition is the foundation for good health. World Health Organization recognizes that about 45 percent of under-five deaths are associated undernutrition. Globally, recognized evidence links the nutritional status and feeding practices of children with their health, growth, survival, and development status. The first 1,000 days (the period between conception to 24 months of age), is the golden window of opportunity, to ensure that children receive optimal nutrition, proper health care, and nutritional care and support, to ensure a long-lasting impact on their lives and wellbeing. The first 1,000 days set the foundation for an individual’s life-long physical health and intellectual development, which contributes towards a positive impact on the community’s long-term health and thus towards national development.

Chronic malnutrition and wasting have remained high in Somalia at 27.8% and 11.8% respectively. Inappropriate feeding practices lead to infant malnutrition, morbidity, and mortality. Despite Somalia is generally a breastfeeding country, with 90% of the children having ever been breastfed, the proportion of children who are exclusively breastfed has remained low at 34%. There has been an increase in the use of bottle-feeding among children 0 to 23 months at 47%.

Rationale/Justification:

As part of the continuous efforts to rebuild the health system of Somalia, the Federal Ministry of Health gradually improved the governance and management of the nutrition program through different dimensions. One of the main pillars of the nutrition program is the infant and young child feeding (IYCF) program. Health workers are to be capacitated with the right IYCF knowledge and skills so that they will be able to support and counsel mothers on the appropriate IYCF practices from birth until the child reaches at least 24 months. The current IYCF guideline and training packages that are available in Somalia are not standardized and were last updated more than ten (5) years ago. Globally, new indicators were incorporated to the IYCF program which are Maternal and Adolescent Nutrition indicators. Thus, will improve further infant and child nutrition, because mother and adolescent will be given proper care for detecting and prevention of malnutrition in early stage through the education, behavior change and early treatment. Therefore, there is a need to review the current IYCF guideline and training manual and develop new MIYCAN guideline (Maternal, Infant, Young, Child and Adolescent) and MIYCAN training Manual.

Objectives of the Assignment

The purpose of these terms of reference is to call for proposals from suitable and experienced national candidates to work with the Ministry of Health in the developing of maternal, infant, young child, and adolescent nutrition (MIYCAN) guideline training package.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the leadership of the Director-General of the Ministry of Health with the technical collaboration with the National Nutrition Program Manager of the Ministry of Health, the national consultant will provide the following support:

• Develop MIYCAN guidelines
• Revise/update the draft of IYCF guideline
• Support the MOH to organize a validation meeting where the content will be validated by all relevant stake holder and the IYCF Technical Working Group
• Consolidate and finalize the guideline incorporating comments from all relevant stakeholders
• Prepare a presentation to be shared during the nutrition technical working group meeting, validation meeting and senior management team meeting

Key Task

• Inception report with a gap analysis of MIYCAN (guideline, implementation guide, training package)
• Develop MIYCAN training manuals (Facilitator guide, participant manual)
• Finalized MIYCAN guidelines and training manual (Following input from the IYCF-TWG validation meeting
• Report from validation workshop
• Submission of final draft of MIYCAN guideline and training manual

Required Qualification

• Advanced Master’s Degree in Nutrition, Public Health and Policy and Management, Health law, Health economic, public health nutrition, with minimum 7 years’ experience in public health nutrition policy, strategic and programme planning and management.
• Experience in developing guidelines and training materials; and in implementing maternal-infant young child and adolescent nutrition programs at federal level
• Familiar with global and national health and nutrition agenda, goals, and concepts including Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• Excellent in coordination, writing, reporting, and presentation skills
• Documented experience in draft MIYCAN guidelines, plan, and MIYCAN training package
• Significant national/international experience in developing context specific guidelines or strategic documents and knowledge of the Somali context and asset.
• Fluency in English and Somali language.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively work with others and communicate in a multicultural environment
• The consultant will be required to work and Report to the Ministry of Health and with technical collaboration from UNICEF Somalia.

Time frame: The consultant will be completed within 41 days starting from the day of signing the contract.

Payment: The consultant should be paid in accordance with MoH consultant payment procedures.

How to Apply

Applications, including EOI, CV and Cover letter with three professional reference to be sent via Email: hrmanagement@moh.gov.so,    procurement@moh.gov.so and copy to nutrition@moh.gov.so and familyhealth@moh.gov.so. Make sure to complete the application not latter on the 4^th of May, 2022 and should be clearly stated the subject of the application as indicated in the TOR.